Zara’s POV
“Slow down!” Kaya let out a panicked cry as I stepped across the river with such force that I almost lost my balance and slipped off the rocks.
“Why should I?” I whimpered in sorrow.
I could not stop thinking about Nic’s insensitive comments. It hurt. I should have known that the offer was too good to be true. I should have never fallen for his charms!
“He still considers me to be a child!” I responded with a deep, hearty growl. “Why is the pain so great?”
“Zara, listen to me,” Kaya cried out in concern. “You must slow down right now!”
“How come?” My bottom lip quivered as I asked stubbornly.
“Because you are going in the wrong direction!” She yelled, fighting for control.
“What do you mean we are going in the wrong direction?” I stopped and started sobbing.
I knew how to get back home from the hotel. All I had to do was sprint through the forest to reach the lake beyond. A few miles further down, the lake would split into two rivers, which I could follow home.
I just ran, trying to get away from the pain and hopelessness inside of me. I was so wrapped up in my emotions and heartache that I was hardly aware of my surroundings.
Kaya saw her chance, seized it, and stopped us.
“Where are we?” Startled, I asked, looking around me.
I did not recognize the surroundings, not even the smells.
Were we lost?
“At the edge of the Red Howl Pack,” Kaya growled. Having to pronounce the name of the pack aloud infuriated her.
“Oh, sh*t,” I cried out in fear. “I did not notice that we had run past our pack.”
“We haven’t,” Kaya exclaimed, her golden eyes darting. “You went down the bloody wrong river.”
“I did what?” I replied, shaken. “Are you sure?”
Kaya rolled her eyes and sighed.
“We have to get across the river before Alpha Noah’s men come across us, right now. I am not in the mood to hang out with him. I might just lose control and reorganize his face.”
“Yo-you are right,” I said. “It is best for us to leave before anyone finds or sees us.”
Kay turned around, searched for a secure crossing point, and we proceeded to cross the river to the opposite bank.
“It is much safer here,” she sighed in satisfaction.
“Do you realize we are in Nightingale Pack territory?” I stated. “And Alpha Jack just voted against us?”
I would have felt safer if he had not turned his back on my father.
“I am sure he would not just hand you over on a silver platter if he found you here today,” Kaya remarked. “The treaty between the two packs has not yet been canceled, and you are very dear to his five sons, and he treats you like a daughter.”
“I would not be so certain about that,” I replied. “If Alpha Jack could turn his back on my father that quickly, he might just surprise you and call Alpha Noah to come get me!”
“Well, if you feel that way, then we had better get a move on before…”
“Zara!” Kaya stopped in her tracks when she heard a husky, familiar voice.
I slowly turned to face the voice, and there stood Luke, the next-in-line alpha of the Nightingale Pack, smeared in blood, a few feet down on the riverbank together with his two brothers, Steve and Derek.
“I wonder where Kevin and Andrew are,” Kaya said, lifting her muzzle and taking a whiff.
Between the two younger brothers, Kevin stood out as the troublemaker.
“Probably chasing after some bunny,” I said, laughing.
“I sense Kevin nearby, but not Andrew,” Kaya warned.
“That seems odd,” I replied. “Andrew never turns down a good hunt.”
“What a delightful surprise,” Kevin said, as he suddenly stepped out from behind a bush. “What brings you here?”
I kept quiet, just watching the 6’4 boy. Besides having green-blue eyes and blond hair, he was masculine in build and looked just like his four other brothers. Though the boys were a year apart, I would have thought they were quintuplets if I did not know them that well.
“Did the cat catch your tongue, Zara?” With a playful gesture, Kevin ran his hand down Kaya’s back. “Or now that you are mated, are you too good to talk to me?”
Kaya snorted and shook her head.
“Kevin,” Steve, the soon-to-be beta, warned, glaring at his younger brother.
“Stop being an ass,” Derek, the soon-to-be Delta, added.
“And give your shirt to Zara,” Luke gave an order.
“What? Really?” Kevin expressed his dissatisfaction. “She is going to leave it covered in cooties!”
“Brother, that is an order,” Luke snarled.
Without saying anything more, Kevin rolled his eyes, took off his shirt, and gave it to me.
“Go shift,” said Luke, turning to face the trees. “We need to talk!”
I paused, uncertain.
I wanted to stay out of trouble.
I wasn’t sure if I could trust Luke and his pack.
“You know Luke, he would not endanger your life,” Kaya remarked.
“But-”
“You will be under my protection, and I swear on my life that no one will hurt you while you are within my pack boundaries,” Luke said. He must have sensed my hesitation.
“Everyone is out there trying to find you!” Steve went on.
“Everyone is extremely concerned about your safety,” Derek continued.
Kaya turned her head to the side.
“Your father called earlier,” Luke explained. “He was hysterical.”
My dad called?
Was he aware that I had fled without signing the treaty?
My eyes grew wide, and I started to feel anxious. I have screwed up the signing of the treaty with Nic. My father must be furious at me.
“I think it is fine,” Kaya said. “It appears Luke is sincere.”
I glanced back over at Luke. I gave a nod, moved quickly to the back of the tree, and shifted.
I held Kevin’s shirt in front of me. It looked more like an oversized dress than a shirt.
“Get dressed,” Kaya pushed. “I believe Luke has something very important he needs to discuss with you.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“I am not sure regarding what, but I can feel the urgency around the subject,” she answered.
I pulled the shirt over my head and quickly made my way back.
“See,” Kevin complained, crossing his arms around his chest with a pout on his lips. “My shirt is way too big for her. It’s reaching her knees and hiding her perfect buns!”
“Kevin!” Derek hissed, irritated. “Behave yourself!”
“I am just saying,” Kevin muttered under his breath. “They genuinely are-”
“Kevin,” I heard Luke’s loud voice encircle me. “You have received your first and last warning.”
“Luke seems different,” Kaya remarked.
“Yes, that is something I have noticed,” I replied. “I can only hope he is still the fair and compassionate Alpha that I know.”
“I believe there is a reason why he is acting that way,” Kaya remarked.
“I hope so,” I said, returning my focus to Luke.
“One more sexist comment coming from your lips,” Steve yanked Kevin by the neck and growled. “And I will personally punish you.”
Steve was different from all his brothers. He was a force to be reckoned with and didn’t take sh*t from anyone.
Kevin quickly backed off and submitted.
“You desired to speak with me?” I said, causing the boys to fall silent.
“Yeah, about that,” Luke said, scratching the back of his head. “It is probably best if we talk about it in my office.”
“Why should I trust you?” I asked. “And why is it not possible for us to do it here?”
“Because,” Luke uttered, his eyes softening. “It is possible that someone will notice you and alert Alpha Noah.”
“You seem scared of him,” I sneered.
“If only,” he answered, a smile forming on his handsome face. “However, there is something I need to show you that you might find interesting.”
If only I had known that what Luke was about to show me was worse than opening Pandora’s box.
****