The lies came easily to Nathaniel since a little bit of them were true. He was trying to find a way into Noam's heart by using their shared love for Lana.
But alas the alpha seemed uninterested in his explanation since he was not even paying attention to him.
The moment he called Lana his sister, Noam turned away from him as his eyes glowed. That word from Nate's lips was like a trigger that touched his werewolf mark.
His eyes stared into the distance, they glowed a light shade of blue. He saw right through Nathaniel's mind and saw the link that bonded Lana and Nathaniel.
It was like looking into his life through the moon. Watching a distant memory of the two as children. The moment lasted but a minute, after which Noam returned to normal.
There was a bitter taste in his mouth after finding out who Nathaniel was to Lana. For the first time in his life, Noam felt scared, afraid to lose the one thing that kept him sane in the crazy life he was living. Threatened by the arrival of the demon.
Nathaniel relates to anyone in the world and he wouldn't bat an eye but sharing blood relations with his sister was unacceptable.
"Don't ever call Lana your sister again," he barked in a deep commanding alpha voice. His voice was cold like winter, causing Nate's demonic senses to tingle in fear. Warning him of the dangers around him. "She is my family, not yours," he added.
His reaction gave Noam a glimpse of what it was like for Lana. Her overprotective nature and her overreaction to every simple thing that happened.
It took him to stand in the same shoes as her to understand that Lana was insecure. Scared to lose him and was trying so hard to hold on to him. It pained his heart that she felt that way.
Nathaniel was thrown back by the sudden change in the alpha. Once again Noam reminded him that he wasn't an ordinary werewolf and was most certainly not his match.
"Your stay here won't be long. So don't get cozy," the alpha let out.
Nate's heart squeezed tightly. The words spoken by Noam hit a nerve. It came out of nowhere and that too so suddenly, Nathaniel froze.
He was rooted to the ground. Nathaniel could not afford to leave the alpha's side now. There was so much that he stood to lose if he did.
"Why?"
The word flew right out of his mouth. The next second, Noam disappeared. Nathaniel swallowed the lump in his throat.
The alpha had left without hearing him out. He had stared into the darkness his whole life. Never once having someone to hold on to and to call family. To shed light on the dark world he lived in.
Nathaniel finally found the one family he had in the world and Noam was closing the doors at him getting to know her.
He found his foot and walked away.
He toured the mansion alone. Doing his best to stay out of his head, giving attention to anything and everything to avoid thinking of the alpha's words.
"Your stay here won't be long," the words cut deep. After their shared intimate moment Nathaniel would not have expected the alpha to be so cold toward him.
His frost look as he drew a line between them and kept him at arm's length made Nathaniel angry. He was boiling to the core inside. His heart hammering against his chest.
He came across the balcony. From which he could see things play out on the ground. Lana seemed to be arguing with someone.
Nathaniel concentrated his ears, as a demon his hearing was a bit heightened. He wanted to know what the fight was about as it looked intense.
"Okay, okay, I admit that it was wrong for her to hit me. But I crossed the line with her, Lana."
The young man explained to Lana. Lana ran her hand through her hair, "It doesn't matter, she touched you and..."
"Don't do this Lana. Aria meant no harm," Koran pleaded.
"She should have thought of that before she but you," Lana maintained her stance. "She will die for this, I give you my word."
Nathaniel watched with horror as her sister refused to forgive the girl and her family. It was uncalled for, such a harsh punishment. No one deserved to die for a slap.
When he saw her sister being so merciless and cruel his heart squeezed in pain. The demon alpha might have saved his sister but he turned her into a monster.
His hatred for Noam grew. Nathaniel vowed to discover a way to break the bond between Lana and Noam. So that he can kill Noam for the injustice of turning his sister into a beast.
"Go ahead then but mark my words. If you hurt Aria, you will have me to contend with," the young man threatened her.
"Are you threatening me?!"
The shock was evident in Lana's eyes. The young man inches closer to her, closing the little distance between them.
He leaned right beside Lana's ear and whispered. "It's a promise. I will leave no stone unturned to return the favor."
The man pulled back and threw a glance behind Lana. Lana followed his line of sight and froze stiff when she found him staring at Axel.
"Don't you dare!" Lana barked.
"Exactly Lana, don't you dare," The young man quoted Lana's words and used them against her. "I love you sister but I love Aria too and I won't let anyone hurt her," he added.
The word sister in his statement shocked Nathaniel. 'Just how big was the Cross family?' he wondered.
"You are threatening me for an outsider?" Lana asked her voice a notch below a whisper. "What have I done that all of my brothers are against me today?"
"What do you mean?"
Lana scoffed. "Like you care. Keep Aria, I hope she makes you happy because I don't want to see your face ever again, K," She uttered coldly and bumped into Koran on her way into the house.
She halted in her steps and raised her head. Her eyes locked with Nathaniel who inhaled deeply. "Why are you everywhere?" she mouthed angrily.