Chapter 28. Put Things Right

Nicolas' POV

"Do not push her," Ray warned. "Give her some time to respond to you!"

I held my breath, anxiously awaiting Zara's response. She appeared reluctant to accept me as her mate, even though a moment ago I mustered all my courage and threw my heart and soul at her.

Where did I go wrong?

What did I do wrong?

Did I wait too long to claim her as my mate?

Should I have stopped the mating ceremony and claimed her then?

I released Zara's face and took a step back, hope shattering my heart and sending the fragments flying across my chest like glass, leaving me in searing agony.

How could I have been so foolish as to think that after I had hurt her, she would still accept me?

This was entirely my own fault!

"Zara?" I spoke up in an attempt to get her attention, my voice breaking as I revealed the thoughts running through my head. "You do not have to express anything. I-I-I get it."

Zara gave a wild sh