Mercy

After the challenge, everyone followed Nikolai’s decision with ease. Dimitri reluctantly took over the role as Alpha and helped with Nikolai’s duties. On the other hand, Nikolai didn’t mind the free time he got. It gave him more time to spend with Maksim and Roza.

Their daily routine consists of taking morning walks, playing in the fields, and Nikolai listening to Roza reading him a book. Nikolai wasn’t much of a reader. In fact, he hated reading, but when Roza read it gave him a sense of serenity. He enjoyed listening to her voice softly telling a story. Maksim didn’t seem to mind it too.

Days turned into weeks and each doctor check up, Nikolai would ask the same question to Doctor Trevin. He wanted to know why he hasn’t fully healed. Needless to say, Doctor Trevin was getting a little anxious at his Alpha’s concerns. If anything, Nikolai being an Alpha should be more than enough for him to heal faster.

Nikolai stood in the foyer and waited for Roza. Roza has gone off to find a little snack for them to eat while they walked around the grounds. Today, the nurses had asked to take Maksim away from their daily routines. The pups were painting the nursery and it was a great friendly activity for the pups.

“Sorry!” Roza spoke up the minute she emerged from the hallway leading to the kitchen. “I got distracted with making us some sandwiches.”

Nikolai chuckled. “I was beginning to think you forgot about me.”

“Now, I couldn’t leave you here all alone. What if someone tries to grope you and you think it is me?” She teased. It was amazing how quickly she and Nikolai have become close over the past weeks.

Roza has helped Nikolai in ways he couldn’t imagine. She taught him to walk down the stairs alone without help. She arranged his shower so that he can take a shower alone and know where everything was. She helped him find clothes to wear after his shower, carefully placing them on the bed so that he knows where each article of clothing was.

There was even a time that Roza accidentally walked in on Nikolai while he was changing. The heat that crawled on her cheeks the moment she saw his bare butt. Silently, she thanked the Moon Goddess he couldn’t see her facial reaction. Her mouth gaped open as her eyes widened.

Oh, but she couldn’t deny the fact that over the past few weeks the sexual tension between them has increased to an amount that she found herself waking up at night, sweating with need. A part of it had to do with the bond. It was demanding them to mate and it was amazing they have lasted this long.

An Alpha never waits this long, but Nikolai was determined to prove to Roza that he wasn’t there for just her body and the bond only. He wanted her to know that he truly wanted to be with her forever.

“If any woman touches me, they’ll be dead before they know it.” Nikolai pointed out. Roza smirked at Nikolai’s angry expression.

“And what if I touch you?” She moved to cup his cheek. He sharply inhaled and bit his bottom lip as they silently allowed the tingles to spread through their body like little pleasuring waves.

“Careful, Roza. You are the only woman who is allowed to touch me and if you aren’t careful enough I might just...” He wore a wicked and sneaky smirk. “Bite!”

His mouth turned towards her hand where he snapped his jaw playfully. She squeaked and yanked her hand back, but not fast enough. He got a hold of her hand and bit it before releasing her.

“You’re horrible.” She mumbled. “How am I paired with a mate like you?”

He chuckled. “You don’t mean that, Roza. You said it yourself. You wanted us to try.”

“Don’t throw that back on me.” She snapped and hooked her hands through his arm as she led them out the front door.

Nikolai has never been happier than these past few weeks. He has learned the hard way not to take things for granted. A mate bond, too many might consider a curse, but Nikolai had learned that it was a blessing that the Moon Goddess has given them. He can see why others might feel that it was, but he also knew how great it was to know that there was someone out there especially made for you.

A perfect half that will complete you and a strong bond that ties both souls together.

His heart swelled at the thought of Roza being his forever. His right hand temporarily slipped into his pocket as he groped the object he wanted to give her in his hand. Today was the perfect time to him. He listened faintly to Roza’s excited chatter.

“Nikolai, are you listening to me?” She asked after she noticed he wore a distant look on his face.

“Hmm...?” He arched an eyebrow in question.

She eyed him warily. He wasn’t listening to her at all.

“So, is that a Yes or a no?” She questioned innocently.

“Hm? Oh, yea sure.” He mumbled his distant response.

“Oh ok. I guess I will go find myself another mate then.” She chirped.

“What?!” He growled. Finally snapping out of what he was thinking, his face transformed into fury as he turned toward her voice.

She shrugged. “I’m just saying. You agreed when-”

“When did I agree to you mating with another male?” He snarled the end angrily. His body was rigid just thinking about her with another man.

Roza smirked and moved to pat his chest. “I was only kidding.”

They have by now reached the small private patch of grass in the woods that Roza wanted to take them to. This was their first actual date and to be honest, she was a little nervous as she directed him to sit on the soft patch of green grass.

She sat the basket in her arm down and sat down next to him. He moved so she settled in his chest with his arms safely around her. He propped his chin on her head as he inhaled her sweet scent.

“Don’t tease me, Roza. Я не могу жить без тебя (I can’t live without you).” He mumbled in defeat. “It’s already enough that I missed out on you and Maksim for three years. To imagine life in total darkness and not have you by my side, I would be crushed into a million pieces. You and Maksim are the only good things in my life.” He said his voice hoarse with emotions.

“Then it’s best if you listen to me from now on.” She pointed out. His chest vibrated as he chuckled.

“Alright. I promise to listen to you from now on, родственную душу (Soulmate).” He promised.

Roza’s heart fluttered at him calling her his soulmate. In these past weeks he has learned to open up more and more. The words he spoke to her has her falling so hard for him. She felt secure and safe.

Loved.

“Do you know what I was thinking a moment ago?” He asked.

She turned her face up to look up at him. He looked distantly as she felt him unravel his arms from around her before reaching in his pocket. He pulled out his hand and opened his palm.

