Chapter 72 Chapter 72

Chapter 72 Chapter 72


~NYRA~

The door flew open and four eyes were on me — one pair filled with worry, the other with annoyance. I didn't care what the other thought. "Mikael," my voice was a bit shaky. I could tell that my breaking point was near, but with the intruder there I couldn't dare show that side yet.

As if on cue, my mate rose to his feet. His amber eyes never left mine. "Leave us, Josie, would you?" he ordered, his deadly aura seeping into the room like wildfire, burning slowly yet surely.

The vampire parted her lips slightly but decided against speaking. The chair made a scraping sound as she stood up. She threw a venomous look at me, and if looks could kill I would be six feet under.

Josie sneered, her teeth making a harsh, grating sound. She knocked my shoulder roughly as she passed me and walked out of the room.

My legs wobbled. I held onto the door knob for support as I shut it behind me. My head leaned against the door as the tears I had been holding back became too heavy, streaming down uncontrollably. One moment Mikael was at the head chair; the next he was at my side.

His hand was on my chin, fingers grazing my cheeks. There was anger stirring within him — the intensity of it worried me.

His eyes had darkened, almost as if he were ready to destroy whoever had hurt me. "Nyra…" he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

The second he opened his eyes, his next words followed. "Who hurt you?"

I trembled, released my hold on the door knob, and placed my head on his chest. His hands softly patted my head as I sobbed. My throat felt constricted; the words I had planned to say disappeared and I couldn't comprehend anything at this point.

All I had wanted in that moment was to cry — to let everything that had been building up flow freely. I was glad he stayed still, allowing me to let it all out.

"I—" I hiccuped.

"It's okay. If it's hard for you to say, just lean on me," he whispered, his voice barely audible, and that might have been what drew me out of the darkness. Keeping it all in would never help.

"Emilia — I can't f-feel my wolf, Mikael! I am scared!" I confessed, more tears flowing. I clutched onto his robe, his scent wafting into my nose, and all I wanted to do was hide in his embrace all day.

Mikael stiffened, causing me to pull back. Was he going to be disgusted by me?

Did he think I would be worthless?

I had no wolf — there was no guarantee I would be able to carry a child.

No heir for the most powerful man in this realm.

It was unbelievable that this was happening to me twice in the same lifetime.

"I'm scared, Mikael. I am afraid she won't come back." He drew me closer. "Are you sure she is gone?"

I shook my head continuously. "I swear, Mikael. I can't feel her. I don't know how long she has been gone…" I trailed off, taking a step back.

He looked alarmed — scared, even more than I was.

My lower lip trembled; my hands flew over my mouth. "The forest… something must have happened in the witch's territory." I gasped.

Mikael was right to be alarmed. They might have done something to me — planted a spell, or slipped something into what we had eaten.

My mate clenched his fist, hands balled at his sides. "Those filthy lowlifes," he let out an exasperated growl before pulling me close to his chest.

"It's okay, little flame. We are going to get to the bottom of this. I will call the healer to check on you," he reassured me. I nodded my head. If anyone could figure it out, it was Mikael.

\~~~

We were back in our chamber. The healer brought out his equipment and asked me to lie down on the bed. Mikael sat beside me, tracing small circles on the back of my hand.

His presence alone was enough to make me feel calm. I didn't know what I would do if he weren't here. I would have torn my hair out or probably died from a heart attack. I didn't think I could do this again — I knew what it was like to suffer without a wolf.

I knew what it felt like to lose a part of yourself. It was demoralizing to be a shifter unable to connect with your wolf. A part of you was thrown into the abyss, and people who were supposed to help you deserted you as if you didn't belong — as if you were worthless being around them, as if you were a — I drew in a sharp breath, afraid to say the word. Defect.

I had been called a lot of things, and now, just when I thought I was finding my footing, my wolf had gone off the radar.

'Emilia, come back. Please,' I pleaded.

The healer cleared his throat, bringing me back to reality. "The Luna is fine, Alpha. I cannot determine what could have caused her to lose her wolf," he said, and my shoulders sank. Of course — that was the same thing every healer had told me.

Nothing was wrong with me, and yet my wolf was gone.

How could they say I was fine when I was not?

They could never understand.

They could never understand.

None of them would.

I got to my feet and turned my back on both of them. Silence filled the room, but not my mind. I wiped away the stray tears. I just wanted to be alone.

The healer excused himself, leaving me and my mate alone. Watching him leave, I bit my lower lip. Soon, Mikael would leave me too — because I deserved it. I deserved to be alone and die a miserable death.

I heard his footsteps approaching. His hand came to rest on my shoulders. "I promise, Nyra. You will get your wolf back," he murmured.

"I just want her back — now. I can't be a fully functioning werewolf without my wolf." I turned to face him, my tear-streaked eyes looking up at his. "I can't be a Luna without my wolf! I am a defect!"

His eyes widened. "No… no, you are my mate and their Luna, and you are not a defect!" I cried harder, because this felt like déjà vu — and who was to say he wouldn't leave me the way Eric had?