24 - Smokescreen
ZARA
I spent the next few days confined to that room, my mind barricaded by anger and confusion. I was in a space all by myself and yet the feeling of being suffocated never left. It was unbearable. I wanted to be outside, feeling the fresh air on my fur and the dirt under my paw. For now, I guess, I would have to settle for strolling around the house and hoping not to run into a certain dark-haired Alpha.
With a deep breath, I took the first step to escape my self-imposed exile. I needed to see Rebecca, to clear my head and maybe go out for a run. The faint laughter and conversations echoing through the house outside had become a distant symphony that tantalized her senses.
I scoured the house, finally coming across Conner and Abigale curled up on the couch with popcorn nested between them as they filled their evening with what appeared to be a Disney movie.
"Hey," I greeted them cautiously, eyeing the animated film with little interest.
Conner acknowledged me with a nod and a faint smile. "Zara," he replied, his voice bearing sympathy and guarded curiosity. I could tell he was surprised that I finally let myself out of the room.
I asked the question burning in my mind. "Where's Rebecca? I need to see her."
Conner and Abigale glanced at each other but Conner's sigh filled the room, weighed by a sense of reluctance. "She's back downstairs... she isn't technically out of... you should ask Haden. He'd be able to bring her up for you."
"Can't you just bring me down to her?" I pleaded.
"I really can't," he apologized, "if anything were to happen..."
Frustration pricked my skin, and I huffed as I folded my arms. A shriek came from the TV and I dropped my hands with a sigh.
"Fine, sorry for ruining your movie," with that and a pout on my lips, I walked down the hallway and down to his office. Rebecca was the closest thing I had left to a family and her friendship was invaluable right now. I gave him the courtesy of knocking before I barged right in and shut the door behind me, not giving him the opportunity to process his shock before I made my demand.
"I want to see Rebecca,"
He was parked behind his disorganized desk and, once he realized I was in fact here, he cleared his throat and blinked before he answered.
"Zara, we need to talk about what happened. You can't just ignore it."
I didn't respond, following my instinct and pushing away the topic and the memory to the back of my mind, focusing on the task at hand. Hesitantly, I took a step forward and hardened my gaze.
"What happened doesn't matter right now. I just want to see Rebecca,"
"Zara," he said, his voice laced with sincerity as he stood from his chair, "I'm truly sorry for how things happened. I should have made it clear before that you mean more to me than I let on."
He moved closer, his persistence not allowing room for anything else, and the tension in the room seemed to thicken with each step he took. My heart raced as he neared, and for a fleeting moment, I felt the pull, the magnetic connection between us that made it difficult to resist. I couldn't deny the flutter of desire, the longing hidden beneath layers of frustration.
But I took a step back and his steps towards me paused, a flash of hurt crossing his face before he covered it up.
"Why are you being so difficult?" he asked.
The fire lit inside me at the simple question, a rage I couldn't contain anymore.
"Being so difficult?! Are you being serious? Less than twenty-four hours after you make out with me, you make out with Natalia and I'm just supposed to swallow that like a cup of water?"
I hadn't realized that I had stepped closer to him, my anger being the driving force, my heart pounding. It was his hands on my waist that cleared the red hae around my eyes and made me realize our proximity. My voice wavered and my mind was clouded at the feeling of his fingers grazing my skin.
"Zara –"
"No!" I interrupted, pulling away from him. The distance between them was necessary, a barrier I couldn't afford to break just yet. I mentally shook myself, bringing myself back to the field of strength and clarity as I redirected the conversation. "I appreciate the apology, Haden, but right now, I just want to see Rebecca."
He opened his mouth and then snapped it shut, his eyes roaming my face then a sign escaped his lips. After a long silence, his gaze softened and he finally nodded.
"Fine, I'll bring Rebecca up to see you," he agreed, his voice tinged with remorse.
But I pressed further. "Permanently?"
Haden's gaze met mine, and his voice hardened. "I won't allow a rogue to roam freely on my lands."
"She isn't just a rogue, she's –"
"Think of when you were on the grounds. They attacked you without warning simply because you were a rogue and they thought you had no association with the pack. I won't allow her to walk around on the grounds, not just for my sanity, but for her safety."
He took a step forward and his hand circled around my forearm as he whispered, "Do you know how terrifying that was for me? I don't think I came to terms with the fact that you're my mate until that moment. That feeling of hopelessness. I thought I'd lost you when I found you lying on the hospital bed, and I was miles away when I was notified. The fear that ran through me... indescribable. I don't want to make the same mistake again. I don't want to lose you. I want a chance to make things right, to give us a shot at this mate bond."
My gaze held his and I felt my shoulders slump as I considered his words. "You don't know what you want."
He sighed, his gaze intense. "I want you – there's no clearer way of saying that. I was... wrong before, and I regret that. Alphas don't apologize, princess, but I'm here apologizing because I want to try and make this work. I'm asking for another chance."
