Chapter 171 The Truth

Nikolai

"Now there is only one thing remaining." Mom announced and then looked at Faelern. "Can you summon Gabriel?"

What the fuck?

Avalyn was a hundred percent mine, there was no doubt about it. But that fucking name still pissed me the fuck off.

"Of course." It seemed like after Fiyona, Faelern has turned into a whole new person. He closed his eyes and then Gabriel suddenly appeared.

He was flying above all of us.

"What the fuck?" He snarled when he saw us.

I didn't like his attitude.

I used my powers and stopped the air around him from helping him.

He fell down on the ground, his face flat on the ground, where he really belonged.

His wings that were spread apart were touching my feet so I indiscreetly kicked them away.

He might have flew away couple of feet away from us and crashed on the ground again.

He groaned.

Avalyn, whose arms were wrapped around my arm tightened her hold on me.

Mom stepped forward and crossed her arms at Gabriel and glared down at him in anger. "Tell them. Tell everybody exactly what you did you did to Avalyn."

"What the hell are you talking about, Mom?" Max questioned.

"I told you he is evil." Natalia slapped his arm.

I stood in my place, not wanting to do anything that will upset Ava again. It was harder that phasing into half wolf and remain half human.

"What did he do?" Avalyn asked Mom, voice timid.

"You need to hear it from his mouth." Mom spat. "I saw everything. And he is definitely not the angel he portrays himself as."

"What?" A whisper left Avalyn's mouth.

"Tell everyone what you have done to my granddaughter." Faelern commanded.

Gabriel hissed himself up and then he looked at us and began speaking. "It's not my fault. I was your mate but you couldn't see past your dead chosen mate."

I clenched my fists to control myself.

"You loved him more than you loved me. When I first saw you, I was elated to find my mate after nearly a century. But you refused to look at me, let alone let me touch you." My brave Ava. "I tried everything I could to make you love me. But you never gave me the time of the day. To learn more about you, I started asking around. People were very tight lipped but I finally knew your entire story. And then I knew how to get to you. Then I made up the story of how my sister came to Jivan by mistake. And so I needed your help. Then you slowly started thinking of me as your friend. But I didn't want to be your friend, I hated being your friend." He shook his head in anger. "I wanted your love. I wanted you to worship me the way you worshipped him." He pointed his finger in my direction. I flashed him my canine and he took his away from me. "Remember when my friend came to visit me? Joel?"

Ava nodded.

"He gave me an idea. Love potions." That fucking asshole.

A shuddering breath left Ava. I circled my arm around her waist and brought her closer to my chest.

"You don't get those easily. But he owed me so he got them for me from the black market. One bottle is supposed to last one year. But for some goddamn reason, the potion wore off in six months and you would start crying for him again." He jabbed his finger towards me again.

The fact that I was standing in my place was a miracle. But I was doing it only for the woman who was standing because of my support. She was clutching on to me for dear life.

"I read more about love potions. I didn't want to actually do any harm. That wasn't what I wanted." He shook his head. "I just wanted your love."

"I read that only one thing can diminish the effectiveness of the Love portion: love. Your love for him was so much that you couldn't not love him for more than six months. You loved him so much that your love fought off the love potion. It pissed me off."

"So I thought I would give you the portion every six months and the problem would be solved. But just to be sure, I researched more. The only side effect of the potion, if given more than once a year, was that it would take your love from other places and people and redirect it to the person who has given it to you. It makes the person cold and unfeeling towards everyone else."

A growl tore through my throat. I want to kill him. I want to kill him right now. Slowly and torturously. I never thought I could hate anyone more than I hated Adrik. But I am wrong. Gabriel has surpassed the bar. Which was saying something.

"So I thought, consequences be damned. And I went ahead with it. You still loved your children. I didn't care. They were alright. They liked me so that was a bonus. And I didn't care about the rest. Fuck them. They always preferred him over me anyways. They couldn't bear to see you with me so they started avoiding us. Hell some even left the city. Good for me. They wouldn't suspect anything."

