ZIRA
I sat there at the side of my parents' house. Still shocked by the scene before. There they were, sitting around the dining table. Each in their own world. No one was speaking, joking around, or even looking at each other. We were never quiet at a dining table.
Either my mom talks about her day at work or my dad talks about training the younger pups. Even Zed throws in a ‘I’m better at everything’, comparing himself to his friends.
Even the scenery looked drab and there was not one dessert or cookie in sight. There was nothing and it was probably because of me. I grabbed my hair in frustration, trying to keep my tears at bay. I blocked my mind from James or he would instantly be on alert and come find me.
I sat there trying to think of what to do. If I went in there, it would turn into this big thing which would bring unwanted attention, but I couldn’t leave it like this. I would never forgive myself. I peeked again to see everyone had left the table. Maybe I could sneak into my room and leave a note. Just explain they couldn’t tell anyone and that when the time was right I could-
The sound of clanging metal caught me off guard. I immediately jumped back into a defensive stance and pulled out the pouch to throw it when I saw who it was. Zed stood before me with a shocked expression and a bag of garbage at his feet.
“Z…Z..Zi. Is that…really you?”
My mouth became dry as my brain tried to decide what to do. I could disappear right now. Maybe this pouch has something in it to erase minds or confuse people as well as get me out of here. Or maybe I would leave and Zed would tell everyone he could that I was alive, and would get back to Alaia, who would definitely seek me out to try to kill me. Again.
I’ll risk it and hope this pouch will erase memories of me ever being here. I was about to throw it down when Zed stepped forward.
“Please, don’t.” I never heard him say please. Like ever. I looked at him and saw…tears.
Well duh you idiot. Everyone thinks we’re dead Nina reminded me.
I was frozen in place as Zed stepped closer and, for some strange reason, I stepped back. Zed looked a bit confused at my action and he wasn’t the only one. Why did I feel this way? Like I was scared of him getting close to me.
Because of her. She made me afraid of wanting to be with my family. Afraid she might hurt them if she knew I contacted them. I needed to go but I didn’t want him to say anything. I still had to check on Isaiah.
“Zed. I know this might be a lot but no one can know I’m here, ok?”
“Zi, I don’t und-”
“What is taking so long, Zed? You know how your mother-”
My dad rounded the corner and stopped in his tracks when he saw me. He blinked twice and shook his head like he was seeing things before his eyes went wide. One second he was standing near Zed and another I was pulled into a big hug.
It caught me completely off guard as I sat stiff in his arms. It didn’t take long for the tears to start rolling down my cheeks as I embraced my dad. Zed came to join in on the other side. It took a second for me to realize we were still outside and I didn;t want my mom to come out here. Half the neighborhood would hear her.
“Dad, I can’t stay out here.”
He pulled back, staring at me. “What’s going on?”
“Please. Not here,” I whispered, so he could understand the importance of secrecy.
He nodded and we all went into the house. I was nervous. Actually, I was nervous about seeing my mom. This was all a bit too much. I was starting to get dizzy. I sat down in the living room while my dad called my mom. She didn’t come so my dad linked her and I could guess what he said.
We heard dishes clattering as my mom ran into the room. She still had on her cleaning gloves as she stared at me. I stood up way too quickly but she was there pulling me into a hug. Again, my dad and brother joined in. We stayed like this for a few minutes before I started to wiggle.
“Ok, ok. I think if you guys squeeze me anymore I might just disappear.”
They reluctantly let me go. I didn’t have much time and there was so much I needed to tell them, but first my mom filled me in on everything here. Starting with the night, I disappeared. She told about Victoria being hurt, Alaia losing her baby then going crazy and killing Alpha Jack, and Luna Bella in a coma.
“Oh my Goddess. Isabella and Isaiah must be devastated. I need to see them. Let them know I’m here.”
“Are you though,” Zed asked. “Does that mean you’re going to stay?”
I facepalmed myself. “Well, things have changed for me,” I said, pulling out my phone.
I told them what happened after I went over the cliff. Meeting my mate, having Zacharias, and being accepted in another pack.
“That’s my mate, James, holding Arias. Arias for a nickname. Mom, he’s amazing. He talks now. Just words here and there, and boy can he run.”
My mom, dad, and Zed stared at my phone screen with smiles on their faces and tears coming out of their eyes. I wanted to tell them everything but we were interrupted by a knock on the door. I freaked out a bit until I sensed who it was. My dad opened the door to reveal James on the other side.
“Mr. Lake.” James looked past my dad at me and I shrugged my shoulders.
My dad squared his shoulders and crossed his arms, blocking James from coming in. My dad had a few inches on James, so it was a sight. “So, you’re the guy who kept my daughter away from us?”
“Umm…” James stepped back and looked at me for help. I had never seen my dad like this, so I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to do. Besides, it was a bit entertaining seeing James nervous.
Payback for earlier I linked to James.
I wouldn’t call both of these situations equal. At least you enjoyed mine.
Well, he wasn’t wrong. Before I could interject, my dad laughed and pulled James into a hug.
“Thank you,” my dad said, “For keeping my little girl safe.”
My mom stepped up and gave James a kiss on his cheeks while Zed gave him a bro dab. This turned out to be better than I expected. My mom was in a great mood and decided to bake, which got me excited. Since Alaia was gone, I felt it was okay to bring Arias here, which James volunteered to do.
Didn’t we come here for something Nina asked.
For a moment, I forgot the real reason I had come back. Yes, to make sure everyone was okay, but then Isaiah. He wasn’t in a good spot.
“Mom, how have Isabella and Isaiah been through all this?”
