Mercy

Nikolai woke up the next morning with a tiny little foot in his face. He frowned and opened his eyes, expecting to see darkness, but darkness turned into blurry lights and blurry lights turned into him seeing his actual room. He blinked a few times to make sure he wasn’t imagining things. This couldn’t be real. He could see.

The mark on his neck must have kick started his healing process. He remembered Doctor Trevin telling him that mating was a possibility. Roza marking him probably gave his wolf enough reasons to fight and heal.

Turning his head to his left, he saw Roza sleeping on the other side of the bed -- her face turned away from them. Maksim slept in between them, well more like sleeping sideways. He took up all the room. Roza and Nikolai were both sleeping on the edge of the bed. Carefully, he removed his son’s foot from his face and pushed himself up into a sitting position.

His eyes were set on Roza. He thought he would never get to see her face again. Standing up he moved to her side of the bed and knelt down on the ground as he looked at her. She must’ve felt his presence because her eyes flew opened and found his.

For a moment, she stared at him with a blank expression until her forehead wrinkled in confusion. She slipped a hand from underneath the blanket and cupped one side of his cheek and then she pushed herself off from the bed a little bit more to get a better look at him.

“Nikolai?” She asked softly. “Can you see me?”

Nikolai nodded before moving to sit on the edge of the bed. She scooted over so that he had enough room. Pushing herself up into a sitting position, Nikolai watched her as she continued to stare at him. After a moment she licked her lips and moved closer. Ambiguity and caution was written all her face and posture as she waved another hand over his eyes, as if to make sure he was really seeing her.

“I can see you, Roza.” The corner of his lips twitched.

“H-How?” She stammered.

“I’m guessing your mark did something to me last night. I feel different. My wolf isn’t as quiet as he used to be. I can feel him at the back of my mind more. It is almost as if you have awoken him.” Nikolai shrugged.

“I think I better get Doctor Trevin.” She said and began moving in a panic off the bed. He grabbed both her arms to stop her from going anywhere.

“I’m fine, Roza.” He said again. This time really trying to tell her he was. She frowned for a moment before a smile slipped on her face.

“You can see.” She said.

He nodded. “I can see.”

They both started laughing before she threw herself into his arms. Everything else forgotten as the joy of him seeing passed between them. She hugged him tighter and he pulled her into his lap. She pulled back to really look at him again. He could see her eyes taking everything in as if she was afraid she will wake up and it will only be a dream.

“It’s amazing...” She whispered.

“I know. I thought I would never be able to see you or Maksim again.” He admitted. She cupped his cheeks then and crushed her lips onto his. He was momentarily shocked at first with her lips on his, but he quickly got over it and kissed her back.

“Mommy?” Maksim sleepy voice came from the head of the bed.

Realization dawned on her and she pulled away from Nikolai immediately. A pink blush formed on her cheeks that had Nikolai smiling in response. Maksim sat up and rubbed his eyes. Roza quickly moved off from Nikolai’s lap. Nikolai watched her leave his side to his son before moving back to his side of the bed where she laid on his side.

“Good morning, Maksim.” Roza kissed her son’s forehead before cupping his cheeks. “How are you doing?”

Last night, Maksim wouldn’t go to sleep and was throwing an Alpha tantrum at the nurses. Roza had to go and relieve Maksim from their care and brought him to their room, where he found himself very comfortable between his parents. They fell asleep that way and Nikolai honestly didn’t mind it at all. Well, that was until he woke up this morning with Maksim’s foot in his face.

“Maksim, you have to learn to sleep by yourself from now on.” Nikolai scolded gently.

“No.” Maksim retorted. His eyebrows crinkled at his forehead as he gave his father a fierce ‘I’m not kidding’ face.

Nikolai fought a smile and tried to put on a very stern look as he spoke, “Maksim, you are a big boy now. I don’t mind you sleeping in the same bed as your mommy and I, but you have to learn to sleep in your own bed.”

“No.” Maksim snapped at his father before falling back onto the bed and pulling the blanket to cover his body.

Nikolai narrowed his eyes on his son. The pup was testing the waters. He was in his terrible twos and wanted to know how far he could go.

“Well, if you insist on not listening to me...” Nikolai pushed himself up into a sitting position. Roza couldn’t stop the giggle from escaping her lips as Nikolai pulled the blanket back and picked their son up into his lap and began tickling him.

Maksim burst into a fit of laughter, rolling around in his father’s lap. The sheer joy can be seen on the pup’s face.

“Are you going to be sleeping in your own bed?” Nikolai asked.

“No.”

“Oh you are a strong one.” Nikolai chuckled at his son’s response and began increasing his tickling assault on his son.

Finally Maksim gave in and nodded. “Ok, I sleep!”

Nikolai pulled back and Maksim moved to sit on his father’s lap. Nikolai turned Maksim to face him. “You will try to sleep by yourself from now on and stop giving the nurses trouble?”

“No trouble.” Maksim shook his head.

Roza giggled and moved to take Maksim from Nikolai’s lap. “I’ll take you to go take a bath and brush your teeth. Then let’s get you dressed.”

Nikolai stood up as soon as Roza stood up with Maksim in her arms. She turned to face him and a soft smile appeared on her face. Happiness sparkled in her eyes as she looked at him and that made his heart soar high.

“I’m happy that you can see, Nick.” She whispered softly.

“I’m happy to see you.” He replied and moved to cup her cheeks. Leaning down he kissed her forehead and then her cheek affectionately.

“Will you be stopping by to see Doctor Trevin?” She asked.

“Yes and then Dimitri.”

“Back to your Alpha duties?” She asked as the corner of her lips lifted.

“Back to my Alpha duties.” He responded and a disappointed look fell over his face. She laughed softly at seeing and feeling his reaction.

“I am sure everybody misses you as their Alpha. I’ll catch you later then. Anna and I promised to take Maksim out for a walk today.” She told him and Nikolai nodded before kissing her again on the cheek.

Nikolai watched her leave and knew that she could feel every emotion he was feeling right now. It was a miracle that he could see again. In all honesty, he thought he wouldn’t be able to see ever again and although he was disheartened, he also held a little hope. He was glad he didn’t give up and that Roza stood by his side. She was his gift from the Moon Goddess and this time he was given a chance to see again and a chance to make it right between them.

Roza already marked him. It only meant she was in it for good. She wasn’t going to let him go. Now, he had to show her he wasn’t going to let her go either.