Chapter 156 Night Over

Nikolai

I felt a light tap on my chin that woke up me up. My eyes snapped open.

The sun is already up and Fiyona actually let me sleep? Something must be wrong. I moved only to freeze when I felt another tap on my chin.

No, it was a kick. I saw a foot smaller than the size of my hand.

Viktoria.

Everything about yesterday came crashing down. I'm back into the real world. Fast forwarded seven years. I have two kids. One little girl who loves me to to death and one little boy who would rather see me dead.

And a mate who has another mate.

I leaned back against the pillows. My life is a mess.

And I'm going to do anything and everything it takes to get it back on track.

I looked at the clock and saw it was five thirty. We've slept a lot.

Viktoria was sleeping on me. Her one leg on my face and another on my chest. Her head was on my thigh and her hands were coiled around it, hugging it tight enough even in her sleep that if I moved, I'll wake her up.

I pushed her lower body onto the bed. The fact that she was still sleeping amused me. I pushed the silver curls out of her face. "Wake up, princess."

She swatted my hand. "No!" And then turned her face the other way.

I chuckled. Like mother, like daughter. Speaking of mother, the room smelled of Ava. Did she come here again? Maybe to check up on Viktoria.

"What time is your school?" I asked.

"S...vaca..on." She mumbled incoherently.

"Well there is no vacation from training." I curled on arm around her waist picked her up but she held on to the blanket tightly.

"Two minutes Dadda." She pleaded, her little fingers grabbing on to the blanket so tight that she dragged it with her to the bathroom.

She huffed and released the blanket.

I placed her on the counter and took out a fresh toothbrush for her and gave it to her before I took mine out. I wet our brushes and then applied some toothpaste on it.

She wouldn't have been able to see herself in he mirror properly if she was standing on the floor. She's that tiny. I can't believe that she's a part of me. She's too cute.

"Brush." I told her and she gave me an unimpressed look before she turned around to look at herself in the mirror and began brushing.

I quickly brushed my teeth, keeping a check on Viktoria to see if she was doing it properly. I was so damn proud when she did it perfectly.

Was it normal? Could kids her age do that?

"Go get ready now, we have to go train." I placed her on her ground.

"But I want to sleep, Dadda." She looked up and groaned. "What time is it?"

"It's time to train." I simply told her. "I'll go change too. Meet me in five minutes okay?"

"Fine!" She groaned again and left, stomping her feet.

Once I was sure she left, I walked into my closet and changed into my workout gear which was a pair of shorts and a fresh t-shirt and shoes. I walked out and followed Viktoria's scent until I reached a pink door.

I knocked before I entered.

The pink colour assaulted my eyes. Every single thing in this room was pink. The bed along with the princess canopy on it, the bed sheets, the pillows, the desk, the chair, the carpet, the rug. Literally every fucking thing. It looked like barbie took a shit in here.

Yes, she had been wearing a pink dress yesterday but I didn't know that the girl was obsessed with it. Is she one of those girls who don't like to touch something because it's dirty or does she like to play in the sand? Does she play house all day or does she like to play outside?

There was so much I wanted to know.

I followed her scent that took me into her closet.

She was standing on her pink two-step ladder and going through all her options for tops. "Can you help me, please, Dadda?" She had already changed into tights that were purple in colour. She only needed help with the top.

"Yes." I cleared my throat as I scanned through all the pink workout sports bra sort of tops. She didn't even need a bra! And my daughter isn't wearing half clothes outside!

I took out a top which was obviously pink and showed it to her.

"That's not for working out, Dadda." She rolled her eyes at me as if I didn't know anything.

"It looks comfortable enough." It was soft!

"Boys!" She rolled her eyes again and finally took out a sports bra. She took off the top the was wearing and threw it on the floor before she wore her bra and then climbed down the steps and came held my hand, "let's go."

I walked out with her but she paused in front of the door opposite to her bedroom and opened it. "Klaus it sleeping! He should come train too! Wake him up." She crossed her arms.

I hesitated but she was right. He needed to train. I walked inside and thankfully, his room was normal. The only obsession he had with was cars, that I could deal with.

His eyes fluttered open before I could wake him up. He instantly sat up when he saw me. "What do you want, at," he looked at the clock, "five forty-five in the morning?"

"It's time to train." I told him.

"The training time for kids is in the evening." He pointed out.

"Not during vacations. Get up and get dressed, it's an order." I crossed my arms.

"Yes, Alpha." He pressed his lips together and went to his bathroom. I shrugged off the hurt. One day, I'll get him to call me Dadda too.

I wanted five minutes for him, till he brushed his teeth and got dressed. Viktoria was standing outside with Kol who looked excited at the prospect of training early in the morning.

