Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 45

Ria's POV:

As I stood by the front door of the Wolves' home, the darkness outside already thick and enveloping, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. It wasn't even 7 PM, but it was late November in Oregon, so the sun had set already.

"Thank you so much for having me," I said earnestly, feeling a bit overwhelmed as the whole family gathered around to say goodbye. "I had a wonderful day."

Amara pulled me into a warm hug, followed by Eduard—who insisted I call him Eddy from now on. Layla grinned and squeezed me tightly and told me I'll see her in class monday, while Alisha wrapped her small arms around my waist, holding me captive, until Layla pried her off. Even Kathryn hugged me, her earlier intensity softened into something almost maternal. Despite the tension earlier, they all treated me like I was part of their family, which felt... nice.

I noticed Nikolai slipping out the door ahead of me, heading towards the car. He hadn't been as chatty or playful since dessert, his mood seemingly shifting to something more serious and brooding. I hurried after him, waving one last goodbye to the Wolves before jumping into the passenger seat of his car.

As I sat down comfortably, I glanced at Nik, noticing how his knuckles were turning white from gripping the steering wheel too tightly. His jaw was set, and he stared straight ahead, not even glancing at me. The silence in the car was thick, filled with an unspoken tension.

"Seatbelt," he said flatly, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. There was no smile, no grin—just a quiet, simmering intensity that I couldn't quite place.

I didn't argue, sensing that he wasn't in the mood. He didn't seem angry exactly, but there was something off about his demeanor. I quickly clicked my seatbelt into place, trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach. The engine roared to life, and Nikolai drove through the gates of his childhood home, the silence between us heavy and oppressive.

After a few minutes, he spoke, his voice strained as he tried to sound calm but failed miserably. "Are you going to tell me what happened before dessert?"

I flinched at the suddenness of the question, staring out the window to avoid his gaze. "Nothing," I mumbled, crossing my arms defensively. I wasn't in the mood to talk about it, especially not with him.

His jaw clenched visibly, and I could tell he was getting frustrated. "Victoria, if my aunt said anything that upset you or made you uncomfortable, you have to tell me."

"It's nothing," I repeated, my voice firmer this time. I didn't want to start something that would make his family hate me again. They had just started warming up to me and the last thing I needed was to cause trouble. They ruined my life once, I had learned my lesson already. But I could feel his frustration building, and it made me tense up even more.

"Victoria," he growled, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm not asking for no reason. I care about you and your well-being, for fuck's sake. And I don't like it when something—or someone—makes you upset and you don't tell me what's going on."

His words struck a chord, making my heart skip a beat. But I still couldn't bring myself to tell him. "I'm fine, Nik," I insisted, turning to face him, my tone sharper than I intended. "Can we just talk about something else?"

His grip on the steering wheel tightened even more, his knuckles now bone white. "No, we can't. Something clearly happened when you went to the bathroom, I'm not fucking stupid. You were pale as a ghost when you returned and barely touched dessert. And don't even get me started on Kathryn's behaviour."

I felt a surge of irritation rise within me. Why couldn't he just let it go? "Why do you always have to push, Nik? I said I'm fine."

"Because I know you're not fine!" he shot back, his voice rising with a mix of frustration and concern. "You're shutting me out, again, and I hate it when you do that."