A year after he rejects her 103

Nicolas POV

Warm natural colors greeted us inside of Beta John’s house; his home was bigger and more welcoming than I expected it would be.

“Have a seat, Alpha,” Levi’s mother gestured to the seats in the big living room.

I nodded and took a seat in the far corner in the cozy living room.

Ronan came to stand next to me, crossing his arms around his chest, all businesslike. He acted more like a bodyguard than my beta.

My gaze swept over the small 5’2 she-wolf. Her long blond hair was neatly tied in a bun, her eyes the same color blue as Levi’s. However, it was her calm, warm, and motherly demure that put me at ease.

A smile flicked to the side of my lips; Ray would have stated she was the total opposite of Beta John. He would have been right. I guess the saying, “opposites attract,” is true.

Levi’s mother smiled tenderly, her warm presence filling my surroundings. It felt as though she was embracing me simply by being in the room. I felt so warm, comfortable, and as if she was unconditionally loving me.

I shifted in my seat, reminding myself that there was a reason why she so desperately wanted to see me.

Levi took a seat opposite me, his face dark and unreadable. I guess he too was a bit confused about his mother’s sudden request for a meeting.

“Would you like some tea, Alpha?” The she-wolf asked, shifting her head to the side and smiling. Her smile had a powerful, kind quality that drew you in, leaving me feeling captivated.

“Would it soothe the discomfort you’re having?” She added.

“I am not sure what you are referring to, Ms. Holloway,” I replied, knitting my eyebrows.

A small, knowing smile twisted on her lips, yet she ignored my answer and poured a cup of tea.

“Drink,” she said, the quiet order chiming loud in my ears as she handed me the cup of tea. “And please call me Claire. We are all friends here.”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure how I should react to her.

Could I trust her?

Should I trust my instincts?

Would it treat the pain inside me?

Will it take away all the heartbreak and sadness within me?

“It will help heal your body and mind,” she continued. “Here, Beta, this is for you. Drink up, before it goes cold.”

Ronan shifted his gaze toward me, and I nodded, answering his silent question.

“Bottoms up!” I imagined Ray saying.

“What kind of tea is this?” I asked, sipping on the piping hot tea.

The tea wasn’t horrible at all. It actually had an herbal, earthy taste, and I could taste lemon and honey.

Claire ignored my question. She quietly sat back, interlinked her fingers, and patiently waited for us to finish the contents in the cup.

“I assume you have not told your Beta of your little problem,” she stated, pinning my gaze as I was about to down the last bit of the tea.

I almost choked on the last bit of contents—my heart leaping from my chest.

No one was aware of my situation. I didn’t even know how to describe the issue.

I set the cup down and sank back in my seat, swallowing hard. My hands were visibly shaking, and I forced them to be still.

How does she know about it?

Could she see right through me?

Or was she drawing at straws?

“What is she talking about?” Ronan interrupted my thoughts; his gaze shifted between us.

Was it the right time to inform Ronan of my predicament?

Will he lose his shit?

“Alpha,” Claire calmly called for my attention. “Your beta has the right to know… he is the one who needs to protect you after all…”

My gaze swept to Claire. Her blue eyes are warm but serious.

I sighed and shifted uncomfortably in my seat. This was embarrassing—an Alpha wolf of my status losing his wolf!

“Ray has vanished from my mind,” I mumbled under my breath, my face warming.

An audible gasp came from Levi and an angry hiss from Ronan.

I didn’t expect anything less. I was certain that he was on the verge of a breakdown.

“What do you mean he had vanished?” Ronan snapped. “He cannot just disappear from your mind. That is bloody impossible! You are an Alpha wolf for Goddess sake! He must be in there somewhere!”

“Indeed he is,” Claire calmly interrupted Ronan’s fit of anger.

Ronan abruptly kept quiet and snapped his attention toward her.

“Can you help him?” he asked, the worry and frustration twisted on his face.

She shook her head.

“Then why are we here for?!” He lashed out, slamming his fist on the small table angrily.

Levi flew to his feet, growled, grabbed Ronan by the collar, and pushed him up against the wall. The portraits on the walls fell to the floor, glass scattering to pieces. Levi’s eyes shifted black, and power radiated from him as he held Ronan against the wall.

Ronan’s eyes widen out of shock. He tried to loosen Levi’s grip on him, but Levi’s strength exceeded his expectations. He never thought Levi was that strong and would be the one to put him in his place.

“Do not disrespect my mother like that,” he roared, shaking the windows. I have never seen Levi this pissed, and somehow it scared me.

Was he like Ronan? Was he harboring a dark side?

Claire calmly rose to her feet and placed her hand on Levi’s shoulder. She seemed to be unfazed by the outburst.

Was she accustomed to Levi’s strength and anger? He always looked so placid.

“Set him down, Louis,” she instructed as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “Beta Ronan is just concerned about his Alpha. The news just upset him. He meant no harm.”

Levi’s furious gaze shifted to Claire, his eyes flickering between black and blue.

“Now, Louis!” She gave an order, ensuring he had no opportunity to argue. “Give Levi back control. There is no danger here. We need to help Alpha Nicholas, not chase him away. Besides, he is family, and family sticks together.”

Levi abruptly let go of Ronan and dropped him to the floor. He growled at him, stepping away, and his eyes changed back to his natural blue color.

“I apologize,” Ronan said as he scrambled to his feet. “I didn’t mean to disrespect you, Ms. Holloway.”

Claire dismissed his apology, “Don’t worry about it. I understand your worry, Beta. I would have acted in the same way.”

“Why did you call us over?” I inquired, attempting to diffuse the tension by shifting the topic. There must be a reason for our visit.

Claire’s attention shifted to me. Her eyes are full of old secrets.

“It is about Beta John,” she replied, making me swallow hard.

His death pained me, and it was still fresh in my memory.

If only Ray could have shifted. He could have easily snapped those rogues in half. Now Beta John is dead, and I’m wolfless.

I internally sigh.

Claire must be blaming and hating me for his death… How will I ever make it up to her? Will she ever be able to forgive me? She must be in great pain.

Claire lay forward and placed her small warm hand on mine. It was as if she could hear my thoughts.

Her next words and revelations deeply affected me.

****