Chapter 26: #TWENTY-SIX

Nicholas’s POV

"Why do you ask that?" He asked with raised brows as he glanced at me, and I let out a nervous laugh.

"I just wanted to know..." I whispered, hoping he wouldn’t suspect a thing and sure enough, he shrugged.

"Well, if you were marked by your mate, then it should be visible so other Alphas would steer clear of you. Otherwise, it’s nothing serious." He replied with a smile as he playfully nudged my shoulder and glanced at my neck. "Do you want me to mark you?"

"No, no." I said immediately and he snorted. "There’s nothing on my neck, right? Could you check for me?"

"Mmn, come here then." He whispered, grabbing the back of my neck as he stared closely at my neck and I couldn’t help but feel flustered. He nuzzled his nose in my neck for a moment and I couldn’t help but giggle from how it tickled.

"Focus, Elijah." I muttered softly and he hummed before pulling back, a small smile on his face. "Is there?"

"None that I can find." He replied a little too stiffly and I couldn’t help but notice that he was suddenly acting weird. Even the smile on his face seemed a little too forced.

But I couldn’t help but feel relieved that there was no mark on my neck. How would I explain that I was marked against my consent?

"Thank you." I said and he nodded once again as he turned to leave but I quickly stopped him. "Leaving already?"

"It’s time for dinner, love. Come on." He muttered as he took my hand in his, then walked out with me. "Do you feel pain anywhere? Do you need a massage? Do you—"

"None of that, Eli." I replied with a snort, and he chuckled softly, his grip on my hand tightening a bit. When we descended down the stairs, I noticed the complicated look on his face. "What is wrong?"

"Will you let me..." He paused for a second as he turned to me and I stopped. "If I told you I wanted to... well.."

"What is it?" I asked with raised brows, seeing how nervous he looked and it bothered me. "You can ask whatever it is."

"It’s nothing. Forget it—"

"It’s not nothing. Don’t lie to me." I pleaded but before he could complete his words, someone broke us apart and walked right in between us, making me gape at his retreating figure in shock.

Cassian?

"Let’s talk later." Elijah whispered as we followed Cassian to the dining table but he totally acted like he didn’t see me there.

"Cassian—" My words got caught in my throat when he simply walked past me with a food tray in his hands and returned upstairs. "Cassian, wait. At least let me explain myself?"

He didn’t slow down a bit as he walked up the stairs and I glanced at Elijah in defeat.

"Go after him. I told you he can be a big baby sometimes." He whispered and I still noticed how forced his smile was. Like he was forcing himself to act like he was okay.

Was I doing the right thing? Chasing after four different men who were not even strangers but brothers. Giving myself off like a slut to every single one of them because I needed help... What was I doing?

"I’m sorry." I whispered to Elijah and he looked confused when I placed a soft kiss on his lips. Then I rushed upstairs, leaving a stunned alpha behind.

Cassian had just gotten to the hallway when I stopped him, wrapping my arms around him as I hugged him from behind. He froze upon my touch and I placed my head on his back as I clung to him so he wouldn’t leave.

"Don’t do this, Cassian." I whispered and he suddenly chuckled slowly, a humorless chuckle that had my heart sinking.

"Do what? You’re mad that I’m ignoring you? Is that what this is about?" He asked, his voice as cold as ice, and I shivered at his words. "Let go."

"I know I was wrong but I had no choice!" I said in desperation. "I.. I was scared. I was really scared. After you promised to help, I felt relieved but his threats became worse. He had cameras all over my room and—"

"I know that." He cut me off and I froze. "What else?"

"Cassian please—"

"I don’t need your explanation, Nicholas." He replied coldly as he pulled out of my hold and my heart sank. His eyes fell to my neck first, and then his already dark gaze darkened even further as he stared at me again.

Why was he being so difficult? Was it more than me asking Adrian for help?

Without another word, he walked away, leaving me standing there in confusion and despair.

I made my way back downstairs, my face falling as I walked to the dining table. Elijah was sitting there, waiting for me as he gestured for me to sit as well. I let out a defeated sigh as I sat beside him and he gently caressed my hair.

"He’ll come around, don’t worry."

"I don’t even know what exactly he’s mad at me for. He won’t let me explain either. I just..." I turned to Elijah who pushed the plate to my side. "I’m an omega. I’ve got nothing else to offer but myself. What could I do?"

"Cheer up, love. It’s going to be fine, I promise." He replied and I nodded even though I didn’t believe him. "Eat up, you look pale as fuck."

I heaved out a sigh as I dug in and a figure showed up, sitting in front of me and I swallowed hard.

Roman.

Ever since he made me choke on his dick until I could barely breathe, I never saw him again. He sat in front of me but he didn’t even spare me a glance even as he ate. I couldn’t help but stare at him, my appetite already lost but he didn’t look my way. Not once.

What the fuck was up with these men?

"Roman—"

"I’m busy, Nicholas." He said before I could even say a word. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to say—"

"I don’t have the time to listen to anything you have to say." He cut me off once more, lazily staring at my neck, then at me. "But if you’d like me to fuck you, then my doors are wide open."

What the fuck?

"I..." I couldn’t even say something coherent as he got up, taking his food with him and walking away. "What did I do...?"

"They’re big babies." Elijah replied as he gently wiped my lips, a smile on his lips. "Are you full? You want water?"

"Yeah."

Minutes later, Elijah walked with me upstairs and when he saw how dejected I looked, he pulled me into his arms before I could walk into my room. I collapsed into his arms for a moment, burying my face in his chest.

"Why do you treat me differently? Why aren’t you treating me like the others are?" I whispered into his chest and he rubbed my back gently.

"Because I love you, idiot. I can’t say my brothers don’t love you too. But I don’t show my love aggressively. That’s all I can say. I’m sure they’ll come around, truly." He muttered and I let out a shaky breath. "Wanna sleep in my room tonight? I won’t do anything inappropriate, I promise."

"I’m not worried about that." I replied with a snicker and he pulled back, ruffling my hair gently. "Will it be okay though?"

"Absolutely. Come on."

We went to his room and true to his words, he didn’t try to do anything weird to me, even though I secretly wished he would. He pulled me into his arms when he pulled the blankets over our heads and I buried my face in his chest.

I have never cuddled anyone to sleep since I could remember so I couldn’t deny that it didn’t feel good.

"Goodnight, love."

"Goodnight, Eli."

I could feel his scent enveloping me as I fell into a deep sleep with his arms protecting me. But suddenly, a part of my neck started to burn and I hissed in pain. I opened my eyes, but all I could see was darkness.

"Eli?" I called out in panic but I heard nothing. I heard a voice behind me and I turned in confusion but I couldn’t see anything.

"Mate." I heard the voice once again and panic seized me as I took multiple steps backwards. My back suddenly hit a solid figure and I turned, coming face to face with a majestic wolf that I had never seen before.

I didn’t know what it wanted so I reached out to stroke it gently. All I did was touch it once and the next second, it pounced on me, its fangs buried in my neck and I screamed in horror.