Nathaniel's POVI watch as Nadia walks beside me as we enter the palace with Tobias following behind with Nadia's bags. My mind is still swimming with thoughts that threaten to undo all my self-control. The kiss between us was pure and welcomed insanity. Feeling her on top of me, fighting for dominance? Pure primal nature and I wanted more.I can't help but chuckle as she turns slightly to look at me, her eyes widened in shock and awe."This is." she trails off, turning herself in every direction, clearly still in a state of bewilderment at what I can only assume is the furnishings and overall state of the palace having not stepped footin it before.The main hall is decorated with an assortment of expensive paintings and decorations on pure white walls, with marble flooring – white with streaks of black and silver. Dark wooden accented tables and stands with roses and other flowers litter the main entrance, matching the giant archway that leads into the next part of the palace.We're
Nadia's POVI groan and roll over as my oh so familiar alarm goes off on my phone. I reach for it, my hands grabbing more and more blankets until I open my eyes slightly and realize that I'm a great distance away from my phone on the nightstand since this bed in this guest room I'm in is massive."Ugh." I groan out in annoyance and lift myself up on my elbows and shuffle closer to the nightstand, grabbing my phone roughly, smacking the off button for the alarm and dropping my phone onto the bed as I roll onto my back and sigh loudly.It's been a while since I slept so soundly.I sit up and slide off the side of the bed and make my way into the bathroom. I run the shower and quickly get undressed and hop in, making quick time of getting myself clean from head to toe. I stepout, wrapping my hair in a light towel so I don't drop water across the floor. I wrap my body in another towel and I head over to the sink and start to apply my skincare and then very minimal makeup- a little bit of
Nadia's POVIt's now the day before the mating ball. I've been here at the palace for almost a week. Nathaniel and I have spent a lot of time together regardless of his duties here, and it's the most content I've felt inyears. He treats me kindly, respectfully and like an actual person. We've gone for walks around the palace, eating dinners together in his wing and watching movies before retiring to bed.I don't want to leave. This has been the escape I've been looking for all along.I'm nervous for when the entire pack arrives tomorrow, but it's like some of my sense of self has returned this week. Mentally, I feel stronger, more like myself again. I know that without Seles I won't be whole, but at least I'm feeling better than I had when I had decided to leave and become a rogue.Something about Nathaniel just draws me to him. I can't put my finger on it, but I'm not complaining.I keep thinking to myself as I walk into the ballroom, now complete with the mating ball and head to th
Nadia's POVI have never seen so many people in my life.I'm currently backstage in the ballroom, looking out into the massive array of people that have arrived for the mating ball. The room is aloud with commotion, laughs and conversations alike. Theteams assigned to get me ready escorted me here before I even had a chance to see where anyone else was, including Nathaniel. He's nowhere to be seen yet in my field of view.I'm fully dressed in my ball gown, as I decided against getting another dress after all since this one is literally perfection on me now that it was tailored. My coppery red hair has been curled andpiled neatly atop my head with some loose strands to frame my face. From what I got of any makeup, it was black and smoky, bringing more emphasis to my bright green eyes. It's the most I've been dressed up, and it feels so awkward. Unfortunately, it's necessary for this type of event.As I'm looking out in the crowd, things quiet down suddenly, as I see Nathaniel's mothe
Nadia's POV"Wolfsbane?" Tobias asks quietly, and Nathaniel nods. Tobias, Gabby, and Lynette have now joined Nathaniel and I back in his wing in the main living area. Nathaniel is pacing back and forth inthe open space between the couch and wall- nounted TV, Evie is sitting beside me on the couch and Gabby and Tobias are opposite of us on the other couch. Nathaniel had mind-linked Tobias and asked him to grab Gabby and Evie to let them know too. The anxiousness and concern filling the room is maddening, but soon the silence is broken. "You know it's completely possible that a certain someone did this." Gabby states plainly and I sigh."You think Mike did it." I say, and Gabby nods briefly before going into his reasoning. "Nadia, he's been going after you for years. You coming here away from his abuse and mistreatment? I wouldn't put it past him to make this kind of move as punishment.""There's no way to prove it. There are at least 150 wolves here from three different packs." Evie
Nadia's POVI gasp as the island comes into view from the window of the jet and I hear Nate chuckle lightly."Does your family own this?" I ask and he nods. "Yeah, it's our personal vacation spot, and where we hold the retreat after the mating balls each year. There's a full town here with locals that have lived here most of their lives, but also staff that my parents hired to maintain the mansion grounds."There’s another mansion here?"He nods as he makes his way over to me, leaning Over me in my seat and pointing out the window, his body dangerously close to mine. "It's at the most northern part of the island, up and away fromthe main town, Eswall."I gaze out the window where he's pointing, and I can see a large mansion off in the distance. "Is that where everyone is staying?""Yeah. The mansion itself has over 30 residential rooms, plus multiple other areas, including game rooms, and a full theater room.'"No wonder you use it for retreats, it sounds massive."There's also a loc
