All Chapters of Mated To My Hated Enemy : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

I run, my lungs burning and my muscles screaming with every pounding step. The forest blurs around me, a kaleidoscope of muted greens and browns as I push myself harder, faster, desperate to put as much distance as possible between myself and the horrors I've left behind.I dare a glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Ember and her minions bearing down on me, their faces twisted with rage and bloodlust. But there's nothing, only the eerie stillness of the woods and the echo of my own ragged breaths.Still, I don't slow down. I can't. Not when every fiber of my being screams at me to keep moving, to find somewhere safe to rest and heal. The pain in my legs is a living thing now, a white-hot agony that lances through me with every jarring impact of my bare feet against the uneven ground. Black spots dance at the edges of my vision, and I can feel my strength waning with each passing second. I'm so tired.I stumble, nearly going to my knees as the world ti

In a flash, Nickolas closes the distance between us, backing me up against a nearby tree. The rough bark digs into my bare skin, a delicious contrast to the heat of his body pressing against mine. His lips find mine again in a searing kiss, stealing the thoughts from my head. All that exists is the taste of him, the feel of his hands roaming over my curves, igniting sparks wherever they touch. As his hands move to my upper body, they come to a stop once they reach my neck, where he wraps his hand around it."Are you sure, little one?" he asks, his eyes brimming with lust. I nod eagerly.Nickolas crushes his lips against mine, and in a swift motion, he lifts me up, wrapping my legs around his waist.  He lowers us to the ground, the soft grass a cushion beneath my back. He pulls away just long enough to shed his shirt but leaves his vest on, revealing the glorious expanse of tanned skin and rippling biceps. My mouth goes dry at the sight, wetness pooling in my core.

By the time I finally emerge from the tree line, I've managed to regain some semblance of composure. My eyes are still red-rimmed and swollen, my cheeks blotchy from the force of my anguished sobs. But I've pushed the worst of the hurt down, letting it settle into a dull, throbbing ache that I can just barely tolerate as I scan the small encampment. The first person I see is Nickolas, emerging from the mouth of the cave with his usual brooding intensity. But he's not alone - at his side is a figure I never thought I'd see again, one that has a wide smile splitting my face before I can stop it. "Eric!" I call out, my steps quickening as I cross the distance between us. Before the burly lycan can so much as open his mouth, I've flung myself into his arms, burying my face in the comforting warmth of his chest as he chuckles. "Hello, Princess," he rumbles, squeezing me tight for a brief moment before releasing me and holding

NICKOLAS I make my way through the castle's winding corridors, my steps heavy and my thoughts even heavier. I can still smell Amelia's scent clinging to me like a second skin and feel the warmth of her body cradled against mine. It's maddening, this bone-deep craving for her that seems to grow stronger with every passing moment. Eventually, my wandering feet carry me to my study, the heavy oak door swinging open to reveal the comforting familiarity of my sanctuary. Sinking down into the high-backed leather chair behind my desk, I rest my elbows on the polished surface and cradle my head in my hands, struggling to make sense of the storm raging inside me. I don't like the way Amelia looked at me back there, the hurt and anger simmering beneath the surface of her carefully neutral expression. I want nothing more than to take that pain away, to open myself up to her in a way I've never allowed myself to be vulnerable before

My breath catches in my throat as I take in the sight of him, all tousled hair and piercing green eyes that seem to see straight through to my very soul. He's clearly freshly showered and changed, the crisp scent of his soap mingling with the unique aroma that is purely him. For a moment, we simply stare at each other, the air between us thick with a tension that has my heart pounding in my chest. Then his gaze rakes over me from head to toe, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth as he takes in my appearance. "Where are you going?" he asks, his voice low and rough with an emotion I can't quite decipher. "To see Lily," I reply, reaching for the door handle once more. But Nickolas is faster, his hand slamming against the wood and holding it firmly shut. "You're not going," he growls. I suck in a sharp breath, frustration warring with the instinctive urge to submit to his comm