* Hi! Long timee... ish? how are you guys...
[NOUR]
"Alanor… wait…" Nour whimpered desperately.
"Wake up, my beautiful… "It's just a dream, wake up," Delbert said as he shook his erasthai gently. He knew that this was not going to be easy and the fact that Nour was calling out to his brother in his sleep, worried him.
Everyone who knew Nour and Alanor knew the duo was as thick as thieves and while anyone would have been jealous of that relationship, Delbert wasn't. He knew his brother loved Nour like a brother and that was all the reassurance he needed.
Besides, his brother was the best thing that happened to him, despite the disparity in the timelines they lived in.
"Alanor no!!" Nour shouted, sitting right up and Delbert sighed in relief. He could tell that whatever that was about it wasn't the easiest of things, but he had to appreciate the fact that Erasthai was right there with him, in his bed.
"Alanor…" Nour whispered in defeat as he took in his surroundings before the realization of what had been going on dawned a little too harshly on him. He could have sworn he had interacted with his best friend for an entire evening and even got the right punishment for Grant.
It had been the best of moments for hand; the fact that Alanor had come made him feel at ease. However, as Nour looked around, the truth was right there before him. His best friend hadn't come.
His best friend probably didn't even know what the fuck was going on with his life. Of course, he couldn't blame Alanor. He already had Unar, the Lycan prince, and the kingdom of Udrad had owed him a debt.
Even then, Nour was tempted to wish to see his best friend. Instead, the longer he looked the more he realized that instead of his best friend, it was Delbert, Alanor's brother. Surely that couldn't be bad, seeing as Debert was his mate, right?
"Hey… it's alright. You're okay. No one is coming to hurt you… and Alanor is in Udrad, baby," Delbert said softly as he held his erasthai close. He could see the look of confusion hours later and he was tempted to think that there was a reason for that.
"Kalkan," Nour breathed with relief as he looked at Delbert, his eyes softening as he lay back on the bed, resting his head on Delbert's open arms. It was his safe space and he fit so perfectly it tugged at the Lycan's heart.
"My beautiful baby," Delbert breathed gently, his tender gaze on his erasthai unwavering.
"I'm sorry… I—"
"Alanor is fine, my beautiful. I can feel it. My brother is doing alright, don't worry," Delbert reassured and Nour felt his heart shatter at the statement. He wanted to say something to Delbert, the truth perhaps, but that was suddenly so clumsy.
How could he tell his mate that even with the way they were he was still leaning towards Alanor for help subconsciously? That a part of him hadn't yet processed the fact that Delbert Cornell was the man for him and that it was obvious the Lycan would never let anyone hurt him again?
The reality of Nour's dream was haunting him more than he had imagined and the gentleness that Delbert was treating him with, was shattering his heart instead of comforting him. Oh, but this was a hard time for the young wolf.
"I… thank you… for being here," Nour let out, hoping that that would clear any doubts that had stemmed in Delbert's heart and mind. Of course, he knew the Lycan could easily read through him, but just this once, Nour dared to hope.
He wanted to never think about what he had dreamt of. He wanted to be okay because honestly, it was the only thing he could afford at the moment. His world had changed so drastically that it was insane to even think of.
"Grant… he… I… Alanor… oh goddess," Nour let out in singular breaths. He was honestly scared that his entire life was just a circus that people came to waddle in relentlessly. For a moment he was confused as to what the truth was and it haunted him.
Maybe he should have never dared to hold onto anything. Maybe he just needed to stay away forever and everything. Perhaps his life would have been easier if he had stayed in the omega quarters.
But then again, Nour knew that there would eventually come a time when his father would definitely want him to step up to the crown. Perhaps he was just wishing that ties got delayed, right?
"Do you want to talk about it?" Delbert asked quietly, when he realized that whatever it was, was haunting his erasthai a little too much, of course, he wouldn't push if Nour said no, but he wanted to what it, he wanted to know what it was that had gotten his erasthai that disturbed for the entire night.
Delbert had tried to wake Nour up countless times and had failed, which pissed him off because he could sense that his erasthai was hurting and there wasn't much that he would be able to do for him at the time.
"It's… it's not important," Nour said as he snuggled into Delbert's chest, determined to forget what had just happened. Perhaps it was the only way for him to avoid spelling it out to the Lycan that Alanor had come to save him… when Delbert hadn't.
"Okay," Delbert said, before adding, "If you want to ever talk about it, I'll always be here for you, my beautiful. Always."
"Thank you… for not pushing," Nour said sincerely, his tone speaking volumes to Delbert who was just there to listen to him whenever. Perhaps there would come a time when Nour opened up to him, right?
"I love you, my precious. I would give up the world and more for you. Take all the time you need, I'm never leaving your side, never," Delbert responded reassuringly as he kissed Nour's forehead.
It was a small gesture that sent shivers down Nour's spine. Thankfully, it wasn't the harsh kind, but the ones that and the young prince's heart fluttered. He was liking Delbert and began to get close to him, and it was just a matter of time, for him too, right?
"They think I'm dead, Kalkan," Nour reminded as he snuggled close to Delbert. In their current position, it was impossible for them to even get any closer, but it seemed to be a need for Nour, so Delbert let him.
"Do you think they will hold a funeral rite for me?" Nour added and Delbert felt his breath hitch in his throat. He hadn't thought about what would happen when he made that declaration to Grant last evening and now, it was like a sore wound again.
"What?" the Lycan forced out, trying to sound as positive as possible.
"Or maybe he doesn't think I'm worth that much?" Nour whimpered, breaking Delbert's heart. It was a reality that he hated and despised, but one that he had to live through because it had been his decision to make everyone think Nour was dead.
Oh, Delbert hated this.
"Doesn't matter what he thinks, my precious. What matters is that you're free of him, and you can get back your life bit by bit. Don't worry about Grant, I'll deal with him," Delbert reassured and Nour sighed.