This time, my family members hissed and growled. They were mad too. Good.

"But then slowly, they started liking me. Along with the entire kingdom. They wanted me to become the King. Even better. Who wouldn't want to rule one of the greatest dimensions to exist along with three supernatural species? I would be more powerful than I could even dream of. And just so you wouldn't spoil my plans, I made sure the Coronation ceremony was just the day after I had to give you to potion. So when your love for me was the most potent, your love for him wouldn't be able come between me and my future."

Avalyn shook in my hands.

And then something clicked. He told me he slept with Ava nine times. Which means, over the span of four years, it was two times a year— every time he gave her the potion. And the ninth time was when I caught them.

"You gave her a potion that night." A rough whisper left my throat.

He nodded smugly.

A sob tore through Ava's throat. It wasn't her fault, but she was the one who was burnt. And then she apologised the second I caught them, which meant that seeing me broke the potion's effect. Her love for me is that strong.

I've made a terrible mistake.

And he is the reason why we had to face so many difficulties. He is the reason why we both suffered so much.

I wanted to kill him.

"But then he came back and spoilt my plans. He ruined everything." He screamed, pointing in my direction. "You made a fool out of me. In a single flash, you took everything away, things I had spent years trying to build!"

I simply raised my brow. If I move, I'll kill him.

"Avalyn finally loved me. She was torn when you came. Viktoria and Niklaus liked me. Viktoria fell in love with you in a second and Niklaus was so busy hating you that he forgot about me. And her family had just started to like me and they abandoned me in a second. The people forgot me. They wanted you back as their King."

"All of that was mine—earned rightfully, you were the one who took it," I said, my voice barely containing the anger. "You were living my life. I claimed it back."

He scoffed. "You died. You lost it. It's mine," he screamed. "I own everyone and everything here." Everyone was looking at him in anger and contempt. "Bow down to your King."

A rock came out of nowhere and landed on his back. He winced. And then many more followed. Every single person gathered around started throwing rocks and sticks and their shoes at him.

I let it go on. Let it set in just how much they 'loved and respected' him. And just how much they would bow down to him.

He covered his head with his hands. "Stop," he screamed in distress. "I did nothing wrong!" Did he actually believe that? "Hit him! Not me!" He pointed towards me. "He's the imposter, not me!" The flow of rocks on his body increased.

"Bow down to your rightful King. I own you all!" Gabriel shrilled out a scream.

"Stop." I commanded and everything stopped in a flash.

Gabriel looked up, finally taking his hand away.

I looked at Dimitri and he was beside me in a flash, taking my place, holding Ava for me. I stepped forward, stalking towards Gabriel. He shrank as I reached him.

I grabbed his collar and lifted him up straight. There was no fun in owning a man who wasn't man enough to even stand straight in front of me. "Avalyn is mine. Not because I'm her mate. But because I own her fucking heart and soul." I growled, loud enough for everyone to hear, enough for her to hear. "My kids, Niklaus and Viktoria are mine. Straight out of my balls. My family is mine. Not by blood but by choice. My Kingdom is mine. Not because I care for the throne or the crown. But because I killed the tyrannical bastards who ruled it first. Because I care for the people. Because they care for me. They bow for me." I growled in his face.

He was looking at me with wide eyes, scared out if his wits.

"Kneel," my command shot through the open ground and the thuds of every single person's knees hitting the ground echoed. No one made a sound. Even the birds were silent.

He looked around, terror in his eyes as he looked at hundreds of people kneeling before me. I didn't even have to look to know that.

I tossed him away and he fell on the ground as I loomed over him.

I stretched my arms out, showing him that I owned everything and everyone around me.

Including Ava, Mom and Valerie who was a part of my jurisdiction because she was mated to Javier. Faelern and Fiyona were from a different dimension and probably from a different solar system or even universe.

Sun was the ultimate source of power in this solar system. It is the reason the moon shines. It is the reason for the existence life.

All them could feel the power I embodied. But I hadn't used my powers to get them to submit to me.