Nadia's POVI walk into the bedroom that Nate and I are staying in and drop my bags on the far side of the room, near the curtain-covered window. They land with a soft thump, and I turn around and take the room in.It's a simple design, with cream-coloured carpets, deep wine painted walls with a matching large bed in the center. The sun is shining through the sheer curtains, illuminating the entire room. On the far side near the door is the entrance to the separate bathroom, and beside that is a sliding door closet, which is where Nate is standing currently with the door open. I watch as he grabs some hangers from the closet and sets them on the bed, then lifts his suitcase onto the bed, fluctuating with the change in weight.He looks at me then, smiling. "Is there anything you need to hang up on?"I think to myself as to what's in my suitcase and I nod. Turning around, I grab my suitcase off the floor, and place it on the other side of the bed and open it. I pull out my dresses and s
Nadia's POVIt's been 2 days since we arrived at the retreat, and the sense of relaxation has been refreshing and so welcomed. Tonight, that's changing, as it's the first planned outing for the entire retreat group. We're all apparently going clubbing at the local nightclub here on the island, and I couldn't be more excited. I used to go out regularly with Gabby and lynette when I had more freedom and thoroughly loved letting loose and dancing the night away.Although, I seem to be more excited than ever since it's with Nate.I'm currently getting ready while Nate is showering, having finished mine a few moments before. I turn on the blow-dryer and start to dry my copper waves, while thinking about the hairstyle and makeup I want to do. I quickly decide, braiding the sides of my hair back and leaving the rest of it down, with some hair pulled out for bangs to frame my face. I leave it to finish air-drying while I put ona small amount of makeup, gray and black smokey eye-shadow, winge
Nadia's POVI still can't believe it.I'm Nathaniel's mate.I'm still getting used to seeing all the pack members bow and address me. They've been doing it over the past few weeks and honestly, it continues to baffle and wonder at me. I'm mated tonot justa royal, but the future king of our race.Nathaniel has completely gone back to the endearing, loving and sexy man that I'm used to, and thank God because now that I know we're mates, I can't keep my hands off him. We've beenspending every waking moment together between his work and he's been showing me around the packlands and allowing me to help him with his pack work in a more official capacity consideringIt's now my pack too.We've briefly discussed making a trip out to the witches' coven to see about getting my cuffs removed and accept our mate bonds once they're off, which I am extremely excited for. These cuffshave been the biggest burden and hurdle for me in terms of coming back into myself and the woman I know I can be.I'
Nadia's POV"What?" I say, bewildered as what he told me sinks in. "I'm...""You're my mate, Nadia." Nate says lovingly but with hurt in his voice."You've known this entire time?" My voice shakes with emotion, and he nods. "I've known since the first day we met."I back away and bring my arms up, lightly touching my cuffs."I never felt anything because of these.""Most likely. But I think you felt some sort of connection, just not as a mate bond.I look at him, tears still streaming down my face. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I see the pain cross his face and I know it must have been difficult for him to keep this hidden and as shocked as I am, I'm sure he had his reasons."Come into my room, let's talk." I nod and follow him down the hallway. We enter his bedroom and we sit on the bed together, the darkness of the blacks and grays of the room aligning with how I feel at this moment.Nate takes my hands in his and I look directly into his eyes as he speaks."I didn't tell you rig
Nadia's POVI'm angry. It's been two days since Nate just walked away from me without an explanation, and I've been avoiding him. I don't understand how he can just keep playing with my feelings this way. The retreat was absolute bliss, and ever since we came back, it's been an utter shit show.I'm sitting in the music room, plucking away on the piano, trying to sort through my feelings.Confusion.Anger.Attraction.I've never been so emotionally confused in my entre life, and this is proving to be hard to navigate. I want to yell, scream, and kiss Nate all at the same time and it’s driving me insane. I sigh, beginning to play andI hear the door open, and I stop and turnto see who is coming in and I see the familiar face of Lynette."Heya stranger." She says with a smile and I half smile back."What's wrong?"I shake my head. "I don't even know."Let's talk about it, like we usually do." She comes and sit beside me on the bench, andI nod and sigh loudly. "It's Nate.""What happened?
