Chapter 50

Amira’s POV.

This trip held everything I had ever wished for—Ocean Dawn's resurgence, a real haven for wolves like me, a place to refine our skills and truly master them. It was a dream I'd secretly harbored, one that seemed to be within grasp now. As Ace's and Ava's offers lay before me, I was torn between immediate action and patience. Nikolas had warned that Ace's enthusiasm might hide something, urging me not to rush into decisions. I couldn't ignore the anticipation bubbling within me, but his words held weight.

Once we returned home, it was time to revisit the topic privately. Seated on the couch, I faced Nikolas, ready to express my thoughts. "Niko, isn't this amazing?" I exclaimed, my excitement palpable. "I really think we should consider Ace's offer. I'm willing to grant permission to use the land, and the kingdom could offer financial support."

His silence hung in the air before he spoke, his voice serious and measured. "Amira, we have to be careful. Ace might be pushing things too fast. There's an urgency in him that I find concerning. I don't want us to jump into something without thinking it through."

I groaned, frustration bubbling within me. "Seriously, Niko? You still don't trust him? You've been skeptical from the beginning." While I valued his caution, his lack of trust in Ace had been a lingering undercurrent, a constant point of contention between us.

"Garett hasn't stopped investigating him. He cross-referenced the information Ace provided and found something odd," Nikolas leaned in, his tone intense. "Ace's grandfather isn't on vacation. He vanished, and it seems like Ace is covering it up. There's no trace of him leaving the country."

I blinked, absorbing the weight of his words. This was taking an unexpected turn. "Wait, you think Ace might have had something to do with his disappearance? The man who was raised by his grandfather after a terrible tragedy?" I scoffed, the notion feeling surreal.

"Why else would there be no trace of his whereabouts? His credit cards, everything remains the same as two years ago. He supposedly went to Brazil, but he never left the country," Nikolas argued, his frustration mirrored in his posture.

"Why do you always jump to the worst conclusions?" I retorted, our height difference stark as I stood up to face him. "Can't you see how much I want to revive the pack? People have suffered so much, and this place is crowded. Ocean Dawn is perfect for them."

"Ocean Dawn's potential is undeniable, and the kingdom can provide the necessary funds, Amira. But I'm not convinced you should hand over your pack rights to Ace just yet," Nikolas's cheeks reddened, but his demeanor remained composed.

"Then who, Niko? Ava’s idea, is that what you want?" The words slipped out unintentionally, thoughts I'd been harboring accidentally surfacing. "Is that why you've been talking to her so much, staring at her?"

His voice softened, an earnestness in his eyes. "It's not like that. I talk to Ava because she seems more trustworthy than Ace. It's not about any other reasons."

"Nikolas, you keep bringing up your doubts about Ace, as if you think I'm naive," I exclaimed, my frustration clear in my tone as I placed my hands on my hips. This conversation was veering away from what I had anticipated.

“You are not! You’re just overly excited right now and that man knows exactly what to dangle in front of you,” Nikolas now said and without giving me a chance to speak further he continued, “We can’t kick start his ‘military’ academy right away Amira, can’t you see he’s making them too powerful and having them all in one place will make the others feel threatened.”

Would he feel threatened, is that what is the main problem here? Because he had no powers? “Like you are? Is that why you refuse this?” I asked, raising a brow at him.

Nikolas chuckled and shook his head then said, “Don’t get it twisted, it was I who fought the war for ‘your’ people, never forget that.”

“Wow,” I stared up at him in disbelief.

He stumbled over his words, realizing how harsh his statement had sounded. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm on your side. We're royalty, and that means we have to be responsible in every decision we make," he pleaded, taking my hands in his, his eyes earnest.

“I’m going to bed, what time are you leaving tomorrow morning?” I huffed and began to walk away. It wasn’t fair to use the war against me like that– It just wasn’t.

"Amira—" he called after me, but I ignored him, retreating to the bedroom. "I'm leaving after breakfast tomorrow," he added with a sigh.

The tension between us lingered, making the night feel colder than it should have. We slept at opposite ends of the bed, the divide reflecting the distance that had grown between us. I wanted him to understand my eagerness, to acknowledge the significance of the project, but he seemed fixated on his trust issues and reluctance.

The next morning, the air was thick with silence as we got ready for the day. I prepared a simple breakfast of eggs and toast, and we ate in silence at the table. Nikolas broke the quiet, his fingers tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. "Listen, Amira, I'll be there briefly, then I'll return. We'll work this out, okay?"