"I called Kol too, Dadda, is that okay?" Viktoria asked me, holding my hand again.

"Of course, Princess." I smiled at her. I walked with all the three kids to the training grounds where all the adults were just warming up.

"Go run twenty rounds around the field." I told them, going easy in the start.

"Twenty?" Viktoria' eyes widened.

"Yes." I nodded.

Her shoulders drooped. "I can't run that much, Dadda." Her lower lip jutted out and she widened her blue eyes at me.

I steeled my heart.

"I'm not budging on this Viktoria. You have to train to become strong." I shook my head.

She huffed and nodded at her brother before the three of them were off.

I joined Andrei who was leading the run of the adults. It was too slow for my liking. "Everyone will keep up with my pace." I said and started running at a decent speed.

"I was expecting you to sleeping in today." Nat said.

"Can't skip training." I replied. "You are back on the Beta duty. I want reports on every important thing I've missed on my desk by two. By tomorrow morning, I want reports on how everything goes on in the pack now and any new projects that are going on or are going to start soon."

"Yes, Alpha." She replied with a grin. "It's good to have you back."

"Thanks." I smiled.

"Andrei," I called him and he came besides me. "During vacations, the kids will practice in the morning as well. Today is fine but I want everyone from tomorrow. I want a report on the pack's security detail and patrol system and then a separate one for conflicts with other packs or Kingdoms in time I wasn't here." I doubt that was the case but if Ava had to go through so many problems because of people within our pack, I didn't have much faith in other packs.

"Yes, Alpha."

"Mikhail," I called him next and he came up beside me. "Any update on Adrik?" I was sure that he knew I was back no. Which meant that the deal was off from his side. And it was the same for me. It was about time that he gets what he deserves.

"The last time he was spotted, it was eight months ago in a small town Russia. He has seemed to disappear ever since."

"I want more information. I want you to go through each and every lead. I don't care where he is in the entire universe, find him! We won't rest till we find him. He has lived long past his time now. It's about time he gets his karma."

"Yes, Alpha," he replied, his eyes shining with excitement at my train of thought.

We had finished about a dozen of rounds around the ground and I picked up my pace, ignoring the groans of everyone else.

"Algebra." I called him next. He was huffing and puffing as he tried keeping up with me. "I want a report on the pack finances. I want the accounts of every single penny earned and spent. And I want reports of Volkov Corps. finances too."

"Yes, Alpha." He breathed before he fell back again, not able to keep up.

"Symon." I called. "I want reports on the people. What is the general thoughts of the people of the pack regarding all the rules and policies in the pack right now and about the unrest about the ruler. I want another report on the current education system and your suggestions."

"Yes, Alpha."

"Max." I called next. We were on the last round. I looked at the kids, they were slacking off. They were still on their seventeenth round and were ready to pass out.

"I want a report on the foreign relations. I've asked from reports from everyone, you will go through them too and I want your inputs." I told him.

"Yes, Alpha." He nodded.

And then I stopped.

Every single person was out of breath and sweating buckets. Too bad.

"Today everyone will spar. Take your partners and begin. The ones who lost will train for two more hours." I announced and then jogged away to the kids.

Niklaus was doing alright and Kol was trying to keep up with him. Viktoria was hardly walking when I reached her.

"I ...c-cant." She panted and then stopped, placing her hands on her knees, shaking her head.

"There is nothing you can't do, Princess. It's your last round. See Niklaus and Kol are running too." I looked at the boys and they were walking.

"It's a run, not a walk." I shouted after them, making them pick up their paces.

"Bu-but they... are b-boys." She was too breathless.

"I never want to hear you say that." I said sternly. "What boys can do, you can do better. Let's finish this last round together, okay?" I extended my hand towards her.

It took her a couple of seconds but she took it and began jogging again. I walked next to her, motivating her to finish her jog. She collapsed next to Niklaus and Kol, lying on the grass with her arms spread wide, copying the boys.

"All three of you did well." I looked at all of them. "But you can do a lot better. Now that the warm up is do—"

"Warm up?" Viktoria groaned. "That was warm up?"

"Yes." I said. "Since all of you are tired, we will do target practicing. Who knows how to use guns?"

"I do." Niklaus looked in my eye. "I can shoot better than you too."

"Yeah?" I smiled. Did he really have such a good aim?

"Not that the bar is too high anyways." He whispered under his breath and walked away, towards the shooting range.

"My Dadda is the best!" Viktoria screamed after him in anger.

"It's fine, Viktoria." I said to calm her down.

"No, it's not!" She got off the ground and ran after her brother.

