NORA’S POV
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall, but my mind was elsewhere totally.
Everytime I closed my eyes, I saw his face, those silver gray eyes burning into mine, and that low voice whispering that I was beautiful, that I was his.
I hated that a part of me still wanted to believe it.
I thought of his question in the hallway… “Have you stopped to think about what it would be like if you just let it happen?”
I had thought about it.
That was the problem.
I thought about Greta, my best friend, who trusted me completely, who had opened her home to me and welcomed me with open arms.
I thought about Lily, my daughter, who was watching me with those sharp eyes of hers, sensing that something was wrong.
I thought about Lucian, the man who had held me in the dark, who had whispered that I was beautiful, and who had made me feel like I was the only woman in the world.
I felt trapped between what I wanted and what I knew was right.
Then I heard a knock on my door, which pulled me back to reality.
Greta entered with a warm smile on her face, and she settled on the bed beside me, and took my hand.
” How are you feeling, my dear?” She asked.
I forced a smile on my face and replied softly, “Better.
Just tired.”
“I have been thinking about you,” Greta said, with a soft look in her eyes.
“About your situation.
You have been alone for three years now, Nora.
Trevor hurt you deeply, and I hate seeing you like this.
So, I want to introduce you to someone.”
My heart dropped, and I stammered, “Greta, I don’t want any more heartbreak.
I just want a quiet life with my daughter.”
Greta laughed heartily and winked at me.
“Didn’t you like getting laid like you did that night?”
My heart dropped to my stomach and my face burned with embarrassment.
“Greta—”
Now imagine you being laid every night,” she continued, her eyes twinkling brightly.
“All your worries and stress will disappear.”
I was speechless.
I could not believe what I was hearing.
Then Greta leaned close and whispered, “Lord Harry and Lord Christian are still very much in their prime and sexy.
Especially Lord Harry, who takes runs in his wolf form every morning.
Now imagine how toned his body will be.”
I blushed so hard I could feel the heat on cheeks.
“Greta, are you the one saying all these?”
“Stop being a prude, Nora.
I even have a secret lover, unknown to my son.
My husband had been dead for ages, and I am still young and fit.
Even in my fifties, I still have needs.
Not to talk to you who is in her thirties.”
I burst out laughing and shook my head.
“You are hilarious.”
Greta laughed too and squeezed my hand.
“Prepare yourself, Nora.
Soon you will be meeting your future mates.”
She left a few moments later, and I was still shaking my head, laughing to myself as I thought about what she had told me.
Greta has a secret lover?
That woman never ceased to surprise me.
Lily slipped into the room and looked at me curiously with her sharp eyes.
“Mom,” she said, “are we not leaving again?
You said we are going to leave this morning.”
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to tell her, then I said, “I am not sure anymore, Lily.
Things have gotten….complicated.”
Lily studied me for a moment.
Then asked suddenly, “Did you know the Alpha before?”
I froze.
“No.
Ofcourse not.
Why would you ask that?”
She shrugged, but her eyes were still sharp.
“Okay.
But I don’t trust the way he was staring at you.”
Then I cracked a joke, hoping to lighten the mood.
“Maybe he hasn’t seen a woman of my size before and he is shocked.
Women in this pack are trimmed just like Greta and Lady Elara.”
Lily scowled and hissed under her breath, “if that is the case, if he dares mock my mother, I will give him a piece of my mind.
Alpha or not.”
I laughed and pulled her into a hug, my fragile heart swelling with love for my fierce, protective daughter.
“Oh Lily, you don’t need to worry about me.
I can handle myself.”
I needed air.
I took a walk to the gardens, hoping the fresh air would clear my head.
Then I sat in a stone bench, staring at the flowers, trying to forget the look in Lucian’s eyes.
But then I heard footsteps behind me, and I did not need to look up because I already knew who it was.
“Running away again?” He asked, his voice sounding low and smooth.
My heart pounded against my ribs as I stood up quickly, ready to run, but he was faster.
He stepped into my space, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
Then I tried to step back, but he caught my wrist and held me tightly, but his grip was not painful.
“Let me go,” I said.
“No,” he said calmly.
Then I swallowed hard and asked, “What do you want from me?”
He stepped closer, and I was trapped with the stone bench behind me and his body in front of me.
“I want you to stop pretending that night meant nothing.
I felt you in my arms, and I heard the way you called my name.
You want this.
You want me.”
“You don’t know what you are talking about,” I said shakily.
Then he leaned in, and placed his face inches from mine.
“You can keep telling yourself that.
You can keep pushing me away.
Keep hiding behind your fears.
But it won’t change the truth.” His voice dropped lower as he said, “I know about my mother’a plan.
She wants to set you up with Lord Christian or Lord Harry.
And I know you won’t be happy with either of them.”
I stared at him, with my heart pounding, and asked breathlessly, “How do you know about that?”
“She told me,” he said slowly, as his silver gray eyes burn into mine.
“And u am telling you now— you belong to me.
You felt it the moment we met.
I know you did.”
I should have pushed him away.
I should have run.
But his hand was still around my wrist, warm and firm, and his silver gray eyes were burning into mine like he could see straight through every wall I had ever built.
He was right.
I was terrified.
Not of him.
But of how much I wanted him.