I scoffed, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Work out what? How you'll shoot down the idea?"

"Please, just give me a chance to figure things out. This is important, and I want to make sure we're making the right decision," he implored, holding my hands tightly.

"Sure, Niko," I said with a hint of sarcasm, turning my attention to the clock.

He let out a sigh, his grip on my hands loosening. "Amira, please be patient with me. I've never let you down, and I won't start now. I just need some time to ensure we're doing the right thing."

With a resigned nod, I released my hands from his grasp. "Safe travels, Nikolas. Let me know when you get there," I said, my voice softening as I held out the car keys.

He took the keys, leaning over to press a gentle kiss to my lips, "I will. I love you."

"Love you too," I murmured, watching him drive away, a tangle of emotions brewing within me.

***

After Nikolas departed, I wandered over to the pack house where I found Ava and Ace. Today's training was set in the jungle, a refreshing change from the usual routines. The natural surroundings brought a sense of tranquillity, the breeze rustling through the leaves as we engaged in our exercises. As the session neared its end, Ava and the others headed off, leaving Ace and me in the jungle's embrace.

Ace's voice broke the silence, his excitement palpable. "I've shared the potential of our plans with the pack, and their enthusiasm is overwhelming." I hadn’t expected him to talk about it to others so fast…

I smiled, genuinely pleased for his success. "That's fantastic news. What about those from other packs?"

"The response has been positive overall. I only haven't heard from one pack up north, though the leader mentioned she'd join us for the festival," Ace responded as we strolled through the jungle's expanse.

"Let me know which pack it is, and I'll try to reach out to ensure she's informed," I offered, eager to complete the list.

"I will, Queen Amira," Ace acknowledged, then shifted the conversation to a more pressing matter. "So, have you spoken to King Nikolas? Has he agreed?"

I hesitated, my fingers running through my sweat-dampened hair. "We've discussed it," I admitted, feeling a bit awkward about the situation.

Ace let out a sigh that seemed tinged with disappointment. "Let me guess, he's not on board."

“Not exactly, wait why did you assume that?” I replied, curious about his assumption.

Ace shook his head, his expression resigned. "It's just that, a few years ago, we proposed a similar idea to the kingdom, but King Nikolas turned it down."

I frowned, caught off guard by his revelation. "Wait, you mean this proposal has been made before?"

Ace began to explain, “A couple of years ago there was an official request handed in at the kingdom and King Nikolas turned down the request even though we would’ve funded most of it and would make use of volunteers– back then we all assumed that the Alpha’s heir had died so that’s what we didn’t ask you first obviously.”

My thoughts spun as I absorbed this unexpected revelation. "I must have forgotten about it, or it never reached my attention," I managed to reply, though my mind raced with questions. Was this true? Had Nikolas truly turned down a similar proposal? Is that why he keeps constantly turning this down? He doesn’t want anything of it?

Ace nodded, his expression sympathetic. "It happens, Queen. And yes, there's dinner at the pack house tonight."

"I'll be there," I assured him, though my mind was already racing with thoughts of confronting Nikolas about this earlier refusal. As I left Ace and headed toward the house, my heart raced with a mix of uncertainty and determination.

***

Once back home, I wasted no time and dialed Nikolas's number. My heart raced, hoping Ace had been wrong.

“Nikolas, was there a request years ago to rebuild Ocean Dawn pack?” I asked, urgency coloring my tone.

“Amira—”

"Just yes or no," I cut him off, needing a straightforward answer.

After a pause, he sighed. "Yes, there was, but it was ages ago."

Disappointment welled within me. I wished he could prove Ace wrong, but Nikolas had confirmed the request's existence. It hurt to know he had denied it, and worse, he had hidden it from me all these years. The realization stung even more because he had portrayed himself as supportive, while all along he had been against my dreams.

"You've been against this from the start, haven't you? You pretended to support me, all while secretly standing in my way," I said, my voice tight with emotion.

"Amira, it's not as simple as that. Please let me explain," Nikolas pleaded, but I couldn't bear to listen any longer.

"I think I've heard enough. I'll make my decision tonight. As the Alpha's daughter, I have the power to decide," I declared before abruptly ending the call.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of contemplation. Nikolas bombarded me with messages, but I ignored them, confiding only in Mila, who I'd kept out of our argument. I didn't want to air our problems for everyone to see.

When dinner time arrived, I joined everyone at the pack house. However, I found only Ace there, his smile warm as he pulled out a chair for me.

