Nothing can stay hidden forever, the truth will always find a way to come on the light no matter what.
~in the meanwhile, hospital~
Diana's pov
I jump up when I feel her moving slightly against me and the room's door opens widely from Robert.
Aiden stands up from his chair next to the bed and Violet turns around and rushes to us, leaving the double window with the silent forest's breathtaking view behind her.
"GOD! She is waking up!" she exclaims shocked and I hold my breath, not caring about anyone and anything else.
I feel quite lost, everything happened too suddenly, I mean...
Until a second ago I was half sleeping next to her and now she is... Waking up!
Yes, she is!
I just felt her moving next to me, I listened to her groaning slightly and I jumped up like I got electrocuted. I can't believe that she is waking up!
"Mom!" I whisper breathless and stand up, but don't move away.
I bend above her with my eyes always locked on her not pale face and Destiny stiffens nervously in my mind, making me dizzier.
Everything becomes blurry around me. There is only her, and my blood turns cold in my veins. Cold from agony, excitement, worry, guilt and fear...
I don't know how she is going to react when she realizes what took place and sees us above her. I hate that I was never there for her and she went through all that paranoia and danger on her own. I feel guilty for never thinking that she loved me and my brother. I feel like I owe her the world for suffering for me and him, for saving Nikki and for being still alive and here with us, but...
Well, I feel terrified, as well. Terrified of facing her and anxious about Aiden. The moment we had been waiting for has finally come, but it's a very difficult one, because it's redemption and death at the same time.
Think about it... We are finally free to be together as family, but the past still hunts us, it's here and we have to be brave, if we want to bury it and move on. The three of us, and I talk about my mom, Aiden and me, because it has to do with us first, are broken for different reasons. Aiden and I left our mother alone and hated her while she loved us, she was more than willing to go through all that hell of Mason's for us.
I have no idea how I'll find the courage to face her and apologize to her, but one thing I'm sure about is that it'll be one hundred times worse for Aiden. He has said and done countless things to her, he has killed her with his words and that's why I'm in a much better position, but it's still hard.
"I am going to pass out..." Aiden mutters stumbling, and Violet joins his side and helps him sit again while Robert comes next to me and places his left hand on my right shoulder.
"Daniel and all the others are coming. I informed him." he tells me in hurry and I shake my head to let him know that I listened to him without taking my eyes for my mom.
Her very long, in a royal bronze color hair, the same color I had before I started dyeing it chocolate brown about five years ago, is shining full of life. Her smooth skin isn't pale anymore with her cheeks slightly blushed, her lips are darker pink than before and she is breathing sharply. Her heartbeat is strong, I can hear it, feel it and her eyelashes begin to move timidly, making me feel more helpless.
I can't describe how desperate I am, how damn powerless. I can't believe that this is it after such hell!
"Diana, calm down. You are trembling, she needs you strong." Robert murmurs too close to my ear, but I ignore him.
I can't pay attention to anything and anyone else, not even Aiden, who is about to faint from second to second.
Now I understand completely Aiden and why he is horrified. We are responsible for this, for everything. It's like we are strangers, but we aren't. She is our mom, we are her kids, we are family, but we...
SHIT!
I lose the floor under my feet a second later, when she starts opening her eyes slowly and I get paralyzed from their mesmerizing color. Okay... I know that my eyes are quite unique in comparison with hers and Aiden's, but right now her eyes are the most beautiful to me, because they are hers.
They are big and dark grey, silver grey and hide the entire world in them. They make me feel the same way Daniel's eyes do, they are my sun, my light, my everything!
"Man up, Aiden! I will kill you, if you miss it!" Violet warns him through her teeth, giving me an even worse time, and I bite my lower lip in despair.
My mother opens her eyes completely with a blank expression drawn on her face and I sigh heavily, not knowing what to say or do. She seems lost for some seconds that feel like torturing centuries, but then she closes her eyes again and a painful expression takes her place. She groans in pain while trying to clear her throat, and I raise my eyebrows panicked. Sudden cold sweat washes me, my heart aches, my legs begin to tremble and I run out of the last sign of oxygen.
I don't know what to expect anymore and watching her being in more pain fills me, pushes an instinctual sob to escape from my throat.
"Mom..." I say weakly almost from inside me and observe her opening her eyes again.
This time she smiles to me catching me off guard, and her lips move with no word leaving from them. She wants to speak, but she can't, she needs time, but I can't do this anymore.
