Chapter Ten: Threats and Ultimatums
NATHAN
Death came for me.
Its cold grip dragged me under, suffocating and relentless, no matter how desperately I clawed to hold on. In those final moments, I let go, resigned to the inevitable–but then something yanked me back. A searing light cut through the darkness, the excruciating pain that had enveloped me dissolved into nothingness.
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was her.
Her gaze had been full of worry then–soft, exhausted. Now, those same eyes sparked with fury as she glared at me, her voice sharp and unyielding.
“What is the meaning of this, Nathan? Why did you give the order that I am not permitted to leave your territory? I don‘ t
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have time for this–I have a pack to get back to.”
Her audacity grated on me, but I kept my voice level, even as my wolf growled restlessly inside. Pushing myself upright, despite the dull ache that still lingered in my body, I met her anger with calm precision.
“First of all, watch your tone when you speak to me,” I said, my irritation barely concealed. “Second, you‘ re not leaving until we address the very important fact that I apparently have a son.”
Her scoff was immediate, her arms crossing over her chest. “Oh, so now you believe he’s yours? Two days ago, you were so eager to accuse me of cheating.”
“It’s not an accusation if it’s true, I bit back. “And for the record, I didn‘ t give that order because I enjoy having you here. The sooner you‘ re gone, the better. You‘ re highly irritating.”
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Her mouth opened, a sharp retort
undoubtedly forming, but then she seemed to think better of it. Shaking her head, she exhaled sharply, her frustration evident.
“I’m not doing this with you, Nathan. Daniel is my son. I never planned on telling you, but now that you know, here’s how this will work: I‘ ll allow you to see him once a month–on my terms, in my territory.”
I scoffed, the laugh bitter in my throat.
“Your territory? The same one crumbling under your so–called leadership? The same one he was kidnapped from? Tell me, Nicole, who’s to say it won’t happen again?”
For a split second, fear flickered in her eyes. She couldn’t hide it–not from me. But just as quickly, her anger returned, sharper than before. “I‘ ll double my defenses if I have to,” she snapped.
“None of this would‘ ve happened if you hadn’t refused my alliance and
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blacklisted me in the first place! I am leaving, Nathan. I’m taking my son with me, and that‘ s final.”
She turned to leave, but my wolf growled, louder this time. It demanded action, and I knew it was right. Letting her walk away wasn’t an option–not when danger still lurked, not when I couldn’t trust her to keep Daniel safe.
“Whoever is behind this won’t stop,” I said, my voice steady but edged with warning. She paused, though she didn’t turn to face me. I pressed on. “Deep down, you know it. They didn’t just target Daniel–they framed me for it. They wanted you to come here. This entire trap was set for one of us, if not both.”
Finally, she turned, her expression unreadable as I continued. “Someone is declaring war. And I promise you–they‘ 11 pay for it.”
Her silence stretched between us, heavy with tension. I forced myself to say the
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words I knew she needed to hear, even though they tasted bitter in my mouth.
“I’ll give you what you wanted before. I’ll align with you. I’ll help stabilize your faction, track down whoever‘ s behind killings, and end it. In exchange, you‘ 11 cooperate–with me–and we’ll work together to take whoever thinks they can come after my son and get away with it.
She studied me, her eyes searching mine for a long moment before narrowing. “I don’t trust you. And I definitely don‘ t like you.”
“Good,” I said coolly. “The feeling‘ s mutual.”
Her glare deepened. “I don’t need your help. I’ll figure things out on my own- and I’ll decide when and if you get to see my son. Besides, shouldn’t you consult your Luna before making such important decisions?”
The jab was a calculated one, but I ignored it. My wolf, however, bristled at the thought
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of her taking Daniel away.
I let out a long breath, my tone hardening.
“I’m trying to play nice, Nicole. I’ll give you three days to decide. But make no mistake–Daniel is my son. My blood. My heir. And I command the most powerful faction in the realm.” I let the silence stretch for emphasis before delivering the final blow.
“If you don’t agree to my terms, I’ll take him from you.”
