'I, Nadia Rufus of the wolfless clan reject you, Alpha Angel, of Wulfblood, a Wulfclan of The Boldclaw Prowlers. I severed the bond between us and from here on have no claim over you,' Nadia read it over and over in her head, knowing exactly what it meant.
"Will you accept if I say the words?" she said in a whisper. Her heart felt like it was withering.
"It wouldn't matter. You say it and I will get you out of here," Angel replied. Nadia raised her eyes to meet him. Although the eyes looking back at her were cold as slits, she could feel his anger, pride and then pain.
"Cole Miller will not let you just let me go..."
"I will face the consequences…”
"What happened in that room was a mistake, Angel, I will never deliberately do anything to hurt you like that…"
"Why are we re-hatching this? None of that would matter once you say the words. You will never have to see me again," he replied. Nadia's heart tightened with pain.
"I need you to believe and forgive me," she said in a whisper.
Angel leaned forward lowering his face close to hers and replied, "Why the fuck would any of that matter? Once you say the words, it's over. I will be nothing but a nightmare you will put behind you."
"You are not a nightmare…" Nadia whispered.
"I don't give a fuck how you choose to remember me. Say the damn words and get the hell out!" he growled. Before Nadia could reply to him, the door was pushed open and Isabelle peered in.
"Angel, there you are, the guys want you downstairs. Cole wants us to leave now. Don't worry I will make sure Nadia gets ready to leave as well."
"Can you give us a minute, Nadia was about to tell me something…" Angel said with gritted teeth his cold eyes boring into Nadia's.
"Can she tell you on the plane? It's kind of urgent… sorry," Isabelle insisted, walking inside. "You don't mind, do you, Nadia?" she added, smiling at Nadia.
"Yeah, whatever, it's okay," Nadia replied, lowering her gaze. Angel straightened his spine and stalked out.
Isabelle shut the door and said, " I have a few dresses I'm certain would fit you just perfectly. When we get back home, you and Dr. Amèlie will go shopping, I promise."
She came to the bed to lean close to Nadia's ear and whispered, “Do you love him?”
Nadia jerked her gaze to meet grey ones and swallowed softly. Her eyes darted in their sockets as she searched Isabelle’s eyes. Understanding dawned that the other woman must have heard her conversation with Angel and came to rescue her. Pressing trembling lips together. She nodded as fresh tears streamed down her face. “Do you want to reject him? It would be like you divorcing him, you know?”
“Divorcing him?! No. No, I don’t want that,” Nadia whispered back fervently. Isabelle beamed at her.
"He doesn't want to leave you behind, that says a lot, don't make the mistake of losing him.
"I – I think he hates me…" Nadia stuttered brokenly.
"No, he doesn't. He is angry and conflicted just like you. Give it time. Don't throw it away until you are sure he is not for you. But I know you want him…"
"Is it that obvious?"
"Would it help if I tell you he wants you too just as badly?"
"He doesn't act it…."
"He is angry."
"You think so?"
"I know. I am wulfblood and thus, connected to him and I’m a were. We perceived emotions.”
“He told me that once. I supposed he must know what I feel yet he is so withdrawn with me—”
“Sometimes the obvious is not always so easy to discern. Partly because of some unsolved trauma or emotional conflicts – a battle within ourselves that creates doubts even when we can see the truth or perhaps you say things to him that makes him doubt what he is perceiving.”
Nadia felt her cheeks heat up, knowing indeed she was giving him conflicting signals but that was because of what he did. She doubted Isabelle would understand until she tell her the entire story and it didn’t look like Angel wanted his people to know.
“Angel has been in captivity for more than a decade because of your family. It is expected that his emotions for you would be conflicting. I had my share of battles with Cole. Even now we are still working on it. You must know it is not going to be easy. So only take this risk if you think he is worth it… Letting go of your life for him would not be easy. Frankly, I don’t know how Amèlie did it. But all I need to do is to see the way my brother looks at her to understand why she would give up everything for him. Plus, our lives are not a walk in the park. It is riddled with danger. But she chose him regardless. But I need you to know one thing: no matter what the future holds, Angel will always be by your side and will protect you with his very life. You just need to ask yourself if he is worth the trouble.”
"He is… he is worth it,” Nadia said, coming to a decision.
"Then let's get you dressed, Nadia, and welcome to the family."