Chapter 95: Is He A New Friend?
The whipping continues for another three minutes before everywhere finally falls silent. Nyra remains where she is, staring at the window above her.
The words she overheard keep replaying in her mind. "The reason we came back to Moon-Crest."
What could possibly be so important that made Caius and Dorian return to Moon-Crest after all these years?
She is still lost in thought when the door behind her opens quietly.
Nyra looks behind her, suddenly face to face with Dorian, who’s just stepped outside. He looks startled to see her, his eyes immediately flicking toward the open window above before returning to her. For a moment, he seems to be trying to figure out whether she had overheard anything from their conversation.
His face is completely void of the usually playful grin he wears. This time, his face is hard, his jaw clenched, and his eyes carry an anger that makes him look almost like a different person.
Their eyes meet for a second, then he simply walks past her.
He doesn’t attempt to talk to her this time around, and for some reason, it makes her feel guilty.
Nyra watches him go for a few seconds before noticing the deep red marks peeking from the top of his collar.
The whip wounds. That must’ve hurt.
"Dorian." She calls out before she can stop herself.
He stops but doesn’t turn around.
Nyra hesitates before speaking. "I’m sorry what happened."
Dorian finally glances over his shoulder. "What are you saying sorry for?"
"If I hadn’t reacted like that earlier..." She swallows. "Maybe your father wouldn’t have been angry enough to do...that." She gestures at his back.
Dorian’s voice is completely flat as he adjusts the collar of his shirt. "I don’t need your pity, Nyra. I’m an Alpha. It’ll heal." Then he turns and walks away without another word.
Nyra watches him disappear around the corner, feeling a little uneasy about everything that’s happened.
A few seconds later, the back door that leads to the Luna’s garden opens again.
This time, it is Lena that comes through. She’s alone. "Nyra, are you okay?"
Her eyes immediately follow the direction Dorian has just disappeared. "Is he bothering you again?"
Lena, protective as always, starts following him, but Nyra quickly catches her wrist. "No, don’t."
"Are you seriously trying to protect him?" She searches Nyra’s eyes. "You don’t need to be nice to everyone, Nyra."
"No, I’m not. He really didn’t do anything."
"Then why did he look like he wanted to murder someone?"
Nyra sighs, glancing around the empty garden before lowering her voice. "I want to tell you something."
Nyra goes on to tell her everything--Caius’ words, the whipping, and most importantly, the mention of a reason for their return.
"I knew something was off with them." Lena doesn’t look surprised at all. "So what do you think they’re planning?"
"I don’t know." Nyra shakes her head. "But something isn’t right. Caius said they came back for a reason."
Lena hums thoughtfully, rubbing her non-existent mustache. "Then we need to find out what that reason is."
"Exactly."
"Come on. Let’s tell Adrian." She grabs Nyra’s arm, but she immediately shakes her head.
"No."
Lena frowns as Nyra slides her hand away. "Did something happen between you two?"
"Nothing."
"Nyra..."
"I’m fine." She forces a small smile. "I just...need some space from him, that’s all."
God, she’s a mess today.
Lena clearly doesn’t believe her, watching her intently. Then she sighs and pulls Nyra into a side hug.
"I know it’s hard. And after everything you went through, I’m not expecting you to be okay so fast." She squeezes her shoulder. "But you don’t have to carry it all alone. Do you understand?"
Nyra blinks her tears back. "Y-yes, I do."
"Good. Because I’m not leaving you alone for one second."
Nyra smiles faintly. "Okay. I don’t mind."
---
The staff always gossip. They do it like they’re being paid to--Adrian knows that, so he doesn’t really care to listen in. Especially because he’s realized more than once that they would talk about the most mundane things with so much excitement.
Somehow, however, his ears still pick up one line from the cluster of words the staff are rambling about.
"I think Young Master Dorian has a thing for the future Luna." One of them whispers, then they continue giggling, like it’s the funniest shit they’ve heard all day.
What exactly did they see, that made them think that.
