CHAPTER 389: JUST SHOCK

Nicholas~

I bolted from that room like the hounds of hell were on my heels, my heart hammering against my ribs harder than it ever had before. The door slammed behind me with a thunderous crack that echoed through the halls of the castle, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging inside me. Winter’s true form—horns, red eyes, shadows clinging to her like a second skin—flashed in my mind over and over, a nightmare I couldn’t shake. How could this be? My mate, the girl I’d fallen for so hard and fast, was a demon. The very word tasted like poison on my tongue, conjuring up all the horror stories I’d grown up with.

Tears burned hot behind my eyes as I burst into the courtyard, the crisp morning air slapping against my face like a cruel reminder that everything I knew about her was a lie. Tears. Actual tears. Me—Nicholas Sebastian Lawrence. The spoiled hybrid prince who’d spent his life wrapped in silk and sunshine. The one who always smirked his way out of trouble, who never cracked, never broke. I’d never cried in my life. Not like this. Not with my chest caving in and my breath hitching like I’d forgotten how to breathe.

My parents, Sebastian and Cassandra, had handed me the world without me ever having to ask. Love that felt unshakable. Protection that made me believe nothing could touch me. Adventures that painted my childhood in gold. And then there were my godparents, Zane and Natalie—wild, legendary, larger than life. They treated me like their own, showering me with gifts and stories of their brutal, glorious battles that made my young heart race.

Uncle Tiger with his quiet laugh, Jacob and Eagle always competing to see who could make Katrina and I laugh first, Bubble and Fox sneaking me into mischief, and Auntie Easter—the queen of secret candy stashes and unending gifts. My life had been a goddamn fairy tale. Silk sheets, roaring fireplaces, laughter echoing through the halls. A prince with vampire speed and charm from Dad, werewolf strength and regeneration from Mom. A boy born with both worlds in his veins... and not a single reason to ever cry. Until now.

The Moon Goddess had finally thrown me a curveball, and it hit like a flying boulder. Why a demon? The kind that had slaughtered Mom’s entire family, tried to end Dad’s immortal life, and nearly destroyed my godparents. I’d heard the tales around the fire—how demons were pure darkness, soulless voids that craved chaos and blood. No light in their hearts, only shadows. So why pair me with one? Was this some cosmic joke?

I couldn’t stay in human form anymore; the pain was too raw, too overwhelming. As I hit the edge of the forest, I let the shift take me. Bones cracked and reformed with that familiar, searing burn—muscles bulging, fur sprouting in a thick gray coat that matched the stormy sky overhead. My paws hit the damp earth, claws digging in as I launched forward, running faster than I’d ever run, than a normal werewolf could run. The wind whipped through my fur, carrying the scents of pine and rain, but it couldn’t drown out the sobs tearing from my throat. Wolves don’t cry like humans, but damn if my howls didn’t sound like heartbreak. Tears matted the fur around my eyes, blurring the trees into green streaks as I plunged deeper into the woods.

Branches snapped under my weight, leaves crunching like brittle bones. I leaped over fallen logs, dodged low-hanging vines that clawed at my sides like accusing fingers. My lungs burned, but I pushed harder, faster, as if I could outrun the betrayal gnawing at my gut. Winter’s face—her real face—haunted me with every stride. Those piercing red eyes, pleading for understanding. The horns curving like deadly promises. And the shadows... gods, the shadows that danced around her like loyal pets. How had I not seen it? Felt it? My enhanced senses, my hybrid instincts—they’d failed me. Or maybe I’d been too blinded by that magnetic pull, the mate bond that had wrapped around my soul like velvet chains.

The forest thickened, ancient oaks towering like silent guardians, their roots twisting across the path like veins. I didn’t stop until I burst into a clearing, the sudden openness hitting me like a slap. Sunlight filtered through the massive canopy trees, their leaves a vibrant mosaic of greens and golds, rustling softly in the breeze. A small stream bubbled nearby, its water crystal clear and inviting, dotted with smooth stones that gleamed like forgotten jewels. Wildflowers dotted the grass—purples and yellows swaying gently, as if mocking my turmoil with their peaceful beauty. It was the kind of place lovers might sneak away to, not a heartbroken fool like me.

I skidded to a halt, my chest heaving, sides slick with sweat beneath my fur. The shift back came slower this time, reluctant, as if my wolf form wanted to cling to the simplicity of instinct over emotion. Fur receded, bones reshaped with pops and groans that echoed in the quiet. I collapsed onto the soft grass in human form, naked and vulnerable, my back against the rough bark of a massive oak. The tree’s trunk was wide enough to hide behind, its roots cradling me like an old friend. I drew my knees up to my chest, burying my face in my hands. The tears came freely now, hot tracks down my cheeks, soaking into my black hair that fell messily over my forehead.