I hesitated, my emotions swirling as I considered his proposal.
"I'll think about it," I said and watched his eyes light up, "after I see Rebecca," I cheekily added with a faint smile touching my lips. With that, I turned away and walked out of the room, leaving him to dwell on the weight of his actions, leaving our future hanging in the balance.
HADEN
Zara's fleeting smile echoed in my mind, a tantalizing mixture of challenge and uncertainty that left me chuckling with an odd sense of excitement. My eyes drifted south as I watched her walk away. She was a tempest, unpredictable and fiercely independent, and I found myself captivated by her spirit.
Conner, get the rogue Rebecca upstairs, I mindlinked him, please.
Sounds like you're finally taking my advice, he smartly said and I didn't have to be looking at him to see the smirk on his face, even has you learning some manners. Good for you, Almighty Alpha.
Just get it done, you ass, I grumbled.
As she walked out the door, a weight settled over me. Her cryptic parting had left more questions than answers, and I couldn't help but wonder where we stood. I wanted us to be on a good path, not just for the sake of us but for the safety and the future of this pack. Before anything else, the pack deserved a Luna.
My musings were abruptly interrupted by the loud ringing of my phone. Glancing at the caller ID, and seeing Bryon's name flash across the screen, I picked it up with a smirk on my lips.
"Missed it here already, Chambers?"
"Brightwood is under attack!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency. My playful mood snapped away as he continued, "The Rogue King and his men... they breached their lands about half an hour ago. Ryland waited until the very last second to call for help, and I can't ignore it. They're one of my closest allies. They're outnumbered and struggling to fend the bastards off. I need every bit of help I can get."
"You already had me at Rogue King," I growled out, "I'll meet you on your borders in five."
My chest tightened as I hung up the phone and rushed outside, issuing a loud order for men to meet me in front of the pack house immediately. The Rogue King would meet his end tonight, I vowed as a snarl came across my lips. It was time to end all the chaos and discord among the packs. Vengeance bubbled inside me as I stood on the front steps of the house, watching men flood in at the urgency of my mind link. James found his place beside me and the men in front of us buzzed with tension as I briefed them on the situation.
"Listen up. Brightwood is under attack from the Rogue King," growls and protests rang in the air as I continued, "They aren't far from here and they are an ally of the Redwoods – which means they are an ally to us. I appreciate all of you for your help. Let's go kill this son of a bitch." Waves of agreement strung out as I shifted to my wolf and led us all to the Redwoods Pack.
Together, we pushed forward, the sight of the full moon taking its turn in the sky and the faint wind caressing my fur. It didn't take long for us to get to the Redwoods border and shortly after, we all ran towards the chaos. The sound of battle reached my ears long before we reached the outskirts of the Brightwood territory. The sight of red smoke billowed on the horizon, a grim indicator of the violence that had unfolded.
We arrived united, meeting the scene of destruction with hard eyes. With a sharp nod at Bryon, I watched him lead his men in one direction and I charged in another.
The air was thick with sweat, blood, and death, the true remnants of combat. The sounds of gnashing teeth, angry snarls, and painful shouts filled the air. Bryon wasn't lying. The Rogue King had brought war with him, and had we not shown up with our men, they would have been outnumbered until the end. The Brightwood Pack was desperately trying to hold their ground, I realized as I leaped at one of them and tore him to pieces. His rogue army seemed endless, their sheer numbers threatening to overwhelm our allies.
My pack rushed into the fray without any other objection, fangs bared, and snarls ablaze with determination. I didn't waste any time, my primal instincts taking over as I fought alongside my pack. Claws clashed with claws, teeth sank into flesh, and the chaotic symphony of battle roared all around us.
My eyes looked around the field as my paw rested on the chest of a rogue wolf who had taken his last breaths only moments ago. I set out on one target and one target alone: the bastard who destroyed my family. Distracted, I didn't see the two brown wolves who launched at me, taking me down together. One of them snipped at my leg and I reacted before I could dwell on the pain, roughly nudging one of them into a tree while I growled at the other. We didn't wait, clawing at each other until I sunk my teeth into his neck.
Before I could, his associate snuck up behind me and growled at me. They both circled me and I snarled, fueling the fire inside and erasing the pain. I had to think tactically, practically, I thought as I growled loudly at them. Waiting for one of them to attack first, I felt the adrenaline flood through my veins. It take one of them to make a mistake, I thought with a smirk, as one leaped towards me. We tangoed, gnashing and clawing at each other and I pushed him into a tree with full force, satisfied at the sound of bones breaking.
Nothing sparing a second, I clawed at the second one, heard the howls of pain and saw the blood scouring from their bruised eyes. As one tended to their wounds, I made my move to the first, successfully snapping his throat this time. When I turned to handle the second one, it was nowhere to be found. I wanted to go searching for it, leaving no rogue unchecked, but a cry brought me back to the battlefield.
