Chapter 63: Daddy is back

Verena walked through the store trying to find ingredients for dinner. The memory of bumping into Karen was still very fresh in her mind. She picked out a packet of pork and added it to her basket.

She was making sweet and sour pork for dinner. Nicolas liked it a lot.

Seeing Karen was something Verena wasn't prepared for. Seeing her had brought back memories, both the good and the bad. And above all was the guilt it brought back.

Verena was relieved to know that Karen was indeed alive, and she could finally ask for forgiveness. At the same time, she was consumed with crippling guilt because of what she had done.

As time went by, she began to realize the error of her ways. She came to accept that what she had done was bad, even though she had done it with the best intentions.

Kai loved Karen. It was a truth she didn't want to accept. And that truth nearly cost her her head.

She picked up the last item, a bottle of rose wine. Nicolas had texted her that he would be late, as always. She bought the wine to keep her company while she waited.

She paid for her items at checkout and headed to her car. The sun was setting fast, and she was eager to get home before it got too dark. She walked to her car, the bag of groceries supported against her body. She opened the back seat and laid the groceries carefully. About To enter the driver's seat, she heard a voice behind her that made her freeze.

"My flame princess," The voice said. "It's good to see you again."

Verena whipped her head around, coming face to face with her father. On a normal day, she would have been full of joy to see him, jumping into his arms and welcoming him.

But today was no such day.

All she wanted to do was run and never come back. She pressed her back up against the car "What are you doing here?" She whispered

He smiled, his golden eyes glinting. "I came to check up on my darling princess."

Verena felt tendrils of fear wrap around her neck. "Ok fine. "She said firmly. "I have been handling myself well, and that's okay."

He nodded. "How is your little mate doing?"

"He's very well."

Asher laughed bitterly. "If you had listened to me and down as I said, you would have been a Luna!"

Verena winced at his loud tone. She looked around her, thankfully no one else was in the parking lot. She turned back to her father.

"He's in love with someone else, daddy." She said. "And now my head is on the line because of what I did!"

He laughed bitterly. "If you had followed me all the way, you wouldn't have had to worry about your head!"

Verena realized this was going to be a back-and-forth. "What is it you want?"

"Now you're talking." He smirked. "Come with me. I have a plan for you, the most perfect role for you to play"

Verena shook her head. "I'm sorry Daddy, I can't do that anymore."

He looked disappointed. "You can't?!"

"I have a loving mate, a man who loves and respects me. I'm not going to throw all that away. For what?"

"You have become soft." He hissed at her, hai eyes sparking anger. "I didn't raise you like this Verena. Not for a single day."

Verena sighed and rubbed her temples. "Daddy people grow up. You have to get used to it. "

"You will regret refusing me right now," Asher said. "I can promise you that" he turned and vanished into the night.

Verena felt like she could finally breathe. she rushed into her car and started the engine, driving out of the parking lot like all hell was after her. She realized her hands were trembling against the steering wheel.

She hadn't expected to see her father again.

After Kai had banished her form from ever showing up in front of him again, Verena had to go back home and spend a few months there. During that time, Nicolas would always come visiting, checking up on her regularly. Back then Verena hated him with a passion, seeing him as the person who stood in her way of possessing Kai

Yet whenever she tried to reject him, she couldn't go through with it.

Soon Kai was to expand fully into the human world, and he was taking Nicolas with him. Verena recalled how Nicolas had pleaded with her to come with him, and she had kept refusing him.

Verena couldn't understand how someone as kind and as pure as Nicolas could ever want someone like her.

She accepted his offer after weeks of asking but due to Kai's orders, they had to take a lot of precautions so she couldn't meet him by any chance.

Verena drove down a corner, exhaling with relief once she saw their house up ahead.

She and Nicolas lived in a quiet part of town, far from Kai and far from the city. Verena liked it here, it was calming to her.

She parked her car in the garage and took out her groceries. Her watch read eight-fifteen. She got out the things for dinner and began to prepare them.

Transition into a normal life had been hard for Verena at first. But she was getting used to it day by day. And of course, she was never alone. Nicolas always being there for her.

