chapter 3

In Sviatoslavich Company headquarters in Moskva castle, Romanov was having a meeting with his board of directors, the elders of Dzhimara including Abram that sat next to him when the door was slammed open and everyone gazed quickly, turned to the woman with long blonde hair that fell straight to her chest and black eyes were staring at Romanov with anger.

"How dare you do this to me! Do you know who I am?" The woman marched towards Romanov with her tall red high heels and grey slim fitting dress that hugged her very slim body.

Abram stood and put her hands on the woman's shoulder gently, "Mother, I don’t think that it is a good time for you to barge in this meeting like this."

Nika turned to his son and slapped his hands away before staring at Romanov again, "I don't give a damn what you people are doing right now. I want to speak to my husband right this instance!"

Romanov stood, sighing as he arranged the files on the table. "Ex-husband if you may but I find that this conversation has ended a while ago the moment you choose to barge in, in my meeting like a mad woman. If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to continue."

Nika was fuming with anger and she slammed her hand on the wooden table until it cracked under her hand. Animalistic growl can be heard as she snarled, "I. Don't. Care. I want us to discuss this problem right now and I don't care how long it takes."

Romanov was silent. Then, he signaled for Abram to continue the meeting. Abram nodded and let his parents leave to Romanov's office. Nika entered and slammed the door shut.

"I want to know why am I not getting more money like I always do and some of my real estate doesn't belong to me anymore? That money belongs to me. You have no right to take my wealth from me!"

"That's where you're wrong. Those real estate belong to me as well as the money given to you. It was made under my name and truth be told, your spending rate has been absolutely absurd and very high and simply getting out of hand. You have enough wealth to support your life and you shall be given a specific amount, a bit less but enough at every end of the month. Be grateful that you still have this in your favour rather than throwing some tantrum just because someone took your precious money away." Romanov answered her calmly.

"I'm your mate for Goddess sake. I have every rights to that wealth just as any Sviatoslavich does. Besides, I do not see any reason to control my usage of money. It is my money after all and I deserve nothing but more. I am the Queen of Dzhimara whether you like it or not."

Romanov eyes glowed and when he stood up, Nika took a step back in fear. "Are you deaf? You are no longer my mate or the queen of Dzhimara. Your betrayal has causes you to lose the title. Be thankful that I have allow you to survive because my kindness has its limit and now, you're beginning to tell me why I should not."

Romanov eyes turned to normal. Then, when he was about to leave the room, Nika hugged his back and breathed in the masculine scent emitted from him. "Please don't say that, Romanov. I admit that what I did was wrong but you have to understand. I was upset, lonely and hurt because you never have time for me. It was all about work, the kingdom, the pack and our sons yet you never spend time with me anymore. I was so upset that I was too caught up with stress and lust that I did such terrible sins."

Romanov smiled sarcastically. "So that's it? That's your excuse? Come on Nika, you can do better than that. First of all, I'm the alpha and the king of Dzhimara. Of course I have tons of work to deal with and my pack is your pack too as well as our sons which by the way is your sons as well. Do you expect me to put them aside and let them care for themselves like you? And you do remember that without Sviatoslavich Company, you won't have a dime?"

Nika bit her lip while looking down at her palm, feeling nervous to even stare at Romanov in the eye. Romanov sighed and rubbed his forehead, 'You know what? I get it. Things happens and there's nothing can be done anymore. You make your bed so now you're going to sleep in it. So, do me a favor and leave. I still have a meeting to attend in which you've interrupt."

Nika became mad and she was breathing so hard knowing that none of her pleading works. It never did and the feeling of rage made her wolf readying to strike out at anything around her. Even her eyes glowed to a shade of golden and black and she said to Romanov before as he held the door, 

"So it was that easy for you to treat me like garbage, huh? Seriously, Romanov, how bloody dumb do you think I am? Just admit that you can't forget about that witch and now you're using this pathetic excuse just to end what we have? I won’t accept this."

Romanov stopped and gritted his teeth, "Don't test me, Nika. You better stop it."

Nika smile menacingly, "What? You're going to kill me like you did to her? Come on, Romanov, I'm not afraid of you or your good for nothing threats. Unlike her, I'm not that weak to allow man like you to stab me in the back. Literally."

In a blink of an eye, Romanov was only an inch close to Nika and his claws was on her neck, readying to cut her throat as his eyes glowed golden-ish colour. He growled, "You are tempting me to kill you so badly, Nika. It won't be hard yet I will make you suffer before you take your last breath. After all, you're not even my true mate. You're just a replacement. "

She flinched by his cruel words. It was clear Nika was afraid as her hands shivered having the long and sharp claws resting on her skin but she still grinned at him and her sweat trickled down her throat.

