Chapter 161: Chapter 161

~ NYSSA

The whole situation felt surreal, like I was in a simulation but I didn’t want it to end.

It was the happiest I’d ever felt, and while I was excited, a part of me was fucking terrified at what that meant. More happiness meant that there was more to lose if things went to shit, and while I wasn’t hoping for that it would be stupid to assume that it wasn’t my norm.

“This is different,” Aria drawled. She leaned against the doorway to my office, her hands crossed over her chest. “You looked happier when you came in. Did Rowan say something to you?”

“No!” I yelled, shaking my head. “He’s…. perfect, this isn’t about him.”

She raised a brow in amusement. “Perfect isn’t the word I’d use to describe my brother, but judging by the way you smell, I’m not going to ask more questions.”

My cheeks burned bright. “We need to evolve to turn off our scents because I hate the blatant lack of privacy.”

She laughed loudly, the sound echoing off the walls. “If you get mated, it won’t be that obvious. Your scents naturally intertwine. Sure, it could be more than usual, but it’ll become part of your scent. I won’t be able to tell when exactly you… have extracurricular activities.”

I realized that this was the perfect opportunity. “Thankfully, you won’t have to worry about that soon enough.”

“I…” she trailed off, brows knitting as she stared at me slowly. It took her a long minute to understand, and when she did, her eyes widened to the point of saucers. “Are you fucking with me? Does he know?”

I nodded, unable to hide my grin. “I told him yesterday.”

“Well fuck!” she swore, her lips splitting into a wide smile. “I’m so fucking excited, partly for him, but mostly for you, Nyssa! We’re going to be sisters!”

She pulled me into a fierce hug, and I realized in that moment that I hadn’t felt such warmth and connection in such a long time. It’d been so long since I felt so accepted that for a moment, all the fears and worries were push aside.

She pulled back suddenly with a gasp. “We need to start planning your ceremony. Goddess above, the next full moon is in a week and there is so much to be done.”

I blinked twice, watching as she mumbled to herself, all the while pacing the length of the room. She looked like a completely different person, her brows knitting in concentration as she started listing things off her hands.

“I’m a bit lost here,” I murmured, watching her closely. “What does the ceremony have to do with a full moon?”

She stopped in her tracks, turning to me with an incredulous expression. “Sometimes I forget that you didn’t grow up here. Lycan mating ceremonies have to happen under a full moon. I don’t know why, but it’s just the way it is.”

I nodded slowly. “Does it have to be a big thing? Because he’s the king?”

“Not at all,” she said and I let out a sigh of relief. However, it was too soon because she spoke again. “That will be the coronation.”

I went still, turning to her with wide eyes. “The what?”

“Coronation,” she repeated. “You’re going to be Queen. There’s an entire ceremony for that. Typically it happens after the mating ceremony, but there’s no fixed timeline. You’ll be unofficially Queen once you’re mated, but to make it official, there has to be a ceremony. Other Alpha’s are invited. It’s a large occasion.”

I swallowed the knot that formed in my throat, dragging my sweaty palms down my side. She made it sound so simple, but the very thought of standing in front of all those people sent shivers down my spine, and not the good kind.

“It’ll be fine, I promise,” she assured me with a soft smile. “Rowan will be with you the entire time.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Then what are you worried about?”

I opened my mouth to speak but no words would come out.

How could I tell her that I was worried about everything? About it coming together and slipping from my hands in the very same breath? About getting so attached and losing it all and not knowing where else to go?

“I’m just nervous,” I lied instead, shooting her a sheepish smile.

She frowned, obviously not buying my excuse. “Nyssa—”

“I should get back to work.” I turned away from her before she could say anything else. “Maybe after you can tell me all about lycan mating ceremonies.”

“Okay,” she murmured, watching me carefully for a long minute before walking out of the room.

She shut the door gently behind her, and it was only when it closed that I let out a deep breath. I buried my face in my hands, trying to calm my racing heart.

Realistically, I knew there was nothing to fear, and yet… I couldn’t help but worry. It was ingrained in my system—the unease. I couldn’t push it away even if I tried.

My phone buzzed beside me and I grabbed it without looking, immediately assuming it was Rowan. I wouldn’t put it past Aria to tell him that I was nervous, and knowing Rowan, he would stress about it.

“I’m fine, I swear, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Well it’s good to know.”

I went deathly still when I realized that it wasn’t Rowan’s voice. I glanced at the caller ID but it was just an unknown number.

“I think you have a wrong number,” I mumbled.

“No, Nyssa, I don’t. I know exactly who I called, and I know exactly who you are.”

My heart pounded furiously in my chest, my palms growing sweaty. “Who are you and what the hell do you want?”

“I don’t want any trouble. Hell, you could ask me to fuck off and I will. I’m just a concerned citizen and I want to offer you answers.”

“Answers to what?”

“Your parents. I know you went to their home recently, I know you took some things from the house. I’m guessing you know the truth by now. I can tell you—”

“Fuck off!” I hissed, ending the call instantly.

I’d put my parents behind me, I’d be damned if I let some strange bastard bring it back up again.

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