The next day, Zira woke up alone. She was going to have to get used to their schedules, she thought, as the smell of food hit her nose. Sitting at the coffee table was a hot breakfast with a note.
Zira, you seemed tired, so I took Arias and got him ready. He’ll be with my mother today. Do me a favor and stay in the room until I come get you, Isaiah.
Zira thought about the note while she ate. She wondered why he wanted her to stay in the room. What was he hiding? Her curiosity won after finishing her food and getting dressed. She wasn’t the patient type and staying locked in a room only made her think about the past when she was pregnant. Also, there was a feeling in the back of her mind nagging at her.
“Nina, what is going on in there,” she asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I feel good,” she purred.
“You’re…purring,” Zira said, more like a question. Nina didn’t purr often, but now that was all Zira could hear. Almost like she was singing to herself. “You don’t purr unless there’s a reason.”
“I’m in a good mood, Zira, and soon you will know what I mean,” she said, lying down with a content expression.
Zira could feel a slight wave travel over her body like a warm breeze. It didn't seem unusual, since werewolves were known to be warm-blooded creatures, so she dismissed it. There was too much for her to do today.
She left the room, heading towards the Alpha’s office, greeting pack members in the hall. Some stopped her to talk about her coming back. Asking her about her journey and when the mating ceremony was going to take place. Zira kept the conversations short. She needed to get to Isaiah to talk about Arias and find a way to tell him she might be leaving again. The thought alone made her sick to her stomach.
Fifteen long minutes later, she made it to Isaiah’s office. She knocked, waiting for his reply. She didn’t understand why, every time she came here, she was nervous. It’s not like she had many good memories of this room. Most of the time she was arguing with Isaiah or Alaia. She shivered at the thought of Isaiah's ex-mate. She was about to knock again when the door opened. She could hear Arias's laughter behind the door.
“Zira, you’re up,” Isaiah said with a bit of surprise in his voice. “I mean…you’re feeling better?”
Zira looked at him with a confused look but noticed his expression. Am I supposed to know what he wants, she thought. Dammit! I wish he could just mind link me.
“Um…yeah. I just…I wanted to discuss something with you,” Zira said, trying to walk in, but Isaiah blocked her way. “Why are you…”
“Maybe we can discuss it later when you’re feeling better, '' he whispered, “I’ll come to you.”
He closed the door quickly and Zira stood there trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. She started to knock again when the door swung open and revealed a woman.
She was tall, at least five foot eleven, wearing an elegant cape bodycon pencil dress that was fitted to capture her lean figure. Her dirty blond hair was pulled into a tight top bun with a pair of shades lounging on top. Her pencil-thin eyebrows arched slightly as she stared at Zira with her bright blue eyes before smiling.
“Zira, I take it?” Zira blinked once before nodding and ignoring Nina’s displeasure. “Hi, I’m Lana. It’s nice to finally meet you,” she said while holding out her hand.
Zira took it, giving Isaiah an anxious look. “Nice to meet you, too, I guess.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. Isaiah said you were a bit weary from your travels and wouldn’t be able to join us but now you look fine. So please, join us,” Lana said, motioning to one of the chairs in the room.
Zira could count on one hand how many times she'd been in this room and every time got a bit more stressful for her. Including this time, but at least Arias was here and that brightened up her day. Zira followed Lana inside and walked straight to Arias.
“Hey, Bugga.” She reached out for him, but he ran behind Isaiah's leg.
“Hmmm.” Zira heard Lana say as she sat down in one of the chairs, watching her.
Isaiah bent down to Arias’s level to whisper to him but, of course, she could hear him. “Hey Bug. You don’t have to be shy. It’s just Mommie, remember. From the phone. Do you remember?”
Arias nodded and a part of Zira lit up with hope as she watched him move to the little play area in the corner. Just a minor setback but I’ll win him over, she thought as she sat down in one of the chairs. She turned to see Lana still watching her.
“He’s still not used to me being home,” Zira said, as she felt the need to explain Arias's behavior.
“Home? Oh, I thought you were aligned with the Ancient Walkers,” Lana asked.
