Chapter 157

Kayla

Nicholas’s face lit up when I said those words. He swallowed hard, nearly choking on the large bite of sandwich in the process.

“You’re sure?” he asked, almost as if he couldn’t believe it. “After everything, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted a—”

“I’m sure, Nicholas,” I cut him off. “I want to be married to you. I want to…” I bit my lip, suddenly feeling sheepish. “I want to start over.”

Nicholas looked shockingly relieved. He stood, nearly knocking the chair he was sitting on to the floor, and swept me into a tight embrace. For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to lean into him, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne.

“I can do that,” he said, his lips brushing the top of my head. “And I’m sorry, Kayla. For everything.”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, too. This whole thing was ridiculous.”

Nicholas pulled back just enough to glance at me, his brow furrowed. “No, Kayla. It wasn’t ridiculous. You were hurt.”

“So were you.”

His frown deepened, and his eyes flicked to the floor for a beat. “Yesterday, Nora and I… She told me a lot that I didn’t know. She also reminded me of something I did when we were younger that I’m not proud of, to say the least. I’ve hurt a lot of women, I think, including you. So I don’t blame you for jumping to the worst conclusion when you heard that recording.”

I chewed the inside of my cheek, considering what Nora had told me on the first night of the hunt. How Nicholas had cruelly turned her down when she confessed her feelings after everything she had been through. I didn’t know all of the nitty gritty details, but it had to be pretty bad for her to get like that.

Finally, I said, “People change. I should have given you a chance to explain yourself before I shut you out.”

He winced slightly. “And I should have given you a chance to explain yourself when I heard you talking to Jade and Emma.”

Neither of us spoke for a moment after that, but the air was slightly less tense for the first time in what felt like ages. Suddenly, Nicholas pulled back at arms’ length and said, “You should probably get dressed. Not because I don’t like the sight of you in your sheer nightie, but because I’m taking you out.”

My eyebrows shot up. “You’re not busy with the guild today?”

He shrugged. “I think the guild can wait for a day while I take my wife out for lunch.”

Wife. Hearing him say that word sent an unexpected thrill through me, one that turned my low belly into a pool of molten honey. I quickly left after that, returning to my room and getting ready.

A little while later, I descended the stairs, dressed in a warm black turtleneck tucked into high-waisted jeans and a pair of heeled boots. I tugged on my jacket as I made my way down, a soft wool hat already covering my hair. Nicholas was already waiting for me by the door, and his eyes shimmered faintly, flicking over me appreciably as I approached.

That day, we went out to a museum in town, walking through the various new exhibits. We didn’t speak much—just enjoyed each other’s company after weeks of misunderstanding and anger, looking at the art together.

And it was… nice. Comfortable, even, like we had snapped back into an old routine long forgotten. It wasn’t perfect, but we decided to take things slow and sweet, as if starting all over again.

Afterwards, we went to a nearby bistro for lunch, where we chatted over coffee and appetizers that we barely even ate because of how much we talked. It seemed the museum was the perfect ice-breaker, and now we talked about everything and nothing all at the same time—the hunt, Nora, even the weather, and finally, the honeymoon.

“I’ll schedule another,” Nicholas said matter-of-factly. “I had a trip planned for the tropics, but if you don’t like that, we can go somewhere else. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

I flushed at the thought of days spent on the beach, nights spent in an expensive hotel room, and everything in between. But I shook my head. “We’ll plan it together. Our argument was half my fault, you know.”

Nicholas’s mouth lifted in a wry smirk, but he nodded. “Very well. If that’s what you wish.”

Just then, a group of she-wolves approached on their way out of the restaurant. I had noticed them watching from their table in the corner, whispering as they looked at us.

“Luna Kayla,” one of them, supposedly the leader of the trio, said, stopping next to our table, “Alpha Nicholas. We just wanted to say that we were watching you from afar, and we wanted to extend our congratulations for your wedding. You seem incredibly happy together.”

My brows lifted in surprise. I wasn’t used to such praise; up until recently, it seemed as if most women hated the thought of Nicholas and I together, and would do everything in their power to rip us apart. Myself included, I supposed.

“I’m a lucky man,” Nicholas suddenly said, gripping my hand from across the table.

The women swooned, the leader fanning her face with her hand. My neck heated, and I looked away, not sure how to act. But one thing was for certain—that moment, however brief, was enough to warm the ice that had formed around my heart in recent weeks.

Once the women left and we finished our meal, we paid the bill and headed out. I was ready to go home, my legs still sore from the hunt. But just as we were approaching the car parked on the curb, I caught a glimpse of a familiar face on the other side of the street.

Vanessa.

I’d recognize her cold eyes anywhere, that perfect hair and slender frame. And I knew she saw me, too—because her eyes widened into saucers, and she momentarily froze like a deer in headlights.

I froze, too. Not out of fear or surprise, but rather pure rage and heartbreak. I hadn’t seen her in so long, not in person at least. When was the last time I had seen her in the flesh, anyway? When she had blatantly attended an event on Liam’s arm like she hadn’t pretended to be my friend and then slept with him on our wedding day?

The very sight of her now sent a hot fury coursing through me, and I opened my mouth to say something, anything. But she was gone just as quickly as she came, disappearing into the crowd.

“Ignore her,” Nicholas said, gently guiding me to the car. “She’ll just ruin a good day.”

I nodded, although it was stiff. The whole way home, I couldn’t seem to get the look on her face out of my mind. She looked… strange. There was fear there, which was to be expected for anyone who had done what she had done under normal circumstances. But it wasn’t normal for her.

The last time I had seen her, she had just looked smug over what she did. Not sheepish or shameful, just… full of herself. Satisfied. Like the cat that had caught the mouse.

When we arrived home, I excused myself, needing to rest my sore legs for a while. My mind was still racing as I laid down on my bed on my side, curling up with a sigh. Blissfully, it didn’t take long for my eyelids to grow heavy, and I felt myself beginning to doze off for a brief nap.

But just as my eyes were fluttering shut, I saw it.

A familiar pearl earring sitting beneath my vanity.