"Do it then. No one stopping you. You're a king aren't you, so do whatever you want. Cut my head, rip my throat or my heart out. I don't give a damn, Romanov."

Suddenly, her eye softened and she glided her fingers on the side of his face gently, "Wait? If you think about it, what would our sons think? Wouldn't they be upset that their own father killed their own mother? I can't imagine the look on their face when they find out how violent their father could get just by saying the name of the one that used to have his heart? It'll be a tragedy, won't it?" Romanov eyes turned to normal and he started to calm. Nika continued again.

"I mean it's true, maybe I haven't spent much time with them and betray your trust. I admit it but it doesn't change the fact that I'm their mother and once they know what cruel things you've done to me; how would they react? It'll be so heart breaking and sweet Abram, Nikolai and Maksim might hate you forever. Despise you even."

Romanov lowered his hands and Nika pushed him away. Nika had the decency to cross her arms and grinned at him, "Poor, poor Romanov. You maybe the king of shit and willing to lose every single thing in your life just to see your sons happy. I get it. The first wife betrayed you and almost deprived you of everything you have loved and worked hard for and now you're trying to protect what's left of you.”

“Frankly, my love, you should be thanking me that I gave you some kids despite them being a hindrance in my life. The things I do just to have you, right? We all make sacrifices, Romanov and never have I stop loving you and yet, you still treat me like garbage that you could just throw away from your life for the one mistake that I did."

She quickly took her handbag and walked proudly before saying, "I will have you back Romanov. I don't care what it takes but you will be mine once again. Even if I have to claw her out of your brain, I would, just so you will stop thinking about that no good witch. Don't you forget that." The door closed.

When he was alone, Romanov held the oak cushion chair resting near his desk and slammed it across the room. It broke into small pieces and feathers floated in the air. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. If anything bad were to fall on Nika, his sons won't be too happy about it. Sure she was a bad mother but it will never change the fact that Nika was still a Sviatoslavich and would stay that way forever. He can have the whole world hated him but it would kill him knowing that the one good thing that came out from his pathetic life, his sons, despised him.

He sat on the couch near his desk and lean on his back. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead as he felt calmer when his thoughts brought him to a beautiful field filled with pure white lilies, a huge pond situated right beside the huge tree, birds chirping around, fresh air flowed through the gentle wind and bright sun lighting up the mellow meadow.

Right in the middle of the field was a beautiful maiden with a long silky ivory colour hair that curls at the end and a crown of flowers coiled around her head, making her looking oh, so angelic. Her blue eyes glittered and she smiled so beautifully while calling out to him in her long, flowy white dress.

Romanov, my love. I am here. Come to me.

His mind became silent and flickered of his past was circling his inner thoughts like a loop as he reminisced the special moment he had once shared with his Aikaterina. The day he could finally opened up about his feelings because she was the one who had confessed to him first.

He remembered how beautiful she looked in her white dress and sitting beside his lying body and just embraced the serene moment of being together without anyone telling them what to do or tried to separate them. How gorgeous was her sparkly blue eyes even when she spoke of fear.

“You’re scared for me, love?”

“I’m scared for us.”

“Do you trust me?” He whisper in a low voice.

She tangled her fingers to him and nodded despite looking sad and worried, “Of course I do.”

“Then believe me when I say, that when  the time comes, we won’t keep our love a secret. We’ll be together forever no matter what. Just give me some time, I’ll think of a way.”

“Promise?”

Romanov chuckled and says, “Didn’t you say you trust me?” She ended up giggling and they embraced each other, absorbing the heat radiating from each other and making sure they had a great hold on each other in the midst of the cold weather despite it had never bothered her anyway.

Her voice was so soft and gentle that it made his heart calmed and at ease. She was the only one that could have tamed his beast and controlled his anger yet she was the one that had shredded his heart to pieces. When he closed his eyes, he leaned forward and clasped his hands. It was the same questions that lingered in his thoughts but it has always stayed unanswered.

We could've been happy but why? Why would you destroy everything?

❄❄❄

The scent of lavender incense lingered through the air and the wide living room was silent. The sounds of footsteps creeping in could be heard through the night, accompanying the glitter of flame burning brightly at the fireplace. As the sound of steps entered the room, the large figure stopped at the sight of a woman sitting by the side of the fireplace on a rocking chair.

"You've come home. I was so worried."

Zaira spoke while her eyes stayed at the burning flame. Her fingers were holding a cup of warm tea. She gave a sigh and stand to look at the young man that she had raised with much love. The sight in front of her proved her wrong as the once fine boy became a hulking man with muscles that stretched his grey shirt, accentuating his hard earned chiselled body.

He was huge and she had to raise her head just so she could stare into his brown eyes that was covered by his thick yet short jet black hair. He was absolutely attractive. Women would fall to his feet and men would look up to him with fear sensing his deadly vibe that could snapped one's man nap with his fingers.

