42.

"We have to stop doing this my angel," Nikolai said softly to his mate as he kissed her head. He sat beside her on the bed holding her limp hand in his. He traced her face, smiling softly at the memory of how her face always lights up whenever he returned home. The young king didn't leave his mate's side since he reached home, everything that he would need was brought in and his order to be left alone was respected. Only the doctor was allowed in.
"We closed the rough incisions on her back and thigh, the healing is taking a while since it was made with a silver weapon. Scarring may happen. The silver and wolfsbane that was put into her system were very heavy. To have it all out of her we have to clean her blood using this machine," the doctor explained. He listened as she showed him how it worked, the doctor gave him an estimated time of four days and for the best outcome, they placed her in a drug-induced coma.

Nikolai ran his hand through his hair and walked to the balcony of Sienna's old suite, he took in the rising of the sun, the notice to every one of a new day.

"A new day? Seems familiar to me" he said out loud glancing over his shoulder at his angel. He tried his best to get the knots out of her hair and washed her body carefully. He wouldn't allow the servants to tend to her, he wanted to do it all by himself. He felt guilty for leaving her at the palace with Cain and Viktor; if he stayed he knew she wouldn't be in this situation. 'You cannot blame yourself' Vadim comforted. Nikolai huffed and ignored his wolf.
'Your majesty your uncles wish to have a word with you.' Josef reported. His men took it upon themselves to be the messenger and bouncer for him, it was duly appreciated.

'Not now' he returned. He wanted to be left alone, his wolf and himself were tired and the position he now had wasn't one he wanted but knew he had matters to deal with. Nikolai wasn't ready to face it all, his uncles were waiting patiently for him, and he rejected a call from his father an hour ago and got word that his uncle would be arriving in Russia soon. Everything was closing in on him. The events of what happened in the forest, his mate being in a coma, the thought of now being in such a high position, and facing his family after such a tragedy. They had to kill one of their own. They didn't want to do it but they had to. Cain lost himself, his wolf took over his humanity from being drunk on power and jealousy.

"I wish you were awake. Your presence is my strength."



The next few days Nikolai kept to his word, he didn't step a foot outside the suite not even to greet his grieving uncle. Creating a makeshift desk he placed it near Sienna, wanting to be close to her as he did his office work, conference calls, new drawings were all done by her side. He kept her in the loop of his workday telling her how he felt about some clients, what changes he made in the vast company he owned even of what new things he can now do as king. "I-I had your parents informed. Your papa, he was angry by the news but happy you are safe. They are arriving soon. I do not think I can face them. I promised to keep you safe. Now. Look at you, I failed angel," he voiced out watching her intently. Her skin had a bit of color back and the bruises have faded leaving a bluish haze to her skin. Nikolai listened to the machines beeping and hissing, it was reassuring knowing that she was alive.

"The doctor promised that she should wake you soon. I miss you. We have a new life now but I want to start this new life when you can run beside me and walk next to me down the aisle. I love you Enna" he continued going over to her side. Picking up the brush he began to brush her hair gently, raising her up a bit he continued to brush her hair. "The bruise is gone," he said moving the hair away from her neck where a nasty bruise was. Pushing her back onto the bed, he kissed his mark then pulled away. "I can't wait to see those lovely brown eyes of yours." Nikolai then proceeded to massage and exercise her legs as he continues to tell her how well she was healing.

A knock on the door interrupted him as he redressed her bandages. "Who is it?" he asked gruffly.

"Your mother," the person answered. He froze then sprung into action, he was shocked and confused. "Mama. Why you here?" he said opening the door quickly. There stood his heavily pregnant mother who had a serene smile on her face. Behind her stood his father and sister with worried looks on their faces. "Papa, you should have stayed home with mama. It's not safe." he said while reluctantly allowing them in the room. Angelo led his mate to the lounge chair opposite the bed and sat beside her, Mina stood at the foot of the bed looking at Sienna with a sad smile. "How is she?" she asked. Nikolai sat beside his mate and held her hand, "She's doing great. My Sienna is very strong, yes? We are doing stretches so her limbs won't be stiff. Her blood is getting pure once again. When she wakes up, I'm never letting her out of my arms." All this was said with his focus only on Sienna.

Mina glanced at her parents with a worried look. 'He still feels guilty' she conveyed to them finding a seat. "Niko, we understand what you are going through but you have responsibilities," Amelia said.

"How can you understand? Have you..." he began but stopped mid-sentence when he noticed how tightly his father now held his mother. Angelo kissed her head then made his way over to the balcony, without a word, his son reluctantly followed. The two stood in silence, each man warring with their chaotic emotions. The bond of father and son between both human and wolf strengthen after sensing the need to be by each other's side.

"When they took your mother from me, we only knew each other for a month. A month and was so close to her. Every minute away from her drove me mad but I had responsibilities to uphold. I had to lead my men, keep the peace around my territory, and be the strong prince everyone knew me to be in order to get her back." Nikolai sat on the bench waiting for his father to go on. "I still feel the guilt in nearly killing her. Even when she tells me it wasn't my fault, I still feel it. I held the dagger. It was my hands her blood stained."

"But...But how..." The words were there to ask but he just couldn't ask his father the question he wanted to ask someone for days now.

"How do you live with the guilt?" Angelo asked instead. He turned to look inside, watching Amelia and his daughter talking and laughing softly.
"Yes," his son croaked out.

"I thank the Goddess every day for giving her to me and work harder in keeping her and you guys safe. You can't stop the world from turning Niko. Whatever happens to us or those close to us whether it's good or bad, it grows us and teaches us. Don't let what happen to weaken you, let it strengthen you. Sienna is alive because of you don't you forget that." Angelo said sitting beside his son.

