The Truth
"I'm going to go see Nathaniel." I say, slowly just to test the waters. If he felt I should not then I wouldn't but I had to try.
He stiffened for only a second before responding, "I'm coming with â"
That is not an option, I needed an open and honest conversation not a brother stare down or debate about who's telling the correct version of the truth.
I cut in, "No, you're not. I'm going to go see him alone."
"No, I'm formally introducing you to the Pack today." He smirked clearly thinking this would make me let go of the subject.
He was wrong, "Great, I'm personally going to go invite Nathaniel then." I quip.
Alexander groans, "Why? Why must you always be so damn difficult?"
"I'm not entirely sure, can I get back to you on that?" This time I smirked.
"Hardy haha." He drawled.
I got up from my chair and made my way to the bed, where he was sat. He was still covered by the blankets, all he had done was sit up. I sat beside him and pecked him.
"I need to go see him, please. There's no need to keep him away from me, when you appointed him as my guardian surely you knew the danger. Why's it so different now? I mean, you know I love you not him. So, why keep us apart? He's my brother, technically, I'd like to see him."
He searched my eyes for a moment before shutting his and muttering the whole sailors vocabulary, "Fine."
A jaw breaking smile broke onto my face and I bumped up and down on the bed, "Thank you!" I sang.
"Yeah, yeah. Just stop with the bumping, my poor bed already has to be replaced."
I immediately stopped, "Yeah, how do you think I feel?"
"Oh, please. You loved it." He said, but his eyes betrayed him. You could see the worry in them.
I'd be a millionaire if I received money for every time he had asked me if I was okay throughout last night and this morning. Nonetheless, I thought it was sweet.
He was so gentle with me and my body, it really just turned me on all the more.
I got up, "I'm only kidding, I'm fine." Lie.
It hurt like a million paper cuts but I won't tell him that, he already looks like a puppy left out in the rain. I don't want to make matters worse. My poor puppy.
I kissed his forehead, "I'll be back soon." I crossed my heart, "Scouts honour." I giggled.
I pull up to Nathan's driveway and give myself a mini pep talk before I exit the car. It's okay. It's just Nate. You'll be fine.
Once I've convinced myself that nothing will happen â he won't try to kiss me or anything stupid, I exit the car. I jog up the porch steps then knock on the front door. It feels weird, actually knocking on his door, I usually just open it and do as I please.
However, I'm not quite sure where we stand.
He opens the door with a raised brow, he looks at me then looks behind him lightly opening and closing the door as if checking for something. He opens it wide again then checks behind me, stupidly, I turn to check with him.
"You?" He points at me, "You're knocking?" He laughs, "Miracles are real."
I chuckle, shoving past him, "Shut the hell up."
Once inside I make my way to the living room, sitting on his couch, "So..."
That was it, that was me initiating the conversation. I didn't know where to even begin so, yes, I settled with 'so' as my grand opening.
He laughed, "Couldn't have been a happy visit, huh? Is Alex sitting in the car?"
I punch his arm, "No he isn't, it's just me. When were you going to tell me..."
I trailed off, not even being able to say the words. I still couldn't believe it, I knew we had grown really close. Of course I knew, however, so much so for him to be in love with me? I would have never guessed it.
It pains me just thinking of it, that's the last thing I wanted to put him through â put Alexander through. Darn it, even their already at times fragile relationship.
"That I'm in love with you?" He laughs, "I wasn't going to. I was just going to distance myself. That sounds really rude, I know. But it would've been easier."
No it wouldn't have.
"For you." I say instead.
He ruffled up his curls, "I know, I know. I'm sorry. I just... With Romania it just all went down hill really freaking fast. I didn't want that to happen with you and I know Alex has brought it up. I don't know what you know but... it just wasn't fun."
Peaking at him through my lashes I ask, "You're not gonna tell me, are you?"
He smirked, "Nope. Your little kiddie ears wouldn't be able to handle it." I gave him a flat look.
He laughed but I could tell he was nervous.
He rubbed the palm of his hands against his sweats, "At eighteen I returned to Russia and had an affair with Romania. I already knew her from when we were kids, we never really stopped talking as we grew up. When I left my mom I went there to meet up with her then one thing lead to another and we ended up hooking up..." I couldn't believe it, Nathaniel would actually have sex with someone else's mate... It's something I just wouldn't expect from him.
