I hate to be the one to tell y'all but...we only got 2 more chapters. That's right this story has come to an end...we are at the finish line baby!

Chapter 140

Nuka

What a wonderful day! What a wonderful day it is to be alive and thriving. It feels like the great kings themselves are finally shining their magnificent light on me. About time the old fucking bastards. We arrived back in the pride lands just before high noon. And as expected I was given nothing but the royal treatment once I arrived back.

It feels good to be home.

"Is that what you call this son? This barren land home."

"Oh no, you don't-Not today Mother. I will not let you spoil this moment for me."

"What moment son? Look around you everything and everyone here is barely hanging on."

"That's until I give them the feast of their lives! And what is that you ask? Simba…" Yes yes! I can see it all now as the final battle ensued. I'd be the one to strike the final blow, ending my cousin where he stood. His blood seeping out on the ground, blood being lapped up in groves by my loyal hyenas.

And like his mother, they will gorge on his flesh all while I watch, and Nala too. My eyes landed on my mother who was staring plainly at me. Just like she did when she was alive, emotionless…pointless.

"Oh didn't you know Mother, I just received word from one of the scouts. My little plan worked and Simba will soon be joining us. And with even better news my Nala has returned to me. As I knew she would." Yet, she still must learn her lesson for disobeying me…leaving me.

"What?" I asked, as Mother just stood there taking up unnecessary space. " Well don't just stand there say something!" annoying bitch. How is it that just her presence alone can find any way to ruin my mood. " Look say something or get out!"

"Say what?" my mother's mouth opened but it wasn't her voice that came out it was.

"Shanti." I breathe…how long had she been standing behind me.

"What do you want me to say?" the mountain pride lioness eyed me with confusion. "I'm sorry was I interrupting something?"

"No no, my love…weren't. Here come sit with me." She nodded.

I pulled her close. Nuzzling her face and her neck. Kings, when was the last time she spent any quality time with me? If I didn't know better I would think she's avoiding me. "How is my son doing?" she chuckled and leaned more into me.

"What makes you think it's a son…it could be a girl."

"Please, you wouldn't mock me with such an insult. You know a son is the frist heir that has to be born."

"I know."

"What is this, why are you pulling away from me?"

"Im not Nuka. See." Shanti rested her head on top of my shoulder, half of her face getting lost in my mane.

"You call that a mane, Nala did a good job ripping it off. Parts of your fur still haven't gone back."

"Shut up Mother!"

"…Nuka?"

"I mean…did you hear the news? Simba and Nala have been captured and they will be here shortly."

"…yes I heard." Shanti leaned forward clearing her throat. "Nuka can I ask you something."

"Sure what?"

"What will you do with his mate once he's done? You will get rid of her right? Right, Nuka?" fast chance.

"We need to grow our numbers." please why am I explaining this to her...she knows how this works.

"And I'm doing that for you. "Shanti's dark brown orbs looked into my own. " Nuka I'm serious…Kenya has to go. And Nala too." I paused at the tension hiding behind her voice. Was she giving me an order? where was all this coming from? The mountain pride lioness quickly found herself stammering for words are I rose to my paws. "I-It's just…I'm you're mate Nuka and I love you….we…we don't need anyone else. Just us…like you said before." She's trying to control me…and it wasn;t voice telling me this, but my own. yes yes that's it, she's really trying to control me. No one control you Nuka.

You are in control.

Everyone bows their heads and listens to you.

"Shanti." I voiced breathlessly into her ear. " I will have as many lionesses around me as I see fucking fit. and I will fuck any lioness. I am the king. Now did you forget who you were talking to?"

"I...I'm just saying…seeing you with other lionesses…it hurts me Nuka…I risked everything to be with you- to join you. I left my home, betrayed your sister…betrayed my pride. All-"

"All to be queen? And you will be. When I fucking say it." What was this new insecurity about her…she is so fucking ungrateful. She should be appreciating how I raised her station in the pride. she went from being the queen aide to the fucking queen- because I could have picked anyone else! and this is the thanks I get? An insecure-jealous lioness? Fuck me- I really don't have the time for this shit. I have bigger matters at paw than hurting Shanti fucking feelings. She knew what came with the territory of being with me. " … move I have to prepare for our special guest."

Nala

My heart was filled with dread as we walked back into the pridelands. Everything looks exactly how I remembered…. desolate…bleak and broken. Even the skies themselves were grey. The heaviness that filled me could not be expressed no matter how hard I tried to find the words.

And whether I wanted to or not my memories began to flood over me like a wave. Fear…pain…abuse, this land carried nothing for me to be hopeful for anymore.

"Ah, home sweet home huh." howled one of Nuka's dogs. "Keep them right here."

We stopped short just at the entrance to Pride Rock. The remaining hyenas surrounded us on all sides. When I peeked behind myself, I could still see Simba was favoring his right side. Whatever had happened to him has him worse off now, being hurt and exhausted- I want to feel sorry for him and I do, I love him. But his reckless action nearly got him killed…how could he not think to tell me his plan? We are supposed to be in this fight together.