“As good as anyone can be. Isabella has been a trooper, helping Hunter with the Alpha’s duties, while Isaiah has been falling to the dark side. I heard he’s been drinking a lot, wandering into the forest or staying in his room, refusing to see anyone. I’ve seen him in his mother’s room when there was barely anyone at the pack’s hospital. So yeah, he’s been taking it pretty hard.”
I wondered if he was at the packhouse or maybe I should go to the cliff and see. I had a feeling and it was the reason I needed to come back here. I needed to go to our spot. I just felt it.
“I have to go. We can meet at the pack hospital in case I need to go straight there,” I said, getting up and out the door with my parents calling after me. Isaiah could have been hurt or worse he could’ve…
Nina!
Let’s go.
I immediately shifted and went towards the forest. It only took a minute to pick up his scent as we sped towards the spot.
ISAIAH
I remembered floating out over the edge of the cliff. Oblivious to the world around me when I felt myself being yanked back and pulled into someone's arms. My vision was still blurry but I got a faint hint of cinnamon. At first I thought it was Alaia, but why would she be here?
I focused on my vision as I felt tears on my face. Were they mine I wondered. When my vision cleared, I saw her eyes first. Warm, hazel eyes looking over. She was speaking but I couldn’t pay attention. My brain was trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was looking at…
“Zira?” I reached up to touch her face and it was real. I wasn’t dreaming. I wasn’t dead, right? “Am I dead?”
She laughed and I felt something I haven’t felt in a long time. Something warm in my chest.
“No, you idiot,” she cried, pulling me into a hug. “You’re okay.” She repeated this while rubbing circles on the middle of my back.
I pulled her in tight, thinking if I let go she might disappear. Then I realized she was naked with Hunter and Jace standing a few feet away staring at us.
Look away if you value your life I linked them.
And he’s back Hunter laughed through the link.
They both shook their heads, smiled and turned around. Zira got to her feet and held out her hand. She looked different than before. A lot thicker in some areas and stronger. Her hair was shaved on the side and her kinky hair was pulled back into two connecting ponytails.
I got up with her help and gave her my shirt to cover up. She put it on and not a second later she slapped me hard across the face. I was a bit shocked. I don’t think I’ve ever been slapped.
"You're alive?"
“Don’t ever pull that s.hit again,” she yelled at me. “What the hell is wrong with you, Isaiah? Do you realize how many people rely on you?” She began pacing back and forth, yelling at me, and all I could do was smile.
"You're alive."
Zira was alive. She was alive and standing right in front of me. She was here and the slap confirmed I wasn’t dreaming.
“You’re the Alpha for crying out loud,” she continued. “You’re supposed to be strong for your pack, for your bros, for Isabella, for…for your son.”
Did she just say ‘son’? Those words echoed through my head as if I needed to say it over again to believe it.
Son? I could feel Devon in the back of my mind, which was saying something since he’s been out of touch for a while.
“Our son,” I said, trying to wrap my head around it. “You had...” Zira nodded. “...and you both…” She nodded again with a huge grin on her face.
I couldn't help but pick Zira up and spin her around. This time she didn’t protest or push me away. Instead she laughed and held on. This was probably the best news I could have gotten. I couldn’t control my excitement.
I placed her back on the ground and stared down into her hazel eyes that once melted my heart. Hell it still did in a way. So, obviously, I did the one thing anyone would do in this situation. I kissed her . By the way her body stiffened in my arms and her eyes went wide, it wasn’t the right move. A loud growl a second later, confirmed that.
Zira pushed away from me, touching her lips. “Isaiah! Now, why would you do that? S.hit!”
She looked towards the direction of the growl, moving in that direction, but I grabbed her arm to pull her behind me. As soon as she tried to protest, a blue wolf burst into the clearing. He looked familiar but at the moment I couldn’t quite place where.
His eyes scanned over everyone until they stopped on Zira. I could see they softened a bit when they found her and for some reason I didn’t like it. Did she know this person I wondered. Then he looked at me and started to growl.
“Isaiah,” Zira said in a soft voice. “Please, let go of my arm.”
I forgot that I was still holding it, but another growl from the wolf got my attention. The blue wolf moved towards me and instantly Hunter and Jace came to my side as I tried to figure out where I knew this wolf. The wolf paid them no mind. His eyes moved from my hand on Zira’s arm and me.
“Woah, woah, woah, Deacon. Calm down,” Zira said, pulling her arm from my grasp.
This Deacon was pacing back and forth, eyes trained on me. I think…he was…challenging me and I could feel Devon slowly easing up. He was never one to back down from a challenge.
“Are you challenging me,” Devon growled through me. Deacon snapped at us and I felt Devon trying to rise to the challenge, but I didn’t let him. I saw how horrified Zira looked. She stood between us with her hands out.
“NO! Please. This is all just a misunderstanding,” Zira said, looking at me before turning to Deacon. “Deacon!”
Deacon finally looked at Zira before walking over to her. She gently stroked his face and spoke to him in a hushed voice. I couldn't even hear it. Then he shifted into James. James. From Zack’s pack. Wait, he’s not Zira’s-James pulled Zira into a hug to breathe in her scent-mate.
“Mine,” James growled, making eye contact with me.
I quieted Devon, for I know all too well how possessive a person can be over their mate. I watched as Zira peppered him with kisses and I turned away. I was happy that she found her mate but of course a part of me still felt a sting seeing her with someone else. I guess this is what she was feeling when I was with…doesn’t matter anymore.
“Oh, we have to go,” Zira shouted, breaking away from James. “You have to meet your son and please don’t fight me on the name.”
“Why? What’s his name,” I asked following behind him but Zira just ignored me. “Zira…what’s his name?”