After parting ways with Isabella and Jace, I linked my border patrol to keep a lookout for Zira and possible rogues. She’s a hunter so I wasn’t too worried but still she’s never fought a rogue. I shifted to Devon and ran towards the woods. He picked up her scent which led me to her torn dress and necklace. I picked up the necklace and continued. I passed a few trees that were brutally assaulted and took a moment to sniff out the area. I groaned knowing my mother was going to fuss all about this.
Damn, you break a girl’s heart and she becomes an artist, joked Hunter, as his wolf, Leon, came from behind me.
Not now, you ass.
I was pissed. More at myself than anyone. All day I was consumed by my mate. Not giving one thought about Zira. She has been nothing but perfect this past week and here I was wrapped in someone else's arms.
This wouldn’t have happened if you listened to me, Devon growled.
Oh please. You like Nina just as much as I like Zira.
But I knew from the start where this was going and I tolerated Nina for your sake.
Devon just huffed at me and continued to run. I couldn’t even imagine how Zira was feeling right now. Starting your day doing intimate things just to have it all ripped away at a moment's notice. I would be ready to rip someone’s head off, if it was me. I just need her to be okay. I have to explain. I am such an ass.
Zira where are you? I tried linking her but she was blocking me somehow.
So I decided to head towards the howl. Since I was Alpha, I could run faster than everyone else. Hunter did his best to keep up but I knew soon I would lose him.
Hunter if I lose you just circled back in case she returns to the house.
Yes, Alpha.
At the moment I felt it. Strangers just entered my territory. Rogues. I made it to the area where I heard the howl. I could smell Zira but faintly. A few seconds later Isabella notified me of rogues. Shit!
Where? I’m on my way, I said, pinpointing Isabella’s location.
No! Jace and I got this. Zira’s alone. Find her, Isabella yelled.
Fine, just be careful and remember they don’t play fair.
A moment later I heard another howl. Everyone, follow that howl.
Devon picked up speed as I started to get nervous. I knew that howl signaled victory and it wasn’t Zira. No, this person had power. Power similar to mine. A few yards in I could smell a mixture of scents. A rogue’s, blood, and-
Alpha Zack. Devon came face to face with Zack sitting on a log as if he was waiting for someone. Devon lifted his nose in the air.
Nina was here. I can smell her blood, Devon growled as he stepped closer to Zack.
I could feel Isabella, Hunter, and Jace make their way to the clearing. Hunter and Jace, noticing my stance, surrounded Zack. Jas went behind a tree and shifted. Isabella came from behind the tree in a long shirt. She rubbed Devon’s fur trying to calm him. We were about ready to snap Zack’s neck.
“Alpha Zack, what happened here? Why do I smell Zira’s blood? Where is she,” Isabella asked.
“Isn’t it obvious? She was attacked by a rogue and I saved her," he stated before looking at me. "Do you normally allow your people to wander off to their death?"
Zack smirked while I growled and stepped closer to him. Isabella grabbed my fur to stop me.
We don't have time for this. She's still out there, Isabella reminded me.
“Then where is she,” Isabella asked again, a bit more irritated.
“Come on, Bells, that doesn’t sound like a thank you,” Zack joked. He was clearly trying to waste our time.
I shifted back and Hunter handed me my shorts. “This isn’t a time to play around, Zack. Where.Is.Zira?” I asked putting weight on each word.
Zack ignored me and kept his gaze on Isabella, never losing that dumb ass smile. Something about it annoyed me and I wanted to cut it right off his face. “Shouldn’t you be with my sister? Your mate. Or have you forgotten already.” He faced me when he said ‘my sister’.
Devon growled through me at the mention of Alaia. I started towards him again but Isabella stopped me. She stepped forward and glared at Zack.
“My friend is hurt and alone. So if anything happens to her because you refuse to tell us where she is. I will personally make it my mission to kill you.”
There was a moment of silence while Isabella and Zack stared at each other. Zack sighed and nodded.
“You are something fierce, Bells. If your brother’s arrangement doesn’t work out, my offer still stands,” Zack said. He stood to the side and pointed between the trees. “She left that way.”
