Blood Legacy Chapter 118: 116. Nathan

It hurt. It hurt so fucking much. It was slowly shattering. He could feel it. Never in his wildest nightmares had he ever imagined that such thing was possible, yet there they were. Slowly breaking apart.

It was as if there was a wall around her heart and mind, growing bigger and bigger, day after day after day. He could barely feel her now. The tiniest sliver lingered, allowing him to feel that life-draining sickness and suffering tormenting her very soul. Something was happening to her. He could tell. And something bad had definitely happened to her during those weeks after her unexpected and shocking disappearance. She was completely different now. A whole different person. Even her scent had changed. It was as if the real Carina had actually died and there was an imposter now that had taken her place, unsuccessfully trying to fool them.

And she knew. She knew everything now. She was aware of that damned ritual and everything that it entailed. She knew what they've been planning to do to her. Every single detail of that barbaric and degrading fucked-up ritual.

He'd tried to subtly make her aware of it once. But it wasn't enough. She hadn't picked up on his subtle hints, her infatuation with him way too strong for her to even think straight.

*But it was over now. The spell was broken.*

There was no place left for regrets or what ifs. It didn't matter that he'd actually never felt right about it. Or that he'd had numerous fights with his parents, Lysander...even their side of the council. It was all in vain now. Yes, he was so much at fault, for not trying harder, for choosing to keep the truth away from her like that. But it didn't matter now. It was out there. It was all out there and there was no chance left for them to make her go through with it. The kingdom had lost its future queen. And the future king's claim to the throne was now null and void. They'd have to skip another few generations, forcing his father to remain seated on that throne until the oracle took mercy on both clans and offered them the chance to get sworn under another vow. *That is if they'd somehow managed not to kill each other off in the meantime.*

There was one thing bugging at him though. How did she find out? Who told her? How was it even possible that she knew so much now? Which side had actually dared betray the crown in such a way? It didn't even make any sense! Both clans would've benefited from this union! Especially after so many generations of the throne remaining occupied by wolves alone. They needed the merge. The kingdom needed that exchange of power, both for the sake of the shamans and wolves alike. The shamans needed that special life-force only the wolves possessed and the wolves needed the shamans' magic. It was simple as that.

But now it was all ruined.

That treaty was breached and they were possibly on the brink of war, all that thanks to fuck-knows who. He had to get to the bottom of this. He had to find out who did this. He had to get it out of her; find out who was responsible for all this and bring them to justice. Make them pay for their treason with their own life.

His hands balled into tight fists at his sides as he watched her quietly make her way towards that empty picnic table at the very end of the outside cafeteria like she did every single day, ever since she'd returned.

He reined himself in, forcing himself to remain cold and unfeeling as he assessed her from head to toe, noticing the constant paleness of her skin, her gaunt cheeks and the way she sluggishly moved in those baggy clothes.

*Fuck.*

He thickly swallowed, hating the way his wolf whined with grief and despondency at the sight of her, and the thought of what he was about to do next.

He didn't want to hurt her. He didn't want to see those hot tears trailing down her cheeks once again. But there was no other way. He had to do it. He had to.

*For the sake of our people.* He desperately tried to convince himself. And after a shuddering exhale he got up from his seat and stormed his way straight towards her table with unbridled determination. He couldn't afford to have any second thoughts now. There was no space left for gentleness or soothing words. She didn't want to be his mate anymore. She'd made that pretty clear. Their bond slowly breaking more and more with every passing day was enough proof of that.

*Then why did it still hurt so much?* Why did it torment him with such ferocity? *Why did it seem to drain the very life out of her?*

His hands trembled at his sides as soon as those large and very tired-looking blue eyes lifted to regard him, her naturally arched brows furrowing.

"Uh, are you lost or something? Did you forget where the monsters' corner is?" Her tone was sharp and biting, but he could still pick up on that slight waver. She was weakened. Waning.

"You and I need to have a word. Right now," he swiftly replied, disregarding her bitchy attitude and that small pang of guilt poking at him. He couldn't let himself become affected.

But she let out a small and defying giggle at the sound of that, making him bristle with irritation.

"Sir, you are gravely mistaken. There are no more words you and I need to share. I've said everything that needed to be said. And I certainly do not care to listen to anything you might have to say to me now. I hate liars, remember?"

Her head tilted to the side and his eyes flashed dangerously at her words, that small twinge of guilt receding, making room for rage instead.

"Carina," he lowly growled in warning, unfortunately only adding fuel to her brazenness. Her brow rose, that ever-present fire in her beautiful eyes now burning even brighter as she gazed up at him in an openly challenging way.

"What, Nathan?"

"You will lift your tiny butt from that seat and come with me," he firmly demanded between gritted teeth, pointing a finger at her.

"Or what?" Her arms crossed over her chest with defiance, remaining exactly where she was.

"Or I will make you," he darkly promised and she glowered up at him, lips spreading into a manic smirk.

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really."

He intently watched her, that evil side of him threatening to come out with every passing second that she refused to obey. She was infuriating right now, and it made the Alpha blood in him boil.

"Well I'd like to see you try,"

Silence followed after that certain statement. You could even hear a pin drop. It was as if time imploded, leaving them frozen in their spots.

One second.

Two seconds.

And then he snapped.

One moment he was standing close to that table, and before she could even blink he already had one knee bent over it, his hand fisting the front of her hoodie as he forcefully held her up in the air.

A row of shocked gasps could be heard in the background, but he paid no heed.

Their faces were so close now he could practically feel her shuddering breath caressing his lips, those enchanting eyes peering right back into his with the tiniest hint of fear and uncertainty.

She was limply dangling from his hold now, like a lifeless doll. And he was breathing so fast and hard, struggling to maintain his merciless and imposing posture.

"Let go of her, Nate."

He suddenly faltered, eyes widening as he continued to look at her. And before he could even realize what he was doing his hand had already let go, letting her butt fall back on that bench with the softest sound.

Firm and calm. Like a scolding parent that voice had spoken to him, sounding so incredibly...real. It was as if he'd been standing there, right next to him.

He blinked a few times and slowly climbed back down from the table, his gaze absently trained on Carina's frail and slumped form. Her forehead was tiredly resting over her arms, facing the table. But he couldn't focus on her anymore now. He was...distracted, to say the least.

Or rather...distraught.

*What...How...*

*What the fuck just happened...* His mind seemed to continuously ask itself, falling deeper and deeper into that state of utter shock and disbelief.

He couldn't understand. Why did he hear that? How?

His hands shook as he stared at them for a moment. And then he turned around, his lost gaze searching for the comforting presence of his packmates.

They were all staring at him now. Equally clueless. Failing to understand what just happened.

Until the little runt's attention slightly diverted somewhere to his right side by chance, seemingly distracted by something else.

"Holy Goddess...who is that?" He could hear her meekly whisper.

And like in a trance, they all turned to have a look themselves in perfect sync.

That precious air evaded him, his throat so stubbornly closing off. He swore that he could feel his heart slowly grind to a halt.

His knees were shaking. He could barely stand now.

And the moment Estefany's shrill cry rang in his ears he lastly collapsed on his knees, a single stray tear rolling down his cheek.