Chapter Four

“Don't worry, princess, you're not dying anytime soon," a familiar voice said as I felt a presence beside me. I looked beside me to see Nikolai standing in all his glory. He was wearing a suit and his hands were in his pocket. I didn't know and I didn't care how he got here. I was just glad he did. Everyone else had a shocked yet mortified look.

“Surprised?" Nikolai asked, raising a brow at them. He pulled out a phone from his pocket and turned it to show them a video.

“I'll hide the ring in her bag. You put it in her drink, right?" Ruth's voice came through the phone. She, Daniel, my father and Alpha Richard were discussing in the video. They spoke some more about how they were planning on framing me for the theft of her ring. My jaw slacked and my mouth fell wide open when I heard the last thing my father said.

“Just make sure you kill her before Nikolai gets here. And don't make it obvious that it was a murder," he said. I looked at him but his eyes held no remorse. Only fear. Nikolai's jaw was clenched as he looked at them. He bent down and removed the ropes around my hands and legs.

“What should we do to them?" He asked, looking at me. I glanced at them and sighed.

“Leave them. I prefer the element of surprise," I told him, smirking. Nikolai raised a brow as a proud look made its way to his features. I felt fuzzy all over. Nikolai picked me up in his arms and we left them.

“Do you want to pack anything?" He asked me when we stepped outside. It'd taken us a while to get out and I had a question.

“How did you know I was there? I'm part of the pack and even I don't know this place," I asked him. Nikolai simply smiled as we continued to his car.

“I have my ways, princess. Just watch and be wowed by your prince charming," he said, winking at me. I laughed and threw my head back. I didn't even bother commenting on the fact that he had carried me all the way to his car. I'd enjoyed it in a way.

“Back to my question," he said, strapping his seatbelt. “Do you have anything to pack or should we go straight to my place?”

I could do without my clothes but there was a person I couldn't do without. "Can I bring a friend?” I asked him. Nikolai pursed his lips then nodded. We drove off to my father's house to get my things and my plus 1.

****

"Amelia,” I whispered, tapping her. Amelia turned and opened her eyes. When she saw me, she immediately stood up, rubbing the sleep away from her eyes.

"Ma'am, what are you doing here?” She asked. I rolled my eyes as I pushed a bag to her.

"Stop with that Ma'am shit. It makes me feel old. I'm leaving with Nikolai and I want you to come with me. Be quick,” I said. Amelia opened and closed her mouth then a thought occurred to me. "Do you want to leave?” I asked her. Amelia nodded and I smiled.

"Thank you, Sarah,” she said, standing up. Amelia began packing her things while I waited for her by the door. I'd packed my things already before coming to meet her. I'd partially hoped I'd see my father and Ruth before I left but they hadn't come home yet.

"I'm through,” Amelia whispered. I nodded at her and picked my own bags as we walked out of the mansion. Nikolai was waiting for us outside the car. He was staring at his phone frowning and his legs were crossed. He looked extremely hot and I felt my heart flutter.

"You've got yourself quite a catch,” Amelia whispered, nudging me. I smiled.

"Nikolai, we're ready,” I told him when we neared the car. He opened the boot of the car for us to put our things in. After that, we got into the car; me in the front seat while Amelia stayed at the back. As we drove out, another car came into the mansion. We passed it by and I recognized the occupants. I turned my head away just before they caught me staring.

********

I picked up a bottle of whiskey from Nikolai's fridge and went to sit beside him. He was resting on the couch now. He had removed his suit jacket, loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt making him look rugged.

“You look tired. Would you like a drink?" I asked him. He glanced at me.

“Gladly," he said. I poured some for him in a cup and he gulped it all at once then passed his cup to me for a refill.

“It must be really serious," I joked.

“You think," he said, sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at him.

“Is it about the community? Or your pack?" I asked him. Nikolai opened one of his eyes then sat straight. He reached over to the back of the chair then pulled out a file.

“You'd be surprised. But before I tell you, here are the documents for the marriage. All you have to do is sign it. Take your time to read it if you want," he said, pushing it to me. I picked up a pen and signed all the papers without reading. “You're not reading it?"

“Obviously. Now tell me, what's bothering my husband?" I asked. The foreign word rolled off my tongue so smoothly yet sounded strange to my ears. Nikolai looked at me with a raised brow as he tried to hide his smile. “Fuck it! How the hell do you call me all those names and make it sound perfect?"

“It's a male thing. You wouldn't understand," he teased. I rolled my eyes at him. Male thing my ass.

"So what's on your mind?” I asked. Nikolai suddenly turned serious as he pinned me under his gaze. He sighed and moved closer.

"It's my business. My workers messed a deal up and now I have to do something I didn't plan on doing,” he said, sighing.

“Well, it's just business," I told him, shrugging. Nikolai chuckled then went back to resting.

“You wouldn't understand, love. Go to sleep. I'll wake you up when it's time to leave. I have some work to do," he said, standing up. Nikolai picked up his suit jacket that he had thrown to the side and walked out of the room. My eyes followed him until he disappeared from my vision. I wonder what sort of work one would be doing at 3am; the devil's hour.