"I'm so sorry! I love you so much, I'm begging you, forgive me!" I murmur ashamed and the very first tears fall from my eyes against my will.
I find myself hugging her before I know it and bury my face in her neck too embarrassed to look at her in the eyes for more. I start crying more intensively from our closeness and give my emotions full control over me. I need to let it all out, I have so many things to tell her, she must know what she means to me.
"I was so scared, I thought I would lose you before I even find you! You had to tell us, you shouldn't suffer, we had to know, we should have helped you! I abandoned you, I'm truly sorry, mommy!" I continue and my crying turns gradually into sobbing which reaches its peak when I feel her right hand on my back head and hair.
Feeling that she 'accepts' me makes me the happiest and most relieved woman there is. I wouldn't bear her any loss. I hoped she would forgive and accept me, even though I had no doubt that she would never reject me. She has already proved what a mother she is, she sacrificed herself for us, the pain she had been being through can't be compared to ours, because now I know... I understand...
Gideon, my only dad, the true one, showed me how a loving parent suffers with his child when it is in pain. I think I know how my mother had been feeling all these years, but I can't imagine it completely, since she had to hurt us in order to keep us as safe as possible from Mason. Everything was coming from her own hand, but it was necessary, she had no choice.
"I love you so, so, so much! I love you! Don't leave me alone again!" I whisper with my face still buried in her neck and she tries to move.
From her body's language I sense that she is in great pain from the silver, just like I was the two times I got shot before, so I pull back immediately to stop pressing her body and causing her more intense pain, but then I sit next to her and start kissing her forehead nonstop. I can't move away from her, I can't get enough of her, I want to show her my love, give her everything she always deserved.
"My little baby..."
Her weak, sweet, unstable, almost broken, but full of adoration voice breaks my heart. She doesn't look ready to believe what is really happening, but it's too early and she has just woken up. My skin shivers, overwhelming emotions overflow me and I smile relieved and grateful.
"I'm here now, okay? Both of us are and we need you to forgive us." I tell her in a begging tone and turn my head on my right to look at Aiden, resting my left cheek on her forehead.
The view of him sitting on the chair and crying heavily like a small boy with his face fully hidden in his two palms feels like a sharp knife in my heart, because I know... He is devastated and can't lift his head and look up to our mom. I think that it's the first time I see him in such condition and nothing can help him, not even Violet.
Violet... She is crying, too, but she is happy for us. She was repeating to me that everything would be alright in the end with our mom, but I was scared, I couldn't agree with her, she never stopped though. She is the most optimistic one in our big family, she always was like that. I am glad she is here with us right now, as Aiden needs her, her presence helps him somehow, although he is too confused and overwhelmed and can't realize it. I love how much she supports him, they are lucky for being together and I am grateful that my special Vi is my brother's mate, because he needs her explosive, but innocent and pure reactions.
"Brother..." I whisper concerned, not sure about what to do to help him, and this seems to shake my mom.
She reacts for the first time so much and I pull back worried, but when I see her free left hand moving towards Aiden, whose head is inches away from her bed, I smile emotionally. I can't stand it, look at that woman!
She can barely say three words, she breathes with great efforts, she wants to scream from pain, but nothing can stop her from touching her kids and erasing every shadow and fear they might have.
"I'm sincerely sorry I never protected you! I wasn't there for you. I never tried to think differently about you, I'm an awful son." He mutters through his cries and it happens.
With the last word of his, the top of her thin fingers touch his hair and it comes true like a flash, Aiden takes her hand in both of his and kisses it again and again. He has his head still bended, he denies looking at her or even trying, but a huge weight leaves from my heart and shoulders, because the beginning has been made.
"I'm proud of you and I die for you, baby!" she says touched, addressed to him and Violet sits abruptly on the edge of the bed and smiles to me.
I mimic her and then turn again to my mom. Robert is now standing next to me, obviously emotional and happy for us, and I place another kiss on her forehead while caressing her hair as gently as I can.
"They told us... Albert and Stacy. Mom, I... You shouldn't..." I begin to say unconsciously and she raises her eyebrows, places her right hand above mine and makes me stop.
The love, affection and adoration I see in her eyes put an end in everything, because I now know it for sure. I am not losing her again, I will always have my mom!
"I would do that again, if I had to, but hurting you so much... I tried to run away, I really did, but I failed. I wasn't the mother you deserved. It's my fault! I didn't..."
