Lora

Lora
Nearis's POV

I stole a glance at Aeron as we quietly made our way to my room. His eyes were lowered to the floor as he seemed deep in thought. I bit my lips slightly in disappointment and glanced at my hand being held by his.

What could he be thinking about at a time like this?

“Aer…” I was about to call his name when voices ahead interrupted us. I turned my head in that direction and saw the man from before storming away, and beside him was a woman whose face I couldn't see.

What was his name again?

“What's he doing here?” Aeron's voice sounded in my ears and I turned to him. My eyes widened slightly when I saw the worry in his eyes and the way his head turned toward the direction of Nyxion's quarters.

“Aeron? What's wrong?” I clenched his hand tightly as I watched him. Instead of answering, his head turned to the man who had already left the place.

“Naeris,” he said, finally turning to face me. “I'll be right back. I need to check if something happened. I saw the blood on Ryder's body…” His words trailed off as my eyes fixed on the worry in his eyes.

He still worried about him even though they had been on bad terms.

My eyes lowered to his moving lips, his words never registering in my head.

“Aeron.”

I snapped out of my thoughts and glanced up at him. He seemed a little taken aback, but he didn't say anything and waited for me to speak.

“You can go.”

His eyes searched through mine for some time, as though searching for something. When he didn't see what he was looking for, he lifted my hand and bent his head, placing a soft kiss on the back of it.

He gently lowered my hand before releasing it and pulling me into a hug.

“I know you're upset.” His hands rubbed my back and I felt a kiss on the middle of my head. “I'll check quickly and get back to you. I already promised that tonight is just for the two of us.”

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as my eyes shut, my hands tightening around him as though that would be the last time I would see him again.

“It's okay. I'll be here waiting for you,” I whimpered, inhaling his scent.

We stayed there for some time before he pulled away. He smiled at me before walking off.

I stood alone in the long corridor with huge pillars on both sides of me and gently rubbed my arm. An unsettling feeling crept through me and I shivered uncontrollably.

“Why does it feel like things are about to go wrong from here?” I muttered to myself, but my eyes flickered when I realized my wolf had been quiet for some time now.

‘Are you in there?’ I lifted my brows, waiting for an answer, but there was nothing from her.

I waited for a few minutes, but silence greeted me.

“What's she doing?” I tilted my head slightly, clicking my tongue as I continued walking to my room.

It didn't take long before I was finally standing in front of my door. My hand lifted to open it when footsteps sounded in my ears and I turned in the direction they came from.

“Avery?”

My eyes widened in surprise, a smile spreading across my face. It had been a while since I last saw her.

However, the smile on my face instantly disappeared when I saw how pale she looked and the fear on her face.

What's going on? I have been asking this question too much these days.

“Avery.” I rushed toward her, reaching out my hands to catch her as she stumbled and nearly fell to the floor. I caught her before she could hit the ground and her panting filled my ears. “Are you alright?”

“I need a minute to breathe,” she said, exhaling heavily as she touched her chest.

“Okay,” I answered slowly, letting go of her. “But come inside my room and have a seat.”

“Thank you, child.” She forced a smile onto her face and followed after me as I led her into the room.

I guided her to a seat and sat opposite her, giving her enough time to gather herself.

“What? He did what?”

I shot up from my seat, staring down at her in shock. Avery's head moved around in panic as though she was afraid someone might be listening to our conversation.

“Lower your voice,” she whispered fiercely, and I slowly sat back down on the chair.

“He tortured her and that's why Elder Ryder went to his office and attacked him?” I whispered, trying to confirm if I had heard her correctly.

Avery nodded. “I also heard that the child escaped from the prison and the guards are looking for her. I am so worried something might have happened to her. What has come over Nyxion to make him behave so cruelly? He didn't bother thinking about the pain she was going through after losing her child.”

I sat silently in shock at everything I heard.

He has lost it.

Nyxion had finally lost it.

My hands clenched tightly as I stared at my lap.

What is going to happen now?

This situation will only make Aeron worry about him even more and…

I shook my head and slapped my cheeks lightly. I felt Avery's gaze on me and I smiled at her.

“I am sure everything is going to be fine. Aerila will return safe and sound, and as for Nyxion, his brothers will talk some sense into him. The only person I am a little worried about is Aerila's uncle. He might cause internal trouble within the pack. He seems to hold a strong hatred toward Nyxion for some unknown reason.”

Avery sighed helplessly, pressing her hand against her forehead.

“Who wouldn't be? If I were in his position, I would hate the son of the man who caused his mate to suffer such a gruesome death.”

My ears perked up at her words and I turned to face her in confusion.

“What do you mean by that?”

Avery's eyes lifted to stare at mine and I saw a hint of confusion in them.

“You do not know about the history between Ryder and the triplets' father?”

My head slowly shook as confusion settled within me.

“You poor child.” She sighed softly, shaking her head. “It's understandable. The triplets made sure to bury the name of that woman after their father died. Her name left a bitter memory in the hearts of the people who knew her.”

She stared past me, deep in thought.

“No one can ever forget Lora.”