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Prelude —
"Bro, are you sure about this? I mean... this is huge," Alex said. I had been looking out of the office window and spared him no glance as he had been talking; I was too scared. I was too scared to leave her alone for even a moment.
"I know," I said facing him somberly. I immediately turned back around to face the window and look at my beautiful mate.
She looked so beautiful and happy and I wanted her to stay that way forever; happy and safe. Her face glowed as she and Noni splashed water playfully at Alex Jr. She looked better than she had in days. Her face and body had grown pale and sunken after the attack, but now she was the definition of radiant… I was lucky to have her as my mate.
"Maxon!" Alex shouted, trying to regain my attention. "Maxon, look at me."
As much as it pained me, I looked at him and smiled sincerely. I was so sure that I was doing the right thing… I mean after everything that we had been through this was the best option for everyone, especially Nova and our pups. With everyone coming for them… nothing felt more important.
They will be safe and protected and that's all I want. I thought to myself. For them to be safe…
"Yes, I am sure." I answered calmly.
I wasn't going to allow Alex to sway my mind on this.I wasn't going to choose anything else over Nova ever again; I never wanted either of us to feel that pain again.I had almost failed her before, nearly losing her in the process, and now our pups were in danger? I wasn't going to repeat that mistake. There was nothing I wouldn't do for Nova; wasn't it the same for Alec and Noni?
WE won't repeat that mistake twice, my wolf said interjecting my thoughts.
That's right, I agreed.
"Think about this for a minute, Maxon... do you really think that Nova would want you to do this," he asked.
Scoffing and rolling my eyes, I couldn't help but to mentally laugh and sigh. I couldn't believe he was going to play that card with me... I'd make Nova mad a billion times over if it was to protect my family. I'd give any and everything I owned for them to stay safe and come home to me every day. I'd give up who I am, what I am... I smirked to myself sadly, I kind of am already, aren't I?
I looked around the room that was once my office. I wouldn't have given a damn about any of the crap in it if it weren't for Nova. We made this room of furniture into a room where we laughed and cried together. We lost and gained so much in this very room together; heat flooded my body as I thought about all the things Nova and I had done on that couch, the desk, the chairs, and the floor…
Now that I think about it I'll have to talk to Alex about getting new furniture for himself and Noni.
I pulled myself away from the window, making sure to touch everything in my path. I wanted to remember everything the way that Nova and I left it. I was halfway across the room when a scream rang clean through the air; alerting my wolf and I.
It was hers... I'd know that scream anywhere. Before I could even blink my body was back in front of the window peering down at the trio. Tension filled my body, making me stand straight and poised ready to protect my family at any cost.
My body ached as the tension faded and I saw the pearly whites of her teeth formed into a smile... She was exactly the way I had left her only a few seconds ago; my wolf and I immediately relaxed as she glanced up at the window. Her smile broadened and she waved haphazardly, and I returned the gesture. My wolf wanted to come out and see her himself to see if she was really okay… but I couldn't trust him, or myself to not go to her.
We weren't moving away from the window again that was for sure... he wouldn't let me.
"Maxon. Come on man, you can see yourself that she's fine. You don't have to do this," he said trying to reason with me; but it was useless. I had already decided.
"Alex, this isn't about what she wants or what she thinks is best. It's about what my family needs, what I need in order to stay sane...to stay alive, and right now they need to be taken somewhere safe. She needs to be somewhere where no one will know where she is," I explained.
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