"NO, IT WASN'T YOURS!" Aiden cuts her off firmly and stands up.
His eyes find hers for the first time and I can't stop myself from admiring their gazes mirroring in each other's. They are so same, it's incredible, special and unique, but what makes it even better, I would say dreamy, is how passionate Aiden became.
He is proud of her, he loves her and his protective side has gotten in lead.
"You did it for me at first place..." he begins with guilt and hugs her angelic face with his hands.
"And then for both of us, not for you." I add and wrap my right hand around him with my other one on my mother's shoulder.
Yes, this is the truth! She did nothing for her safety, she never cared about her, but only for us. We put her in this situation, we forced her hand, because she truly loves us and she can't blame herself anymore. The truth has come to the light, so we have to stop being delusional and face the hard reality.
"Never, ever blame yourself again! Did you hear me? NEVER! We are proud of you, blessed that you are our mother and never left us. Your unconditional love saved us, your strength to continue helpless against... Him." Aiden states confidently, and my mom starts crying in silence.
"We are together now, we made it and we can't lose you again. We have nothing to forgive to you. We give you our word that nothing will break us apart again. Your place is next to us." It's my turn to say and then I pause to take a long, deep breath.
"He is gone forever, mom! He won't hurt you again, nobody will, I won't let that happen. I love you!" he continues determined, leading me to gasp in Mason's thought.
The hatred, rage and disgust in his voice are indescribable, but I can't blame him for feeling this way for Mason Rollins. That man was sick and selfish, he didn't know what the word 'love' means, but it's alright. He is no longer here, so he can't bother us. We are free and that's what matters, he can't hurt us.
"I love you more than anything, you are my life." My mom whispers trembling intensively, and Aiden does what I did before.
He leans close to our mom and kisses her, getting rid of the dark past he had with her. They leave that chapter behind and I want to scream for them. It's impressive that Aiden found the courage he needed, I was too worried about him, but anyway...
"And we do love you! We have too many things to tell you." I reply and she smiles to me.
"Such as your lives with your mates... Am I right?" she asks excited and I chuckle, wiping my tears and turning to Vi, who stands up and fixes her hair.
Her eyes are way too puffy and she has turned red like a tomato from crying, but she is even cuter and beautiful this way.
"Ready to meet your mother in law?" I ask her teasingly and she makes a step to take Aiden's side, but then the door bursts open and they storm inside with the others shouting outside.
"Did we make it on time?" Landon asks breathless with the most priceless expression ever and I open my eyes widely, focusing on my man that rushes to us immediately.
Daniel!
"She woke up!" I exclaim enthusiastic, unable of hiding how blissful I am, and when he reaches us a second later, he hugs me from behind and purrs, but...
No matter how complete I feel with my mom, Aiden, Vi and Daniel, I can't ignore her and then all the others! Well, she comes first though, she is here!
My eyes get filled with tears again, I still have my head snapped to the door from where the guys keep on getting in the one after the other, and Daniel tightens his hold around me and kisses my cheek.
It feels like a dream!
"Nikki..." I mutter fighting to accept that she is awake, and she makes few steps to us ready to cry.
Landon and all the other guys stop behind her in silence and she sniffles. Her eyes are glowing, her expression is different, one I have never seen on her face again, but I suppose we owe it to pregnancy. She is on her feet again, more beautiful, relaxed and powerful than ever like nothing has happened.
When did she wake up and why nobody informed me?
"I was so worried." I say sighing deeply, and my mom clears her throat to earn Nikki's attention.
"FUCK! It's too much!" Ellie exclaims suddenly incapable of preventing herself from crying, before any of my mom and Nikki speaks, and most of us break into laughing from her behavior.
I have other plans though. I mean that I want like nothing to hug Nikki and thank her for finding my mom and taking care of her, of trusting her. Also, I need to apologize for not being with her when she needed me the most.
"Thank you so much!" I say touched and Daniel loosens her hold around me, sets me free reading my thoughts and I run to Nikki laughing and crying together.
"I did nothing compared to your mom! She is our savior." She mutters when we finally hug each other tightly and I bite my lower lip glad she is present.
"Mila, I have to thank you for saving them! I owe you!" Landon says emotional and my mom gives him a warm smile while Nikki and I break our hug, as she wants to go to my mom and Robert.
I can't be selfish, we will have time to hug and tease each other, talk and cry from bliss. Right now my mom and Robert come first, it's a special moment, we are all here.