I shook my head. I thought she didn't have the energy to even walk!

"Here they go again." Kol shook his head.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, Alpha. It's just, they have been fighting a lot since you came back. Tori doesn't like it that Klaus doesn't like you. They used to be best friends. Now they can't stop fighting." He told me as we walked towards the shooting range. Kol seemed more mature than his age. He looked like a good, sensible kid.

"You can call me Uncle Nikolai." I told him. "And I'll see what I can do. Don't worry about it." Fighting between siblings is a big no. They have to be a team. It's them, against the world. Always.

"But right now, you are my Alpha." Kol smiled at me. I smiled back. I liked the kid. Max and Nat have turned out to be good parents.

I saw Viktoria punch Niklaus and he pushed her on the ground.

I ran towards them.

Viktoria started crying but she flung the sand at Niklaus's face and then got up and ran away. Niklaus rubbed his eyes and began chasing after her in anger.

I picked him up before he could reach her and threw him over my shoulder before I coiled my arm Viktoria by her waist with my other arm and held her sideways by my waist. Both the kids were wiggling and screaming and flailing their arms and legs and Niklaus was punching my back with a strength that made me proud.

"You can go start your practice, we will catch up in a couple of minutes." I told Kol who nodded and them I took my kids to the side.

"I will only put you both down if you promise me that you will not hit each other or try to run away." I informed them.

"Fine! Just put me down." Niklaus grunted and I placed him down.

"I promise, Dadda." I placed Viktoria down too and then I crouched down to their level.

"You both are siblings. Under no circumstances will you two fight. I don't care if it's because of me or your mother or anybody else." I stared at both of them seriously. "You two are a team, one that no one can break. You might not have me or your mother when you grow old, but you will have each other. It's you against the world. Always."

Then I looked into Niklaus's grey eyes unflinchingly, one that held the same hatred that I once held for my father. "You like it or not, I am your father. I am the reason you are here. Accept it. You like me or you don't, it's your choice. But I demand respect. As your father and as your Alpha King. You won't get away with being disrespectful just because you are my son, you will be dealt with just like any other person. Hate me all you want, I'm staying. I'm always going to be around. You better get used it it." His eyes lowered.

And then I told the both of them, my voice hard. "This is the last time I see you two fighting. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Klaus mumbled weakly.

"I asked, do you understand?" I growled louder.

"I understand!" He screamed at me, his eyes snapping at mine, filled with anger, hatred and tears and then he ran away.

"I understand, Dadda." Viktoria wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me, her voice small. "I'm sorry, I won't fight with Klaus again, please don't get mad at me. It scares me."

Goddess, this girl is precious. I hugged her back. "I'm not mad, Viktoria, not anymore. Go to the shooting range and say sorry to your brother."

"Yes, Dadda." She nodded and then ran away.

"You can stop hiding now." I said and then Ava stepped out from her hiding spot, which was behind a pillar.

"The way to deal with him is not by being strict with him." Her eyes cold and her tone reprimanding.

"He can't get away with everything just because he is my son. And you have made both of them soft, too soft for their own good." Her walls were drawn up high, unlike last night.

"It's called being affectionate towards your kids—something you wouldn't know." She jabbed.

"Being affectionate will not help them when they are facing an enemy."

"You are becoming exactly like your own father." Her eyes flashed in anger. "It's always about fighting, about being the best, about being perfect at every single thing with you, isn't it?

"I am nothing like me father!" I snarled. "Don't you ever compare me to him."

"Then stop behaving like him! Niklaus is your son! If you want him to like you, you need to show him your love and not your toughness."

"I don't need anybody's approval." I growled, taking a step closer to her. "And behaving like Adrik?" I hissed in her face. "Did I ever beat the living daylights out of you? Did I ever fuck you in front of our kids?"

"What?" That seem to thaw the ice in her eyes a little. Her face was still impassive but I saw something akin to worry in her eyes before it was gone in a second.

"Don't talk about things you don't know."  Ava would never say this. She cared too much about me to hurt me by comparing me with my mortal enemy.

But this new Ava seemed to enjoy hurting me.

She has no idea what kind of a father he was. She has no idea about the kind of nightmares I had lived through. Why did she think I was after him all my life? Why would I spend so much time and energy after someone just like that? For my personal amusement? I wasn't sick.

I had had enough for today and couldn't take more from her. So I turned and walked away from her.

'Come to the training grounds. Let's spar.' I told Valerie.

'I'm am already on my way there. What happened?'

'Your daughter knows exactly how to push my buttons.' I growled.

'Sorry.' She replied and I mentally kicked myself. I'm being a dick to her for no reason.

