Marked by the Moon—Rejected by my Alpha mate

CHAPTER 14: You In Or Not

{ Nicholas POV }

She came.

I'll admit, I wasn't entirely sure she would. Elena Rivers strikes me as the kind of woman who does the opposite of what you expect just to prove she can. But came, right on time, coat pulled tight against the cold, arms tucked in pockets.

Kyle was insufferable the entire walk to the border. I'd stopped responding to him by the time I spotted her pacing.

She didn't hear me coming. I stood there for exactly three seconds watching her mutter something under her breath, probably cursing me, before I announced myself.

“Hey.”

She turned and I felt it. That pull. Same as always. Worse than always, actually, because this time she was sucking me all in with her gaze—she scanned me from head to toe, lips slightly apart. I chuckled to myself at her reaction, she had it every single time we met, she could feel us but why she hasn't recognized us yet still unravels me.

As much as I hate to admit—I wanted her. Simple as that and complicated as hell. I wanted to claim her, make her mine in every way that mattered. I wanted her only longing for me in her darkest fantasies. I wanted to be the one who wiped Lucan's memory clean out of her head—not because Kyle demanded it but because something in me couldn't stand the idea of her carrying that wound forever.

This was never the plan. I had a mission—parents to avenge and a pack to reclaim. I didn't have room for this.

But Kyle doesn't make it easy for me either—flashing images of her in my thoughts when I'm trying to think—it has been driving me crazy.

I let her draw me in to her satisfaction before clearing my throat. Her face snapped back to reality immediately, “What took you so long?”

“Got us coffee.” I said, ignoring her question, shoving the cup into her hand before she could protest. “Have a sip.” she tried to hesitate but my finger pressed down against her soft lips, “Sshh” and I swear I could feel her body shudder. “just drink it.”

I took everything in me not to brush my fingers against her lips, thoughts on how to would feel like to have mine on hers clouded my mind. f**k it Nick! Get a hold on yourself.

I watched as she raised the cup to her lips with fidgety hands. The moan that escaped her lips when the hot coffee touched her tongue sent me on edge. Damn!

My lips twitched, “Good girl.”

I had to take a few steps back before I do something stupid and just as fast to catch her letting out a breath. I took a long sip of my coffee, the bitter sweet taste relishing my taste buds. “The coffee here tastes so good.” I started trying to even the charged atmosphere.

“Yeah.” she answered quietly, eyes dropping to the cup in her hands. She had not touched her coffee since the first sip, I asked her and her reply— “I didn't come all the way here for that.” —made me chuckle, very Elena indeed.

"I heard you that night in the forest," I started. "Every word of that oath."

She went very still. Good, I had her attention.

"The Umbral went missing the same night. Melissa is your prime suspect—and you're right."

She took one step closer without realizing it. I noticed. Kyle noticed. Neither of us said anything.

"Your father's council seat didn't just fall — it was pushed. Months of planning went into that one single moment."

Something shifted in her face. Not shock this time around—fury. Cold fury and it was the most beautiful thing I'd seen in a long time and I had absolutely no business thinking that.

"How do you know all of this?" Her voice was quiet. I had watched her expression go from guarded to shocked each time I mentioned something I probably should not have known.

“Let's join forces,” I said finally.

The entire place went still for a while, not a single word from her and it made. me anxious. I had lots of ‘what ifs’ when deciding this plan, what if she doesn't agree? What if she thought I was just using her as a bait to get allotwhat I want? What if she thinks I'm an agent from her rival sent to divert her focus?

Although Kyle assured me she would, her silence was making me doubt that.

She let out a slow laugh, “join forces uh?”, then she took some steps closer and looked me straight in the eye and I swear I saw something flashed in her eyes but it was gone the moment it came. “What made you think I needed allies.”

“I didn't need to think, it's crystal clear,” I replied moving closer to her, “Your whole had been disposable, from school to home to charity galas, you had no real friends, just people who needed something from you. Other girls were jealous of you because why not—you got the beauty, the fame, the money and the perfect finance—you were to be married to the alpha of Roseville's strongest pack.”

“Stop.” she said, her tone sharp with pain. I hated I had to bring up s**t from her past.

“How do you even know so much.”

“that doesn't matter, what matters is that you need people with the same thirst on your side.”

“And Ambrose isn't enough?”

I paused at that.

“listen up Nicholas Hale, I don't need anyone's help, I can pretty much handle my s**t myself.” With that she turned on her heel like the conversation was already forgotten.

I wasn't expecting her to accept so easily either , so I threw my last shot. If she doesn't fall for this……

“wait!” I called after her and she paused in her tracks. “twenty five years ago a one year old boy was found half dead on Roseville borders by a Lycan minister passing by. Investigations were made and all threads pointed to blackstone pack.”

I watched her freeze mid step. That was the one. The thread she couldn't walk away from.

“What?!” she turned abruptly to face me. A devilish smile spread across my lips.

“You in or not?.”

*. *. *. *. *.

The evening sun cast warm orange rays through the window of my apartment. I sat on the couch in my living room going through the files Dorian sent me. I've been doing that for like ten hours straight. There was just a whole lot of things to cover and my brain was beginning to churn.

A drink would do. I got up and headed for the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet, grabbed a glass and poured some for myself. I gulped down the first shot once, the liquid burned down my throat creating a warm sensation.

The memory of my conversation with Elena this morning came rushing to my mind. She didn't give any response. I had left my card with her incase she agrees to collaborate with me, she could easily reach out.

I poured another round of whiskey, just as I was about to gulp it down, a knock sounded at my door. I paused, who could it be. Could it be her, had she agreed to work with me.

I was about getting excited but Kyle beat me it, “it's not her.” all the excitement drained down my face, “then who is it?”

Kyle didn't reply me, the grew loud and impatient. “Go get the door.” he said finally.

“No I can't, I don't know anyone here besides I only gave my address to Elena.”

“Don't play coward with me right now,” Kyle said, his voice dropping low.

“I'm just trying to avoid unnecessary problems in a foreign land.”

“You're a son of this soil Nicholas, I felt it the moment we stepped our feet into Roseville.” Kyle said, his tone getting serious.

“Alright, fine, I'll go get it.” I walked out of the kitchen to the door. Now the person was almost banging on the door, my anger was rising, “who the hell is that motherfucker.” I cursed under my breath, while turning the door handle only to come in face with no other than—Ambrose Rivers.

“I heard that,” he said, completely unbothered.

"Ambrose Rivers," I said, ignoring his amusement.

"Nicholas Hale." He said it the way people say a name they've been rehearsing.

"How did you get my address?"

A slow smile grazed his lips. He had his sister's eyes, same shape, same quiet fire but a different kind of dangerous.

"You going to let me in, or not.”