My Destined

Chapter 24

CW: Some mention of mental health-related struggles.

Nico and I had been silently sitting in the grass near the park for the past ten minutes; it was worrying me. The only sounds I could hear other than our breathing were the soft rustling of the bright green grass and leaves in the trees and the faint sounds of pack members bustling around. Since yesterday, I have noticed Nico being quieter and shut down, unlike him. I don't want to pressure him into talking, but I also want to do what I can to help him.

"Nico, what's going on?" I turned to look at him, but he didn't move a muscle. The sun bathed his warm skin in light, but his dark brown eyes looked darker and almost far away. His usual broad smile was gone.

"Leia..." He finally looked at me with tear-filled eyes. Without saying a word, I moved closer and wrapped my arms around him in a hug. He rested his head on mine before I heard him crying.

We sat silently some more, aside from Nico's soft cries. I did not want to force him to talk and thought giving him space to let it out was best. Tala must've felt his and maybe his wolf's pain, too, as I noticed her getting antsy.

"I...I' 'm worried I won't find my m-mate..." I knew it. I could only guess how long this had been on Nico's mind since he rarely showed himself feeling down or upset.

He has been so focused on his pack duties and watching over me, always waiting for that 'sign' from the Goddess. "Oh, Nico..." My heart broke for him as I heard him sniffle.

"It's okay to be worried and scared, Nico. We're all here for you. You will find your mate, and he will be absolutely perfect." I hugged him a little tighter with fresh tears in my eyes. I knew this was so hard on him seeing everyone in our group finding mates.

"You really think so?" I could sense the hope in his voice.

"I know so." I pulled away from the hug, wiping my face with the back of my hand. Nico looked at me, a little smile forming on his lips.

He wiped the remaining tears off his cheeks. "Thank you, Leia." He squeezed my hand gently, wordlessly expressing his gratitude. We both looked up at the sky, admiring the beautiful hues of yellow and orange that mixed with the bright blue.

"Let's just take this moment and our eyes off of the future," I suggested, taking in the scenery. Nico nodded, taking a deep breath to calm himself down as we sat on the grass to admire nature. A subtle peace ensued between us as we breathed together for a few minutes.

"Thank you again." He grabbed my hands with a sad smile and kissed them softly. I felt my cheeks warm up at the gesture as he winked. I smiled, taking Nico's hands and getting up from the ground.

"Want to take a walk?" Nico nodded. We took a stroll through the park, enjoying the peace nature offered. We talked about random things, such as the latest gossip, updates on the garden, and developments with Adriel. Nico was becoming my dear friend, and my chest filled with warmth thinking about it.

Although he seemed to cheer up and be more of himself, I could tell the sadness and longing were still there. I can't help truly ease it for him until he is matched with his mate. We grow up learning the power of the Moon Goddess and the wonders of finding your mate, all while our wolves have this strong desire to find our destined match. So, to many of us, finding our mate is one of the most sought-after things in our lives.

We didn't talk much further about his worries over finding his mate, and I suspect he just didn't want to think about it too much. I get it. Sometimes, we get so stuck in our thoughts or sadness that it feels like we are sinking into a deep hole we cannot escape.

That's how I felt as the homesickness was settling in and not feeling as connected with Adriel. It may not be the exact same source of pain, but it is a pain neither of us wanted to feel nonetheless. One that can make even the most minor task feel like a mountain one needs to climb.