“What were they doing here? Why didn’t they say anything about them coming?” I didn’t know who I was asking, but I wanted answers.
I turned my head to look at Laura. “Did you know they’re coming today?”
“No. She said they’ll be here next week.” She was still crying, and I couldn’t look at her anymore.
My own tears were threatening to fall, but I held my ground. “Beta, can you make sure that all orders and protocols are in place? I’m not sure if Riley…” I couldn’t find the words to say next as the thought of my mate’s pain came crushing in again.
But I was thankful that Beta Dominic understood. “I’ve already taken care of it, Luna.”
It didn’t take long before two cars arrived. The twins ran from the car into my arms. I hugged them tightly while whispering consoling words, but I knew they were of no use at this point, while my eyes waited for Riley to come out of the car.
Soon, Gamma Sebastian emerged, carrying Zahra’s lifeless body, while Tristan carried Leandro’s. They gently placed their bodies on the grounds of the packhouse as Jenny wrapped a blanket around their bodies.
The tears that I was trying to fight off streamed down my face as sobs escaped my throat. Laura wrapped her arms around me as she stifled her own cries.
The twins kneeled down and were hugging their parents, while my eyes scanned the ground looking for my mate.
“Where’s Riley?”
“In the car,” Sebastian answered, his lips pursing.
I ran towards the car, opened the backseat door, and found Riley still sitting. His arms were still placed on his lap like he was cradling someone, and I knew he must have carried Zahra’s body on the ride home.
“Riley…” My tears poured out again as I looked at the pain in his eyes.
“She’s gone…” And his whole body shook.
The strongest man I’d ever met broke down and cried. I’d seen Riley shed tears, but never at this intensity. And I had no idea how I would console him when my own heart was breaking too.
I climbed onto the car and sat on his lap, cupping his face so he would look at me despite the tears in his eyes.
“I’m sorry, baby… I’m sorry.” I mumbled to him, choking on my own tears.
“I told her I loved her and that I was sorry. Nadia, I told her all this time I had never stopped loving her. She heard it. She smiled when she heard that. It was a good thing, right?” He tried to explain despite the sobs in his throat.
And I kept nodding my head as I tried to smile despite the pain. “You did well, baby. You made her very happy.”
“I wish I had hugged her the first time I saw her. I wish I had asked her to take me to the theme park she wanted to take me to when I was seven years old. I wish I could have shown her all the drawings I made of her. Nadia… I wish I were a better son.”
Riley kept mumbling those words, and my heart kept breaking for him.
Tell me, Goddess, how do I make him feel better?
“Riley, look at me. Look at me. Zahra was happy when you let her back into your life. And she died happy, knowing you loved her. That was what she wanted to hear. You gave it to her.”
“I told her I could heal her. But she chose him. She chose Leandro again over us. But I don’t hate her this time. I understand her.”
I didn’t know what happened in the battle, but from what he was saying, it felt like Leandro died first, and Zahra didn’t want to be saved because her mate was gone. I nodded my head as my hand brushed the hair off his forehead. “But it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you and the twins.”
“How do I say sorry for causing her too much pain, Nadia? Do you think she can hear me?”
“Mom never hated you. And you never caused her any pain, Riley. It wasn’t you. You need to let go of those thoughts.”
He nodded his head as he hugged me tightly. “Don’t leave me, Nadia. I don’t think I can survive without you.”
I cupped his cheeks again and peppered his face with kisses, our tears mixing with each other. “I’m not… going anywhere… You and me, Riley... It will… always be us.”
Riley’s lips captured mine fully as he kissed me passionately and deeply, pouring out all the agony and love he felt at the moment. I wrapped my arms around him, kissing him with the same intensity before I slowly pulled away.
