Ziana’s POV
As I enter I see my mother facing the window, looking outside and Addie in the corner of the room. The sight of them fills me with so much relief I almost cry.
Zane shuts the door and my mother turns around. Eyeing me.
“You’re okay.” She breathes and I nod. She makes her way to me and pulls me in for a hug. “I felt your pack link dissipate.” She says, pulling back. Her eyes go to the mark on my right side and a smile lights her face. “I am so happy for you, but I thought you would have called me after, to let me know you accepted the bond.” She says, then her eyes catch the mark on my left side and her face contorts.
“What is this?” She asks as points to the mark, then studies me.
“We are both her mate, your highness.” Zane says from behind me and I cringe. She eyes him, then Killian and then me. The smile that lit up her face a minute ago transforms to anger. She bolts around me and pins Killian to the wall. The electricity in the room sparks, letting me know that she is using the gift of electricity. She may not be as powerful as she once was with it, but she has enough power to stun a person and keep them still. Which is what she is doing now. Addie has transported and is holding a blade to Zane’s throat.
“YOU FORCED YOUR MARK ON MY DAUGHTER?!” Mother growls, squeezing her hand that is around Killian’s throat. He can’t move, let alone talk.
“We had to.” Zane whispers out. The blade to his throat pushes deeper. I sigh.
“I told you two to wait outside, but noooo don’t listen to me. What do I know?” I say. Killian glares at me the best he can.
“Explain.” My mother demands, loosening her grip on Killian’s throat slightly.
“She would have died… If we.. Didn’t.” He grits out. My mother lets go fully, dropping him in a heap to the ground. She glares at him then looks to Zane, who is still ensnared by Addie’s blade. They both look to me to explain further.
“They chained me.” I elaborate a little and my mother’s face falls. She turns to Killian and punches him in the face, breaking his nose. Addie stabs Zane in the shoulder.
“Sh*t!” They both yell, clutching their wounds. I try not to snicker at that.
he
“I would like to speak to my daughter alone. My anger may not be able to contain itself if you stay room.” Mother says through gritted teeth. They all turn to leave but before they do I turn my attentic….o
Killian and Zane.
“1 I told you not to enter, next time you might want to listen. 2 do not hurt Addie. 3 Addie, don’t hurt them. Anything more than what they have and I may feel it.” I say. Addie nods in understanding. The other two grumble an incoherent response/ They all walk out the door and my attention turns back towards my mother. She is eyeing me with concern and is still seething with anger.
“I need you to explain quickly before I go and kill them.” Mom says as she begins pacing. Sighing, I sit down
on the small couch and look down.
*Chapter22
“I tried to run as soon as I woke up. I climbed through the window of the room and landed on the balcony. I begin and point towards the balcony in front of us. “I made eye contact with Zane and that’s when he realized. we were mates. I ran, they caught me then brought me back and chained me to the wall in the room I woke up in. They wanted to make sure that I didn’t run again. I was there for a few days. They fed me and made sure I had everything I needed. Kai, Killian’s brother, was the only one I would talk to. Something happened
that triggered memories and I was in them. I couldn’t differentiate what was real and what wasn’t. Eventually I ended up slitting my wrists to get out of the cuffs. They found me and apparently I would have died if they didn’t mark me.” I explain, watching her face as it changes from anger, to concern, to relief. She takes a few
deep breaths and sits next to me on the couch, pulling me into a hug.
“They shouldn’t have done that. I would like to torture them for putting you in that situation, making you
relive those memories. I’m sorry, sweetheart.” She says, pulling back and meeting my eyes.
“It is what it is. Not like I can leave them now.” I say, shrugging my shoulders. She looks sad at my response.
“It shouldn’t have happened like that. They should have won you over.” She says, getting up and pacing again.
“I don’t know what to do mom. I feel the matebond now and I don’t think that I can leave.” I say and she stops,
then turns to look at me. Sympathy in her eyes.