When I locked eyes with the red-maned lion and the look on his face I was broken from my thoughts. I hadn't said anything to him this entire time we were being escorted back- not that I could have either way. " You need to rest your shoulder." I voiced in a low whisper. Why I said this I don't know, I knew full well he nor I were in the ideal predicament we wanted to be in now. Getting rest would be the least of our worries now.

"I'll be fine."

"Not if you don't-" but I couldn't finish my sentence. I couldn't even find my tongue to form the words I wanted when I saw the outline of his figure standing. As Nuka, Shanti, and two other hyenas stared down at us from the top of Pride Rock. And when Nuka began his descent down to us it took everything within me not to run. But even if I wanted to run… had the ability to flee with no obstructions from the hyena…my paws would not move under my control.

I swallowed hard and fixed my eyes on the ground as they came forward. I hated this…I absolutely hated this…how could he still have the ability to make me feel this scared of him- even with being away from him for this long? After everything…

"Well well isn't this glorious day." A smiling Nuka is a terrifying sight- and I wasn't even looking at him, I could just tell by the happiness in his voice that he was planning to have the time of his life with us. Kings help us, please. " Wow, just wow…to think I'd be reuniting with my little cousin Simba. Hmph now, the last time I think I can remember seeing you was when you…oh right, ran for your life. Abandoning Pride Rock. your mother...a little brother to, die. It is funny how life works out huh? And you, Nala." A low growl escaped Simba's throat as Nuka made a move towards me. I looked everywhere but him as I felt the prickle of his twisted whiskers stab my skin and slide up and down my face as he nuzzled me. I even looked at Shanti, who had the nerve to be looking my way. She looked at me as if she were disgusted, but when we locked eyes I noticed she quickly averted her gaze. "Kings only know what happened the last time I was with you."

It wasn't meant to be a whisper, I knew full well that he wanted everyone to hear it… especially Simba. Just at the mere mention from Nuka, I could see Simba from the corner of my eye stepping forward, teeth bared. Nuk was toying with him and he was playing right into his trap.

"Don't," I said simply…it would make Nuka take him down too easy. And the lion enjoyed getting under others' skin this I knew too well. We had to play it safe if we wanted to survive long enough for help to come. But Nuka wouldn't be himself if he wasn't toying in your face, making to feel enraged and still helpless all at the same time. He openedly laughed at Simba…but I needed this lion to keep his cool. "We're his now…we have to play by his rules."

"I see you remember well my love. Everything and every one the light touches belongs to me." He chimed. I shuddered under the gaze of his suggestive look. Just stay calm Nala. Stay clam. "Our guests have had a long day, take them to the side den." He orders before turning away. " We all have a big day tomorrow- a feast for a king!" his sadistic laugh made me vomit in my mouth.

But I had no time to wallow at our fate, as I felt a brute force shove me. "Get moving!"

The side den we were kept at was one that had been long since abandoned by the pride. It was off of pride rock itself by no less than a mile or so and it was here we were forced to wait on your fates.

" You need to calm down," I spoke with my back to him, since the moment we arrived back in the pride lands I could feel a disturbing aura coming from Simba. It was heated….he was vengeful and I understood that. But where did that land us?

"How can you say this."

"I have to be the one to say it apparently, it will be the only thing keeping us alive." We made sure to keep our voices low, the last thing we needed were thirsty dogs eavesdropping in on your conversation. " The lionesses are a good day have to survive til then." Simba showed no reaction to this information. "Hello? Aren't you going to say anything-"

"What do you want me to say." His words were short. He was short.

"Don't say-act." I demanded

"Act?"

"Like how you told me to do remember," I said, throwing his advice back in his face. " You were the one that said don't do anything alone Simba."

"I didn't have a choice." he was now in my face, but I didn't back down. I hissed out my words threw bared teeth.

"You had one. And you made it. You just didn't tell me. and now look where that's gotten us." His face fell short.

"Time was short- I knew it would be dangerous, and I didn't want you involved."

"And so your reckless behavior made it any better…If I hadn't come when I did who knows what would have happened. And whether you like it or not I am involved in this just as much as you are. so please spare me with the excuses!"

"So you want a thank you for saving me…well thank you-"

"I don't want to save you" Kings males are so stupid sometimes! " I want to help you. But I can't do anything with you if we're not on the same page Simba…" I could feel my voice breaking, the stress of it all was working its way on me and I did everything I could to combat the feeling of utter hopelessness. " I'm scared. " I voiced through a tremor "…but I feel more afraid because I don't know if I can depend on you Simba…" I let the tears fall. I know now was not the time to be weak but... who was I trying to fool? myself, because it was not working.

"Nal…" His orange head touched my beigd one. "…I'm sorry…I let fear control me. I should have told you." Breathing his air in was the only thing to clear my head. Despite everything Simba was home and right now I felt safe. " I was wrong."

"No, you were fucking stupid." I corrected "But you weren't wrong…I understand, I want to save Kenya just as much as you do. There just can't be any more secrets between us. We have to tell each other everything, always on the same page." I kept my eyes closed and dove myself into his mane, only coming up from the feeling of security to look him in his eyes. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Understood." He nuzzled me.

"We can survive this, but we have to be careful. No more brash decisions we can't afford it. Otherwise, we will be walking right into his trap."

"Okay..." there was a short pause, I could tell the lion was gathering his thoughts. "Tell me what you think we should do."