Chapter 374: Tell Me About The Future

"Even if keeping me alive costs you everything?" Lilith asked.

"Especially then," Nicholas said.

Lilith’s expression was complicated. "That’s what scares me. Not dying. But watching you destroy yourselves trying to save me."

"Too bad," Nicholas said. "You don’t get a say in that. We’re going to save you whether you want us to or not."

Lilith laughed....soft and a little broken. "That’s very Alpha of you."

"I know," Nicholas said. "Sorry."

"Don’t apologize," Lilith said. "I love that you’re stubborn and controlling and absolutely certain you can fix impossible things. Even when you probably can’t."

Nicholas smiled despite everything. "Is this your way of telling me you love me?"

"I already told you I love you," Lilith said. "Multiple times. But yes. I love you. I love Nicholas who leads his pack with impossible wisdom. And I love Kael who would tear apart anyone who threatened me. I love both of you."

Nicholas felt warmth spread through his chest. "I love you too. Both the Morvaine witch who walked into my estate terrified and lying about being wolfless. And the woman who stood on a battlefield and fought a demon lord to protect people she barely knew. I love both of you."

Lilith’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. "If something goes wrong during the transformation...."

"It won’t," Nicholas interrupted.

"But if it does," Lilith continued, "I need you to promise me something."

"Anything," Nicholas said.

"Don’t blame yourself," Lilith said. "Don’t spend the rest of your life thinking you failed me. Don’t let guilt destroy you. Because Nicholas....you didn’t fail. You gave me a life worth living. You gave me love and family and belonging. That’s more than most people ever get."

Nicholas felt tears burning behind his eyes. "I’m not making that promise."

"Nicholas...."

"No," Nicholas said firmly. "I’m not promising to accept your death gracefully. I’m not promising to move on and live a happy life without you. Because if you die, Lilith, I’m going to move heaven and hell to bring you back. I’m going to break every rule and cross every line and do whatever it takes. And I’m not apologizing for that."

Lilith stared at him. "You can’t just refuse to accept death."

"Watch me," Nicholas said.

For a moment they just looked at each other. Then Lilith started laughing.

Not hysterical. Not broken. Just genuinely amused.

"You’re ridiculous," Lilith said.

"I’m determined," Nicholas corrected.

"Same thing," Lilith said. She pulled him closer. "Come here."

Nicholas moved from the chair to sit on the edge of the bed. Lilith shifted to make room and patted the space beside her.

"Lie down with me," Lilith said. "Just for a little while."

Nicholas hesitated. "You need to rest."

"I’ll rest better if you’re here," Lilith said.

Nicholas could not argue with that logic.

He kicked off his shoes and carefully lay down beside her. Lilith immediately curled into his side, resting her head on his chest.

Through the bond Nicholas felt her exhaustion. Felt her fear. Felt her desperate need for comfort and safety and the illusion that everything might be okay.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

"Tell me about the future," Lilith said quietly. "The one where the transformation works and I survive."

Nicholas closed his eyes and let himself imagine it.

"We rebuild the estate," Nicholas said. "Repair all the damage from Thalia’s attack. Make it beautiful again. And we claim you properly in front of the entire pack. No secrets. No hiding. Just the four of us together the way we’re supposed to be."

"What else?" Lilith asked.

"We travel," Nicholas continued. "Show you the territories. Let you meet the allied packs. Maybe go somewhere completely human for a while where no one knows what we are."

"I’d like that," Lilith said.

"And eventually," Nicholas said, "when things are stable and safe, we figure out what comes next. Kids maybe. Or just the four of us building a life together. Whatever you want."

"Kids?" Lilith repeated.

"If you want them," Nicholas said. "No pressure. But the thought of little ones with your stubbornness and our...." He stopped. "Actually that sounds terrifying. Nevermind."

Lilith laughed against his chest. "Too late. You said it. Now I’m imagining tiny Alphas running around causing chaos."

"We’d be outnumbered," Nicholas said.

"Definitely," Lilith agreed.

They fell into comfortable silence.

Nicholas listened to Lilith breathe. Felt her heartbeat steady against his ribs. Felt the bond between them pulsing with warmth and love and desperate hope.

"Nicholas?" Lilith said after a while.

"Yeah?"

"If something goes wrong," Lilith said quietly. "If the transformation fails and I die..."

"You’re not going to die," Nicholas said.

"But if I do," Lilith continued, "I need you to know something. This....right now, being here with you. This is enough. Even if I only get two more days. Even if it all ends badly. This is enough."

Nicholas felt tears slip down his face. "It’s not enough for me. I want decades with you. Centuries if we can figure out how. I want everything."

"I know," Lilith said. "But if we don’t get that...if all we get is right now, then I’m grateful for it. For you. For all three of you. For every moment we’ve had."

Nicholas held her tighter.

"I love you," he whispered. "And I’m not saying goodbye. Not tonight. Not ever. You’re going to survive this. You’re going to transform the curse and become something amazing and we’re going to have the life together that we deserve."

"Promise?" Lilith asked, and her voice was small.

"Promise," Nicholas lied.

Because he could not promise that. Could not guarantee anything except that he would fight for her with everything he had.

But Lilith needed hope right now more than she needed brutal honesty.

So Nicholas held her and lied and pretended everything would be okay.

And Lilith held him back and pretended to believe.

They stayed like that until Lilith fell asleep in his arms.

And Nicholas stayed awake watching her breathe.

Two days, he thought. Two days and then we find out if love is enough to break a divine curse.

Please let it be enough.