Chapter 60

After calling Khalid, I headed down the stairs where I found Sheryl. Hundred's of questions crossed my mind but I was finally at ease.

"I called Khalid. He'll be coming here with the other wolves and they'll guard the house during the night," I said, keeping my voice low. "Were you attacked by any of the other pack's wolves?"

Sheryl shook her head. "Not yet. Although, a few came to the door earlier yesterday in the morning. I didn't disclose to them what was this place, and they left after seeing me—an old woman."

"That was smart." A smile stretched over my face and I sat down with her.

"Anything to protect this place and my girls."

I nodded in agreement, looking around the house and at the girls who were whispering in the corners and talking among themselves. Most of them were upstairs, in their rooms, but some were down, with Sheryl.

"I hope I didn't barge—"

"No, you didn't. It was a wise decision to bring the alpha here, especially after seeing his condition. If we loose our alpha, we'll lose our pack, this house, this town and everything that protects us," She reached forward and poured a drink for me. "We had been staying indoors for the most of the week. It was just yesterday when I heard about the bloodshed through a few sources. It left me rattled."

Sheryl did truly appear concerned even when I had seen her not, most of the time. The town was hostile, heading under Nicholas' father rule and only he could stop it from happening.

I took a sip of the drink and leaned back on the couch. Relief washed over me and I breathed heavily. "I'm glad he's here. He's going to need time to recover, but I'm sure he won't loose this fight against his father."

"It's his father?" Sheryl cocked a brow at me, as if she didn't know.

"Yes," I replied, surprised that she wasn't aware. "I thought you'd know."

"I do know. Everyone knows about the alpha and his strained relationship with his father. His father was the alpha of this pack during the same time I was a child. His rule was harsh and unforgiving, and many in this town still remember it. It was only when Nicholas became alpha that things started to change."

I nodded, listening to her while sipping on the drink she made for me.

"I thought you'd be long gone. Apparently, you aren't." A smile played on her lips and a small laugh escaped her throat.

"Nicholas marked me." I confessed the truth I had been holding.

It had already been out in the world. I didn't need to hide it anymore. If everyone didn't know, they were going to. Soon.

She wasn't surprised. Not even the least bit. "I knew he would. It was just about time. He's a stern man, but the last time he walked into this house, wanting information on that picture of yours, I could see something in his eyes. As if he had finally found something. A purpose. A mate."

My gaze narrowed and I smiled to myself, never forgetting the past events. It didn't matter how terrible the timing of all this was. All that mattered was that we were together.

As one.

Setting the glass on the side, I pulled out the other phone from my pocket and said, "I've to make an important call."

Moving to the side, I used Malik's phone and called all the numbers that were on his call log list. Most of them went off, some didn't have signal, but the ones who picked up the call shared that they had no information on Malik. It concerned me.

When I left him, he was injured and he had given me his gun along with his cellphone, just so I could be safe enough to find Nicholas.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Sheryl got up to answer it, and I could hear the murmurs from the other side. I stayed inside the house, curious and a bit scared that if the rival pack's wolves were here. She had brushed them off once, she could surely do it again.

But what if they sensed Nicholas?

After waiting for a few minutes, I stepped outside the house and found a group of familiar men standing inside the gates. They were Nicholas' men, the wolves from his pack that he had asked for me to call over.

Just among them, I found Malik.

"I thought you were dead."

"Just as you thought the alpha was dead?" He chuckled and neared me. We parted from the crowd and stepped to the side, toward the garden in the back of Sheryl's house. "Where is he?"

"He's asleep, and I think he should rest for a while. He was hurt, pretty badly and not just physically. He found me in the woods just outside one of the housing communities," I quickly said, telling him whatever I could. "What did you learn about the attack, and his father? I didn't want to ask him just yet, or even tell him anything."

"His father has settled in the house with his wolves. They are all surrounded the area and they are constantly looking for the alpha. I wouldn't say we are defeated just yet."

It grew cold when I heard those words leaving Malik's mouth.

"What does his father wants?" I asked, folding my arms across his chest. There had to be middle ground. Otherwise, it wasn't making sense.

Nicholas hadn't done anything to harm his father, directly. Destroying the packs under his jurisdiction was another thing, but it still didn't justify the level of aggression that his father was showing. As if he had been the one tortured during his young years by his own father.

"He wants him to give his pack, his title and everything else he has. His father sees him as a threat to his own power and wants to eliminate him. He'll do everything possible." There was a hint of fear in Malik's own voice.

"He had plenty of years. Why would he attack now?" I furrowed my brows.

So many years since Nicholas went into power, so many years...

Why now?

"The alpha has remained strong over the years and he could've easily defeated his father if it happened then. Circumstances have changed. He has mated and that's his greatest disadvantage against his father."

My eyes clicked away from him as my mouth turned into a frown. "So, because of me?"

"I would say that."

Outside, the night was dark and still, the only sound coming from the occasional howl of a wolf. I wondered how many of them belonged to Nicholas' father's pack, and how many were loyal to Nicholas.

"You should come inside." I suggested, nearing the door in the back which was slightly opened.

Malik stood still on his feet and then shook his head. "It will be better if I stay out here with the others. There are plenty of girls in this house and we don't want to make any of them comfortable by barging in."

I nodded, "As you wish. I'll inform Nicholas as soon as he's awake about you and the others. And I believe he would want to talk to you soon."

"I'll be here."

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, the warmth of the house embracing me. The faint scent of my mate, lavender and cinnamon, filled my nostrils. It was alluring and captivating. It made me want to go straight up to him and lie down next to him till this was all over.

Most of the girls were in their rooms, some asleep and some not. I could hear faint noises with my new heightened senses, whispers and giggles, along with every footstep taken around the house. The men remained outside, chattering among themselves and settling down.

There was no certainty what was going to happen next.

All we could do was wait.

I made my way towards the kitchen as my stomach grumbled. Inside, I found Sheryl, preparing more tea with one of the girls.

"Good you're here," She gestured the girl to leave the kitchen and as soon as she left, Sheryl turned to me. "You should keep your eyes on your mate. Stay closer to him."

My brows furrowed, "I am."

Sheryl didn't meet with my eyes. Instead, she turned off the stove and poured the tea into cups. "You are not. Leaving him alone, in a room at a house full of whores, some he has already slept with. You need to be more careful than this if you want to keep your mate."

Some.

I blinked, registering her words. "He would never—"

"He wouldn't, but there's no man who can turn away from temptation. Go to him, stay with him." It sounded more like an order than a suggestion.

I hurried upstairs, my mind filled with odd thoughts. I trusted Nicholas, of course. And I was sure he wasn't going to wake up any time soon. It had barely been a while since he fell asleep. I only had left him to speak with Sheryl and then with Malik.

As I reached the door of the room, I paused and took a quick breath before noticing the door had already been opened even when I had shut it. My hand trembled slightly as I pushed it open entirely before finding one of the girls standing next to him.

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