Without a second to waste, I shifted, holding my shorts in my mouth and followed the direction Zack pointed out. I felt my team behind me but I couldn’t slow down for them to keep up. A few moments later, Devon picked up the scent of her blood. It carved a path that led all the way to the cliff. Our cliff. I cursed myself for thinking of this before.
Her scent is everywhere. I can’t pinpoint her exact location. Devon sniffed the ground and made it to the stream. She must have come here to clean herself.
I shifted and walked to the edge of the cliff. It was at least a twenty foot drop below. I knew she wouldn’t jump but I had to make sure. I scanned the area below but saw no signs of her. I turned around and looked towards the tree line. I remembered the first time I found her here, she was hiding in the trees. I scanned the nearby trees and found no signs of her. Hunter came through the bushes with Isabella and Jace in tow.
“Her scent is all over this place,” Isabella said, looking around nervously.
“It could be a distraction. She is a hunter,” Jace brought up.
No. She was here. I might not be able to pinpoint it but I just knew. So I came up with an idea.
“Well she’s not dead at least. I want you guys to head back. She might’ve circled back.”
“No,” Isabella yelled. “We have to make sure.”
Isa, we’re not really leaving. Just pretending.
Isabella nodded and we all headed back through the woods. All we have to do is wait. I signaled Hunter and Jace a few feet farther from us as we waited. Not a few moments later I heard hustling in the trees and I saw her. She looked around scanning the area before jumping down and walking over to the stream. Before I could move, she spoke.
“I know you all are still here,” Zira said, not turning around. “I’m not a novice, you know.”
“Zira, you had me worried,” Isabella said. She was the first to run out, reaching towards her before Zira stopped her.
“No,” Zira snapped, stepping away. “Please don't.”
I watched her react to Isabella. Her shoulders tensed when she felt me get closer. “Zi, I-”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, turning towards us.
Isabella gasped at the sight. Her body was bruised and dirty. There were long claw marks on both sides of her shoulders. She had mud plastered on her body from head to toe. She noticed us staring and a blush spread across her cheeks. I knew this was unusual for her but she held her head high and started to walk past us. I followed her just as Hunter and Jace made it to the clearing. They looked at me before seeing Zira in all her glory with their mouths opened.
Look away if you value your life I growled.
Hunter and Jace did as instructed. I followed behind Isabella who was following Zira, keeping her distance. I kept my eyes on Hunter and Jace, making sure they weren’t eyeing her, which they were. I growled another warning.
“You don’t get to do that,” Zira said, turning to face us. “I’m not yours to growl over. They can look all they want.”
“But they both have mates,” I argued back. The moment I said it, I felt stupid. Why was that the only reason I could come up with?
“So do you,” Zira yelled back before turning on her heels and walking away.
I heard Hunter snicker behind me.
"She's got a poi-"
Finish that and I would treat you like a rogue. I said cutting Hunter off.
Hunter pretended to zip his mouth and throw away the key but that grin never left his face. I hated him sometimes. I stood there dumbfounded. She was right after all but that doesn’t mean I had to agree.
“Jace, I need you to dispose of any evidence that rogues were here. Hunter, head to the patrols to make sure there are no more rogues roaming around and give me an update pronto.”
“Yes, Alpha,” they both said, running away. There! Problem solved I thought to myself. Now no one gets to look at her.
“Well at least she isn’t dead,” Isabella joked. “She’ll come around, right?”
I didn’t answer. I don’t know if this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Zira’s been so desperate to find her mate, only to find me. A person who completely broke her heart without a second glance. I wouldn't be able to cope. We walked until we made it back to the pack house. An omega, I mind-linked earlier, was waiting on the steps with clothes for Zira. Zira, instead, started walking in the opposite direction.
“Zi, where are you going,” Isabella asked, grabbing the clothes from the omega. "Your room is this way. Or you can come to mine."
“I can’t go in there. Not while she’s-” Zira didn’t finish but I knew where she was coming from. “Not now at least. I don’t want to cause any more problems, so I’ll head home for the night.”
“You need to go to the pack hospital and get your wounds looked at,” I offered.
“I’m fine. They’re just flesh wounds and they’re already healing. I’m going home.”
