Konstantin: The Heartless Beta
23. Nova's Story

Konstantin

Kai instructed me to take Nova to Nikolai's penthouse. He still couldn't bring himself to empty it out, so he just had a cleaner come in twice a week to keep it dust-free. Now on top of everything else, we have this to worry about. Nikolai might still be alive, and he probably got taken the night he died.

The only type of person who can fool an Alpha is a witch - Kai's least favourite supernatural being. We step into Nikolai's penthouse, and Nova stops walking. I'm about to ask her if something is wrong when I see her shoulders shaking, and she lets out a sniff.

“This is his scent,” she murmurs, then turns to look at me. “This is Nikolai!"

I can't help but smile at her pure reaction and her wide-eyed innocence. She may not be Nikolai's type of girl, but I can tell she’s being genuine.

Before Kai allowed Nova anywhere close to the building Cat is in, he ran a background check on her. Nothing suspicious came up, and nothing seemed out of place. It yielded nothing really; she’s an orphan who grew up at a pup orphanage in New Orleans after her pack members were all killed by hunters. Now she lives in Seattle and works as a, and I guessed it, librarian.

But we're still keeping a close eye on her; by we, I meant me.

"Something to drink?” I ask, walking over to Nikolai's fridge, which I know will yield beer and grab myself one.

“Beer, if you have, thank you,” she says.

I open both and walk over to where she sat on the couch. “So, Nova, tell me about yourself,” I say and hand her the bottle.

She shrugs. “You already know everything about me now.”

“We know the basics. I want to know why you came all the way from Seattle to New York on a fucking bus to see if a man you haven't even met before is okay.” I say, trying to size up this short, chubby girl.

She juts out her chin as she levels me with a gaze. “I already told you; his wolf went silent after speaking to me on a daily basis. I had to come to see if he was okay or not, and then I would have left-"

“You would have left your mate?” I ask incredulously.

Nova's eyes widen, then she sighs and looks down at the beer bottle in her lap. “No, but one look at me, and I know he would have rejected the Mate Bond. I've seen how Nikolai looks, Konstantin, and I'm definitely not the type he would go for.” She says, then takes a swig of her bottle.

Great, now I feel like shit for thinking the exact same thing. True, Nikolai is a fucking womaniser, but I don't think my brother is shallow enough to reject his mate.

“You don't know if he would have done that,” I say.

Nova scoffs. “Don't patronise me; I saw the look you gave me when you first laid your eyes on me.” Shit, was I being that obvious? The last thing I want is for a Rogue to feel even more unwanted. “I'm sorry if I made you feel that way.”

She gives me a small smile and shakes her head. “Don’t worry about it; I'm used to it, really. I'm only staying to find out if Nikolai is okay or not. After that, you don't have to worry about seeing me again.”

God, I need to stop being such a heartless asshole. This girl has probably had it tough on her own with no one to rely on but herself. I'd say that makes her a Volkova already. I watch as she pushes up her glasses, and something occurs to me.

"Why are you wearing glasses if you have perfect vision? You're a werewolf, aren't you?” I ask.

Nova blinks, then pushes her glasses again. “I suppose so, but I've always had bad eyesight. Apparently, I caught a virus when I was a pup, and it affected my eyes,” she says.

“Can you see perfectly when you shift?”

The smile drops from her face, and she pales. “I've... I've never shifted before... my wolf is lying dormant; she's been that way since my pack got slaughtered. My father never had the opportunity to show me how to shift either.”

"Wait," I say, dumbfounded, “then how do you know Nikolai is your mate if your wolves haven't met?"

“They've met; according to Nikolai's wolf, she still slumbers within me,” Nova says with a shrug. Every time I think I have this werewolf thing figured out, shit like this happens. What happened to being a fucking dull old wolf and mafia member with no issues but a bookie who doesn't pay? Man, things were simpler back then.

“I'll speak to Kai; perhaps our witches can help you,” I say while relaying this entire story to Kai over the mind link.

/“I'll confer with Marle when she returns tomorrow,"/ he eventually says, then goes silent.

Kai has so much to worry about already, and to top it off, Cat might give birth soon. I don't want to bother him with more trivial shit, but he needs to know these things. He's our Alpha, after all. “Thank you, but it really isn't necessary-"

The elevator opens, and Dimitri saunters in, hands in his pockets and looking as suave as ever. For the last few days, I've been keeping watch over him in his penthouse, but he hasn't lost control since. He says he met a friend who has helped him without the use of magic. I mean, it's all good and well, but who the fuck is this friend?

His eyes land on Nova and me, then he frowns. “Kai said you had something to tell me,” he says, then cocks his head at her. “Who is this?"

I sigh and lean back on the leather couch. “This, my brother, is Nova; she's Nikolai's mate,” I say and look at her, noticing the sheepish look as she waves.

"You're Dimitri,” she says, the same wide-eyed expression on her face as before at Fang. “It's so weird seeing you all in the flesh when I've only seen you in my dreams.”

Dimitri frowns at this, and I laugh. “It gets better; let me grab you a beer,” I say.

Half an hour later, Dimitri's frown has deepened, and he looks as if you just told him Santa Claus is a vampire. “What?!”

"Yip," I say.

He gets up and starts pacing the floor, his usual worrywart sign. “How? How is this possible? We all saw his battered body!”

I get up and walk towards him, placing a hand on his shoulder and knowing exactly what he’s going through. “I know, brother, but for now, we need to believe there's a chance Nikolai might still be alive and run with it. Stefan is keeping him locked up the same way he's kept Lily all this time. I can feel it.”

Dimitri shakes his head. “I can't fucking believe this,” he says, then falls into the leather couch, putting his hand in front of his mouth. “Nikolai is still alive!”

I nod. “We'll get him back; we'll get both of them back.”

After Dimitri calms down, he excuses himself and leaves for his club. He's always been the most emotional of the five of us, so it's understandable that he’s acting this way. Not to mention that he’s been fighting a losing battle with his beast, but lately, he seems to be winning.

“Has he met Arya?” Nova suddenly asks and smiles.

I frown at her question. "Huh? Who?"

She turns to me and places her empty beer bottle on the table. “Arya, his mate? Has he met her yet?”

"How the fuck would you know who his mate is?" I ask with a raised eyebrow; this girl is throwing out a lot of fucking surprises today. My head is spinning already, fuck.

She shrugs. “I saw them all in my dreams before Nikolai's wolf started talking to me and can still remember their faces. Dimitri looks like he can use the love and acceptance of his mate right now.” She says wistfully and sighs.

I blink. “Who exactly is “them'?”

“The Volkov Mates; I've seen them all in my dreams, including the mates of your children one day. Don't ask, please; I can barely hold this information as it is.” She says with a chuckle. “Is there perhaps somewhere I can sleep for a bit? I'm a bit tired from the trip and alcohol.”

"You came straight from the bus stop?” I ask and chuckle, shaking my head. “Crazy bitch, you're definitely a Volkova. Nikolai's bedroom is upstairs to your right; Titus will show you. For now, I think I'll give you some privacy as well.” I say, then grab the empty beer bottle from the table.

"See you later, Konstantin,” she mumbles, already drifting off on the sofa.

I chuckle at her. “Goodnight, Nova,” I say, then walk towards Titus. He and Marcus will be her protection until Kai says otherwise. “Get her a blanket and throw it over her. Remember to call me immediately over the link if you see or hear anything suspicious.”

"Yes, boss,” they echo, and I give them a nod.

Fuck, what a day, and now I still have to meet with a fucking Rogue Alpha tomorrow. Can't I fucking catch a break?

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