Chapter 35: #THIRTY-FIVE

Nicholas’s POV

I leaned against the pillar as I watched Elijah talk to some of the guards at the gate.

Again and again, they totally denied having seen the stranger who broke in, nor did they see any maid leave the mansion. He finally gave up and returned to my side, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"They really didn’t see anyone. If one was lying, ten of them can’t team up to lie to me just like that when they know the consequences." He muttered as he stood beside me, his body leaning to the side so he could rest his head on my shoulder.

This man was taller than me, by the way; I should be leaning on him instead.

"Are we just going to let them go? Like that?" I whispered as he took my hand and he sighed once again, his head shifting so he could stare at me.

"I have to inform Dad. And Adrian as well, because this isn’t just about you anymore." He replied and then stood straight, his gaze staring deep into my soul. "He said he wanted to kill you just as much as he wanted you... I need you to know that I will never let that happen. Not while I’m here. I will protect you even if it kills me."

He sounded so serious that I was dumbfounded for a minute, my eyes searching him for a sign that he was probably lying. I could tell he wasn’t and it warmed my heart so much.

"You don’t have to sound so..."

"Cheesy?"

"Something like that." I whispered with a smile and he chuckled too, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "You don’t have to say what you don’t mean just to make me feel relieved. I somehow brought this upon this house so I have to fix it—"

"No. I mean every single word I’ve said." He cut me off, his hands cupping my face gently and I froze. "It was not your fault and it will never be your fault. It was his fault for ruining your life by stalking you. And I will find him, I promise. I will make him pay for what he did to you."

"You promise?" Those words left my lips in a whisper and he nodded, a serious expression on his face. "You really will protect me?"

"With everything in me." He muttered and I stared at him for a moment, my eyes watering with gratitude.

I didn’t even know when I moved, but I got on my tippy toes and pressed my lips on his without caring that the guards could be watching us right now. He froze against me for a second before he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss.

When I pulled away, my cheeks flushed from the kiss, he looked like he had just hit the jackpot as he smiled brightly at me, making me blush even more.

I suddenly realized we were being watched when I turned towards the gate to see most of the guards and security personnel staring at us with grins on their faces.

"Oh my god." I whispered in embarrassment as I rushed back inside the house and Elijah followed after me with a soft chuckle, his hands buried in his pockets. "Why didn’t you tell me they were watching?" I asked in exasperation as I ran up the stairs and he snickered, catching up with me at once.

"You kissed me, willingly love. I had no time to tell you." He teased me and I huffed, turning just as I got to the top of the stairs.

I lost my footing because I turned so fast and ended up falling right into his arms since he was only a step away from me. I was worried that I would make him lose his footing as well because of how quickly I fell but he simply wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me steady like he knew I was going to fall.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his brows furrowed in worry and I felt flustered once more as he stared at me with a gentle gaze.

Damn it, I was definitely in love with him.

"I– I’m fine." I stuttered as I pulled back, and he looked confused about how fast I pulled back. "By the way, I’m still very mad at you. Very very mad." I said with a frown, my hands on my waist.

A look of realization fell upon his face as he rubbed the back of his neck gently and I huffed in annoyance.

"I know, I know, but I didn’t want to see you so worked up and worried. That was why I lied." He said softly as he reached for me, but I stepped away, a small pout on my lips.

"You made me look like a fool in front of everyone!" I hissed and he sighed. "If you had told me about the mark on my neck and the fact that it was glowing, I would have worn your hoodie. Everyone had seen that mark on me. What if they suspected my real identity?"

"Don’t betas get marked too?" He asked with a tilt of his head and I scoffed. "Fine, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I just... I didn’t want to talk about it, I felt jealous upon seeing it and somehow wanted to convince myself that it was a figment of my imagination. I’m sorry..."

Damn it, who would ever believe that I would have another weakness except my real identity?

Seeing him like this had me so weak in my knees that I couldn’t even be mad if I tried.

"Fine. Apology accepted." I muttered, and his face finally brightened as he pulled me into his arms, but I suddenly pointed at him. "You are mine. Do you understand?"

"All yours, sir." He replied without arguing and I giggled in satisfaction. "Right, where did you get that hoodie from? It doesn’t seem to belong to anyone in this house. That could also be good evidence to find this asshole."

"From Jayden." I said and his gaze seemed to darken when I said his name, making me raise my brows. "I went with him after finding out that I had a glowing mark on me. We hung out for a while after he gave me the hoodie."

"Did the hoodie belong to Jayden?" He asked with a dark gaze and before I could respond, he continued. "If it was his clothing, then isn’t it evident that Jayden was the intruder? I never liked him around you anyway, I knew he was up to something—"

"No, no. The hoodie doesn’t belong to Jayden but his brother." I interrupted him but he didn’t seem a bit convinced as we walked to my room, his hand on his chin. "Are you really jealous of me hanging out with him?"

"Jealous? Why would I be?" He muttered with a huff and I almost laughed in amusement. "I mean, it only makes sense. If it wasn’t him, then how could the stranger and the hoodie show up at the same time?"

Why was he making so much sense? His words were quite different from the theory I had, however.

"But Jayden is an omega. That scent is obviously one of an alpha. It can’t be him. Besides, I did see a picture of his brother... he looked a bit familiar to me too." I explained with a frown as he opened the door to my room, seeing my suitcase on the floor.

Just then, my stomach growled so loudly that I felt so embarrassed yet all he did was smile like a lovesick idiot.

"Wanna move to my room? Permanently?" He asked with a tilt of his head and I felt my cheeks heat up at the thought of living with him fully. "And we can grab something to eat right after. Then, we can talk about Jayden and call my dad. How’s that sound?"

"It sounds great." I whispered with a soft smile and his face lit up at my words. "But first... there’s something I need to do."

"What...?"

He barely completed his words when I pulled him closer by the shirt and then kissed him deeply. He didn’t waste a moment as he kissed me back deeply, his hands grabbing my ass as he gave them a gentle squeeze.

While I kissed him, I raised both hands in the air, showing my middle finger to whoever the fuck was watching me— that was if he was watching me right now.

His days are almost over.

But... it couldn’t actually be Jayden, right? That would be horrible...

"Hey, I have a better idea." Elijah suddenly said as he pulled back, a string of saliva still between our lips. "Do you wanna hear it?"

"Tell me." I whispered when I saw the mischievous grin on his face and he leaned in close to me, his lips right beside my ear as he whispered words that had my eyes widening in shock.