As she was rounding up dinner, she heard the garage door open, signaling that he had returned. A bit early, but she wasn't complaining. He came into the house and headed to the kitchen.

Verena turned, seeing her eternal mate smiling at her, and her heart melted. She couldn't believe that she could ever feel this happy in her life. That she could have someone come home and be happy to see her.

"Hey," He said, his beautiful eyes searching her face.

He walked up to her and pulled her into a tight hug, exhaling as he did.

"Hungry?" Verena asked, molding herself into his embrace. His scent felt like a soothing balm on her nerves.

"Ravenous." He replied, making her laugh.

"Dinner is almost ready. Two minutes at most "

He pulled away from the hug. "Perfect. I can't wait."

"Well I can" she laughed softly.

He set out the plates for dinner on the kitchen island, pouring the wine. Verena could feel his eyes on her and it made her feel safe.

"Did anything happen today?" He spoke up.

Verena sighed. "You noticed?"

He always noticed her mood changes. Always.

"How can I not?"

She pulled the food out of the oven, the glazed pork looking mouthwatering. She set it on the island and dished out two portions.

"I met my dad at the grocery store."

Nicolas froze. "What did he want? Did he hurt you?" He grabbed her hand and searched her body. "If he did forgive me, I'm going to hurt him for it"

Verena shook her head. "He didn't hurt me he just wanted me to do something for him."

Nicolas sighed. "This Is getting out of hand."

Verena couldn't agree more. "Let's eat before it gets cold."

"I think I should tell Kai about this."

"He'll just have male reason to suspect me. There's no need. I'm already on a tightrope."

Nicolas took her hand into his and gazed into her eyes. She loves this eye color such a pretty green. He was pretty.

"I can't let anything put you in danger, not even your father."

"I know that "

"Good " he held her face and leaned into her to kiss her. Verena met him halfway, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him down

"I thought you were hungry," She said with amusement

"Yes, but I didn't say what I was hungry for, did I ?"

Verena ducked her head and blushed. "Oh, that hunger."

He grabbed her waist and hoisted her on his body, her legs wrapping tightly around his waist.

"Our dinner will get cold."

"We'll just reheat it."

All her protests fell on deaf ears. He carried her to the living room and laid her gently on the couch. She leaned up, sitting in his lap, her eyes staring into his.

"Don't worry about your father, okay?" He whispered, busing strands of fiery red hair behind her ears. His hand on her waist caressed her.

"I'll try not to." She replied. She cupped his face and kissed him. He grabbed her waist, his fingertips digging into her skin She sighed softly, arching her back and leaning more into him

"Verena..." Her name was a needy whisper on his lips, an unspoken prayer.

She lowered her hip so she could grind him, a soft moan slipping as her lips and getting lost in his. One of his hands moved under her blouse, taking a breast into his hand. She wasn't blessed with a big chest, her breasts small like a teacup. And he had banished her insecurities because of her size, he loved every part of her body because it belonged to her.

Verena gasped, hastily undoing the buttons of his shirt and taking her blouse off. His mouth latched onto her breast, sucking love bites onto her skin. She threaded her fingers through his hair, her hands holding onto him tightly.

"Bed?." She whispered as he undid the zipper of her jeans.

"And dinner?" He looked up at her with glazed eyes.

She nodded. "It'll be forgotten." She covered her mouth and laughed.

He took her jeans off her body and discarded the rest of his clothing. He Kissed her hard, like he was dying and only her lips could save him. Verena straddled his hips, her thighs on both sides of his body. She slowly sank down on him, gasping as she felt him bottom out inside her. Her head fell forward, long red hair draping down his body.

"Oh Nick..." She moaned , rocking her hips back and front. He grabbed her hips hard, making her wince in pain. His lips found her neck the exact spot he had marked her, claiming her as his.

"I love you, Verena." He whispered, his voice tender and full of love.

Verena pulled her head up and gazed into his eyes. "I love you so damn much, Nick."

He was the only one she had ever said those words to. And she meant them with her entire soul. No matter whalayid ahead for them.