“Everything happens for a reason. The only thing you can do is move forward. It may seem hard or even impossible now, but it isn’t. This is your pack now. Although this happened, the pack is not to blame. Be the best Luna you can be. They seem like good men who have done some bad things. Give them a chance. If you don’t forgive them that is fine, but the marking cannot be undone to my knowledge.” She rambles and I sigh.
“I will protect the pack. Get to know them, but I can’t give them a chance. I can barely look at them without being pi*sed off.” I say and she smiles sadly.
“Just see and give it time. You may be surprised.” She says and I shake my head.
“You don’t understand,” I say in defeat. She hums, then comes to sit next to me again. She places her hand
on my leg, gaining my attention. Her gray eyes, sad.
“I wish you would share with me so I can understand. I get it though that you don’t want to or feel like you can’t. I am here if you would like to talk though. Always.” She says, squeezing my leg.
“I know.” I answer and she kisses my forehead. “Why did you have Addie take you here and not Dayla?” I ask,
changing the subject.
“Dayla and I have never been here. Addie volunteered, since she has. We were on the outskirts, but it was close enough to walk to the packhouse. The closest Dayla could have transported us is about an hour or so away. I needed to be here sooner.” She answers, eyeing me for my reaction. Her silent question is not going to be answered. She knows that Addie and I have been to many places for a multitude of reasons.
“Makes sense.” I respond and she nods her head.
“So you have two mates.” She states and I snort.
“Yeah, it seems so.” I respond and she smirks.
“Warrick is going to lose his marbles when I tell him. He hated you being mated to one person, let alone two.”
She chuckles and it makes me smile.
“How are Warrick and Jax?” I ask and she smiles.
“Same old same old. Jax set fire to his room again. He is now in his first room since that was rebuilt. Warrick is the same. Grumpy and moody. Still playing his pranks with the girls though. They miss you. We all do.” She answers me and I smile sadly.
“I miss you all too.” I answer and she hugs me tightly before pulling back.
“Ugh. I need to get going, I have a meeting with Alpha Allison to interview candidates to take over. You’ll be happy to know that Alpha Stanley is to be sentenced to 50 years in the dungeon due to the poor
mistreatment of his pack members and Alpha Sebastian is taking over his pack. Warrick has also had the bright idea to challenge Alpha Clint. He is going to issue the formal proposal today and the challenge will be in a week and a half.” She catches me up and I smile.
“Can I be there for the challenge?” I ask excitedly and she laughs.
“If you would like to be, yes. It is a fight to the death.” She says and I smile cruely. The door opens and Addie walks in, looking off. She looks like she is going to be sick, but also happy. It’s a very weird combination.
“Adria, hon. Is. everything okay?” Mom asks and Adria eyes me warily.
“I.. I found.” She stutters. “My mate.” She whispers. Mother eyes her curiously, then me.
“WONDERFUL!” She yells and claps her hands, walking to Adria and taking her in for a hug. They stay like that for a moment and when mother pulls away, Addie looks a lot less green. She eyes me and I smile. I know she was excited to find her mate, but also scared.
“That is good news. AND you’ll be staying here? We will be able to be together.” I say, with some enthusiasm. She smiles and Kai walks in. The goofy smile on his face tells me everything I need to know and my forced smile turns into a genuine one.
“Oh of course it’s you. You two are going to be a pain in my rear.” I say. Kai bellows a laugh and Addie chuckles awkwardly. Killian and Zane walk in and clasp a hand on Kai’s shoulder, congratulating him.
“As much as I love this, I really need to get going. I am going to be late to my meeting.” My mother says, breaking up the party.
“Kai, why don’t you go with them and help Addie in packing. I am sure that her parents would like to meet you.
Killian says and Addie pales. I give her a reassuring smile. I hug mom, then go to hug Addie.
“He’s good. It’s okay.” I reassure her and she nods. She was here during the attack 11 years ago. It was her first and her job was to transport the warriors.
“We will see you soon, sweetheart.” Mom says as they dissipate.
