Chapter Six: Her Mate.
1264 Words
(Nyla's POV)
Our gazes meet, and for a brief second, the world goes still. Silence fills the hallway.
I jerk away from his arms immediately, stumbling backward until my back nearly hits the wall.
I struggle to steady myself.
“Careful… careful,” he whispers. His voice is so calm it loosens something in my chest and I hate it.
“What are you doing here?” he murmurs.
“You’re not supposed to be here…”
There is concern in his tone — real concern, like I am endangering my life just by standing there. But I am too startled to speak.
I only stare at him, tears slipping down my cheeks, my chest rising and falling in frantic rhythm.
My face feels numb, bloodless, like I am looking at a ghost.
He takes my hand and pulls me along, guiding me gently as we make our way outside, moving quietly to avoid being detected.
Why am I so shocked by his sudden kindness?
Why does he feel… warm? Safe?
No. No.
He is a liar. A betrayer
I can't trust him.
Dad said not to.
I pull myself out of his grip and wipe my eyes with the back of my hand.
“Thank you, Alpha,” I whisper, my voice breaking as I turn to leave.
“Don’t go…”
His voice stops me—soft, desperate, nothing like the powerful Alpha I have heard about.
I stop.
“Please,” he says behind me, his voice low, heavy. “Let me stay with you. Let me share some of this pain with you.”
I let out a small laugh—broken, bitter.
“Share my pain? You?”
I turn to look at him. “That’s funny. That’s really, really funny coming from you.”
He flinches, but doesn’t move away.
“I don’t understand,” I whisper. “Why is all of this happening to me?”
My voice shakes as anger rises again.
“You want me to trust you? Lean on you? So you can finish what you couldn’t finish before?”
His brows pull together sharply. He takes a step towards me. “What? What are you talking about…?”
“Stay away from me!” I scream at the top of my voice, stepping back.
“Wait!” he says, reaching out.
“Nyla… wait”
I stop breathing.
Nyla.
The world around me fades. My legs tremble beneath me.
He knows.
He knows who I am.
I swallow hard and grip my clothes tightly to stop them from shaking.
I turn, looking straight into his eyes. “I’m Ann. Not Nyla,” I say, forcing my voice to stay steady.
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
His expression doesn’t change. His gaze doesn’t leave mine.
“Nyla…” he repeats, softer this time, almost like a plea.
“Ann!” I cut him off, my voice cracking again. “I’m Ann!”
He doesn’t argue.
He doesn’t raise his voice.
He just stands there—silent, eyes burning with something deep… something protective… something that makes my heart tremble because it isn’t anger.
He looks like my denial physically hurts him.
Like my pain is stabbing him too.
“Ann…” he tries again, softer this time, “is there someone who can stay with you? I don’t want you to be alone.”
“Why do you care?” I shoot back immediately. “Aren't you happy you're finally getting what you’ve always wanted?”
“You let my parents die, now you want to pretend like you care?”
His jaw tightens. His eyes flash with anger, worry, regret—like he is fighting with himself.
“I can take care of myself,” I continue, folding my arms like a shield. “I’ve suffered worse.”
My voice cracks. “S…so stay away from me. You’re worse than all of them!”
I turn and begin walking to my room, each step heavier than the last.
I let the tears fall. I can’t hold them anymore.
The pain is too much.
My heart aches like it has shattered into a thousand pieces.
I can’t breathe.
My knees buckle, and I collapse to the floor, clutching my chest.
Air refuses to enter my lungs.
“Here you are, Alpha Rowan has been looking for you,” Nuella’s voice comes softly.
I lift my head, but I can’t see through the blur in my eyes. My fingers fumble against my cheeks as I try to wipe my face, every movement weak and devastated, like strength has been drained out of me.
“And why are you on the floor?” she asks, rushing to help me up.
Our eyes meet, and her expression softens immediately.
“Ann… are you okay? You look like you’ve been crying.”
“I…I’m fine.”
The words come out broken, like they drag pain with them.
She kneels and leans in to hug me. “No, you’re not,” she murmurs, forcing me into her embrace.
A soft cry escapes my lips as tears move freely down my cheeks. The stabbing pain in my chest doesn’t want to stop.
She pats my back gently. “Calm down, Ann. Everything will be alright,” she says, continuing to comfort me.
I stay there for a while, until my breathing becomes steady. Then I gently pull away from her embrace, rubbing my face with my dress.
“Where is Alpha Rowan?” I ask, exhaling as I struggle to stand.
“He’s in his study,” she replies, trying to help me.
“Can you go on your own?”
I nod. “Yes… thank you.”
I force a small smile, weak and fake, then walk away.
She stays behind, watching me, her eyes full of pity.
Every step feels like walking through thick water.
My mind is empty and loud at the same time.
Everything hurts—the air, my heartbeat, my thoughts.
I don’t know what will happen next. I just move forward like something already dead.
When I reach the study, I knock once and push the door open, hands trembling.
“Good morning, Alphas,” I whisper, keeping my head low so they won’t see the redness in my eyes.
“There you are…” Alpha Derick’s voice is too warm, too welcoming—like someone setting a trap for his prey.
He walks toward me with his arms open, as if he expects me to run into them.
My stomach twists with disgust. This man… this man is the devil that slaughtered my parents.
Before Derick can touch me, Alpha Rowan steps forward.
His voice is soft, almost careful, but there is something in his eyes… a regret he can’t hide.
“Ann,” he says quietly, “go and pack your bags.”
I lift my head, confused.
“You’ll be going to the Nightbane Pack.”
His voice is gentle, calm… but his jaw is tight, like he is forcing the words out against his will.
“Think of it as a small vacation,” he continues softly.
“A chance to see a new place.”
I freeze.
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. He isn’t even fighting for me. Maybe he’s already given up on me, convinced he will lose if war breaks out.
My heart throbs so loudly it feels like it’s shaking my entire chest.
I open my mouth, but before I can form a word, the door swings open.
Alpha Darius walks in.
- Writer
