One I had studied every day growing up then dreamt about every fucking day since I was taken.
The alpha who was supposed to be my salvation before Gideon’s fucking goons ruined it all.
“Nikolai…”
My voice was barely there, but his head snapped up immediately, eyes wide.
We were locked there in that moment, staring at each other in a state of pure shock.
I don’t think I took a single breath. My head spun and my chest ached as if someone was crushing it.
Through the fog, I could sense Leon’s panic next to me, but I couldn’t get it together long enough to explain anything more than the words I uttered next.
“It’s him.”
I knew Leon would understand.
“Aries…” My name was a broken whisper on his lips. “Tell me this is real.”
We were both moving then, like magnets were pulling us together and we couldn’t stop it if we tried.
His scent hit me and I let out a sob. My memory truly had never done it justice.
Peppercorn. Balsam. Moss.
It was earthy, sharp, and painfully perfect. One breath and it was as if it rewired something deep within me. A weight lifting so I could breathe properly.
He did the same, closing his eyes and taking a deep, shuddering breath. When he opened them again, something had shifted within them. Stunning warm hazel darkened to brown.
A low, feral growl echoed out of Nikolai. Ronan tried to step in, placing himself between us and whispering quickly though Nik ignored it, eyes still locked on me.
“Somebody better start talking before I start shooting,” Syrus said sharply. “I warned you boys what your role would be here.”
Syrus’s hand shifting to his gun snapped me out of it.
“He’s my alpha,” I choked out.
That was the moment Nikolai lunged toward me.
My heart slammed against my ribs, but there was no fear. It was a mix of elation, confusion, and anticipation.
If there was anyone in this world who would never hurt me, aside from Leon, it was Nick.
I didn’t even realize tears were falling until Leon tried to pull me behind him, shielding me from what he thought was a threat.
There was no threat.
Before I knew it, Nikolai was reaching around him, pulling me close and gripping me tight as he held me against his chest. He buried his face in my neck as he inhaled deeply.
I clung to him. Even if my mind hadn’t caught up, my body knew him. So did my soul.
“They told me you were dead,” he choked out.
The pain in his voice broke my heart.
“I couldn’t?—”
“I think you need to step back and give her space,” Leon said again, earning another growl.