I didn't like the idea of her mother seeing her like this but I knew arguing with her was a moot point. Though using my Alpha command could help but would probably exacerbate the situation.
“Then I will walk you,” I offered.
“We will walk you,” Isabella chimed in.
“No, I’ll be fine. I pulled you guys away for too long. I don't need babysitters.”
“I said I will walk you and that’s final,” I said, putting an emphasis on that last part.
Isabella and Zira both barred their necks in submission and I realized what I just did. Zira glared at me, clenching her fists. She looked at Isabella for help but Isabella just smiled nervously.
“Of course, Alpha," Zira said with a clenched jaw and started walking away.
I grabbed the clothes from Isabella. “I need you to stay.” Before she could protest, I held up my hand. “Just let me do this. For Zi, please.”
Isabella looked at her best friend walking away and just nodded. “Just be sensitive to her feelings, okay? Anything you say could set her off.”
“Yeah, I know. Can you check on Alaia for me please?” Isabella nodded. I hurried and caught up with Zira, keeping my distance.
Luckily it was quite late so there were only a few warriors and patrols hanging around. Some of them couldn’t keep their eyes off her, so I sent them a warning. Promising death.
“Do you want to put these on,” I asked in the calmest tone I could muster up while handing the clothes towards her.
“No!”
She was slowly pissing me off with her attitude. I know I was the reason but she could at least work with me a little.
“I could make you,” I whispered, knowing she heard me.
She stopped abruptly and I almost ran into her. She turned to look at me. There were pools of unshed tears threatening to spill out.
“Then do it,” she snapped. “And while you’re at it, maybe you can make me forget the past two weeks or erase these feelings I have for you. Since you’re being so generous, Alpha.”
I've never seen her this mad before. Her body was shaking from anger and her fists were clenched to the point I thought she would cut herself. We stood there glaring at each other. It would have been easy to win this staring contest but she was still naked and I was still attracted to her. Besides, she wasn’t backing down.
I sighed, “Zi, I'm sor-”
“I know,” she said while doing some controlled breathing. "I know and I'm sorry."
She snatched the clothes out of my hands. She quickly put them on and winced when she tried to put the buttoned up shirt on. I stepped forward to help but she stopped me.
"I'm fine. I got this," she said, while slowly putting her arm into the sleeves and closing the shirt in front.
She looked at me as if to say 'See' and continued to walk at a quicker pace. I wished I knew what to say to her to make this better. I couldn't come up with anything and Devon was no help. He kept saying 'I told you so.' Unhelpful mutt. When we made it to her parents place I knew this was my last chance to say something.
“Wait! Zi. I really am sorry about all this. I never thought all of this would happen the way it did. I would never intentionally try to hurt you, but this bond-”
“I know,” Zira cut me off. “I know and I accept that Isaiah, but I don’t have to like it.” Zira walked up to her door and paused in front of it. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a week and I’ll be back to myself. I promise. Until then maybe you can find some time to get my papers ready.”
I looked confused for a moment then it hit me. Before all of this she wanted to leave. She only stayed for us and since that's no more, nothing was keeping her here. I nodded and she smiled, though I could still see pain in her eyes. I won’t lie and say a part of me wanted to hold her and take the pain away. I hadn’t realized my body was in the middle of doing just that when she held up her hand and shook her head. With that she walked through the door and closed it behind her. I walked up to the door and I could feel her on the other side.
“I’m so, so sorry, Zi. Please forgive me.” It was silent for a while, then I heard muffled sobs coming through the door. It broke my heart that I couldn’t ease her pain. I never wanted her to feel this way. With everything that has happened, a part of me still felt something for her. My heart felt like it was tearing and Devon whimpered a bit. I couldn't stay here and listened to her. It was almost as if I could feel her pain. So I ran back to the pack house straight to my room, trying to block out everyone.
The moment I entered, her scent filled my nostrils. I almost felt myself choking on it. I looked up and saw Alaia sitting on my bed. Instantly I remembered Zira the day of the party. I shook my head to get rid of the image. My eyes were closed when I felt Alaia’s hands cupping my face sending those familiar tingles racing throughout my body. I was instantly relieved and I grabbed her into a tight embrace. She didn’t say a word. Just held me and I was grateful.