Chapter 283

Chapter 283
+25 Bonus
Chapter 283
“He spoke,” I said softly. August didn’t acknowledge our reactions at all, his wide, stormy eyes were fixed on the door, on his father.
Nolan stepped inside, flanked briefly by Cassian and security before they peeled away to give us space. His movements were slower now, the adrenaline finally fading, but his presence filled the room instantly-solid, grounding, familiar.
The boys were reaching for him before he could say a word.
Nolan crossed the room in three strides and dropped to his knees in front of us, ignoring the sharp inhale from somewhere behind him as it pulled at his injury. He gathered August and lan into his arms without hesitation, pressing his forehead to theirs.
“I’m here,” he murmured. “Dada is here. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
That was all it took.
The last of their fear broke, not into screams this time, but into exhausted relief. August clung to his neck, lan curled against his chest, their little bodies finally relaxing.
I watched Nolan hold them, his eyes closed, jaw clenched like he was containing something enormous inside himself.
I knew that he was.
I thought of my visions of him, his wolf form fierce and protective as he stood with our boys. Their carefree smiles and laughter were watched over and protected by his presence. It was the same now.
They ran to him when they were afraid. His touch, his voice reassured them enough to melt the terror that had seized their tiny bodies.
My heart swelled to see it.
Lance cleared his throat quietly. “You sure about this?” he asked, not accusatory,
just needing to hear it said aloud. “About stepping away?”
Nolan looked up at him, expression calm in a way that felt final.
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Cassian nodded once, already moving into action. “We’ll get you out quietly. The boys first.”
Lance helped Nolan stand carefully, then gently took August into his arms. Cassian coaxed lan away next, murmuring reassurances as he did. The boys protested weakly, but they were calmer now, soothed by Nolan’s
presence.
“I’ll be right here,” Nolan promised them. “I’m not going anywhere.”
When the door closed behind them, the room felt suddenly oo quiet.
It was just us.
Nolan turned to me then, really looked at me, and something in his expression softened completely. The alpha, the warrior, the candidate-all of it fell away, leaving just the man.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
I shook my head, stepping toward him. “Don’t.”
1/4
Chapter 283
+25 Bonus
“I didn’t plan it,” he continued. “I didn’t think it through. Ijust-“He exhaled. “I couldn’t stand there knowing what almost happened.”
I reached for him, hands curling into the fabric of his ruined shirt. “You protected us,” I said. “You chose us.”
His hands came up to frame my face, thumbs brushing gently beneath my eyes. “I would do it again,” he said. “A thousand times. There is nothing-nothing-more important than you and the boys.”
The truth of it settled between us, heavy and undeniable.
“I love you,” I said, the words breaking free before I could second-guess them. His breath hitched.
“I’ve loved you for a long time,” I continued, voice trembling. “Before I really knew what that meant. When I thought that you would never feel the same. But today… today you showed me who you really are. And I love that man too.”
He rested his forehead against mine, eyes closing.
“I love you,” he said hoarsely. “I didn’t think I was capable of this. Of feeling love like this. Of choosing peace. Of choosing happiness.” He opened his eyes. “You changed ma, Ellie.”
Tears finally spilled, but they weren’t from fear this time.
They were from knowing-really knowing that the man holding me was no longer the
one who’d once ruled through anger and isolation.
He had changed.
And not because of a crown.
Because of love.
Outside the room, the kingdom reeled. Narratives shattered Power shifted.
It all mattered; it would all echo for years, and those echoes would dictate our actions for the foreseeable future.
But here, in this quiet moment stolen from chaos, Nolan held me as if nothing else existed.
And for the first time since the campaign began, I believed him when he said he was done.
Not because he was giving up.
But because he was choosing something better.
ENJOYING THE BOOK?
Give it a rating to show your support!
2/4