She saw her hair clip in his hand. The one she saw that one night on his dresser. Her heart was beating erratically now. She felt how difficult it was for her to swallow as she reached to take it from him.

“When did you take it?” She whispered with so many emotions.

“The night I left you. Call me selfish but I wanted something to remember you by. Little did I know, it only made me miss you more every single day. When I slept, I dreamt about you. When I was awake, there would be days I thought I smelled your scent. I kept it because to me, it was you. I went nowhere without it.” He admitted sheepishly. “Are you mad?”

“I am not mad.”

She smiled at his uncertainty. She rolled the hair clip in her hands until she felt his hand on hers as he removed it and pushed her away from him slightly.

A moment later his hands played with her hair as he pinned her hair up. How could she not fall in love with him? He was the sweetest and after these past few weeks, she has seen a side of him that showered her with kind words and respect. His whole demeanor changed. It was like seeing him again for the first time.

“Why are you so quiet?” He asked.

She leaned back into his chest again and he happily wrapped his arms around her. Holding her close to his chest as if she was a golden treasure to him.

“I’m just feeling so much right now.” She professed.

“Like?” He asked.

“Can’t you feel or hear it?” She questioned.

He frowned but then listened closely. The fast beating of her heart. The many emotions mixing in the air between them. It wasn’t anything bad. In fact, all he felt were good things. He smiled and tightened his arms around her.

“Do you feel it now? I am feeling so much.” She said.

“Это делает тебя человеком, любовь моя (It simply makes you a person, my love).” He responded. “It is what I feel when I am around you. I am alive when I am around you. You are my life source, Roza. Never hide what you feel because I will always welcome it.”

They stayed that way for a long while until Nikolai spoke again.

“I want to ask you something.” Nikolai said.

“And what is that?”

“I know it’s still too early for me to mark you, but I want others to know you are mine, Roza.” He said. “I know not a lot of people do it nowadays, but I want to do it for us, like it’s another step in our relationship. I won’t pressure you and it’s completely up to you, if you would like it-”

“You want to imprint on me.” She ended his thoughts. He chewed his bottom lip as he waited for her to answer him. “Go ahead, Nikolai.”

He inhaled so sharply, Roza turned to see him looking down at her with dark pools of black eyes.

Imprinting your soulmate was as intimate as marking them. It has to do with your mate stripping you down completely and slowly rubbing their scent with yours. Their lips will trail your skin and leave love bites in places no one can see but you. However it doesn’t matter. The smell of your mate will be imprinted in your skin.

Roza stood up and began stripping. A blush forming on her cheeks as she stood in front of him fully naked. She knew he couldn’t see her, but she still felt the heat crawl up her cheeks.

She moved to kneel in front of him and slowly brought his hands up to her waist. He inhaled deeply the moment his hands touched her bare skin. She bit her lips as she felt his hand move around to the curve of her back before pushing her to the soft bed of grass.

He leaned on his side and trailed his hand from her cheek, to her neck, and down her arm. She shivered underneath his touch. He licked his lips before bringing his lips down to hers.

The feel of her soft lips against his was pure ecstasy. He’d never felt anything as soft as her lips. Slowly he tugged on her lower lip before running his tongue over the seam of her lips.

He covered her naked body with his fully clothed body. Tearing his lips away from her he trailed hot kisses down her cheek to her neck and shoulder. Leaving a small bite mark on her neck. Going lower he kissed his way down every inch of her body. She was moving and moaning as his lips left a burning tingle on her skin. He nipped and sucked at every single part of her body, even in her most intimate part. He took his time like she was a sweet dessert he wanted to take his time eating.

Hours later, she was fully dressed and now in his arms again. Her skin was riddled with his scent and he couldn’t be any more possessive. The thought of other males smelling him off her was enough to make his wolf howl with happiness.

They ate the food Roza packed before heading back home. The sun was already starting to set. When they appeared from out of the woods laughing and joking around, they caught someone’s sight. Immediately that someone came down the hill to meet them.

“Hello, Alpha.” Roza looked at the woman in front of her up and down. She was truly beautiful with medium layered hair. Her eyes were hazel and shining appreciatively as she looked at Nikolai. Jealousy roared through Roza’s veins. She didn’t recognize this woman.

“Faith.” Nikolai seemed surprised himself at hearing the woman’s voice.

“Missed me?” The woman teased.

“What? What are you doing back?” A warm smile appeared on Nikolai’s face but there was something about it that calmed Roza down a little. It was not the smile he gave her. There was something about the way he smiled and looked at her. It was different and made her feel like she was the only woman in his world. With Faith he didn’t give her that smile.

He seemed to have finally noticed Roza. He moved to wrap his arms around Roza. “This is Roza. My родственную душу (soulmate). Roza this is Faith. She was my former Beta until she left to go train. I then replaced her with Dimitri.”

Faith seemed to finally notice her and turned to look her up and down just like how Roza did earlier. It was right then Roza decided she didn’t like the woman.

“So why are you back? I thought training wasn’t done until another year.” Nikolai questioned in confusion.

“I got released early due to good work. I thought I would come back home.” Faith moved her assessment of Roza to Nikolai.

“Well, you know with you coming back, you won’t be getting your old position as Beta in the pack. You are more than welcome to join as a warrior again.” Nikolai pointed out.

Faith smirked and gave Nikolai’s body a thorough look over that has Roza’s blood boiling and her standing in front of Nikolai within seconds.

Nikolai’s hands moved to wrap around her waist casually. He was totally unaware of the face off the two women were having, after all he was blind. However, he did feel the slight air change and the stiffness in Roza’s body. He was going to have to ask her what was wrong later when they were alone.