Nalya
Tears stung my eyes at his words, and I stood on my toes, kissing his cheek. He wiped my tears away with his thumb and kissed my forehead.
"Don't cry, Nalya. I don't like it when you do,"
We continued our walk, speaking lightly about the future. We later decided to go home. I was surprised we didn't go home. Instead, Rhaegar took me to his hotel.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"Your friend isn't home, and I don't want you to be lonely there," he said.
"I can watch a TV show. I enjoy being alone," I said.
"You can watch your show. I can't stay with you because I need to do some work,"
"Fine," I mumbled.
"Thank you," he smiled at me and kissed my temple. We entered his hotel suite. He guides me to the bedroom and gives me a comfortable shirt and socks to change into.
"Or would you like a shower?" he asked.
"No, it's a little chilly,"
"Yes. I think it will rain,"
Rhaegar went to the small salon while I changed. I joined him there and found him typing on his laptop. I sat on the couch across from him. The bell chimed, and he went to get it. Two young men entered the room with snacks, and one put on a TV show for me. I grinned when I saw Sheldon's face.
"How did you know," I smiled back at him.
"I check your social media," he said.
"Stalker?"
"Yes, but only with you," he winked, and I blushed, stuffing my mouth with popcorn. I watched my show while he worked. Rhaegar was right. It was raining heavily now, and I enjoyed it.
Rhaegar
She had fallen asleep while watching her show, Young Sheldon. I carried her to bed and tucked her in. I smiled, looking at her. I couldn't begin to understand why I thought rejecting her was best.
My phone rang. It was Nadia calling me.
"Hello,"
"Oh, Rhaegar," she seemed to be out of breath.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes, yes. Rhaegar, the rogue girl, Nalya. I want -"
"She's my mate, Nadia," she knew I rejected my mate but didn't know it was Nalya. She was silent for a long time.
"I want to see her," she said urgently.
"May I ask why?"
"I- I think she's my daughter. I've been dreaming about her lately," she told me. I needed a strong drink for this. I went to the bar. I grabbed a bottle of bourbon and drank it.
"You said what?"
"Yes, Rhaegar. She and I had an encounter two months ago, and a little girl's face kept popping into my head with Nalya's face. They are one,"
It was hard to believe. What were the odds my mate was her long lost daughter? Besides, Nalya mentioned her parents to us once.
"She has both her parents," I told her.
"She's my baby, Rhaegar. I felt a connection, and it took my assistant and Roma to point it out for me to realize she was mine. She looked like me when I was her age. We love and play the same instrument," she said.
"I'm at the human town, and we'll talk when I come there," I told her.
"No, I want to see her now,"
"And tell her what, Nadia? It will be shocking to her. If what you suspect is true, we don't know how she'll react," I reasoned.
"You're right," she breathed, " I'm comparing photos she took for LaCroix fashion house and the ones I took at that age when I was starting the company," she said. I've never heard her sound this excited and worried.
"Get some sleep, Nadia. I'll ask my mate tomorrow about her parents," I told her.
I ended the call and continued to drink, thinking about what Nadia told me. I went to check on my mate again. I found her peacefully sleeping and hugging a pillow.
'I wish I was that pillow,' my wolf said.
'Me too, me too, buddy,' I sighed. I kissed her. I went to sleep on the couch in the salon.
"Rhaegar, Rhaegar," I felt sparks erupt on my hands before I opened my eyes. I sat up and cupped Nalya's face.
"Baby, what happened?" I asked.
"I had a terrible dream and got scared," she said, her voice shaking. I embraced her, and she wrapped her arms around me.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" I asked, stroking her hair.
"No,"
She stayed in my embrace until her breath was even. I carried her to bed again, and as I was about to leave, she grabbed my hand.
"Stay with me. I don't want to be alone,"
"Ok," I sat on the edge of the bed, stroking her hair until she slept, but when I attempted to get up, she woke up.
"Sleep next to me," she said. Her eyes opened for a moment before they closed. I got in bed with her and pulled her into an embrace. She inhaled my scent before sleeping for good.
I woke up late that morning and kissed my mate good morning even though she was still sleeping. I washed up and ordered breakfast.
I checked my work emails and checked up on Roman.
"Hello?"
"Why are you sleeping at this hour?" I asked. He must have missed training again. Roman was a skilled fighter but had room for improvement if he wasn't so lazy.
"I went out to a party, and before you start scolding, I didn't smoke," he said quickly. I caught him smoking weeks ago and forbade him from doing it.
"Rhaegar, when are you coming home?"
"I don't know, kid. Nalya is not ready," I said.
"I guess she's right to contemplate," he sighed. " I feel like such an asshole for ignoring her so long,"
"I should have told you she was my mate sooner," I said.
"Yeah. Alright. All the best!"
"Morning," A voice spoke. I turned my neck and smiled at my mate.
"Good morning. How was your night,"
"Hmm. It was warm and nightmare-free. I'm beginning to think you're the reason," Nalya seemed genuinely pleased. I went to her and pulled her down to the couch.
"How long have you been having nightmares?" I asked her. She was hesitant to answer but did.
"As long as I can remember, but it got worse when that man touched me," her voice was quiet. My wolf growled.
"What do you mean?"
Nalya stood up and backed away from me in fear. I inhaled and closed my eyes, controlling my anger. She was opening up, and I scared her.
"I'm sorry, love, " I said gently. I extended my hand towards her, and slowly, she took it.
"Tell me, please,"
"If you're going to react like that-"
"I will control myself," I assured her.
"Ever since I was young, I dreamt about a terrible road accident and someone ripping me from my mother as I cried," she said, looking at me.
"But your mother and father are alive, right?"
"My father, yes, but my mother abandoned me when I was three. It's my stepmother who helped raise me," she told me. Nadia could have been right about her. I squeezed her hand.
"What else?"
She looked away from me, and shame filled her face.
"Hey, you can tell me anything. I swear I got you,"
"I lied to you, to everyone, Rhaegar. I'm sorry," tears welled in her eyes. I squinted my eyes.
"I'm married to an influential rogue," I froze at her words, " My father told me to, but I was against it,"
Nalya was crying now, and I couldn't even react. Why did she lie to us? Who was rogue? Did he hurt her? Those are the questions I should have asked, but that's not what came from my mouth,
"B- but you're seventeen,"
"Rogues don't care about that. My father was in debt, and the rogue chose me as his price,"
I stood up, pacing the room. There was a long silence between us until the doorbell rang. The hotel staff brought breakfast and left.
"You're angry at me," her voice was quiet.