Chapter 24: Chapter 24

[Tyler’s POV]

I kept stealing glances at her, unable to take my eyes off her ever since we had set off on our journey back to the Crescent Pack.

“Careful. Don’t make us crash,” she warned, motioning at the abandoned vehicle that was lying in my path.

I quickly turned my attention back to the road. A lot of thoughts were going on in my mind, and I had a lot of questions to ask, but I didn’t even know how to begin the conversation. She just sat quietly, staring out the window and not paying me any attention.

“Why?” I finally asked.

She turned to face me slowly. “What do you mean?” she inquired.

“Why did you save my life?” I asked. “Don’t say it’s because you felt obligated to since you’re my mate. I’ve been nothing but horrible to you, so why did you save my life?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Perhaps, I would have felt relieved if you had died, but I would never have forgiven myself because I had a chance to save you. Besides, I was only returning the favour you gave me eight years ago,” she explained.

I was confused. “Eight years ago? What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You don’t have to know, but the only thing that is sure is that I don’t owe you anything anymore,” she stated, then turned back to face the window.

A pregnant silence fell upon us, and although I had tried so hard for several hours to not ask about it, I couldn’t help myself anymore. “That vampire, who is he? How do you know him?”

“I’m surprised you’re just asking only now. He’s just someone I happened to meet by chance and he decided to take me in since I had no one on my side,” she replied.

I felt a little bit guilty when she said that, and I heaved a deep sigh. “Irrespective of what your reason is, you saved my life, Nivera and you shouldn’t be put to death or subjected to torture for being an Omega or for being mated to me. Henceforth, you are not alone,” I said, and she looked at me instantly, great surprise evident on her face.

“What?” she seemed puzzled.

“What I mean is I’ll be on your side from now on. You nursed me back to health and helped me leave that hellhole in one piece. I might be tough and hard, but I never forget any good deed done to me. For what you’ve done, you no longer have to be treated as a cursed and possessed Omega. You are no longer alone,” I said to her.

She would have said something, but was overtaken by the whooshing breeze from the large trees at the border of the Crescent Pack which I had just driven through, opening our eyes to another world; our world: the Crescent Pack.

A smile played around her lips as she stared out the window and took on the beautiful sight of nature, the animals running around, the children playing, the women gossiping and the men displaying their strength. She wound down her side of the car’s window and inhaled the fresh air as the car sped along the road, heading to the palace.

“Lucien’s world might be magnificent, but I really did miss home,” I heard her say to herself.

Unconsciously, I had been smiling as well as her smile was contagious, but immediately caught myself. I cleared my throat. “About the vampire, are you sure he just let us go like that? He won’t be back?” I inquired, feeling quite doubtful.

She gave a sad smile and wetted her lips with her tongue. “He let us go like that, and no, he won’t be back unless…” her words hung midway.

“Unless what?” I asked, trying to urge her on.

She shook her head. “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it. He’s never coming here,” she said, but I could detect a tinge of sadness in her voice.

I decided to brush it off. Whatever it was shouldn’t bother me. After all, she was here with me and not him. She had chosen me, and I hoped to never ever see that despicable face of his ever again.

We got to the palace and the gates opened up, so I drove in there and was parking the car in the parking space when all of a sudden, Malia, some of the warriors and the elders ran towards the car looking relieved and happy to see me.

Nivera’s smile disappeared and she appeared jittery.

“What’s wrong?” I asked in a soft tone.

“We’re back here and things would go back to how they used to be,” she said, looking regretful.

“Hey,” I said, taking her hand in mine and squeezing it gently.

She looked up at me in surprise, and I met her gaze.

“Didn’t I already tell you that I’m on your side? Nothing will happen to you as long as I’m here, and things around here will change for the better, I promise you,” I told her.

She seemed to disbelieve me and just kept looking at me, like what I had said made no sense at all.

Before I could say a word, Malia opened the door of the car and although she seemed overly excited to see me at first, an astonished look swept over her face upon spotting Nivera in the passenger seat, and she became reddened with anger once she saw we were holding hands.

I immediately let go of Nivera’s hand and stepped out of the car. “Hey,” I said to Malia, nervously.

“What’s she doing with you? Why were you holding hands with her? Has my worst fears come true? Have you given in to the mate pull?” she asked, looking fearful.

“The goddess forbids that,” I said aloud, not just to Malia, but to the rest of the people present. They had all seemed shocked as they saw Nivera in the car and I needed to alleviate the fears they had.

“Then, what are you doing with her?” Beta Steven Stone, Malia’s dad, asked.

“Nivera, step out,” I said in a firm voice and she immediately did as I said, looking really scared and nervous as she fiddled with her fingers and walked over to my side of the car, not even daring for a single second to look into anyone’s eyes.

“I found my so-called mate in a surprising place and decided to bring her back. Things will carry on as planned. On the day of the next full moon which is less than a week away, she would accept my rejection,” I announced.

Nivera looked shocked and in that moment, she dared to look up at me and meet my eyes, looking hurt and betrayed.

“In that case, I would lock her up in the dungeons and ensure I have guards positioned at every corner to keep an eye on her until the rejection process is over and done with,” Larry, the Chief Guard, said.

“That wouldn’t be necessary,” I said.

“Why? First, you brought her back instead of just killing her there and then. Now, you want to let her live freely?” Malia asked, almost at the top of her voice.

“She saved my life. I can’t go into the details, but she did, so I have given her my word. I won’t kill her, neither will she be treated like an animal anymore. In fact, anyone who goes against her goes against me,” I said.

“But… but what if she escapes?” Jerry asked.

“She won’t,” I responded.

“How can you be so sure?” Malia asked, seething with fury.

“Because from now on, she’ll be by my side at all times, at least, until I am free from her,” I declared.

“But…” Malia started.

I cut in. “There will be no ‘buts’. My word is final,” I said in a harsh tone.

They all kept quiet, but the silence was louder than anything they would have probably said. I decided it was best to leave them while they went over what I had said.

“I would retire for the day now,” I said to them, and they all bowed to me while I started walking away. I stopped and turned to look at Nivera.

“Why are you just standing there? Follow me,” I said to her, and although perplexed, she instantly began to walk directly behind me.

To me, I was ensuring she didn’t escape to go and see the vampire before the next full moon, and I had completely forgotten that the mate pull doubled when one’s mate was within a close vicinity.