Hopes And Dreams… What A beautiful Set

[NOUR]

What did dreams look like? That was something that Nour wasn't sure he knew anymore. Here in Grant's arms, with the enforcer holding onto him like Nour was the only thing keeping him sane, Nour had questions.

"Are you hungry, butterfly?'' Grant asked when he pulled apart as he held Nour's eyes with his. The young prince was looking for signs of foul play. Signs that this was just an illusion, a dream for him, but there was none.

If anything, he could see that Grant was genuine with him, which confused him even more. He couldn't tell what was going on, but he wanted to give it a chance. Maybe he was insane for this, but this was his mate, whether he liked it or not.

This was the mess the fates had seen good for him, and he had to try and find a way to deal with the relationship.

"No… I…" Nour began, and his stomach rumbled, while Grant just chuckled lowly. It wasn't in warning, but in amusement, and that got Nour staring at the enforcer blankly. He wasn't sure what to feel really, so he would just put himself out there for him.

"I'm sorry—" Nour began when the enforcer became silent. He figured that maybe, just maybe Grant wanted to hit him again. He wouldn't object even if he wanted to, but then he had hope, way too much hope.

"It's alright love," Grant said as he leaned towards Nour, casually lifting the omega's shirt, and kissing his scarred belly that was now open for him. The sensation was new and Nour loved it. It felt like he was kissing the pain away and that Nour's scars didn't make him ugly. 

Granted, most of the scars on the price were scars he had gotten from Grant in the past month they had been mated but he wouldn't dare to spell that out loud, for fear that the enforcer would go back to being the asshole he was earlier.

"Come, let's get some food into you," Grant said as he pulled Nour's shirt down, before gently holding his hand and guiding him to the living room, which was now clean and no trace of the horrors was there.

Nour looked at the walls, the memories of the pain he had gone through coming back to him. He remembered the anger on Grant's face when he forced himself on him, the rage when he hit him, the cruelty with which she had been manhandled.

Everything was just so raw and fresh to the point that if Nour didn't have the scars to prove it, he could have assumed that that was the most realistic nightmare he had ever experienced. It wasn't the prettiest but goddamn.

"I'm sorry," Nour whispered subconsciously as he remembered the claw marks that were on the walls the day he was beaten to a pulp. He remembered the way the wall had been painted with his blood. It wasn't something he wanted to go back to.

"What?" Grant growled out, his tone betraying the soft smiles he had been giving the young prince. Perhaps this was just an act and Nour couldn't think of anyone who would make Grant do this for him.

"It's nothing. I just don't remember most of the things after the Ruby wolf hurt me," Nour sighed as he ran his hands through his hair. Maybe he would get through this dinner or breakfast or lunch whatever the hell time it was.

"Oh, don't worry. Have a seat sweetheart. I'll be back with the food," Grant said as she went out to get more food. It was a scene so unlike him and Nour was sure he was hallucinating. Perhaps he had hit his head a little too roughly, right?

"You're alive… and awake, that's good," Delbert's voice hit Nour's ears, reminding the young wolf of what he had seen in the junior warrior's house. Seeing Delbert here made it all feel real and like this was a farce that Grant was just putting on.

"Grant, what do you feed your mate man. He's healed so fast and he looks better than the last time. You should give me some secrets for my sweet Sophia," Delbert said as he sat on the seat opposite Nour. 

He could see that Grant wasn't here, but then it seemed like he was just making sure of it, which was weird, given that he was a Lycan and had Lycan hearing. Surely he could tell whether someone was in or not, right?

"Oh yeah. My secret is love. I love my sweet little mate/ and I already apologized for what happened earlier. It won't happen again, and I plan on keeping him safest with my love," Grant said as he looked at Nour.

However, the young prince was smart enough to hear how Grant had sounded. It was like he was making a promise to Grant that he wouldn't hurt Nour again. Either this was voluntary or it was involuntary. 

It was a hard tell, given Delbert had the strongest magic in the realm. He could have easily manipulated Grant to be nicer to Nour, but for how long before the Grant he knew came back to him?

"Damn, I should try more," Delbert said with a smile as he looked at Nour, his entire focus on the young prince who had long given up on deciphering the citation. Instead, he focused on the moment.

Turns out it was already evening and Delbert had stopped by for dinner. Nour knew he had failed to recognize the time, but he was on a break as the Ruby wolf and needed to focus on seeing where this goddamned mate bond would take him.

"You look distracted, is something wrong?" Nour asked once the dinner was over and Delbert had left. It was just the two of them again, the mates who were lying to each other for the sake of a relationship that probably didn't mean anything to them.

"It's nothing, don't worry," Grant said but Nour knew something was amiss. 

He had felt the change in the air from the moment Delbert walked in. Sure, Delbert had some to check on him indirectly but then he seemed to be distracted too, and that never happened, not with Delbert. 

"Well, I know it is something. But if you don't want to talk about it, then it's okay. I won't push for more," Nour said softly as he lay his head on Grant's lap. His position made it easier for Grant to snap his neck just in case.

But at the same time, it allowed Nour to see the enforcer's vital points, which he could tear through in one strike in case Grant wanted to hurt him. He was never letting this man hurt him again, right?

"Well, it's the rogues again. They are messing up the treaties, and are killing children. That in itself is dangerous because the beast of the midlands is bound to come out of retirement and fuck us up.

"The vampires and hounds are pissed about the state of the midlands, thanks to the rogues. It's all just messy," Grant sighed. He was being truthful with his mate, like he wanted a bond with Nour, but then did he?

"Maybe you should seek the help of the Lycans. They are stronger than all the races, and the Lycans could neutralize the rogues and give them a warning. Maybe your friend, Alanor, could help," Nour said sincerely and Grant turned to him, clearly not believing this. 

Well, if it helped, Nour himself didn't believe he had suggested that. He was supposed to be against any meeting with labor and yet here he was, encouraging the enforcer to go back to an ex who was the cause of all the strife in her relationships in the past.

"Are you sure about that? I haven't been the best mate here," Grant asked, clearly worried for Nour. He couldn't tell what would happen if he saw Alanor again, but it was something that needed to be done regardless. 

It didn't matter what the stakes were. If children were being slaughtered, the beast of the midlands wouldn't have mercy on anyone. He could consider it a threat and would come burning anything and everything. 

'It's been a while,' Nour thought to himself as he tried to recall the last time that he had seen ALanor. Perhaps this was his chance to work alongside his best friend again, right? Maybe Alanor could help him understand what the hell was with Grant, yeah?

"Yeah. This is about the kingdom, Grant. You are an excellent enforcer, and you should do what's best for your people," Nour said.

"Alanor is missing, and so is the beast of the midlands," Grant said with a sigh and Nour stiffened.