The ground was littered with the fallen, and it was too early to tell from which side of the fight they were from. The battle raged on for hours, no side wanting to walk away shameful and battered. The rogues fought well, I wasn't afraid to admit, but they were no match for the packs. No match for the true power of unity.
And then I saw him.
The man who ruined my family. On the other side of the field, watching his men fight valiantly for him, he was draped in full black and the smirk on his face couldn't go unnoticed even from where I stood. I growled loudly, so loud it had the rogues in my path trembling with fear. They tried to fight me but it was no use. The taste of vengeance in my mouth was too intoxicating.
I pushed forward, shoving everything and everyone out of my way. His eyes seemed to connect with mine from across the field and the smirk widened. I felt something shift inside me, pushing harder and harder, wanting to rip his throat out more than anything in the world. I was seeing red, blinded by my rage, consumed by my vengeance.
It wasn't until I heard countless howls and cries from the north that I slowed, coming to a stop. I watched, surprised at the sudden rush of wolves charging onto the empty field, then turned back to see the smirk wipe cleanly off his face. Hundreds of wolves flooded in, trampling on the remainder of the rogues in our path. Taking advantage of the situation, of the distraction, I tackled one of the rogues and killed him instantly. It didn't take long for them to realize the odds were against them. For them to admit defeat. They withdrew, falling behind and running towards the other side. We crushed the remaining ones, but my vision narrowed to the one man I was after. I was charging after him, not willing to let him disappear from my vision.
I was close, so close, then two wolves tumbled into me, knocking me down at the unexpected side attack. When I got up, the was gone, vanishing beyond the thickness of the red fog.
---
"– and they backed away without a second thought!"
Men were cooped up together, basking in the victory we had found ourselves in, but I knew better. This, no matter how good it was now, was only temporary. The bastard slipped away once again and he would go into hiding before plotting his next attack.
In a bitter mood, I marched up to the Brightwood pack house and walked straight to the circle of Alphas. My eyes met Bryon's before turning to look at the young Alpha.
"My condolences for your loss Alpha..."
"Ryland," he filled in, "we're grateful for your help, though we weren't expecting it. I couldn't believe the numbers."
"An ally of Bryon is an ally of mine," I firmly said, "it's a pity the Rogue King disappeared before I tore him limb from limb."
"I don't think he wanted to meet his fate today," a new voice sounded from behind me. I glanced back to see Stephan and Cannon walking up to us, both seemingly pleased with the outcome.
"He ran away like a frightened little mouse," Cannon inputted as he rolled his eyes, "and to think we went through all the trouble of bringing the party to him."
I chuckled, bumping fists with him, before doing the same to Stephan. Standing here right now were the most powerful Alphas of the Americas and I still couldn't help but feel defeated. He managed to slip right through my fingers.
"He's not going to stop," I reminded, "we need to get rid of him once and for all."
"Patience," Stephan said, putting his hand on my shoulder, "look around, friend, men are still tending to their wounds. Let's not run into another battle right after one's just ended, shall we? And you need to get looked at yourself," he added looking down at my arm. Following his gaze, I noticed the stream of blood flowing down my arm. Once I saw it, the pain I switched off came flooding back and I winced as he slapped my shoulder blade.
I nodded.
"Fine, but we'll need to discuss this sooner rather than later. I'll take my leave now, I have to get back to..." I trailed off, the weight of the word 'mate' caught in my throat. I cleared it, then said, "my mate."
Their shocked look made me roll my eyes.
"You found your mate?" Bryon stuttered out.
I chuckled. "Yeah, I have, and as much as I would love to talk about the inner workings of my relationship, I have wolves to tend to and a pack to run."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Cannon smirked knowingly and I got away before they could start the teasing and taunting. I rounded up the wolves who stood with me, grateful for the minimal casualties that we had, and started our journey back home. The men with me were battle-worn and exhausted when we got back, but a sense of relief flooded through the pack bond, all of us grateful that we could help fellow wolves in need. The weight of the day's events hung heavy on our shoulders, and I couldn't wait to bid the night goodbye.
As we fell back into our territory, I ran faster and faster, and the sight of the pack house soothed me. But the sight that greeted us was far from what I had expected. The pack house was in complete disarray, wolves running in and out of the house with concern. What the hell happened now? My heart pounded in my chest as shifted and rushed forward, meeting Conner on the steps, not liking the grim expression he wore on his face.
"Haden... I..."
"What?" I snapped abruptly.
"Haden, it's Zara. She's... she's gone."
A cold chill ran down my spine, and my world seemed to unravel as the harsh reality of the situation struck me. The chaos that had unfolded in our absence was beyond anything I could have imagined, and my worst fears had come to pass.
-----
There's nothing worse than hearing your mate's gone after a long, drawn-out battle with your arch-nemesis. I mean, that just breaks your spirit, doesn't it?
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