Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Sierra pov.

I just stood there, transfixed, unable to tear my gaze away from Henry. It was him, unmistakably him. I wanted to approach, to make a move, but a surge of emotions overwhelmed me, leaving me frozen in indecision.

"Henry," I whispered, my voice barely audible. Tears welled up in my eyes as I locked eyes with him, the realization sinking in.

I reached out tentatively, my hands trembling, and brushed my fingers against his cheek. Joy washed over me, mingling with the tears that streamed down my face. I had believed I would never see him again after he mentioned his newfound partner, and in his absence, I had felt adrift. But here he was, in the flesh. As he pulled away slightly, I stared into his eyes one more time, my heart swelling with affection. He smiled, a balm to my soul.

He turned his attention to Nora, who had been fixated on Alex, seemingly preparing to take action. Henry approached her, gently pulling her away from Alex. Yet, there lingered a hint of fear in Alex's eyes as she looked at Nora.

"Why did you intervene?" Nora demanded, her voice laced with anger, facing Henry. "I should have ended her right here and now!" Her words resonated with fury.

Henry glanced at Alex, then back at Nora, his expression composed and thoughtful.

"Just look at her. She's already terrified. Inflicting violence upon her won't serve us well. It's better to let her be."

As Henry spoke those words, my attention shifted to William, who stood at the doorway, silently observing us. Our eyes met briefly, and I quickly averted my gaze, turning away.

He approached us, his eyes fixed on me, then on Henry. I could sense the anger emanating from him, like a simmering volcano.

"Why is everyone gathered here?" he demanded, his tone questioning, as if we had convened for some important purpose.

Just then, Nora stepped forward, her eyes locking with William's, her voice icy and brimming with anger.

"I could not believe you would do this to my friend after all that she did for you. And I still can't believe you made her a maid to all those hideous poor villages! How could you?"

Nora's anger intensified with every word she uttered, her voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and outrage. She turned sharply, her gaze fixed on Alex, her eyes brimming with fury.

"And as for you, I will make sure you pay, one way or the other, Alex. I will ensure that all the sins you have committed come back to haunt you."

Alex remained silent, frozen in place, her hands still pressed against her cheek.

Williams approached Henry, his eyes filled with contempt as he addressed him.

"Why are you here? I told you never to show your face here again."

A smile played on Henry's lips as he looked at Williams, taking a step closer and gently grasping my trembling hands in his own.

"I have come to take her with me. She will be leaving with me now."

I glanced at Henry, confusion etched on my face, and instinctively pulled my hands away. Why did he want me to go with him when he already had a mate? What was he thinking?

Just as Williams was about to speak, I found my voice and interjected.

"But Henry, you've made it clear saying you found your Mate, Why do you want me with you?"

Upon hearing my words, Williams burst into laughter, casting a mocking glance at Henry.

"So, Henry, is that what you told her? That you have a mate? Did you bother mentioning that your mate died long before you became my beta?"

I looked from Williams to Henry, the realization dawning on me. Had Henry lied to me? But why?

I continued to gaze at Henry, silently demanding an explanation, my eyes searching for the truth.

"Sierra," Henry said softly, meeting my gaze, "I'm sorry I lied. I did it to protect you, to keep you out of harm's way. I have never been away, and I have always been the one to watch over you while you slept. I cannot bear to see you in pain. Please, forgive me."

I was overwhelmed with a mixture of sadness and happiness, emotions swirling within me. But Henry hadn't done anything wrong; he had only shown genuine concern for my well-being. Without a second thought, I embraced him tightly and let my tears flow.

"Am happy you are back, Henry," I whispered, feeling a glimmer of hope rekindle inside me.

Suddenly, I was forcibly pulled away by William, who turned me around abruptly.

"What do you think you're doing?" he yelled, his words piercing my ears and causing me to shiver.

Just as I thought William was about to say more, Nora stepped in, pulling me away from him and turning to face him directly.

"Don't you ever dare talk to her that way. You may be an Alpha, but I will not hesitate to protect Sierra," she declared fiercely.

William was left speechless, his mouth agape, but he remained silent. It was then that Henry stepped forward.

"I am ashamed of you, my friend. I thought you were better than this," Henry spoke, disappointment evident in his voice.

I watched as William, unable to utter a single word, turned his back on us.

"If you want to leave, then leave. But I no longer wish to see you in my presence," he yelled, his anger echoing through the air.

Nora grasped my hands firmly, pulling me away from the tense situation.

"Let's get away from here, Sierra. He is nothing but a beast," she said, her tone harsh. Though I didn't appreciate her choice of words, I couldn't deny the truth: William's behavior was beastly.

As Nora led me away from William and we walked out of the castle, Henry followed closely behind. Yet, I couldn't help but glance back every few seconds.

I observed Alex's amused expression as he glanced at Nora, but inside, I couldn't help but laugh. I knew she had experienced a fear unlike any other in her life.

As we distanced ourselves from the castle and it disappeared from sight, I released Nora's hand and turned to face Henry.

"Why did you lie?" I questioned, my gaze meeting his, as I sought to understand why he had deceived me about finding his mate.