120
KNIGHT
“So I can’t even touch you now? When, then?”
What happened outside while she and Dane were training must have terrified her. I wondered if she got her seer gift from her mother but was scared to embrace it.
The way she looked at me right now with so many unanswered questions in her eyes made me anxious, and I just wanted to protect her and take her somewhere where no one could find us.
“Sweetheart, it’s fine. You can’t hurt me.” My chest clenched to the way she hid her hands behind her back.
“Knight, I mean it. Stay back.”
I still sat on the bed. The guys and Kailin were outside the room. “I know you are terrified, but you can never hurt me. You have to knock me down if you won’t let me touch you. Give me your hand, Nirvana.” It was not a request.
“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t wanna see your greatest fear or your pain. It hurts, and it feels like I’m invading someone’s privacy. I feel sorry for Dane, but I didn’t mean it.”
“It was just an accident. You said it yourself. You didn’t mean it. And it’s in the past. Come on, sweetheart, you’re stronger than that.”
“Don’t ever try to trick me, or I will punch you.”
I smirked. “Maybe you should punch me then.”
While she was rolling her eyes, I quickly cupped her face and kissed her. I’d been meaning to kiss her and hug her tight the moment I saw the torment in her eyes.
She groaned against my lips, resisting at first, but gave in anyway. When we broke our kiss, she glared at me but never touched me. I also saw anticipation and longing. I kissed her again. This time, it is soft and tender.
“You can touch me, Nirvana. I have so many fun memories in my life. Maybe what you’ll see is when we first met. Don’t you want to see that? I wish I could watch myself and see how I was so starstruck by you. At the same time, I was also stupid and dumb.” I took her arm so I could hold her hand.
She resisted at first, hand fisting.
“Do you trust me?”
“What kind of stupid question is that?” She glared at me.
I knew she trusted me. I could see it in her eyes. Maybe she was terrified of discovering what I didn’t want her to see about my life.
“I have nothing to hide from you. I’m an open book.” I slowly touched the back of her hand until she relaxed. “Come on, Nirvana. I know you’re stubborn and strong-willed. Be that person who always defied my order.” I opened my palm for her.
“I defied your order because sometimes you’re a dick.” She raised a hand, pointing a finger into my palm as if testing the water. Our skin slightly touched, but she didn’t get the same reaction as what happened with her and Dane.
While she was too focused on our touching me, I took the leap, clasping our hands together until she sucked a breath. “Nirvana?”
She stared at me without a horrific look. And then she blinked before she threw herself at me.
“Did you see something?” I hugged her tight and kissed her shoulder and neck. “I told you to trust me.”
“Oh, God.” She sagged in my arms and sighed. “It feels so damn good that it’s gone. I don’t wanna be in that position again.” She kissed me and said, “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Maybe it was just a test or something.”
A knock pulled us apart.
“What is it, K?”
“Are you both done? It’s time to go to the compound.”
***
The Night Stalker Pack was one of the biggest in the country, and it still amazed me how Califf was one of the most influential and feared alphas in the world, and most of his single and unmated members lived in the pack house.
“Alpha Knight, good to see you again.” Beta Duke and I did a brotherly hug.
“Beta.”All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.
Duke went to Nirvana, offering his hand for a handshake. “Welcome to Night Stalker Pack, Luna Nirvana. I’m Beta Duke.”
“Hi. Thank you for accommodating us on such short notice.” She shook his hand, and Duke noticed the hesitation in her action. “Forgive me. I just had an unprecedented incident yesterday.”
“It’s all right, Luna. Alpha Califf is waiting for all of you in his office.”
After introducing my party to him, he led us inside the pack house.
Califf’s office was almost similar to mine, with fewer decorations, not even a picture hanging on the wall.
“Knight, guys, welcome and have a seat.” Califf turned to Nirvana. “You made it. How have you been?”
“I’m good. Thank you.”
“Zarah will be here. And the meeting is happening. Are you sure you wanna do this?” He looked at both of us.
“Yes. It has to happen. I can’t fight two enemies at once, Alpha Califf. And I wanna know what Cyrius has a hold on him,” Nirvana replied.
“This is dangerous, and you’d be in uncharted territory. He could bring his entire army and mercenaries to the meeting without you even knowing it.”
“I know.” I stole a glance at Dane.
I turned to Dane. “How do the council enforcers work?”
“I wasn’t one of the enforcers. I only work for Victor, Alpha Knight, but sometimes, I accepted jobs from the council that were too dangerous for their people to do.”
Califf nodded. “You work with Kain.”
Dane neither confirmed nor denied.
“I know all about Kain. He’s my brother’s uncle. And you can trust me. Your secrets are safe with me.”
“We need your help,” I told him honestly.
“Of course.”
“I know Eloh might use a witch to protect himself or intercept our link,” Nirvana started. “If he may confiscate my phone, I need to purchase a listening and recording device that he less suspects and a list of alphas you have.”
“You have a computer expert, right?”
“Yeah.” He nodded at me. “Santi is good. What else do you need?”
Nirvana looked at me. “Can I borrow Lyon, Tor, and Zack?”
“Consider it done. You don’t have to buy what you need. I know someone who can help.”
“Wade. Is he around?”
Califf smiled. “That’s exactly what I have in mind.” He took his phone and texted Carter Wade, a sheriff from California. “He’d be happy to see you.”
Zarah could finally join the part of the meeting, and she only listened. Thirty minutes later, we were done discussing the plan, and I wasn’t entirely on board.
“That’s too risky.” I agreed with Califf.
“Yeah,” Kailin and McKaye said in unison.
“It is. And we don’t know what’s in his head. I’m sure he has something dubious up his sleeves. Considering he has the High Priestess at his beck and call, he could snap his fingers, and you’re gone.”
“Of course, this is risky.” Nirvana was getting frustrated. “I didn’t think this would be a walk in the park. That’s why I need an extra hand.”
“You need more than just an extra hand, Nirvana.”
She huffed, gazing at silent Dane, maybe asking for help. “I can’t believe I’m the only one who sees this plan would work.”
“He’s a canny son of a bitch, Nirvana.” I tried convincing her to change her mind and come up with a better plan, but so far, I was failing it.
“He can never be trusted. He is remorseless-the kind of person you will not cross. He will eliminate everyone in his path to get what he wants.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” She glared at Dane. “He betrayed Victor, and that’s not something I can let go of. You should do the same.”
“This is insane.” I shook my head in frustration.
“That’s only a part of my plan.”
“Oh, then what are the parts two and three?” Zarah asked sarcastically.
“It will involve Victor and your men.” She pointed at Dane.
“I’m listening.”