To Love, Hold And Protect

[NOUR]

"Are you sure about that? I haven't been the best mate here," Grant asked, clearly worried for Nour. 

"Yeah. This is about the kingdom, Grant. You are an excellent enforcer, and you should do what's best for your people," Nour said as he looked up to his mate. He knew that the rogues were an issue that either him or Alanor could fix.

And right now, Nour wasn't sure if he was ready to go back to being the ruby wolf. Going out there to be that wolf, meant that Grant would be busy chasing after him, even though he would never catch him. 

Still, it would put a strain on their relationship and he wanted to see how long it would take before they both cracked from the pressure of their jobs, both known and unknown.

"Alanor is missing, and so is the beat of the midlands," Grant said with a sigh and Nour stiffened. That couldn't be possible. He couldn't have heard Grant right, yeah? There was no way that the young Lycan was missing, because that was insane.

"What?" Nour asked softly, careful not to show the concern in his voice.

"Yeah. We have tried to reach him but no one has found him. It's hard to even explain what the fuck is going on, really. Perhaps he bailed, or something. I tried to call him but he didn't answer and the beast disappeared too,'' Grant said frustratedly.

He was worried sick for Alanor, and while he didn't want to show it, it was obvious. Without Alanor, they didn't stand a chance with the rogues, given the rogues had been bold enough to go after the vampires, despite knowing that Zelina wouldn't be as kind.

The hound, Ulrike was also on Zelina's side, which meant that Acrod was facing a potential attack from Vampires and the hounds of the southern forest just because of the wolves they had banished.

"That is fucked up. What are you guys going to do now? I mean if the rogues are a mental case already, the Ruby wolf might come back and…" Nour said, intentionally pretending like he was scared of himself. What a joke.

"Yeah. That is making me feel like I need to bury that damn wolf, but the bastard is slippery as fuck, slippery than the damned beast of the midlands. It's hard to get a hold of him, and who knows if he will come to Acrod again.

"I don't want to imagine him here again because fuck, that would meds my reputation and I just got my promotion," Grant said frustratedly before he heard his mate's little whimper that reminded him of how great the mess was.

Grant looked at Nour, worry etched on his face for his little mate. He knew what was going on in the young prince's mind and he sure hoped that he would be able to assure him, but how would he when he himself was fucked over?

"If he comes for me again…" Nour whimpered, this time, making sure to shake his body so that Grant could feel and watch the terror on Nour's face. Nour curled himself up, hiding his face in Grant's shirt.

He was determined to make it seem like he was scared shitless of the ruby woo, because otherwise Grant wouldn't look at him twice. It was something that Nour was slowly learning.

"He won't, my butterfly. I won't let him hurt you. I will kill him if I have to, and he will never get you again," Grant said softly, his tone reassuring Nour and making the young prince feel like the enforcer really cared for him.

Grant then lifted Nour's head, pulling the omega on his lap so they were so close. He could see the fear in his mate's eyes and he didn't lie there. For weeks, Grant had blamed himself for the attack on his mate.

He had known he was powerful enough to ding the ruby wolf and that he shouldn't have called the wolf's bluff, but then he had fucked up and his little mate had paid the price for it. It wasn't something that Grant would let go easily. 

"I'm scared, Grant. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it if he kidnaps me again," Nour said, his whimpers making Grant feel worse than he already was. He sounded so eka and so scared it was heartbreaking.

"It'll be okay, love. You're safe here with me. Let's get you to bed,'' Grant said and Nour didn't object, he just followed the enforcer to their end, the same bed that had seen him experiencing the worst.

This entire house was a home for Nour's horrors and he hoped that there wasn't someone else getting the cruel treatment he had gotten from his mate, but then his was just temporary anyway.

"Are you leaving me?" Nour asked when Grant tucked him in and got up.

"No, I'm not leaving. I am just going to go through the reports. If you feel scared, just call me. No one will hurt you when I am with you I promise. Please try to get some sleep, I will be back in an hour or so," Grant said.

"I'm not leaving the house... What I mean is, I will be in bed in an hour," Grant added quickly when he noticed the young prince pouting like a needy omega, then again, wasn't that who he was supposed to be here?

"Okay," Nour responded after a long silence and Grant patted him gently. Oh, but this was a totally new side of Grant that Nour wasn't sure he wanted gone. But then with Grant, there were always going to be uncertainties.

Grant kissed Nour's forehead before he left and went to attend to his reports. With the chaos unfolding in bits, he knew that the king would want something tangible when the sun came up, and he needed to be ready regardless.

'Is he really missing?' Nour asked Delbert in the mind link. It was one that the Lycan had formed when Nour was in the king's healing chambers. The prince had been too weak, too weak to say no, but he couldn't deny that he loved it this time.

'Are you okay? Did that stupid mate of yours do anything? Just say the word and I'll kill him,' Delbert said and Nour rolled his eyes at the Lycan. 

He couldn't believe this was happening, given he was a strong royal wolf. But then to Delbert, Nour was always going to be his to protect, no matter what happened between them or around them. He couldn't care less about Acrod.

'You really enjoy threatening people, huh?'

'He hurt you. He should be glad that he's alive, relay. If it wasn't for you, Sophia and I would have gone through with the incredible plan of having him burnt alive in the central forest. It would even be the prettiest sight,' Delbert said happily.

'You're crazy.'

'And you're my Erasthai. I'm being patient, but you and Grant aren't making it any easier. The next time he lays a finger on you, I will mark you as mine, and I'll kill him afterward.'

'I asked about Alanor—'

'My brother is in Udrad. I don't know why he's not showing up but he has his reasons. And yes, he is okay. Now that we have that sorted, will you go on a date with me?'

'Goodnight, Delbert, and thank you.'

'Someday, little Burda. Someday it'll be my bed you'll rest in,' Delbert said with conviction and Nour just shut the mind links with a smile on his face.