"Why me?" I whispered to the empty air, my voice raw and broken. The words hung there, unanswered, as birds chirped overhead like they were laughing at my misery. "Why the hell me? Out of everyone, why give me this curse?"

A low rumble stirred in my mind, familiar and insistent—Leo, my wolf spirit, always the voice of reason when I was losing my shit. "Because she’s not a curse, Nick. Winter’s perfect for us. I love her—mate bond and all. She’s ours."

I jerked my head up, glaring at the stream as if Leo were sitting there in the flesh. "How can you say that? After what we just saw? Horns, red eyes, shadows crawling all over her like she’s some... some monster from Dad’s nightmares!"

Leo’s presence warmed in my chest, a steady growl that vibrated through my bones. "You’re judging her on looks, pup. Not what’s in her heart. Remember humans? They think vampires are blood-sucking killers, nothing but fangs and death. Werewolves? Temperamental beasts that rip throats at the full moon. And a hybrid like us? Oh, we’re the worst—soulless abominations, doomed to madness. But you know that’s bullshit. We’re not like that. We’ve got hearts, loyalties, love. Same as anyone."

I scrubbed at my eyes, the tears mixing with dirt from the ground, smearing my face like war paint. "But demons... Leo, come on. The stories—Mom’s family wiped out, Dad nearly drained dry, auntie Natalie and uncle Zane fighting for their lives. Demons are different. They’re pure evil, darkness without a spark of light."

"And who’s telling those stories?" Leo countered, his tone patient but firm, like a big brother schooling me. "Survivors. Winners. But judging Winter by what other demons did? That’s not fair. It’s like blaming every vampire for some rogue’s rampage. Or every wolf for a lone hunter’s kill. She’s not them, Nick. She’s Winter—quiet, guarded, but with a fire that matches ours. And the Moon Goddess? She paired your parents through hell and back. Sebastian the vampire lord and Cassandra the rouge vampire slayer—enemies turned mates. They trusted the Goddess, fought for it, and look at them now: happy, unbreakable. You think She’d screw you over? Trust Her, like they did each other."

I leaned my head back against the tree, staring up at the canopy where sunlight dappled through like shattered glass. The breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming jasmine from nearby vines, a stark contrast to the bitterness churning in my stomach. "I don’t know, Leo. Even if she’s... one of the nice ones, how do I get past it? The horns, the eyes—they’re burned into my brain. Every time I remember that image in my head, I’ll see the enemy."

Leo’s chuckle rumbled in my mind, low and amused, cutting through the tension like a knife. "Nice ones? Pup, you’re denser than a brick sometimes. It’s simple: Can you picture your life without her? No Winter laughing at your cocky jokes? No more of those stolen glances that make your blood sing? No mate bond pulling you like gravity? Think about it—really think."

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to imagine it. A world without her quiet strength, her way of seeing right through my brooding facade to the soft spot underneath. Without the way she fit against me, like puzzle pieces finally clicking. Emptiness yawned open in my chest, a void colder than any shadow she could weave. "No," I admitted, my voice cracking. "I can’t. Gods, Leo, I can’t imagine it. She fits... everywhere."

"Then get your ass up," Leo growled, his energy surging through me like adrenaline. "Go apologize to our mate before she thinks you’ve rejected her. You bolted like a scared pup—don’t let her heart break over your stupidity."

That thought hit like lightning—Winter, alone in that room, thinking I’d abandoned her for good. My heart leaped in my chest, fear twisting it into knots. Rejection? No way in hell. I scrambled to my feet, the grass cool under my bare soles, the wind picking up as if urging me on. The clearing blurred as I shifted back, bones snapping into wolf form with urgent speed. Gray fur rippled over my skin, muscles coiling with power. I didn’t hesitate—I launched forward, paws thundering against the earth, racing back through the forest toward home. Toward her.

Trees whipped by in a haze, the path I’d carved earlier now a lifeline pulling me back. My breaths came in sharp pants, but determination fueled every stride. Leo’s presence thrummed approvingly in my mind, a silent cheer. I had to fix this. Apologize. Make her see that the shock was just that—shock. Not hate. Not rejection.

The castle loomed ahead through the thinning trees, the sky had opened and the rains has started pouring down, the castle’s stone walls a promise of redemption. I pushed harder, heart pounding not just from the run, but from the fear of what I’d find when I got there. Winter, my demon mate—my everything. I wouldn’t lose her. Not like this.