“Yes, I was, but recently I parted ways with them. There wasn’t much holding me there anyway. Besides, my family is here, specifically my son and Isaiah.”
A ghost of a smile tugged at Isaiah’s lips before he cleared his throat. “Lana is the Luna of the Lunar Pride pack. It’s a pack of white wolves.”
Zira’s eyes widened at this information. She had been searching for white wolves for a whole year and never came upon anyone but Percy. “Wait…I just spent an entire year looking for more information and there was one right under our nose,” Zira said more to herself.
“Well, it’s not widely known,” Lana said, stopping Isaiah from talking. “My pack is very small with only about a hundred or so, unfortunately. With the stigma of white wolves and their abilities, we offer sanctuary for those who want it, but not many are so lucky. We are a very close-knit and closed-off group. Though this situation was as much of a mystery as we are.”
“Then how did you find out about Arias,” Zira asked, not trying to be too suspicious.
“Councilman Faulkner failed to mention the details of your case until recently and the moment I came around to investigate, Isaiah thought it would be best to wait until you came back.”
Zira could feel a cold shock run through her spine, setting her hair on its end. Hearing Faulkner’s name only brought up the fact he wanted her head the last time he was here. The silence in the room grew before Isaiah cleared his throat.
“Luna…”
“Lana, Isaiah. I have not received that title yet. Besides, we are still friends, aren’t we?”
“Friends,” Zira asked. “So, you knew she was a white wolf?”
Before Isaiah could speak, Lana interjected. “No, actually he didn’t until recently. I was forbidden to shift when I was younger. It wasn’t…deemed safe. With the help of the Elders, I was able to create a sanctuary for white wolves and we have constant protection right by the Royal Palace.”
“Right,” Isaiah said. “Lana was just telling me that the Elders would like to see you, Zira.”
“Why?” Zira shifted in her seat, clearly feeling nervous. Again, in her mind, meeting the Elders was like meeting Death itself and she rather not. If it wasn’t for Isaiah last time, she would’ve been dead by now.
“I think it’s best if you let the Elders tell you that,” Lana offered before Isaiah could say anything. “So, if you are free, we can just pop on over and check in.”
Zira looked at Isaiah, then back at Lana. “Well, I do-”
"That was rhetorical," Lana smiled. "Besides, the sooner the better, right? We have a private jet not too far from here. We could be there in less than an hour.” Lana stood and walked towards the door. “Wheels up in thirty, yes?”
Zira didn’t say anything, feeling this was another rhetorical question. Lana smiled and donned her shades before leaving the room. Zira closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths before opening them. She looked at Isaiah, who was staring at her.
“I’m not sure what just happened,” Zira said.
“Do you remember what happened the last time they were here,” Isaiah asked, and Zira nodded to his question. “Okay, do you remember the outcome of that visit?”
Zira stared at him, trying to remember what happened that day. She remembered finding out she was going to have a white wolf and the Council sentenced her to death for trying to get an abortion. Then Isaiah stepped up and turned it into exile instead. She jumped out of her seat in a panic.
“Wait a minute. No,” she exclaimed as Isaiah walked over to her and pulled her out on the balcony. He closed the doors and checked on Arias before turning to her.
“Are they exiling me, Isaiah,” she asked, pacing back and forth. “Would they make me leave Arias? You? Everyone...
“Zira, shh…shh,” Isaiah said in a calm voice, looking over at Arias. He walked over and pulled her into a hug. “Don’t worry about that, Zira. You’re not going anywhere, I promise you that.”
He rubbed circles on her back as she buried her face in his shirt. It was comforting for both of them.
“I won’t do it, Isaiah. Whatever they say, I won’t leave. I can’t,” she mumbled in his shirt.
Isaiah pulled her back to look at him. “We will get through this. In my eyes, you’re a member of this pack and I protect my members no matter what, OK?”
Zira nodded but still felt a bit uneasy. After last time, she wasn't sure what to expect. Isaiah could only do so much, and she wasn't sure what they were going to bring to the table.