Adrian’s scowl deepens as he continues down the stairs. The moment they see him, the laughter and chatter die instantly.
The servants straighten, exchanging nervous glances as Adrian reaches the last stair. "Do you people have nothing better to do?" he questions coldly.
"No, Future Alpha," one of them mumbles.
"Then find something to do, or I’ll do that for you." He snaps, making them scatter away immediately, heads bowed.
Adrian shakes his head, annoyed. He isn’t interested in gossip, but the thought of Dorian having a thing for Nyra leaves an unpleasant knot in his stomach.
Just as he’s about to leave, he hears footsteps and sees the person responsible for his sour mood resting against the wall tiredly.
The two cousins stare at each other for more than one second, until finally Adrian breaks it and walks closer.
"We’re alone now." Dorian raises an eyebrow. "So tell me something, man to man."
Adrian is staring into his eyes like he’s trying to read his soul. "Are you still involved with Anna? Surely you’ve heard what happened. Were you the father?!"
Dorian’s brow almost reaches his hairline. "We’ve never even had sex, Jesus Christ!" He looks away, releasing a tired breath. "I know you won’t believe me, Adrian...but I really regret what happened."
Dorian continues before Adrian can cut in. "She was drunk that night. She came onto me. And you..." He laughs bitterly.
’Came onto me.’ A sentence he has heard more than once. It’s embarrassing how he never noticed, really.
"...You were always doing better than me. Better grades. Better reputation. Everyone loved you." His eyes lower. "I didn’t necessarily like Anna, I just wanted to feel like I could win over you. Just once."
"And I’m genuinely sorry I did that. Though I’m not denying that I would’ve slept with her if you hadn’t come in when you did..." He lets out a tired sigh. "...but I swear on my wolf, I’ve not had any contact with her since then."
"You’re lying."
"I’m not." Dorian’s hazel eyes are unusually serious. "Whatever happened with Anna since then, I had nothing to do with it."
Adrian searches his face for any sign of deception.
He finds none, but that doesn’t mean he believes him. "I hope you stand by your word, Dorian."
Dorian nods. "I will."
Adrian slides a hand into his pocket. "Because if I find out you had anything to do with what happened to Nyra..."
"I would never hurt her." Dorian cuts in quickly. "That’s not even the point."
’I think Young Master Dorian has a thing for the future Luna.’
"Dorian, do you have a thing for Nyra?" Adrian goes straight to the point.
"What? No! Why would you even think that?!" Dorian says quickly, but the slight shading in his ears betrays him.
Adrian watches every reaction with a frown. He’s going to tear this damn bastard to pieces if he even dares!
"I need to find my dad..." Dorian adds quickly, avoiding his eyes. Adrian watches him walk away without looking back.
He sighs, rubbing the nape of his neck. Can he really blame his cousin, though?! Anyone with eyes can see how so damn attractive Nyra is. It makes him feel like such a fool for not even seeing it sooner.
Speaking of her...he needs to find Nyra. Something happened in those woods, and he intends to find out exactly what.
He slides into his mother’s personal garden in time to find Lena hugging her. She’s whispering something into Nyra’s ears, while Nyra is holding back tears.
His heart breaks when he sees them.
He had known it would take time for her to be good again, considering how much trauma she went through.
But seeing the aftermath firsthand, it makes his heart break. She’s so damn strong, he can’t even get over the thought of them losing their baby.
He doesn’t talk about it, tries to comfort her anytime she brings it up--he has to be the strong one--but it hurts so damn much.
He spent so many weeks caring for another man’s baby. And yet, he couldn’t protect his own.
He inhales deeply, pushing the thought away. He watches both girls pull apart, while Lena tries to cheer her up.
A few seconds later, the other girls join in. They notice him watching them, but thankfully don’t say a word.
Before long, Nyra is smiling again, and the way his heart stutters scares him.
He’s fallen so deeply in love with her, he can’t imagine anyone else for him.
Nyra is his, he is hers. No matter what happens from here on out, he would, without a doubt, always stand by her side.