"Everyone's gone to Stargaze. The hill eastward offers a clear view of the stars," Ace explained, gesturing toward the window.

"Oh, I wish I had known," I pouted, watching the gathering crowd on the hillside.

"I forgot too, honestly. There's going to be so much leftover food now," Ace sighed, nodding toward the table laden with dishes meant for a larger group.

"I can see that," I remarked, a touch of awkwardness in my voice. Dinner for two felt strangely intimate, a far cry from the usual communal meals.

We ate slowly, exchanging casual conversation. This time, Ace delved into more personal topics, causing a slight tremor of doubt to creep into my thoughts. It was as if Nikolas's voice was echoing in my ears, reminding me of his concerns, his pleas to stay safe—promises I'd already broken.

"I've also drawn up this contract," Ace revealed, producing a paper that caught me off guard. When did he even have time to draft this? It was for permission so he could go forth with his idea. Everything was moving at an alarming pace.

"Isn't this moving too quickly?" I voiced my concerns, questioning whether Nikolas's reservations held merit.

"My dear, we've been waiting for this for so long. You have no idea," Ace replied, a glint of eagerness in his eyes as he rose from his seat and approached me. He reached out to graze his finger against my chin, sending a shiver down my spine. But it was an uncomfortable shiver, the kind that made my instincts scream caution.

"Ace, you're misunderstanding something," I said firmly, removing his touch as unease gnawed at me. Suddenly, being alone with him didn't feel right.

"Have I? Haven't you been giving me signals all along, Amira?" Ace sounded slightly offended by my rejection.

"Signals of what?"

"That you want me, Amira. We could expand our pack, become stronger, and even overthrow Nikolas. Imagine us ruling side by side, a power couple," Ace proclaimed, his words becoming increasingly delusional. He was painting a picture of a future that was simply unrealistic.

My shock and disbelief spilled out involuntarily. "Oh, my goddess, Nikolas was right about you."

Ace's expression twisted, his composure faltering. "How dare you think I'd leave my mate and betray him for you!" I exclaimed, rising from my seat with a mixture of anger and realization. Nikolas had seen through Ace's intentions, and I had pushed him away, dismissing his concerns.

"Just for me?" Ace scoffed, the resentment clear in his voice.

"Amira, I've known you since we were children. I saw you then, loved you then, and I still love you now. You were preoccupied with the prince back then, but I always knew you'd love me more given the chance," Ace confessed, leaving me dumbfounded. His words were absurd, a mix of delusion and manipulation.

My voice shook as I managed to speak, struggling to grasp the situation. "What on earth are you saying?"

"When the massacre occurred, I couldn't believe you were gone. Deep down, I knew you were alive, and when I found out you were mated to that wretched man, I knew it was a mistake. We're meant to rule together, Amira. The moon goddess just made an error," Ace continued a deranged conviction in his words.

"The goddess makes no mistakes, Ace," I retorted firmly, refusing to entertain his twisted narrative. His declarations were unsettling, and his intentions seemed dark.

"I wished you'd choose me, but I sensed your hesitation. So, I prepared for this moment," Ace hummed, and dizziness began to cloud my senses.

"What... What do you mean?" I stammered, my vision blurring.

It hit me abruptly. I glanced at the plates, recognizing the dessert. I had the triple chocolate cake with strawberry topping. Panic surged as I realized I was the only one who had eaten it.

"You know, I've gathered quite a bit of information about you, including your signature which I know just how to forge with the little dots and all. Just in case you didn't comply," Ace revealed, and a wave of nausea washed over me.

"Amira, don't worry. I'll dispose of your body after a few days, and I'll make sure the blame falls on your husband. We can start a war with him. His army might be strong, but it lacks telekinesis and we’ll get rid of him too," Ace chuckled darkly, catching me as my legs gave way. His arms held me close, his intentions chilling.

"It could have gone differently for you, but you rejected my love," Ace mused, his grip on me tightening as he carried me down into what seemed to be a hidden basement. His words sent a shiver of fear down my spine.

"All I need to do is convince everyone that you left for the north, especially Ava. I'll make it seem like you signed this contract," Ace muttered his words a disturbing mixture of determination and obsession.

The room reeked, and I struggled to maintain consciousness. My gaze met a bleak dungeon-like space, and the last coherent thought I had was the realization that I was trapped, victim to a plan that had been orchestrated against me. And then darkness claimed me.