Mr Blumenthal's Fiancée
1319 Words
He waved, carelessly. "Grim details you do not need to concern yourself with. I'll take care of everything while you concentrate on..."
"No! Are you being serious? You just told me that some psychos out there want to kill me, and you're telling me to forget about it and concentrate on what? Being Hatty Homemaker?"
"Preferably," he said, his voice tinged with annoyance that he could f*ck off with as far as Sophie was concerned.
"No, you tell me everything right now, or you don't have to tell me anything at all cause I'm out. There's only so much time and resources your enemies could waste on hunting down some human."
"You think you can outlive a werewolf's hunt?" He scoffed like it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "And more impossibly, keep your family safe, too?"
Her courage trembled at the reminder of what she had to lose, but she faked bravery as she responded. "I'll die trying."
Nicholas' blue eyes narrowed as if he thought he could glare her into submission.
He would have, but fortunately for Sophie, he gave in before she could.
A heavy sigh left him, and he muttered something under his breath—probably an insult. Before speaking. "I have received an invitation to be in the running as one of Alpha Godfrey’s heirs."
His confession was followed by a stare that gave Sophie the impression she was supposed to understand everything from that one sentence.
She nodded, but the furrow of her brows gave her confusion away.
"Alpha Godfrey Wilhelm," he stated, slowly.
Oh. That Godfrey.
Who didn't know Godfrey, the unofficial King of their country, who somehow managed to unite some of the most stubborn and powerful packs and Alphas under his rule.
"I thought he was dead, to be honest. He must be ancient by now," she voiced.
If he thought less of her for not knowing their ruler was alive he did not say as he continued speaking. "Two hundred and two, and nearing the end of his life with no mate and no heir. He announced a few months ago that he would be dividing his empire among a select group of heirs in a bid to stop a civil war from breaking out after his passing."
"And you're one of those heirs?"
"A candidate for now," he corrected but it didn't make it any less impressive.
Even the smallest share of Orphelia could make Nicholas one of the most powerful men in the world.
"My brother was the chosen candidate from my Pack due to my circumstances," his lips twitched with a frown, but it was quickly concealed—not fast enough for Sophie to miss. "However, Alpha Godfrey changed his own rule of selecting one candidate from each Pack after news of my 'engagement' to a human reached him."
"You would have never taken no for an answer," she realised.
He nodded in agreement.
Sophie's shoulders sagged, and the ring on her finger suddenly felt ten times tighter. Like it was a shackle rather than jewelry. "I never had a choice."
"You need me, Sophie, and I need you too. If that is not marriage, then what is?"
So much more than that, Sophie wanted to tell him, but trying to convince Nicholas that there was more to life and love than power and the means to getting it would be like talking to a brick wall.
"You'll keep me and my family safe..."
"And beyond comfortable," he swore, smiling gently as he gave her hand a small squeeze.
"All I want is safety."
Nicholas pressed a kiss to her knuckles, a mockery of love and care that had bats rather than butterflies beating at the walls of her belly.
He pulled off her knuckles with a smile. "You will be happy, Sophie. Just sit back and let me take the wheel."
She nodded and glanced at the attic stairs.
He followed her gaze and turned back to her with a soft chuckle.
"You're about to make your aunt and friend two very happy women."
Right, Aunt Lucia and Ava were under the impression theirs was a Cinderella story. Might as well give in to the assumptions to make the news less awkward for all of them.
"Come on." She got up and held her hand out to him.
Nicholas took her hand and rose to his feet. He was a head taller than her, and the low ceiling of the attic was a foot away from his slicked-back hair.
He stood out, dressed in his black suit, standing among their chaos.
A glaring sign that he belonged in her world as much as she belonged in his.
Together, they made their earlier way down the stairs, walking carefully so their heads wouldn't disconnect.
When the pair walked into the kitchen, Sophie's family was gathered by the kitchen island, interacting tightly amongst themselves.
That conversation stopped when Benji, who was the first to notice Nicholas, made a small noise, drawing Ava and Lucia's attention to them.
"Sophie," Ava greeted with a wide smile.
"How are you feeling now, flower?"
"Rested." Not better and she doubted she would for a while.
"That's nice. Nicholas was kind enough to have people take care of the mess so we don't have to worry about cutting up our hands anymore."
"Right," she nodded, glancing at Nicholas with a curious look.
When did 'Mr Blumenthal' become 'Nicholas' for Aunt Lucia, she wondered, recalling that Nicholas had also used her name up in the attic.
"Is there something you would like to tell them?" Nicholas asked with a lift of his brow, squeezing her hand gently as a reminder.
She nodded and turned back to the curious smiles of her family.
"We're getting married." Sophie raised her free hand, which just so happened to have the ring.
"Congratulations, Sophie!" Ava squealed, hurrying over to bring the redhead into a hug.
Sophie let go of Nicholas to bring Ava into a hug, trying her best to not sound how she felt. "Thank you."
Lucia was next, first observing the ring with a smile, throwing a small nod in Nicholas' way, and then pulling her into a hug.
Sophie returned the hug with as much enthusiasm as she could, but it felt like a lackluster performance.
"You'll survive this. We always do." Aunt Lucia assured in a whisper, then pulled back to observe her.
"So you're leaving?" Benji's heartbroken voice cut through the celebration.
Sophie turned to her cousin, who looked on the verge of tears, and she almost damned it all just to see him smile again.
"She has to, Benji. It's what your mum did when she got married to your dad." Ava explained, patiently.
"Oh." His pout deepened, and his mild wariness of Nicholas, after his encounter with the men last night, grew to distrust now that he knew he was taking his almost sister away.
"But we can always visit." Lucia comforted.
"Always," Nicholas reiterated with a smile at the young boy.
Benji was not pleased, but the wolf in him knew not to challenge another male's claim— let alone an older one, so he relented with a stiff nod.
Lucia turned back to the new couple, her eyes searching. "When will you two be leaving?"
Sophie opened her mouth to respond but Nicholas beat her to it.
"Today. Preferably this morning as I have business back in Hill End I need to see to."
So this would be her life now. Being spoken over by Nicholas.
Lucia hummed. "Come, Ava, let's help Sophie pack while Benji and Nicholas get to know each other."
"But muuumm..."
"Be good," Lucia said with a warning look thrown his way.
She gave Nicholas one last nod and began to walk. Ava and Sophie followed obediently, both knowing helping Sophie pack was the last thing on the older woman's mind.
- Writer
