Mon Amour

Chapter 25: What's Done is Done

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Chapter 25: What's Done is Done

Anna decided not to see Maksim right away. It didn't feel right to barge into his room a few hours after he made her leave. She knew Nik said that it was ok, but Nik wasn't known to be the most reliable wolf. This way, she would be giving Maksim space and give herself enough time to get her thoughts in order.

At the moment, Anna was seated with Nik at the back of the little diner they had come to before. Nik was hoping that their presence would go unnoticed. Anna hadn't met many pack members and he knew if the opportunity arose, the over eager wolves would harass her with questions.

 He knew she wouldn't want to deal with that kind of pressure right now. She had been through so much in the last few days. His best friend had surly put her through the ringer. 

Nik wished that the Alpha would treat her better, but knew it couldn't be helped. Maksim was scarred to the core. No one knew it better than Niklaus. 

Even though he was Maksim's best friend, he had grown very close to Anna. It blew him away how fond he had grown of her. Shifters usually didn't care for humans much. They don't hate them. They just have no use for them. 

It was going through the pack house that Nik and Maksim were wrapped around Anna's finger. Nik smiled at the thought. Anna was smart and kind, but most importantly, Anna was his friend. He didn't mind being wrapped around her finger at all. He knew she would never take advantage of him.

He looked over Anna's green eyes as she talked in perfect German. It still blew him away how such a young girl had learned so many languages. Nik wished he could have learned as fast as her. It would have saved him a lot of pain and scars. Perhaps the difference was that Anna wanted to learn. He, however, had the language forced on him, just as Maksim did.

That was another reason Niklaus thought Anna and Maksim's relationship wasn't going well. In theory, she knew nothing about him. If the alpha would confide in her, perhaps she would understand him better.

Nik had to admit, Anna handled Maksim well.

"Niklaus!"

Anna laughed as Nik jumped in his seat. He must have been deep in thought.

"When did he get here?" The beta asked, looking at Valentin who seemed comfortable sitting beside Anna.

"I've been here since you guys sat down." Val said, a bit of a growl showing in his tone.

"I've been a bit busy today. Don't get your feelings hurt, Val. Your shewolf is showing." Nik countered with a grin.

"Mutt..." Val said under his breath.

"Stray..." 

"Guys..." Anna cut in. She knew the two wolves would end up in a fight if she didn't intervene. Val was nice. Anna didn't understand why Nik and Maksim were constantly testing him. No matter the excuse, Anna didn't like it.

"Apologies, Anna." Val said respectfully.

"Don't worry about it." Anna said, happy the shifters did as she asked. Maybe she was gaining respect after all.

"Listen, Anna. I'm not meaning to rush you, but you are going to have to face Maksim at some point." 

Anna turned to face Nik sharply. She hadn't expected to have this conversation so soon and quite frankly, she wasn't ready for it.

"I know, Nik. I know. It's just that I don't know how to  act or what to expect. Ever since I met him, I feel like all we do is fight. I can only think of one time where we had a conversation that was normal for couples to have and even that was left unfinished."

"And what conversation would that be?" Nik smirked. One would assume he already knew.

"Well... we talked about our past... relationships a few weeks back." Anna said, feeling uncomfortable. She wasn't being immature. It was just that she knew she should be having this conversation with Maksim and not his beta.

"What past relationships?" Nik chuckled. "I know Maksim hasn't had any. He won't even let his own sister hug him. What was there to talk about, unless you..." The beta's eyes got wide as his laughter died. 

"Nik..."

"You didn't. You- you wouldn't." It didn't sound like a question, but that wouldn't stop Anna from trying to explain.

"Nik, unlike you, I had no idea I would find someone that was destined to love me. To be my other half. Heck, I was never guaranteed anyone would like me. I was in a relationship with a guy in high school and it just... happened."

Anna waited for a response. She would have thought that the beta hadn't even heard her if it wasn't for the tightening of his jaw.

"You know that if I had known about Maksim or even mates, I  wouldn't have even thought about other boys. I don't know why you seem so upset. It's not like i'm your mate."

If she wanted his attention before, she certainly had it now. Those baby blue eyes seemed to have fire in them as they stared at her. This was a side to Niklaus that Anna never wanted to see.

"You don't have to be my mate for this to upset me. I just learned that my alpha and best friend's mate hadn't waited for him. In the shifter world, that's a slap in the face." Nik spoke heatedly.

"So you are telling me that you haven't been with anyone? Niklaus Koloff has waited for his mate?" Anna fired back.

"Anna, that's different."

"You're right it is different. You have always known that you would someday find a mate. I didn't have a clue."

"You know, since day one it has crushed me to watch Maksim hurt you over and over, but I was wrong. It's been you hurting him."