This wasn't a slave kneeling for their Master. This was people kneeling for their King. It was on one knee, shoulders straight and their eyes on their King—me. The werewolves had their claws out, the vampire had their fangs out and the witches had their hands on their heart. There people were ready to fight for me, if commanded to do so.

His eyes lowered and he started scooting backwards on his arms and ass, trying to get away from me.

"Rise." I commanded and lowered my arms.

Everyone slowly got to their feel. "Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill." The people started chanting and Gabriel started looking around in horror.

He got to his feet and tried to run away but the people standing there threw him right back on the ground in front of me.

"Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill."

He got up and tried to run in other direction. They got a few hits in and then threw him back at my feet.

"Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill."

His head spin as he tried to find a way to escape. But no one was going to let him get away. No one was going to let him leave alive. He is a dead man. And he knows it.

"Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill."

I raised my hand and silence ensued in the grounds once again.

I couldn't express just how much I wanted to kill this lowlife. And then smash his heart at the bottom of my shoe like he was no more than a pest. But I vowed to be a better man for Avalyn and my kids. No matter what, he was her mate. No matter how wrongly, no matter how twisted it was, she loved him. And I love her. And I respect her. And she wanted no more bloodshed. She was tired of fights and wars. She wanted peace. And this would be me giving her just that, no matter how much I want to kill him.

I would change the rules. Starting now. No wars. No punishments. No slaves.

Sparing his life would be my peace offering to Ava. A token of peace for all the times I didn't listen to her about slavery, for all the times I fought with her about going to war, for the times I ignored her when she wanted to stop the punishment system.

He would go back to the Faye Dimension and not show his face to us. I would ban him from Jivan Dimension. Yes, I could do that.

"I'm not going to kill him." I announced, registering and ignoring everyone's shock. "As an act of good faith, towards Avalyn, I'm going spare his life." I turned around and tooked at Ava. I was doing this for her and she had to know it. "Whatever happened, he was—," I had to spit the words out, "he is your mate. Killing him will hurt you. And after everything, that is the last thing I want."

Tears filled her eyes and took a step forward, towards me, almost unknowingly.

"From this day forward, I ban wars over people, place and possessions. My explicit permission will be required for any sort of fights. Death by punishment will be the outcome if this law is not followed."

Ava looked at me like I was singing an ode to her. Like I was offering her the world from the palm of my hand. Her shone with with tears but they didn't look like sad tears anymore. The expression on her face was something I couldn't decipher for the life of me.

"From this day forward, I ban punishment of lashes, silver tipped and silver lashes, silver collars, collars along with any sort of prisoner brutality. A new list of humane punishment that fit the crime will be mailed to everyone."

She gnawed on her bottom him, looking ready to pounce on me. But I wasn't done yet.

"As the first step to eradicate human slavery," I started and Ava's hand covered her heart, as if she was convincing herself that it was real, "the kidnappings of humans is banned. All the existing slaves in the supernatural world are a property of the Kingdom. I will set up a committee for the protection of their rights. They will be paid justly in accordance to the kind of services they are willing to offer. Forceful touch and penetration of a slave will now also be considered rape and the same punishment will be given if the rape were to happen to a witch, vampire or werewolf. Prostitution houses will be set up where willing humans will work and be paid to do. Schools will be set up for slaves for proper etiquette and training. You can approach the school or the slave houses I plan to set up if you wish to get a slave. The proper procedure for the same will be established. Further details will be forwarded to everyone once the new system is set in place."

"But slavery is a part of culture and tradition, King Nikolai. We need them." I heard a voice.

I turned around to face the man that said it. He looked scared but I appreciated his courage. I didn't want to be unapproachable to the general public.

"Culture and tradition is nothing but years of habits. A revolution took place when Vampires and Werewolves came together. Us living together, peacefully, will be our culture in a few decades. And this will be the start of a new culture and new traditions. One where there is no place for hatred and brutality. Not amongst ourselves, and towards humans either," I replied and he bowed his head.

