If there was anything Sheryl was right about, it was about not understanding men and their battles. The decision was made. Nothing was going to change it. Nicholas was unhitched, he wanted to fight his father to death and it didn't worry him if it meant sacrificing himself in the process. There was nothing I could do but respect his choice.

A fog descended upon the town. The mist hung low, like a veil, blurring the clear sky behind it. The streetlights around the house and near the roads glowed dimly, some of them flickering.

I stared up at the sky for long, remembering there was a storm before every battle. It was a way of nature telling us of what was going to happen. If there was defeat written in our fates, a storm would come and destroy most of the land before the battle could even happen.

I turned away from the sky and lowered my gaze. It was early in the morning of the next day. The sun had barely risen above the horizon. My heart felt heavy, but it wasn't because Nicholas was going to go on a battle against his own father.

It was something else.

"I sent in your blood to a good friend of mine. She'll get back to me as earliest as possible. Though, if today turns out to be a loss, the result may be delayed." Sheryl's voice broke through my thoughts as she came behind me.

"It's fine," I whispered, turning to her. "I can wait."

She cocked a brow at me. "You can?"

"At least for a day." Another deep breath blew out of me.

"Have you told him?" She asked, her eyes fixed on me. "Your mate?"

My throat tightened. How could I? "No, not yet. It could just be nothing and just a play of my own mind. I don't want to concern Nicholas just yet."

Sheryl nodded and pursed her lips, but I could tell what was going on in her mind. She knew the truth and I did too. My heart raced whenever I thought of it—the possibility. I wasn't scared of it of myself, it didn't worry me, but I feared what it would do to Nicholas if what I thought was true.

He didn't want a family, he didn't want this. It was going to hurt him deeply and the timing couldn't have been any worse.

He was going to kill his own father and then become one. How was any of that fair?

"Don't tell anyone." I warned Sheryl.

"I won't," she smiled, as she did always. "I've dealt with plenty of unwanted pregnancies. There are options, many of them if you don't want—"

"Let's wait for the result." I stopped her before she went on. There were still many people inside the house and outside. I didn't want anyone to know, not before I was sure myself.

Shoulders lined, she stood near me and looked ahead in the direction I did. Watching the storm brewing second by second. The wind howled through the trees, leaving them rattled while droplets of water began to fall from the sky. The mist that had engulfed the town grew thicker.

Sheryl pulled the sleeve of her coat a few inches down and glanced at the time. "Shouldn't he be here?"

"He will be," My eyes lingered over the gates and the other few men near the gates. "Any minute. He had to go for a run before killing his father."

"You're certain he can do that?"

"I'm not, but I trust him." I shook my head and sighed.

Eve when it was early in the morning, I couldn't hear the birds chirping, as if nature held its breath. As the gates to the house swung open, my attention diverted and I quickly moved near to them. Nicholas arrived, clothed, part of his hair wet from the light drizzle and rain.

His jaw was set, his lips pressed into a firm line and his intentions remained the same. Nothing changed.

Our gazes met and I smiled at him. He neared me and placed his hand over the side of my arms, holding me ever so slightly.

"How was your run?"

"Good," He replied, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. "Will you be fine here? We'll have to leave now and as much as I want you near me, I cannot risk getting you hurt by someone there."

"I will be fine here. That's alright." I nodded and agreed. There was no further argument.

Nicholas wanted to kill his father, to reclaim his territory and restore what has been lost. I trusted him to do that because if I convinced him otherwise, he'd still do it, he'd still fight against his father but instead of killing him, he'd get himself killed. I didn't want to discourage him, or to tell him he was weaker than his father.

He didn't need to hear that.

"I will return to you as soon as it's over." His hands went around my face, cupping it gently.

I smiled at him and then nodded, "I'll be waiting for you."

His eyes searched mine for a moment, perhaps looking for doubt or fear, but I made sure to keep my gaze steady. His thumb lightly traced over my cheekbone before he pulled me near and placed his mouth against mine. I kissed him back, and let my hands rest over his chest, feeling his heart pound as fast as mine.

His scent reeled my senses and I drew back before it consumed me.

"I love you." He whispered.

My breath hitched in my throat and I smiled, "I love you too, Nicholas. Don't let anything stop you from doing what you must."

"I won't."

I pulled him in for one last hug, holding him tightly, hoping to convey all the words I had buried inside me. His arms wrapped around me as a silent promise of his return and I prayed he would.

When he pulled away, his men were gathered behind him, waiting to leave with him. Malik stood only inches away, his doubtful eyes on me, waiting for me to say something, to stop Nicholas from doing this. And maybe I could, maybe I could stop him from getting in a duel with his father. But what would that lead to?

Nicholas was never going to feel free unless he faced his father. He had spent years trying to take him down, trying to show him his power. This was his chance to finally break free, to kill him, to take his revenge.

I had spent the entire yesterday worrying about it, and talking to him about it. He didn't want to do anything except for this.

It wasn't stubbornness, it was a burning desire to defeat his father.

As I watched him disappear into the distance, my heart swelled. His men followed him out of the house and when the gates shut, it became quiet, dead-quiet. My chest rose and dropped.

They were going to the house, where his father was. The land near the house was where the duel was going to be. Most of the pack wolves were heading there along with the rival pack wolves. Anything wrong and it was going to turn into a blood shed, one no one wanted.

Nicholas had to kill his father. There was no turning back now.

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