"Alex told me to stop and I did, I tried to leave but she turned into a dark witch and came after me, obviously that meant she had rejected Ivan and that motivated him to come after me. We nearly got into something, that's when Alex came and got turned. It was a huge fight in the old warehouse... She got upset and I tried, I really tried to calm her down.
"I told her the darkness would feed off of her anger but she didn't listen. Much like you did in the plane and in your dream, she let it consume her. She set the place aflame. I couldn't save her, she was basically the matchstick."
I couldn't say anything, there were no words that could take away that pain, I hugged him.
"That won't happen to me, it can't. I'm not dark anymore and neither is Alex. We're all going to be okay. Even you, you'll find someone who out shines her, I promise," I let go of him, "I do need you to know though that I'm not going anywhere. I'll most definitely stay away if you need me to for the time being but, you're apart of my life, Nate. A big part of it at that, you helped me through a lot, for crying out loud I liked you far longer than I liked your brother. I'm not going to give up."
I wanted to say love because I do love Nate, just not in the way that he loves me. So I refrained. â Don't worry this is a private zone. I've totally got blocking out intruders on lock down.
He smiled, "That means a lot, thanks Ellie." His smile vanished slowly before he continued, "When I returned, that's also when I left."
"What do you mean?" I query.
"When I left No Man's Land. My mom didn't always live on the boarder, she lived in No Man's Land. It only changed once I created my Pack, which only started after my father gave me that money. I wanted her safe but she insisted she didn't care. Saying she lived on the boarder was the only way she agreed."
I nodded, "So why does Isaiah hate you?"
"He was my best friend out there. The first one my mom created. She infused my blood with his, did a spell and made him drink it. Honestly, she could've made it into a pill but she wanted it all witchy and stuff. Anyway, I came back haunted by Romania's death and the fact that my brother, one of the boys who my mother hated saved me.
"He couldn't save her but he saved me. I couldn't repay him by killing him. I explained that to my mother and Isaiah â before she made him a Creature â but he flipped, while she understood he didn't. They had gotten him exiled, took him away from his baby sisters. He hated them and he hated me for choosing them over him.
"I then got upset too. They were my family, I tried to make him see reason with you two but he wouldn't. He said you guys were different and I said but the situation wouldn't be. Had you guys gotten me exiled for instance he would've chosen you guys. But he didn't care, he cast me out. And we never spoke again."
Remembering our very first encounter I mutter, "Until I came along." To which he nods, "Wow."
I had finally gotten both stories. The second story explained so much I had been dying to know and trying to figure out. I mean, Nate and Aiah really can't stand each other and it finally makes sense. I just hope they can get along, forget their differences and put them behind them.
Still turning over this information I say, "Thanks for all this. I needed it, Alex wouldn't tell me a thing."
"Yeah, he might not love me right now but he's loyal," He mused, "I'm glad you finally let him in though... In more ways than one." He laughed.
My eyes grew, "Ew! Nathaniel, I'd expect that from Axel not you!" I shoved him, "Well at least Axel can't make fun of Alexander anymore."
He snickers, "You have to admit, his jabs were hilarious."
"Axel alone is hilarious." I smile.
I've completely warmed up to all the Russo brother's. I will admit, Axel is still pretty nutty and if someone said he did kill wolf's for fun I still would believe them but I wouldn't love him any less.
Nate changed the topic of conversation, "When's the ceremony?"
I shrugged, "I dunno actually. That's all Alexander's job."
"I ask this because that means you're finally meeting his parents."
My eyes widen once more, "Oh, shoot. I totally forgot about that." I gently bite the inside of my cheek.
He chuckles waving me off, "You look so worried, jeez, you'll be fine. They'll love you."
I hit his thigh in worry, "You don't know that! I'm to take over their Pack. That's huge, what if they think I'm not fit to?"
The thought or fact that I'd be meeting Alexander's parents had completely slipped my mind. I had just been thinking of being sworn into the Pack and being ceremonially bound to my mate.
"Elijah, literally you're worried over nothing. Bring confident Ellie back, please."
I laughed, "She'll come if you promise to be there."
He gave me a lop sided grin, "Of course I will."