CHAPTER 80

CHAPTER EIGHTY
NADIA’S POV
I’ve been lying on my back for what seemed like forever while Xander whispered around with another man a bit older just outside the room. I wasn’t conversant with whole new werewolf hierarchy but I assumed that was the beta or whatever the hell they called the assistant to Alpha. I could hear their voices but I couldn’t gather what exactly they were talking about but I gathered they were discussing my offer. I had my fingers crossed, hoping they would consider my offer. It was tempting but for some reason Xander had the werewolf pride about not going against Collins’ pack. Eventually he walked back in, resuming his earlier sitting position, his blank expression giving me no hint of his decision.

“How can I be sure you know who this assassin is or if you actually have an influence own him or her, enough to make them change their mind?” He questioned.

“You can’t be sure and neither can you trust me. I know you have the werewolf pride thing going on but this is not the time to figure out who you can trust and who can’t,” I watched his eyes, looking for any subtle hint of change,” Think about your pack members. They have families, friends, jobs and basically a life that doesn’t revolve around the pack,”

“Well, I just received news that the witches are backing up Carson. Now, if my calculations are actually right, a coven of witches backing up werewolves’ forms a much stronger team than yours,”

“Oh, that. And are you certain its all the witches that are backing him up? Because I’d beg to differ,” I said. Maybe to an extent I was scared of the witches but knowing I was capable of ending them, did give me a sense of comfort.

He rose up,” Until you can convince enough, I won’t be releasing you anytime soon,”

I watched him walk away, a frustrated sigh leaving my lips. I needed to get out of here right now. There was too much at stake and well, Xander was proving to be such a hot-headed negotiator. Taking a deep breath, a memory of the capabilities I possess rushed into my brain. Closing my eyes, I tuned out everything as I let the memory of my parent’s murder punish my brain and hoping this would actually work. Collins was the only person I could reach this way, even if this meant him seeing parts of my life I was trying to bury.

COLLIN’S POV
My interrogation with Sasha had proved unyielding and now while I waited for the funeral ceremony to start, I retreated to my office, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from my home office. Taking a sip, I tried to keep my mind from thinking about the worst. If my father really had no idea who kidnapped Nadia, then who on earth would want her dead? Last I checked, only my father held an unsatiable thirst of wanting to end Nadia’s life. He was literally obsessed with it.

“She wouldn’t say anything but I’ve been working on a theory about this assassin and I think I may have a hunch about who he is,” Danny suddenly spoke, cutting me from my wandering thoughts. When did he get in here?

“Some good news finally,” I was really at the tether edge of my patience with the constant bad news.

“Well, this is going to sound ridiculously impossible but I think that A-“Suddenly pain shot through my brain, blinding me as I let out a groan.

Gripping my hair in a bid to stop the increasing pain, my wolf let out another growl, attempting to break out as sudden jumbled images raced through my brain. At first, they were moving so fats that it felt like I couldn’t breathe before they slowed down to form one complete, motion in my head. It was a memory except not mine but Nadia’s. I couldn’t stop it as it rolled into my mind, as I felt her pain every bit of it as though I was experiencing it myself. It was as if I had suddenly become her in the memory.


*I stood at the door way of a house I didn’t recognize, almost as if I was invisible. There were two kids playing with wooden figurines. One was a slightly chubby boy and there other was a girl who looked like Nadia when she was a kid but before I could say anything, she suddenly looked up, her eyes meeting mine. For some reason her eyes drew me in, and suddenly it felt like I had become her, my own body disappearing. I glanced at Harry’s handmade, wooden figurine of wonder woman. So this was Harry? Cute little kid. Smiling, I pushed the figurine in the pocket of my knee length coat before getting on the tip of my toes as I turned the door knob, twisting it open. As I took the first step inside, two familiar voices reached my ears. Why was mum and Dad arguing?

“I’m telling you that I can take them out. They wouldn’t even dare set foot in my house, knowing damn well that I’m a huntress,” Mum said.

A huntress? What was going on and who was she planning to take out?

“And we have the ultimate weapon that could destroy them. If they find out what Nadia can do, they won’t stop until she is dead. They tried to kill her before and if it were not for Drake, we’d have lost Nadia along with Adrian. We lost one child and I’m not going to lose another to those dog-like creatures with no heart,” Dad retorted.

“Mum? Dad?” I shifted my eyes from one person to another, completely confused. What the hell were they talking about? A weapon?

“Hey, baby,” mum crouched down, cupping my cheeks.

“What is going on?” I questioned as she scooped me up, carrying me upstairs to my room.

“How was your playdate with Harry? Did he poke your cheeks again?” she questioned as she set me down on my bed. Just like that, my attention was sidetracked.

“Yes but this time, I pinched his nose. He got mad but then grandma Rania made us sit down and make up over ice cream. Grandma Rania is so nice and she says, when we grow up, we could end up getting married just like you and Dad,” I said, with a small smile.

She pinched my cheeks lightly, “She is not wrong, you know. Your Dad and I grew up as best friends and then we fell in love. Now come on, I want you to stay in your room. Your Dad and I have some things to talk about right now. I’ll call you when dinner is ready,”

I nodded as she patted my head before walking out. I played around with the figurine and somehow dosed off, only to be woken up by loud screams of my older brother Greg coming from downstairs. Clutching on the figurine, I made my way down stairs, calling my mother but she didn’t respond.

When I got in the living room, the door was down and some men were standing with werewolves. Dad was down and in dire pain with Greg looking slightly less bloody than mum was.

“M-Mum,” I stuttered, gaining her attention.

“Well, so this little girl is the one supposed to destroy us? Those witches really gave up their lives for nothing. Come on boys. Get her,” A man, who seemed like was the leader, ordered and the wolves began racing towards me but mum was quick, fighting them off. I quickly ran under the table, still clutching the figurine and as though to make the matters worse, Harry appeared with his grandma.

As I watched with silent tears, they tore Harry into pieces, then turned to my father and brother, killing them and this while their leader had a victorious smirk on his face, palms pocketed. Mum was brave, trying to fight them off but they were too strong and they overpowered her, throwing her hard against the ground near me.

“I’m sorry baby. I thought I could protect you but they are too strong. Promise me that you will remember every single thing. Promise me that you will not only avenge our deaths but also stop these greedy creatures. A war is coming and only you can shield the mortals from them but the most important thing I want you to remember is your promise to Drake. Now do it,”

“Do what?” I questioned, tears running down my cheeks.

“Just do it and don’t worry about me,” she ordered yet but this time, she was looking at grandma Rania who already had a huge gush on her head.

Before I could understand what was going, she created a portal with her hands, straining against the pain. With tears in her eyes, mum shoved me right into the portal but in the process, I dropped the figure before the portal closed.

Suddenly Nadia, suddenly in her adult form, appeared in front of me,” Xander took me. You are the only one I trust to help me out here,”*

Before I could ask her anything more, suddenly my mind went blank and Nadia disappeared from my mind. For a while I remained rigid, unable to tear the image of my father killing her parents. Her pain was too real, too raw. I had no idea how she was surviving through that. What had shaken me the most was the look my father had in his eyes. There was no tint of mercy and what had looked back at me were the eyes of a cold-bloodied killer. Despite Nadia’s claim, I hadn’t felt the really impact of my father’s deeds like I did now.

“Dude, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Danny’s voice got through my thoughts.

“I’m not my father, Danny,” I whispered,” I can’t be him. I-I’m going to make all this right,”