"You shouldn't do this!" Nikki scolds her while reaching them, and Daniels walks to me and we hug.
"Oh, of course I should!" my mom replies quickly and Robert hugs Nikki, kisses the top of her head and then puts her to sit next to my mom, exactly where I was sitting before.
"See? That's what they call happy ending!" Daniel whispers too close to my ear so that only I listen to him and I caress his cheek, nodding in agreement.
Yeah, I guess he is right...
"Welcome home, Mila! We are glad you are alright." Hunter says, gaining everyone's interest and the guys shake their heads in agreement with him.
"And we are here for you, all of us!" Elias states and I move deeper in Daniel's arms, trying to push away the person that came instinctually in my mind.
'All of us...'
This isn't true.
You see, he isn't here for her, for me... I don't think he'll ever be, for her, because he hates her and I know him. He'll never forget and forgive her for hurting me, although he knows the truth. He would be here otherwise.
I won't lie. I don't like the idea of him being distant from now, since I bet that he'll be. He doesn't want her, but he won't make me choose. He will just be with me when she won't be anywhere around and I don't want to be right about it.
I can't understand him. I have no clue why, but something feels wrong here and it began when he returned with Jonathan to Albert and Stacy's house. He has changed from that moment, he is 'darker' than the usual, he is cold, distant, thoughtful, silent and discreet. It's like he is aware of something I'm not. He can't fool me, I know him better than anyone else.
I respect that he wanted to kill Mason and finding out the truth about my mom is a lot for him, since he was always mentioning that his life's purpose was to kill them both, but what he does now is unfair, he does not behave like him.
My dad would never stay away from me, he would soften towards my mom, he would recognize to her how brave, patient and strong she is, he would be here for us.
What changed all of a sudden?
"Perhaps you talk to him when our mom gets better." Destiny states nervously.
Maybe...
I have to discuss with him, ask him what bothers him so much and if it is my mother that he doesn't want and keeps him away.
Goddess! Please, let it be something else! Let it be his rage for Mason and the pitiful, embarrassing end he chose for himself, because if he doesn't want my mom, it'll be extremely unfair from him, from the great man I know, from my only father...
Gideon!
~in the meanwhile, palace~
Jonathan's pov
I knock his door nervously and give Victoria a brief, terrified look.
I don't think it would be wise from us to tell him the news about Mila. The problem is that we can't let anyone else inform him about it, since we are fully aware of the circumstances. We can't risk it, although I hate what I have to do.
Don't get me wrong. I feel responsible to tell him and I'm not scared of announcing it. What I'm horrified of is his reaction afterwards. It happened too soon, thanks God Mila is alright, but this brings problems, as well.
You understood correctly, I refer to Mila waking up.
Daniel mind linked us a while ago to let us know about it. He asked from us to go at the hospital to 'celebrate' it, but we can't go yet. I have to admit that I don't think I'll join them, only Victoria will, later.
I would like to go though, I'm looking forward to see Mila and talk to her, solve every misunderstanding between us. The thing is that my priority is to stay with Gideon and reason with him before it's too late.
He must think about it again. He will have to face Mila eventually and then she will understand that they are mates, one look will be enough. He has to take a decision the sooner, I want him to give it a try for everyone, especially him, Mila and Diana.
I can't allow Diana finding out and getting hurt again. There is shadow left in our lives and we must be happy, so Gideon has to think again, more wisely.
"If he protests, I'll kill him... I won't stand his stubbornness." I whisper to Victoria, who narrows her eyes to me disapprovingly.
She knows that I don't really mean it, I'm just nervous and want to release my pressured feelings somehow, even if this is the wrong way.
"Stop being dramatic, Jonathan. We both know that he won't take it easily. You came here ready to sit down and talk to him for ho..." She mutters and stops abruptly, since Gideon opens his door with force and when our gazes meet, I freeze and gulp.
Well shit!
He'll rip my throat out the moment I inform him and try to... Ugh, forget about it, honestly.
"Good morning. How do you feel today?" Victoria starts, breaking the awkward-uncomfortable silence and Gideon groans, but doesn't reply back.
He makes few steps back and motions to us to get in. His expression is empty from every kind of emotion, he gets worse day by day and no matter what I've told him, didn't help.
He is so damn stubborn! I liked when he wondered from where Diana took her feistiness, stubbornness, wildness and nerves. She is just like him in a female version.
