Chapter 262
~ NYSSA
I woke up to voices speaking around me in angry whispers.
It took me a moment to realize that I knew those voices. One of them was Rowan’s and the other was female… Aria.
“I just want to see her, I need to make sure she’s okay,” Aria spoke, her voice low and pleading. “I haven’t heard anyhing since she got back p>
“That was deliberate p>
Aria sighed. “I already apologized, Rowan, what more do you want from me? I didn’t know what I was doing. I hate myself for what happened and I know you hate me to, but give me this… please p>
“The only reason you’re still in this pack at all is because you’re my sister. I am not obligated to forgive you or let you anywhere near my mate after the shit you pulled. Get the fuck out, right now p>
My eyes fluttered open and I found the two of them standing by the door. Rowan held his hand out to prevent her from getting further into the room. The look on her face was pure devastation and resignation.
She sighed deeply and turned on her heels, prepared to leave when I spoke.
“Let her in p>
They both turned to me in shock. Aria seemed surprise whereas Rowan looked pissed.
“Nyssa,” he began but I shook my head.
“Let her in. We’ve fought amongst ourselves enough. Please just give us a moment p>
“Nyssa p>
“You can wait outside the door p>
Rowan was not pleased to say the least but he stepped aside for her. She rushed into the room immediately. She reached out for me but decided against it at the last minute and fisted her hands by her sides.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know what I did was unforgivable and I hate myself for it. I tried to fight it, I swear I did, but p>
“I know,” I cut her off. “I know what it feels like to be compelled. It’s a shit feeling p>
Her eyes watered. “You look… good p>
I held back a snort. “I look like shit, even I know that p>
“You look better than the girl from your pack at least p>
My brows furrowed in confusion. “What girl p>
“The one at the hospital. I think her name was Alisa or something p>
A vague memory from before I was taken flashed through my mind and I cursed. I’d forgotten about it entirely with everything that was going on.
“Where is she p>
“Gone,” Aria answered smoothly. “I think she realized there was no place for her here because one day, she checked herself out of the hospital and left. The last we heard from her, she had returned to your old pack p>
I shook my head. There was no disappointment, only resignation. I knew she would do that eventually. Alisa only cared about one thing and that was power. She would do anything to remain in power as she had shown time and time again.
I pushed every thought of her out of my mind. She was in the past, and right now, all I wanted to focus on was my life.
I glanced over Aria’s shoulder at Rowan who was watching us warily from behind the door. She followed my line of sight and sighed.
“He may never forgive me,” she said softly. “Not that I deserve it p>
“He will p>
She shook her head. “He has never been this pissed at me… ever. This is… this is worse than anything I have ever done. If I hurt him, I have no doubt he’d forgive me, but I hurt you… and he doesn’t play about you p>
“I know that, and it might seem crazy right now but just give him time. He’s going to understand sooner or later that you didn’t know what you were doing. He’s just hurt right now p>
She smiled sadly, and it was clear she didn’t believe me, but she didn’t argue.
The door opened and Rowan walked in with the doctor behind him. Aria sighed softly, lowering herself to hug me firmly. Her touch was familiar but slightly awkward.
I’d be lying if I said I’d forgotten all about her behavior when she was compelled. I understood the reason behind her actions now, but it didn’t take them away entirely.
She walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Once she was gone, I turned to the doctor. “Is everything okay p>
He nodded. “We just got your results back. For the most part… you seem to be doing well. You’ll need to rest in the coming days and it is important that you get a balanced meal. Your vitamin levels are a bit low. I’d recommend being out in the sunlight for a few hours a day p>
“Trust me, I want out of this building more than you want me out of here p>
His lips curved upwards. “There is one more thing p>
We were allowed to leave the hospital a few hours later.
Rowan handled all the discharge papers while I was given new clothes to change into. They were oversized and smelled like Rowan but I didn’t even have it in me to complain because they were fucking comfortable.
He didn’t say a single word as he drove out of the hospital and down the familiar roads that led home. I didn’t offer to speak either, I just turned on my side, staring out the window at the greenery and the cars that drove by.
“Nyssa p>
I knew what he was going to say, and I wasn’t ready to hear it. “Where’s Eric? And Jeremiah p>
“They’re at the palace,” he answered smoothly. “Avoiding the conversation isn’t going to make it go away p>
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I murmured with a shrug. “I just want to go p>
“Nyssa p>
I fell silent instantly and turned to him. “What p>
He turned off the car right there in the middle of the road. “Talk to me, baby, please p>
“It isn’t safe to put the car in the middle of the road p>
He shrugged. “The quicker you talk to me, the quicker we can move p>
I sighed, finally turning to face him. “What do you want me to say? How does one deal with that kind of news p>
“You knew you were pregnant p>
“Yeah, but I didn’t know that it’s going to be a literal battle to know if our child is going to be a lycan or have my vampire tendencies p>
The doctor had dropped the news of the pregnancy with a grim expression and upon a little pushing, he explained that the pregnancy would not be smooth sailing. Lycans and vampires were not always compatible species and although hybrids were possible as we’d seen, the pregnancy would take a toll on me.
Unfortunately, I was a werewolf and a normal lycan pregnancy was hard enough, much less one where I was carrying a potential hybrid.
Rowan stared at me for a long minute before sighing. He reached for me and pulled me across the console and into his lap. Brushing my hair out of my face, he placed a soft kiss to my temple.
“You’re going to be okay,” he promised. “I’ll be right here the entire time, I promise, and our baby is going to be fine. Who knows, they may not end up being a hybrid. You’re only half vampire, and that part of you isn’t dominant p>
“True,” I murmured. “It’s still a possibility p>
“One that we don’t have to worry about right now,” he reminded me. “For now, we’re allowed to be happy about the baby… about our family. The war is over. Focus on that p>
I nodded.
He was right.
We’d gone through so much and finally, we were at peace. There was no more issue with my pack, no issues with the vampires. We were starting a fucking family.
“I want to go home, Rowan p>
He smiled softly, leaning over to kiss me. “Okay, baby p>