Nikolai embraced the silent comfort his father released, thankful for his wise words and patience. His father was there for him as he always will be.

"You're here, papa. You're here," he whispered.

Angelo looked towards the evening sky before answering. The vision of being killed while protecting his son by his own brother flashed before him. The war he saw in that vision was on his homeland, brother against brother, loyalties being tested and families being broken. He saw the war that was meant to happen but not the outcome. With Cain's anger, which led him to his death, the path of his life was changed. He can now watch his children grow and be by the side of his wife. That's all he ever wanted.

Turning to his son with tears pooling in his eyes, he gave Nikolai a tremulous smile. "I'm here," he said softly. Nikolai threw his arms around his father's torso as he did when he was a kid. He didn't care about being the powerful prince, at that moment he was a son happy that his father was alive. His hero will be with him until Mother needs him.



*****

"Good morning Nikolai."

Silence.

He didn't want to face his uncle so soon but he had to, he had responsibilities to fulfill. "Niko its okay," Caiden said cutting the awkward silence. "It is not okay," he muttered sitting back in his chair. Caiden crossed the floor of his nephew's office, making his way towards the mantle where family pictures were on display. He picked up a picture of his brother and himself. "Your father and I dreamed of having our kids grow as close as we did. We didn't care about the throne we only focused on each other. I knew how strong your father was, I knew his wolf was an original. Mom told me before I left the castle to go in search of my mate. Did you know he was to be king but he refused? He was just like you wanting a non-existent life just helping our people but the Goddess had different plans." he started smiling at how happy both he and Angelo were.

Caiden laughed drily, "Guess I failed in that part or was too blind." Nikolai shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I do not blame you nor have any hatred towards you for the d-death of my son. He was found guilty of his crimes and was beyond help. I thought he could have learned something from you but it turns out that I have to learn something from my little brother. I wasn't paying attention to my family close to me, only the one in my kingdom. Reign is distraught by his death; I just hope I'm not too late to show her the love my father gave me." Caiden walked towards his nephew with tear-filled eyes and a reassuring smile.

"The kingdom will be in great hands when I step down. May the Goddess bless you, Nikolai. You shall be a great king, just as Mother showed me." Nikolai stood up and pulled his uncle into a tight embrace.
"Thank you, uncle Cay," he said softly. Caiden tightens his hold on his nephew keeping his tears away.
"No. Thank you. You haven't realized it yet but you saved your family and people." Caiden said to him before pulling out of his nephew's embrace. With a small wave, his uncle left his office leaving Nikolai to turn over his last words.

With a few moments to himself, he buried himself in work. Before he finally made the decision to get his duties sorted, the doctor reassured him that Sienna would be fine. Chuckling to himself, he realized he was like an overprotective mother, giving her a list of things she should do and when. Vischev came through the door with Josef closely behind. "Yes?" was all Nikolai said. "Her majesty's family arrives in five hours." Vischev said without any greeting. Nikolai paused in writing and took a deep breath. "Set up an extra two bedrooms for them. They would like to be close to mate," he ordered tightening his grip on his ink pen.

The two guards stayed put and looked at their Alpha. "What is it Vischev?" he growled wanting to be alone. "They won't be mad at you. Our Luna is alive because of you. Please do not blame self." he answered.

"This is the second time they are going to see their daughter in a hospital bed. It's been like this since we began as mates. I fear they will take her away from me," he said quietly.

"Do not think like a weak wolf." Josef spat.

"Which you are not Niko" Vischev added. Nikolai shrugged his shoulders going back to work, "Niko you are doing it again," Josef continued. Their Alpha knew what they meant by the statement they made, to them he was doubting himself once again, overthinking things.

"I am not," he argued.

"Everything will be okay," Vischev said before motioning for his friend to leave their Alpha's office.

The next five hours were spent with Nikolai doing paperwork, designing, spending an hour with his mate then escaped to his office once more. He gave the orders to let the De La Vegas visit Sienna right away then show them to their rooms. He was notified when they arrived but decided to stay in his office. A half an hour later, a knock interrupted him from finishing his latest design; "Come in," he called out distractedly. His back was to the door, shoulders hunched over his work table, he paid no attention to his visitor as he tried to place the sunlight roof on a home for one of his clients.

"Work is a good way to distract one from all the ills of the world."

Nikolai slowly turned to face his unexpected visitor, "Alpha De La Vega" he greeted. Emilio smiled at the greeting of his son in law. "I know that look," he commented. Nikolai looked at him confused. "Your father had the same look when he first told me of my pack."

"What happened?"

Emilio gave him a sad smile and sat down, "Did you read the report of the she-wolves that were captured?" Nikolai nodded.
"Your father was the one... was the one who found their bodies," Emilio said gravely. "B-But grandma report said they were Enna's age," Nikolai said baffled. The South American Alpha rubbed his face roughly. "Out of the five girls, one was Sienna's childhood friend. They were just seven. I felt guilty that they reached their death so early. I felt even worse I couldn't tell their parents the reason why their daughters were captured and murdered. I wasn't there to comfort them." The anger he had for his uncle for the betrayal was multiplied knowing he was the one behind the little girls' deaths, he wasn't sorry for Viktor's death, he was pleased with it.

"I just want to thank you for getting her back alive. Thank you, hijo."

He was stunned he expected rage from his father in law, maybe he was overthinking things, it was a usual thing for him to do before confronting people. Even though he was considered this all-powerful Alpha and prince he also had insecurities. He too had fears. It was time for him to fully put those behind him, he came a long way and even further to go. It all started with the man who was sitting before him and his daughter. His Enna.

"You are welcome, Emilio."