Nadia's POV It's still hard to believe that I'm living at Nate's packlands.It's been weeks since my incident and there's been not a single sound about our departure from Pure Moon, which Nate has found highly suspicious. Surely if three of your own pack members just up and disappeared, you'd look for them, no? Apparently to Mike, it's a no.Honestly, I don't care as much about it at this point. This is the freedom that all three of us have been wishing for a very long tỉme.Not looking over our shoulders.Not worried about our actions.Not getting verbally or physically abused.The pack has taken us in fully, and it's like we were a part of it this whole time.Now that I've healed fully from my wounds, I've been helping Nate with his pack work, almost like an assistant or secretary. I help keep track of his meetings and help him organize his paperworkfrom other packs and inform him when he gets new requests, Organizing them by importance and whatnot. It's been a steady pace, and I'
Nadia's POVI can't believe this is happening.We're part of Nate's pack now.It's only been a few days and I'm still recovering from my attack, but it feels like we've been here this entire time. Gabby and Lynette have their own suites now and have fallen right into place with Nadine and Tobias.I'm still in the medical wing as I had a small setback with my stab wound, I accidentally pushed myself a bit too hard during exercise and ripped my stitching open, so now I'm on light movement until it heals. Everyone has been visiting me every single chance they get, and Nate has been texting me every moment he isn't in here with me.It's sweet.I feel a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders in telling Nate the entire backstory of my life and how I came to be in this present moment. It surprised me that he immediately knew something was off like Gabby and Lynette had been saying for years, but I'm glad it’s out now.He also made a full incident report on my attack based on what I told
Nathaniel's POVI'm restless.I haven't slept.Nadia hasn't woken up. It's been four days since her attack and she's still unconscious. Nadine has said she is healing at an accelerated rate now thanks to my blood transfusions, but it's hard to know how much damage was done until she wakes up.So far it hasn't been positive.I've gone to visit her every chance I've gotten. Gabby and Lynette haven't left her side and said that they would let me know if anything changed. I wanted to be by her side this entire time, but I've had to keep to my duties and run my pack. The pack is uneasy due to my unease with her condition. They know she's my mate and their Luna and the despair I feel from them knowing she's been injured maliciously has been a heavy burden to bear. I sigh as I sit at my desk in my office, mindlessly going through papers on my desk, I try to think of our happier moments, and I'm startled when Lynette bursts in."She's awake."Nadia's POVNadia. You're stronger than this. Open
Gabby's POVI help Evie lift Nadia up from the pavement and into the back of Tobias' car. Evie supported her on the left side and me on the right, her still body laying over both of us, the metallic stench of her blood filling my nostrils. I keep my hand pressured on her wound as it's still bleeding, disgusted at the fact my friend's blood is seeping through my fingers from an injury that someone else did to her.Mike must be behind this, but until Nadia recovers, we Won't know exactly what happened to her and who actually did this to her.If she recovers.I glance over at Lynette as Tobias takes off, and I see her face is wet with fresh tears as she strokes Nadia's head that is on her lap. She's still alive but barely. Her heartbeat is faint. Evie is covered inNadia's blood just like me, and my wolf lashes out in my mind in intense anger. "If she doesn't survive, I'm going to kill him." The coldness in her voice is highly apparent, which is a drastic difference from her usual bubbly
Nadia's POVI pace around my room, trying to pick an outfit for the show tonight. I've got three options pulled out; black ripped leggings with a long black sleeved fishnet top over a white tank top, my red baby doll dress with fishnet stockings, or acid washed jean capris with a black corset.I pace, looking over each option and ultimately decide on the red dress and stockings. I kept my set for tonight chill, so I won't be moving around too much. Plus, I know Nate would like it.I can't kid myself; I'm dressing up for him.I get changed, making sure to put my favourite perfume on and sit down to do my makeup. I decided to do heavier winged liner, mascara, a nude lip, and a little bit of pink blush. I tidy up my brows and fill them slightly and add some highlighter to my cheekbones.I style my hair, pulling it back into a half pony with me pieces out to frame my face.I stand and take another once over when I hear a whistle. I turn around and see Evie in my doorway, all dolled up her
Nadia's POVIt's been a week since I returned from the retreat with Nathaniel, and I'm missing him.Missing him a lot. More than I really thought I would.We've been texting every single day when he's got time, but it's nothing like being in person with him physically. We're planning to do a video call this evening once he's finished up with a meeting so at least I'll get to see him in some capacity.As for life back home, well..Mike and Alarik haven't laid-a hand on me since I've come home, making me think that Mike listened to my threat and has backed off for time being. At least, I hope. I'm still doing all the normal dutiesthat he asked of me before, but it seems he's finally leaving me alone to do them. Gabby and Lynette have told me that I probably should keep my guard up still, which I am, but this is a welcome feeling to not have to worry as much.I walk outside of the house and make my way to the garden, and I make sure to do the zipper up on my sweater as I walk. It's star