"What about punishment for slaves, King Nikolai? We all know that humans are greedy and if give a slice, they will want the pie. Giving them so much freedom can also mean that they might contact humans outside our world and our secret will be out. Our privacy and security will be at risk. And unfortunately, it almost happened a few years ago." I recognised the female that asked it. Eva. She had helped Ava with the welcome party for the Vampires from Mozog back at the Rogue pack.

"Speaking freely, I haven't given this much thought but I'm going to build on it. Once everything is decided, everyone will be notified. But I assure everyone that the supernatural races will never be at risk because of humans. For me, my people come first," I said the truth.

"You said a brutal punishments are banned. But what about the handing punishments that fit the crime? You can't let Gabriel go." Viktoria was the one who said this. She was standing on the porch of the house, Eliyah besides her. "I don't forgive him!" She said, her small but strong voice echoed in the silent open land. In that second, I knew she would grow up to become a strong female. She commanded the ground with her voice. Even though she was younger that everyone present here.

"Tori—" I started but she had already moved on from me and was glaring at Gabriel. I wondered how much of that had she listened.

And then I heard a choking sound. I whipped around to see that the Kozlov family dagger was lodged in Gabriel's throat and he was gurgling blood out of his mouth. He fell down to his knees, his wide eyes, looking straight ahead.

Who the fuck did that? I looked around.

Niklaus walked towards him, appearing out of nowhere. I saw him look at Tori and she nodded. Had this been their plan? Her little interjection was just so she could distract us and Klaus could go get the dagger and kill him?

My feet were rooted to their spot as I watched my son stood in front of Gabriel.

"No one makes Mom cry." He hissed, his voice clearly audible too. And then he placed his hand on Gabriel's shoulder and pulled the dagger out of his throat.

Blood spewed on his face but my son didn't care. He pushed Gabriel away and on his back, looking with cold eyes as he watched him bleed out.

I got chills.

That's my son!

I wanted to scream proudly to the world!

That's my son!

"Niklaus!" Ava ran towards him and hugged him, coddling him as she murmured sweet words into his hair. She was worried that killing someone would leave a scar in him, that it will harm him.

But she didn't know that it made him happy. That killing for his loved ones made him happy. He was my blood. And I knew that.

Ava was still hugging him and he looked at me from over her shoulder. He raised his brows. He wanted to know my reaction.

He did what I actually wanted to do. He didn't see that be knew Gabriel since the last four years. He understands what right and wrong is. He trusts his instincts and doesn't let emotions sway his decisions. He is brave enough to do what is right, even when he knows that others might perceive it as wrong.

And those are the qualities of a King.

He doesn't know it yet but he is going to be one of a greatest King to walk in this universe. And I'm damn well going to train him and be there for every step of the way.

I nodded at him and his eyes watered.

He whispered something in Ava's ear, low enough that no one could hear and she let him go. He stepped around her and walked to me.

He stopped a couple of feet away and then dropped to his one knee and his head lowered. "I rejected you as my father. I rejected you as my King. I disrespected you. I insulted you. I disobeyed you. I hurt you. I hurt mom. I hurt Tori. It won't happen again. I'm sorry. Forgive me, please."

My heart grew weary.

My son. He knew how to own his mistakes too. Goddamn.

"Stand up, Niklaus." My tongue felt think. I didn't need him to kneel in front of me.

He didn't move but I saw his hands clench into fists and his knuckles turned white. His body wound tight and his shoulders shook slightly. He thought I didn't want to accept his apology. My son was crying.

I forgot everything and everyone around me. Right now, the only thing that mattered to me was to stop my son from crying. To assure him everything was alright. It was time to make my family whole again.

And then I got to my knees in front my him and his head snapped up, revealing his watery eyes and tear streaked face. "I forgive you, son." He cried harder at my words, like he couldn't believe me. "I promise I won't make your mother cry, if you promise not to kill me," I half smiled. That was meant as a joke but he cried harder and then launched himself against me. His arms wrapped against my neck and he hugged me, crying in my neck, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry Dadda. C-can I call you that?"

