Chapter 143
~ ROWAN
Of all the things I thought Nyssa would ask for, returning to her pack was not one of them.
I stared at her blankly, my lips pulled into a thin line as I waited for the inevitable punchline to the joke because surely, she couldn’t be serious.
Silence stretched thin between us for a long minute as she fiddled with her hands on the table.
“Do you think he heard me?” she whispered to Aria who sat silently next to her. “Maybe I need to repeat myself p>
“Oh, he heard you,” Aria mused, lips curving into a small smile. “I think you’ve broken him p>
Nyssa turned back to me. “Rowan p>
“NO p>
She flinched from the sheer vehemence in my voice. “You didn’t even wait to hear why p>
“I don’t need to hear why,” I said simply, hands crossing over my chest. “There is no reason for you to go back there after everything that happened. You have no more ties to that place p>
She frowned. “It’s where I grew up. I have an entire house with memories p>
“You can make new memories,” I said simply but she only frowned harder.
I couldn’t understand the sudden need to want to return and honestly, I had no intentions of engaging it with her. That pack had brought nothing but trouble since the first moment I fucking set foot there and I’d be damned if I allowed myself to back there just to get us both into more trouble.
“I’m going,” Nyssa said firmly.
“Over my fucking dead body p>
She growled low, her cheeks burning a bright shade of red as anger coursed through her. “You’re not my father, Rowan. You can’t control me or keep me locked up p>
“That’s not what I’m doing. I’m keeping you safe since you seem to not be able to do it yourself p>
She scoffed bitterly. “Funny, that’s what Henry said as well p>
Her words settled like a physical blow to my chest. I blinked twice, trying to make sure I heard her correctly but she was already on her feet, storming out of the dining room. She slammed the door harshly behind her but I couldn’t even bring myself to follow suit.
Her words knocked the air out of me, and even in her absence, they replayed over again in my mind like a broken record.
“Well,” Aria drawled after a long silence. “That was fucking brutal p>
I ran my hands over my head with a sigh. “Tell me about it p>
“I suppose I should apologize. I brought up the idea of returning p>
I turned to my sister sharply.
She looked away, ears turning pink as a bashful expression took over her features.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” I hissed, unable to keep the annoyance at bay.
“She was asking about her parents and whether there was any proof that she was truly theirs. I told her the truth, that we didn’t have any of the files. She wants to check her home for them p>
“That’s very unnecessary p>
“To you maybe, but she has just been told that her entire life is a fucking lie. You can’t expect her to just accept it and move on. Give the girl a fucking break, Rowan. She is handling things considerably well for someone her age. I think you forget that not everyone is a century old p>
I opened my mouth to retort but no words would come out. Embarrassment took hold of my throat, squeezing tightly so no words would come out.
Aria sighed as she continued. “You don’t just give orders, Rowan. She’s your mate, not your guard, not one of your maids. If you want her to be your partner, then you treat her like one. You have conversations, you don’t make demands p>
It was one thing to be wrong, and it was entirely another to have my little sister rip me a new asshole. If I didn’t feel bad before, I definitely felt it now.
The shame and guilt wrapped up in me so tightly that I thought I would fucking explode just from it. I glanced at the seat that Nyssa had occupied, the one now empty and cursed.
“I have to go find her,” I murmured rising to my feet.
“You probably should,” Aria agreed. “I would suggest taking breakfast for her. She didn’t get to eat a thing before you pissed her off p>
I cursed, looking down at her untouched plate of pancakes and bacon.
I packed it up for her neatly before stepping out of the dining room. I followed her scent up the stairs and towards her bedroom where I found her door slightly ajar. Even before I pushed it open, I heard her voice echoing from inside.
“Fucking asshole,” she murmured. “Who the hell does he think he is? I’m not some fucking bimbo he can order around. If he’s looking for a trophy wife who is going to smile and wave then he’s fucking mistaken p>
“I don’t want a trophy wife,” I said suddenly.
She jumped, hands flying over her chest as she stared wide at me. I could hear her heart hammering in her chest and heard the sharp intake of breath as I stepped further into the room.
“It might have seemed as such because of how much of a bastard I was earlier,” I continued, making my way further into the room. “But it couldn’t be further from the truth p>
It took her a second to swallow the knot in her throat and regain her composure. “What are you doing here? You said more than enough earlier p>
“I know, and that’s why I’m here… to listen, and I brought you breakfast p>
I placed the food at the edge of the table next to her before making my way over to her bed.
I sat at the edge, hands folded neatly in front of me. She watched me with a wary expression, her eyes sharp with disbelief and unease, but I didn’t move.
“I’m still learning this whole mate thing, and while that is not an excuse for how I spoke to you earlier, I hope you can give me another chance to have that conversation the right way p>