Mercy

After the intense dinner session, Igor retired for the night. He was planning on staying a few days with them before heading back to Alpha Seth’s territory again. Roza and Nikolai stopped by the nursery to kiss Maksim good night before walking back to their bedrooms. Roza hasn’t completely moved into Nikolai’s room yet and so Nikolai walked Roza to her bedroom first.

They were quiet up until they got there. She had her back to him as she ran his words over and over in her mind. He bit his lower lip as he wondered what he can say. Did he come on too strong for her? Was she not ready to be where he was?

“Well, uh, good night.” He whispered softly.

She heard his feet retreating and turned around. She grabbed a hold of his wrist to stop him from walking. He turned his head to look back at her in question. She took a step forward until she stood fully in front of him. She looked up at him from underneath her eyelashes.

“I have feelings for you too, Nikolai. I have always had feelings for you and I have always cared for you even when you hurt me in the past. I can’t stop what I feel.” She began.

His heartbeat was galloping at an unimaginable speed. It was so loud he could literally hear it thumping against his chest. He watched her swallow hard before looking up at him completely.

Nikolai couldn’t be any more in love. Every second of the day that he spends with her was like a breath of fresh air and he never felt more alive. She was stunning with her curled black tresses that draped down her shoulders to the crook of her back. The way her violet eyes glimmered under the light and the faint blush on her cheek was breathtaking. His chest ached at how beautiful she looked in his eyes.

She moved to cup his cheek and slowly a smile showed on her face and her eyes sparkled even more. “I love you too, Nikolai.”

Nikolai stopped breathing. The woman in front of him was going to be the death of him. He was going to die a happy man. He grinned and cupped both of her cheeks immediately as he brought his lips down onto hers. He kissed her as if his life depended on it. She grinned against his lips as he scattered her faces with light kisses before pulling her completely against him to hug.

“Do you really mean it?” He asked. “I have hurt you in the past and I know I don’t deserve you. I’m selfish man, I know. I’m greedy and can’t let you go when I know you deserve better but-”

She laughed. “I mean it.”

He laughed in happiness along with her. He held her tight as the emotions in him passed between them. She could feel everything. He was truly happy and he meant every word when he said he loved her at dinner. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.

They stayed that way for a while as Nikolai couldn’t find it in him to let her go, especially after she told him she felt the same way. He knew that it didn’t matter. It will be one step at a time. He pulled back to kiss her again but someone cleared their throat and he looked away from Roza to Dimitri.

“It’s Faith. She wants to speak with you two.” Dimitri said.

“She’s awake?”

“Just about two hours ago.” Dimitri answered Nikolai.

“She’s not seeing Roza-”

Roza frowned and touched Nikolai’s chest to get his attention. He looked down at Roza. “I am fine.”

“I don’t want you near her.” Nikolai said.

“I think I can handle myself.” Roza replied, her eyebrows crinkling into a serious look.

Nikolai sighed and then turned to look at Dimitri. “Let’s go.”

They stood in Faith’s room in the medical wing. She looked badly beaten up but not as bad as she was couple of days ago. She was healing. She looked at them with a guilt expression.

“I’m sorry.” She immediately spoke. “I don’t know what got into me. I hurt a baby because of jealousy.”

Roza and Nikolai stood together. Nikolai wasn’t very forgiving. He wore a hard face as he looked at Faith and when Faith looked at Nikolai and saw that expression, tears ran down her cheeks.

“You know me, Nikolai. I would never have done it. I just couldn’t bear the thought of you with another. I loved you for so long.” She sobbed softly.

“People do things sometimes without thinking. I understand that.” Nikolai responded.

Faith sniffled and wiped away a tear.

“But I can’t forgive you. He is my pup. She is my mate. Maybe in the future I can but as of right now I can’t.” Nikolai turned to Roza and then back to Faith. “Your fate has been decided. You will no longer have a spot in this pack. Once you are healed, we will provide you with a backpack filled with supplies.”

“No, please, Nick. Don’t do this.” She cried. “I’m sorry. It was a mistake. I didn’t mean to hurt her or him. I was just so angry.”

“Your backpack will be filled with supplies. You are to leave and never come back. It is the best option for you. If Roza didn’t stop me, I would’ve have killed you in the fields the day you harmed my pup.” He continued as if he didn’t hear her. She cried harder.

“Please Nick!” She cried at the top of her lungs for him to listen to her. Her eyes moved to Roza. “Please, please don’t make him kick me out. I can’t go rogue. I need this. Please. I promise to stay out of the way.”

Roza felt sympathy towards Faith. Was it wrong for Faith to have feelings for Nikolai? No. Roza couldn’t blame her. If it was Roza she would probably feel the same way for Nikolai. Although he was a difficult man, he was also very kind and sweet underneath all that.

“I’m sorry, Faith. I really do hope you find another pack that is willing to take you in but as of right now I can’t. I am with Nikolai. You hurt my pup. It is not acceptable.” Roza responded.

Faith’s facial expression fell. Tears ran down her cheeks and she wiped it away even though it was useless because more was running down. She looked up at Nikolai and Roza can see that she was truly sorry.

“I’m sorry, Nikolai. I’m sorry for disappointing you. I’m sorry for hurting your pup.” She turned to Roza. “I’m sorry for hurting you. I know what I did wrong. I was irrational and bitter. I hurt you because I was a jealous raged woman.”

Roza smiled softly. “You have every right to feel what you feel for Nikolai. If it was me I would feel the same way. He is a good man.”

Nikolai turned to Roza and smiled. Faith sniffled and wiped away her tears. “I still love him.”

Roza’s wolf was pacing in her mind. The announcement was enough to make Roza jealous too but Faith’s next sentence calmed her down.

“But he is yours. He was never made for me.” She said sadly. “I wished he was mine but...wishing won’t make it true.”

“I’m sorry, Faith. This is the best I could do for you.” Nikolai ended the conversation.

“I understand.” She whispered in defeat. “Good bye, Nikolai.”

Nikolai ordered Dimitri to get a backpack ready for her. Once she was good to move, she will be escorted off the territory. Nikolai walked Roza back to her room. She yawned and said her good night before entering. He was almost reluctant to let her go but after a minute he walked to his bedroom.

After taking a very much needed shower, he walked to his drawer and pulled on a pair of black sweats. He walked to his bed and slipped under the cover and was about to go to sleep when he heard his door opened.

He opened his eyes to see Roza standing there and without a word, he opened up his blanket for her to crawl underneath. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to his body. Silently, they listened to each others breathing and heartbeat allowing it to lure them to sleep.