Chapter 127 – The Pain

Chapter 127 – The Pain

Trinity's POV
The tears came suddenly and without warning, spilling down my cheeks in warm tracks that I couldn't seem to stop. 
I felt overwhelmed by a tidal wave of emotions that I couldn't even begin to name—relief, gratitude, confusion, hope, and something deeper that I wasn't ready to acknowledge yet. 
Maybe it was a mix of everything I'd been holding back for years, all crashing over me at once.
He apologized. He actually apologized.
The thought kept repeating in my mind like a mantra. 
Nasir—proud, stubborn, arrogant Nasir—had just laid his soul bare and asked for my forgiveness. Of all the triplets, he was the one I'd expected to reject me completely. 
He was the one who'd seemed the most resistant to anything that challenged his carefully constructed worldview.
And yet here he was, lying in my bed after the most mind-blowing intimate experience of my life, apologizing to me for all those years of cruelty and pain. I would never have thought he'd be the first one to take this step, to show this kind of vulnerability.
"If I immediately tell you that I've forgiven you, it'd be a lie," I said finally, my voice thick with tears and raw honesty.
I watched as his face shifted, hurt flashing across his features before being quickly overshadowed by something much more intense—anger. 
But it wasn't directed at me. The fury I saw burning in his amber eyes was turned inward, a self-directed rage that made my heart ache for him.
He was angry at himself. Furious, even. And somehow, seeing that raw self-hatred in his expression hurt me more than any of his past cruelties ever had.
"But I'm definitely in the process of forgiving," I continued quickly, wanting to ease some of that terrible anger I saw consuming him. "You'd have to give me a bit of time for me to completely forgive, Nasir. This is... it's a lot to process."
The relief that washed over his face was immediate and profound, like I'd just pulled him back from the edge of some internal cliff. He smiled then—not his usual arrogant smirk or predatory grin, but something genuine and grateful that transformed his entire face.
He nodded his head in understanding, his hands still gentle as they traced patterns on my skin. "I'll be here," he said simply, and somehow those three words carried more weight than any elaborate promise could have.
"However long it takes," he continued, his voice soft but certain, "I'll be here. I'll prove to you every day that I'm not that scared, cruel boy anymore."
"I know you will," I whispered, and surprised myself by realizing I actually believed it.
We leaned in for another kiss, this one different from all the others we'd shared. It wasn't desperate or possessive or driven by pure physical need. Instead, it was tender and promising, full of hope for what we might become together.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard and flushed with renewed desire, Nasir surprised me by scooping me up in his arms like I weighed nothing at all.
"What are you doing?" I laughed, automatically wrapping my arms around his neck for balance.
"Taking care of you," he said, carrying me toward the bathroom with easy confidence. "We should clean up before dinner, and I have every intention of helping you with that."
The shower that followed was an exercise in sweet torture—Nasir's hands gentle and thorough as he washed every inch of my body with reverent attention, and affection.
There was nothing rushed or purely sexual about it; instead, it felt like an act of worship, like he was trying to memorize every curve and hollow of my form.
"You're being very thorough," I observed breathlessly as his soapy hands lingered on particularly sensitive areas.
"I'm being appreciative," he corrected, his lips brushing against my ear as warm water cascaded over both of us. "I have a lot of lost time to make up for, a lot of ways I need to show you how much you mean to me."
"We have time," I assured him, though my body was responding eagerly to his ministrations despite our recent activities.
"Not nearly enough," he murmured, but he did eventually finish washing me and allow me to return the favor.
By the time we were both clean and dressed, I felt like a completely different person than the one who had entered this room hours ago. The ancient book with its prophecies about white wolves and bloodline magic sat forgotten on my nightstand, overshadowed by this monumental shift in my relationship with Nasir.
But I made a mental note to check the thing about the hex, because it was equally as important.
We made our way through the palace corridors toward the dining hall, and I couldn't help but notice how different everything felt now. The portraits of past Alphas seemed less intimidating, the ornate decorations less overwhelming. Even the marble floors felt less cold beneath my feet.
"You're practically glowing," Nasir observed, his hand warm and possessive at the small of my back as we walked.
"I wonder why that could be," I said teasingly, earning one of his genuine smiles in return.
Just as we reached the entrance to the dining hall, I could hear the low murmur of conversation from within—Xerxes and Liam were already there, probably wondering what had kept us. A sudden impulse seized me, and I reached up to pull Nasir's shoulder down so I could whisper in his ear.
The movement brought his head close to mine, close enough that I could smell the clean scent of soap on his skin mixed with his natural pine fragrance.
"By the way," I whispered, my breath hot against his ear, "it was only one man, and I didn't enjoy it."
I felt him stiffen slightly at my words, his possessive instincts clearly responding to the mention of another man touching me, even in the past.
"And oh, yeah!" I continued, unable to resist the urge to stroke his ego just a little after the vulnerability he'd shown me. "You're right. He wasn't even half as big as you are."
The growl that rumbled low in his chest was purely Alpha, possessive and satisfied in equal measure. His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer against his side.
"Good," he said, his voice rough with renewed desire and territorial satisfaction. "Because now that we have you, Trinity, no other man ever will again."
The promise in his words sent heat racing through my veins, even as part of me wanted to protest the possessive assumption. But before I could formulate a response, he was guiding me through the doorway into the dining hall where his brothers waited.
As we entered, everyone turned to look at us, and the discussion ceased immediately. 
My brows furrowed slightly. 
‘What were they talking about?’