I sigh frustrated when he turns around and walks back to his usual place (from the moment we came back), the window. Victoria gets in first and I follow her in hurry, but only after I make sure that nobody is around.
"You can't keep doing this for too long, Gideon. This behavior of yours earns suspicions." Victoria begins when I close the door behind me and I turn around to face Gideon's back for once more.
It's a nightmare!
How are we supposed to try changing his mind, when he ignores us like that (because that's what he does)?
My wolf growls impatiently asking from me to hurry up. We need to be fast, if we want to prevent the worse, and everything depends on me and only. Victoria is too soft and gentle, but Gideon understands no soft.
"Look, here, Black! Stop it, that's enough, it's over! Okay?" I say in a high, clearly angry, deadly cold tone, which leaves him completely unaffected.
Instead of doing something intense or shouting (something I'd prefer in comparison with his 'calmness'), he turns to look at me with an ironic expression.
"I knew it was just a matter of time before you use your power over me. You are the King again and we aren't friends, but it doesn't work on me. Too bad, really..." he states coldly, making me blink my eyes from wrath.
"Excuse me? Are you for real? What is wrong with you? Do you even listen to yourself?" I shout, not able of holding back for more.
Victoria raises her hand and gives me a look full of meaning asking from me to calm down, but I can't. This man is unbelievable, now he turned to fight me, his best friend.
"No, Victoria. That's too much, I had enough! I want the best for him and look what he says and does! I'm done being patient, he has to know and come back from his delusion!" I tell her before she tries to stop me and Gideon looks at me confused.
That's right. I guess he took the message, finally!
"Mila just woke up, so..." I announce and get cut from him, as he explodes.
He screams with rage something I don't understand and in milliseconds he storms around and attacks the glassed window with his right fist breaking it and leaving me and Victoria speechless.
The 'show' doesn't end here though, at least for me, since he runs out of the room like something chases him and Victoria stays paralyzed like me that I hesitate only for a brief moment before I start running after him, scared of him doing something crazy.
He lost his mind!
~next day, late morning, Landon and Nikki's room~
Daniel's pov
My smile becomes wider immediately when she opens the door and I see them together.
It's now that I have the opportunity to realize that too soon she will be a mother and she will hold her own baby in her arms in Iris' place. I can say that she is born to be a mother, I can imagine her like that much easier than some other girls, for example Ellie.
And yes guys! You understand whom I mean, our Nikki!
I came to see her, because we have to talk about what I found out about her. All the others are busy (and Landon, but he will be here in a while), so I thought that I shouldn't miss this chance. I knew that she is in her room, since she has to rest for the following weeks, but what I had no idea about is that Iris would be here and Nikki would be taking care of her. Not that this is a problem for me, in fact I am excited I will spend some time with both of them, as I have missed little Iris all these days, I didn't see her much.
"Good morning, godfather! We didn't expect you to pay us a visit. Right, aunt's lady?" Nikki says cheerfully, obviously enthusiastic and opens the door more.
Iris starts moving restlessly in her arms when I approach them by getting in, and when I close the door, I turn to them and raise my hands asking from Nikki to give her to me.
"Good morning, my beautiful ladies. That was a great surprise from you, sweetie!" I say when Nikki hands Iris to me and my energetic, cute goddaughter gives me one of her charming, bright, shy smiles.
This girl reminds me a lot of her godmother. You understand that she is one of my weaknesses, I melt for her and she, from her side, gets ecstatic when she sees me. It's like she is aware of how much I love her and that she makes me want kids the sooner.
"How are you, gorgeous mama wolf? How do you feel today?" I question Nikki after I kiss Iris' forehead, and then do the same to her, who hugs me softly.
"I'm great, if you put aside the fact that everyone wants to feed me and Landon has become hysteric about everything! He has imprisoned me..." she replies and rolls her eyes making me chuckle loudly.
I was expecting nothing else from that crazy man. I mean, now that he and Nikki are perfect and make plan on getting married, he turned back to his old self, which means that he is excessive about everything about Nikki, the baby and us all.
"Come on, the poor man got terrified. Show some mercy, even if he doesn't deserve it..." I commend playfully as we sit next to the each other on the brand new, big couch with Iris playing with my shirt's collar.
"It's alright, Daniel. I'm joking. I love him when he behaves like this, because this is who he is. It's just my hormones and all these days' incidents that have overwhelmed me and I haven't calmed down yet, and if you add the wedding, well..." she says nervously in the end when she mentions the wedding and I shake my head in understanding.