I wrapped my arms around him and my chest felt tight and heart full. "Of course," I managed to choke out.

"You are my favourite superhero," He said and I smiled so wide that my cheeks hurt.

"Did you hear that? I'm a superhero," I smugly asked Ava with a grin.

She had tears in het eyes. "Don't cry, Love. I made a promise to my son that I intend to keep."

"They're happy tears." I knew what she was thinking. We were finally a family. A happy family.

"I told you he is the greatest Dadda in the world! I knew he would forgive you!" Tori grinned at her brother. I backed up and extended my arm, offering her to join the hug.

"You're all bloody and icky, Dadda." She scrunched her nose and I heard a few chuckles.

I shook my head and stood up smiling, bringing Klaus up with me. He wasn't crying anymore but he was still emotional.

I looked at Ava. She was silently crying. My brave Ava. My brave Love.

I owe her an apology as well.

I walked to her and following Klaus' lead, I sank down to my knee and lowered my head, making my surrender and submission known, "I didn't try to find out the reason behind your behaviour, rejected you, hurt you, insulted you—in front of everyone, crushed your crown," only now was I realising the extent of my sins, "failed to protect you from Adrik," my breath got caught in my throat as Ava's words to Eli echoed in my mind.

"It's fine, Nikolai, I made several mistakes too," she placed her hands on my shoulders, trying to make me stand again.

"Please let me, finish, Love." I said softly. I needed to do this.

"I hurt you again," I forced her to go with me in the ATV when she was injured, "deliberately hurt you with my words," 'Then you must be a masochist, because you keep coming back for more.', "t-touched another female," my tongue felt thick as I admitted that. I still can't believe I did that. "I made your worst nightmare true," I truly made her my slave, I made her feel like she was beneath me. "I took revenge on you for something that wasn't your fault. I hurt you, very much," my breath caught in my throat. "I'm sorry, forgive me."

"Oh, Nikolai. There is nothing to forgive." She placed her hand on top my head, caressing softly. I shook my head. It wasn't true. There was too much I was asking forgiveness for. I needed to hear her say it.

And I said all of this in front of everyone and not in private because of a reason too.

And then following my lead, she kneeled in front of me and took my face her small hands and made me look up at her, into her sparkling blue eyes. "You were angry and people do foolish things when they angry. I'm not less to blame for all of this. You fought for me before giving up, hard. What happened was unfortunate. You were hurt and you wanted to hurt me." My eyes lowered. That was the truth. Goddess I'm such a dick. How can I hurt this woman? I can't be the reason that the light inside her dims. I want her to shine brighter because of me. "But you still found a way to take care of me. You came here, Nikolai, for me. You dived in front of the bullet, for me. You died for me, again. So there is nothing to apologise for."

I still need to hear the words.

And then she rested her forehead against mine and closed her eyes, "I forgive you, Nikolai. I love you. So much."

And then the world was right again.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her. I claimed her in front everybody. I got reacquainted with the touch of her lips and taste of her mouth. I love you. I love you. I love you.

The sound of thunderous claps brought me back to reality. I extended my hand to Ava and she naturally took it. I helped her up as we stood up together. As equals.

I looked at my pack members. Each and every person had a smile or a grin on their face as they applauded our reunion. I even caught a few wiping the corner of their eyes.

I looked down at Ava.

And then both of us grinned at each other.

It had taken us a long fucking time to fulfil the prophesy which did prove to be true afterall—

'When the Sun and the Moon reunite,

The Royal order will be restored again;

And their offsprings shall,

With the help of magic,

Save the universe and life as we know it'— just wasn't in the way the High Council had interpreted it.

It also made me realise that my children were going to do something huge and meaningful with their lives. They were destined for greatness.

And it was our responsibility as parents to prepare them for it.

I looked at Ava, Tori and Klaus.

I knew for a fact that this time around, my family would live. Nothing and nobody in the whole world will come in between us or break us again.

I will go through hell and back to fight for them.