"The kids are doing target practice. Look after them." I told Max as I passed my him to go to the secluded area and stood there, waiting for Valerie.

There was a lot of pent up energy in my body, ready to be released. I needed to let it all out of else I felt like I'll burst from inside out.

"Nikolai." Valerie looked worried as she approached me. "So much energy...Goddess. Come here."

I barely controlled myself as I walked to her. My body was vibrating. I could feel each and every cell in my body being charged up, for what? I don't fucking know.

It wasn't even that big of a deal.

I've been more angry than this for Goddess' sake.

But I knew... whether I accept it or not... I've changed since I've spent those seven months in the prison world. I felt like my body was changing. My wolf was quiet, like he was strengthening himself.

Valerie placed her hands on either side of my head and I closed my eyes as she siphoned some of my energy into herself. I could feel the charged energy in my body reduce and I felt like I could finally breathe again.

Valerie released her hold on me and took a step back.

"Why is my daughter glaring at us?" Valerie asked me, her voice barely audible to me.

"Goddess knows what going through that woman's mind." I was done with her for today. Her comparing me with Adrik was enough for me to deal with for the day.

We backed away from each other. I brought my hands together and concentrated on releasing some energy in between my palms and then opened my arms wide, making the small ball of energy, fire and air grow into a large ball that fit in between my hands now.

"Begin!" Valerie's voice whipped in the air and I threw the ball towards her with all my force.

The ball cracked into small particles before it reached even half ways. Her palm was facing towards me and I waited for her next move.

"Javier stayed at the palace." She said and then raised her palm, rising me up in the air.

"Did you sleep in his room?" I asked and increased the density of air below my feet to cushion my fall a little. But Valerie had different plans.

"Yes. I can feel him in there." She rotated her fingers, making me spin fast in circles but I kept a level head so that I wasn't dizzy.

"Even after seven years?" I grunted when she released her hold on me. I was ready for the fall and rolled on the ground so I wouldn't break any more bones. Without waiting, I pounced on her, grabbed her by her waist and threw her her in the air a couple dozen feet away, towards a large tree and jogged after her.

"He's my mate." She shrugged and then uprooted an average sized tree and threw it at me.

The large tree turned into a blow castle slide that cushioned her fall and she slid down to her feet before she landed on the ground again and the tree turned back into itself.

"Doesn't your soul crave for him?" I couldn't believe how casual she was about this. But then again, she was used to living without him for so long already.

"Mating someone isn't just because your wolf craves it. It is because you love each other. It's a connection that ties your souls together and nothing can break that bond, not even death. Do you know why I'm not sulking for having not met him? It's because when my time comes and I walk over the moon, I know he will be right there, waiting for me with open arms and a warm, inviting smile."

That was deep. But I didn't think I could relate to that. If I didn't do anything, if I didn't act on this...innate desire for Ava in my soul...he would have her. And I was selfish enough to want her all for myself.

I had sacrificed myself for her happiness. I had sacrificed my happiness for others a lot of times. It's about time I fight for my happiness. If I don't, who will?

I caught the bark of the tree and raised it above my head, doing a couple of chest presses, grinning at Valerie.

"Show off." She rolled her eyes and in that exact moment, I threw it at her and lit the entire thing on fire. Valerie wasn't good with fire at all. And it was my forte.

She groaned and tried to extinguish it but it wasn't happening. She teleported besides me before it could hit her.

The tree crashed on the ground, and rolled for a couple of feet before it stopped.

It created vibrations on the ground and that's when I realised that everyone was staring at us. With wide eyes. Ava was looking at us, her face blank but her eyes were filled with emotions I couldn't decipher. Niklaus and Viktoria were standing by her side, looking lowkey scared. Fuck.

I put out the fire from the tree and Valerie put the tree back in its place.

"There is nothing to see." I said loudly, "go back to your practice." Everyone quickly turned around and hurried back to whatever they were doing.

"Has your anger cooled down now?" Valerie asked me. "I don't want be around a grump all day."

"Well there are other people here, you won't have the privilege of hanging out with me all day anymore." I rolled my eyes and began walking towards the palace.

"I've got to take you down a couple of notches." I heard her grumble. "Where is mom when you need her?" Valerie was a little soft, a lot like Ava but Fiyona was a whole another ball game. That woman could kick ass with her power and her words. Mom and her would've been best of friends had they known each other.

"Fucking your father." I smirked. "Catching up on lost time. Trying to make more of you. Doing the dirty. Take your pick."

"Nikolai!" She whined. "I didn't need that picture in my mind."

I laughed, somehow knowing that while it might not seem like it, but everything was going to be okay.