Oh, yeah!
"Did you decide the date? With Mila waking up I didn't manage to see you and Landon and ask you, or get informed from the others."
This is true. I didn't leave hospital and Diana and Mila's side since yesterday morning and this is the first time. I didn't want to, since I needed to be there for Diana in such important day and also, I wanted to prove to Mila that I have nothing against her now. I told her that, Diana was present. I gave her my word that I have no problem with her, I thanked her and asked from her to stay here with us.
It was the least I could do after what Albert and Stacy told us. The woman is amazing and Diana's mom, my mother in law and Diana needs her, so I need her too, just like we need and want Gideon. I accept, respect and love both of them, they are my second parents now.
"I know, don't worry, Daniel. Landon might have me locked, but he does an amazing job by telling me absolutely everything." She says softly and continues.
"We talked about it last night and we agreed to accept Jeremy and Ellie's 'invitation'."
The pride with which she announced it makes my heart skip a beat. I realize immediately what she means and I can't prevent myself from smiling excited about them.
"You'll get married together, right? So, two Betas' weddings?" I exclaim and she nods quickly while Iris giggles and pulls my collar with force.
"Yeap, and maybe the weddings become three... You and Diana could decide to join us." Nikki says with a wicked-begging smirk, reminding me in this way what Diana and I talked about recently.
It would be amazing. No!
It would be dreamy to get married all together, but I'm not so sure, if Diana and I get married in less than two months. I would have no problem with that, but maybe she wants us to wait for a while. We have her coronation in front of us anyway... Not to mention that Elias and Alice would have to get married with us, too.
Could you imagine it? Me and my brothers getting married all together!? That would be insanely great, a day to remember for an eternity!
"Daniel? Do you have anything to tell me about it? This amusing smile of yours is quite suspicious..." Nikki mutters with her eyebrows raised, bringing me back to reality and I feel my cheeks blushing.
Do you know what?
I know that Diana and I agreed to say nothing, but Nikki is an exception. I want to share the news with her, even though they aren't official and then ask her help about something I have in mind, a surprise for my Queen.
"There is something..." I begin and pause to take a breath and give a brief, happy look to Iris, who keeps on pulling my collar.
With the corner of my eye I see Nikki stiffening impatiently and I turn again to her. She is clever, she has gotten the meaning.
"Yes?" she murmurs in hurry.
"Um... Diana and I talked about getting married and her coronation, but we will discuss about more details later. I want her to spend time with Mila and I thought about preparing a dinner for us tomorrow night, in our garden. I'm planning to propose to her officially there." I confess and Nikki claps her hands instantly and soon her eyes get filled with tears.
I can't lie, I can't wait for tomorrow night to come. Now that Mila is fine and Diana is relaxed, I don't want to delay it and I also need to catch Diana off guard. If I wait, she will have time to get suspicious and I don't want that.
I just want us to be alone in our garden, have a formal dinner, discuss, laugh and then... Propose to her!
God, my heart explodes even in the thought! I want like nothing else to propose to her and listen to her telling me the big 'yes'!
"Oh, I am so happy for you! You deserve it, Daniel! You are so lucky. That's the best news ever! And I don't have to mention that I am here for you. You! I hope you understand me." she says touched and places a kiss on my left cheek.
I do know what she means and she couldn't give me a better opportunity to open up to her about everything. What I found out about her past secret, me wanting to become hers and Landon's baby godfather with Landon's blessings and last but not least, me feeling her like my own sister and wanting her to be happy forever. I have to let her know how proud I am of her, that I won't leave her and I'll always support and help her.
"I know and I want you to never forget that I am here for you! You have a very special place in my heart. My brother's mate is my sister. I believed in you from the very first moment and I wasn't wrong, you... Did something remarkable, despite the difficulties." I begin quite nervous about how to confess to her that I'm aware of her secret, but she surprises me by groaning and rubbing her hands on her knees.
It's like she wants to tell me, but something keeps her back. Maybe she isn't ready and I'm here to help her. I want her to trust me even more, I want no shadow between us.
"I know everything... Fighter Nikki." I state breathless, feeling my stomach tightening from worry about her reaction.
And I am right, since she gasps shocked not expecting it and freezes speechless. She turns pale and even Iris senses that something is wrong, because she stops pulling my collar and turns to look at her aunt in the eyes.
"You what?" Nikki whispers panicked and I give her a sympathetic, reassuring smile.