"Where did you go? You promised Ariadne you would be back early. You promised me." She accentuated the last sentence.

Ambrose dropped his duffel bag to the side and walked towards the liquor cabinet and poured him a glass of bourbon. The cup in Zaira's hand was frozen solid that it broke into pieces when it fell on the marble floor.

"I am talking to you, Ambrose. Where did you go? Do you know how worried you made me? How dare you came late without telling us?" Ambrose drank his liquor and closed his eyes to savour the taste of the rich alcohol on his tongue before looking back at Zaira.

"I'm home now. What's the problem? It's not like I left for good yet, the feeling did come up at one point."

He put down his glass, brought the bottle with him and walked towards the sofa. He leaned his back comfortably before gulping down his drinks.

"I don't understand. Why are you being like this? I was so worried about you and you just came here acting like a ruffian. Please, can you tell me what is going on? Maybe I can help you. I am really worried about you sweetheart." Zaira looked so worried.

"There is nothing left for you to help me with, alright? I left and now I'm back. What's the big deal? Can you just leave me alone! I'm 85 years old for Goddess sake."

Ambrose was getting annoyed that he was about to leave when Zaira stopped him, "It's him isn't it? You've talked to him?"

Ambrose growled and turned to see her with his eyes glowing like wolf. "Don't Zaira." Zaira stepped in front of him. She noticed how bare his neck was and worries filled her eyes.

"Why are you not wearing that stone? Where's your necklace? Where is it?" 

Ambrose just brushed her hand's away and said.

"Didn't need it. The place that I went to actually needs me to be in my real form, or part of it at least so I just kept it in my pocket."

He brushed his jean's pocket causing a sigh to drop from her lips. "You know that stone was meant to keep your power. You must never let anyone notice or even know who you really are. You could've been killed! Do you even consider how your actions actually comes with great consequences?" She raised her voice at him.

Ambrose was silent and Zaira couldn't help but be more sympathetic towards him. 

She walked again closer towards Ambrose and held her palm to his cheeks until the feral gazed in his eyes disappeared. "Why won't you tell me what happened? I would've been there for you."

Ambrose warded her hand and sat back on the sofa where he leaned forward with disappointment in his voice, "Why, so you could see how humiliated I was? Do you know what that bastard says to me? What that man did? He said I was a mistake. Me and Ariadne were just a stupid mistake he and my mother made and that's why whatever horrible things that ever happened to us was our fault because we deserved it. We never meant to be born into this world but it happened because they got in the wrong alley and at a wrong time. Funny how our mother treated us better. Glad I could punch his face, though."

Zaira frowned at him and sat next to him. She wrapped her small arms around him, even though she could never reach the other side of his shoulder, "Oh, Ambrose. I'm so sorry."

Ambrose leaned his head on her shoulder and his arms held a tight grip on her petite waist, "You know what's even worse? Not the part where he treated me like sh*t before Ariadne was born, but knowing that he was the one that sold us to Vladim after our mother died. Can you believe that Ariadne was only worth 180 gold coins? I was so close on crushing his throat but I can't. I just can't."

Zaira rubbed his back and says, "It's alright, sweetheart. Forget about her, please. Forget about those bad, bad people. You're here now. No one is going to hurt you. They're gone and I will never allow anyone to hurt you or Ariadne. Both of you are my world. All this bad things, if you let yourself to dwell on these things continually, they will haunt you and eat you alive."

Ambrose raised his head and looked directly into her blue eyes, "I know."

His lips slowly came closer to hers but Zaira stopped him by putting her fingers on his lip, "You know you can't. We could never be."

Ambrose growled and Zaira felt it on the tip of her fingers.

He stood up and said, "Doesn't matter, Zaira. We're not related. Ariadne can call you mother or anything she wants but I will never see you like that. I will have you sooner or later." He walks away, not before taking out a silver necklace that is adorned with a small, black sapphire stone in his hand.

Ambrose left, leaving Zaira alone who was currently staring directly into the fire feeling more weight on her shoulders.

No matter what, she couldn't deny that her foster son wouldn't stop looking at her as a woman and not a mother. It confused her greatly knowing that she never meant for it to happen but it did. When it happened, she had no clue but she knew that she could never see him as a man that she could learn to love. How could she when the one that she gave her heart to broke her and left her to die?

She shook her head, No more. Get a grip, Zaira. You didn't come here to find love. You came here to make sure that the one that have hurt you get punish for what they've done.

Zaira expression turned cold and she made a call with the house rotary telephone. "Hello, it's Zaira Rose Petrova. Yes, I need you to find me someone. When you do, I want him to be brought straight to me." A grin curved on her cheeks knowing that her plan is going into place.