I don't want her to be upset or scared.
"I want you to relax, okay? I told nobody and I won't! I'm certain that you haven't told anyone and I will do the same. I just wanted to share it with you, I had to be honest." I rush to say and she exhales heavily.
"I see..." she mutters dizzily through her teeth, and with my right hand I take her left one and squeeze it gently.
"I saw a picture of you after you had run away, when we were trying to find you, and it wasn't that difficult for me to put the pieces together. A technician found it by accident and gave it to me, he won't talk, I swear. Then, he found files and information... You were one of the best!" I continue and she runs her other free hand through her long hair with a quite thoughtful and troubled expression.
"I was the best female they had. They had big plans for me and I had high dreams. I thought I had the abilities and the heart, the whole package, but in the end I realized that I had only the abilities. My heart had a completely different opinion. I wanted to save lives, not take them!" she says with a blank look and I smile in sympathy, guessing what happened and how she changed her mind.
That's why she buried those months behind. She is ashamed of them, but she mustn't be. She did the right thing, she took the best decision and she is the Nikki we all know, the great doctor and strong fighter, because of what she has been through.
"That's why you were sure that I would make it... You knew." She whispers not as confused as few seconds ago, but I am fast and shake my head negatively.
"No! I would trust you the same no matter what! I was just... 'Calmer'. I didn't lose my composure, I was more optimistic, because you are pregnant and our fear for you was more intense, you were more vulnerable due to your pregnancy. I had no doubt that you would make it in any case." I explain in hurry and she lifts her head up, her eyes meet mine and she gives me a warm, honest smile.
She believes me!
"Thank you for everything, Daniel! Not only for your faith on me, for being Landon and everyone else's rock these out of hell days, but also for keeping my secret. I wouldn't want them to find out." She says emotionally and Iris reacts again.
This time she protests and wants me to give her to Nikki. I suppose she wants to hug her aunt, she needs it more right now.
"If that's what you want, I won't talk about it, never. It's your decision and only and I'm going to support you. I just want you to think about it, Nikki. You have done nothing wrong and sooner or later Landon, Diana and the others are going to ask you about how you faced Mason and Lucas. I saw Mason's condition. Only someone perfectly experienced would do what you did to him. Once we calm down completely, they will think about it." I say while handing Iris to her and then wrapping one arm around her, like I'm her big brother (okay, I guess I am from now on).
"I'm telling you these, because you have to be prepared." I add supportively and she nods in agreement, giving me one of her forced smiles.
"I appreciate it. I promise I'll think about it, Daniel, or better... My first kid's godfather!" she answers back and her worried eyes light up when her last words leave from her lips.
I sigh enthusiastic and relieved. She seems to like the whole idea and I'm sure she knows it from Landon. He couldn't keep his mouth shut last night, he had to spill everything. Damn, I wanted to be present in this, as well.
"Do you have a problem with it? Would you like someone else?" I question not that anxious and she laughs.
"Are you kidding me? I wanted you from the beginning, even before Landon tells me. You were the first that came in my mind when I found out about my pregnancy. I would ask you to be its godfather anyway." She says and I can't control myself, I can't stop from kissing her cheek blissful.
See? I'm not that bad as a choice! If Nikki thought of me and only, I'm not such an asshole even due to my 'naughty', childish, stupid and awful past full of wrong decisions (I mean before Diana).
"I want to scream! I can't believe it! Thank you so much!" I shout like a small boy, making her laugh even louder, and Iris leaves out some happy sounds.
"No reason to thank me. You earned it, but I want a small favor from you." She says shyly and I stop moving, sigh worried and Devon perks his ears troubled.
What is this now? Why did she get shy so suddenly?
"Anything!" I murmur breathless, not bearing her small pause.
"Hurry up! I want it to grow up with its cousins. This palace needs kids' voices. It's the only thing that misses to reach perfection. Landon grew up with you and the guys, you were always together and I want the same for my kid." She states and I nod instinctually too close to cry.
Shit!
I didn't see it coming, she is right though. I'm lucky that I had the guys with me from the very beginning of my life and I want the same for our kids, because my brothers' kids are mine as well. If Diana was pregnant before the other girls, I would kill the guys to hurry and make kids, so I agree with Nikki. Also, nothing can stop us now, everything is absolutely perfect and it's our turn to move on and create our family, our big, united family.
"I want it like nothing else! Yes, this place needs new blood and us running behind it all the time." I admit and with my free hand I caress Iris' cheek.
"Daniel..." Nikki mutters out of nowhere, after few silent seconds, filling me with concern for once more.
Her tone has something weird in it and I feel her back's muscles getting hard under my gently touch. My gaze searches for hers and when they find each other, I see pain and hesitation, fear and guilt, but I don't manage to ask Nikki what is wrong, she prevents me.
"At this point, I have a secret to share with you, too. Well, it's not exactly a secret, but I want you to know it before Mila talks to Diana about it. She will need you strong. It's extremely important, serious and unexpected." She starts and my heart aches unconsciously in my chest.
A bad sentiment builds up and Devon growls, doing his best to prepare him and me about Nikki's reveal. If I think correctly, Mila talked to Nikki about it in private and only see knows, otherwise Albert and Stacy would have told us about it until now. In addition, Mila, Diana and Aiden hasn't talked about the past yet, since Aiden and Diana want to enjoy their first moments with their mother, so maybe that's why Mila has told her nothing.
"And we'll be in the worst place, again." Devon murmurs anxiously, giving me an even harder time.
His words and Nikki's broken look aren't a good combination, I can barely breathe now.
"What is it? Does it have to do with Diana?" I ask already sure about the answer and Nikki nods, but then clears her throat to speak up.
"And Grayson! And Mason and you..." she announces under her breath and I get paralyzed from his name.
Grayson, Diana's second mate, the human that loved her, took care of her and died in order to save her. I can't think of what Mila could have told her about the four of us.
"Diana will be crushed and you'll have to support her more than ever. I still find it impossible to believe it myself. I thought I knew Grayson, but apparently I didn't, nobody did, even Diana." She continues and I blink my eyes unable of talking or reacting in any other way.
No, not again! I don't want her to get through more pain. She loves Grayson, she has every reason to and she won't bare anything related to him. He was a great man from what I know, so what is she going to say?
"Mason had approached him! Mila has no idea how he knew where Diana was and that Grayson was her mate, but I think that Morana took part in it somehow. Mila knew nothing before, Mason told her few weeks ago, when he decided to stop pretending and rejected her. He was working secretly behind her back for years, as Morana had informed him about Mila's betrayal. He knew that Diana was in England and Gideon had adopted her. He ordered those hunters to attack the pack and shoot her, because his first plan failed." She says in hurry while trembling, gasping and getting panicked.
Mason knew about everything?!
"What has Grayson to do with his first plan?" I ask, a God knows how, and Nikki bites her lower lip before she groans and finds the courage to speak again.
"Don't you understand? He was his first plan! He approached him, filled his mind with lies and Grayson believed him. He told Gideon or the others nothing about it. Mason accused you, he told him that you abused and almost killed Diana and then rejected her. He presented himself as a father that loved his daughter, but couldn't keep her, because he had to hide her from you!"
"Excuse me?" I exclaim unable of believing my ears and Iris starts crying.
"So, when Diana told him the truth..." I add with everything around me getting darker and my body too weak and sore, and Nikki reaches to the conclusion.
"Grayson realized that Mason had lied and left to find him! He came to his senses, he didn't want to find you, but Mason was one step forward, because the man, who was driving the car that hit Grayson, was Mason's friend."
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Hello and welcome to the chapter 63!
How are you all? I hope everything is well in your lives, because in mine... Things are truly messed up!
Anyway, this chapter is a long one, Mila woke up and Nikki with Daniel opened up, but most importantly we found out about Grayson's death and who is behind it. I hope you liked this chapter, so please, let me know your opinion and thoughts.
How do feel about this chapter? What do you think about Mila waking up? How do you feel about Diana and Aiden's reactions? And what about Mila? Also, how about all the guys breaking in the room? And how do you feel about Jonathan and Victoria talking to Gideon? What about his reaction (I skipped more about him on purpose, sorry) ? And now, what about Daniel's discussion with Nikki? What do you think about the reveal about Grayson's death? How did Mason know so many things about Diana? Why Grayson said nothing? Will we ever find out more about it? What is going to happen next?
As always at this point I would like to thank you very much for your love, support, commends and impatience in order to read the chapters! Also the book has reached about 167.800 views and I don't know what to say, I am at least grateful. I am trying my best so continue showing me how much you want more and:
1) Vote,
2) Commend and tell me your opinions and thoughts, or
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This is it for this time, see you again in the next chapter. Be safe and happy until next time!
I love you all,
Marie...