Chapter12
Ziana’s POV
After I pack my bag I climb out of the window and sprint like I’m on fire. Which might be preferable to this.
I can’t have a mate, I don’t want one. I don’t deserve one. I can’t have one. The trouble I would bring to his pack. The hunting I have been doing would be over. Goddess, why would you mock me with this? Why do you hate me?
I avoid all of the warriors and make it to the pack border. I hear the footsteps and focus my hearing on them. They are far away and sound like a patrol run. I focus back in just in time to see a tree right in front of me. I smack my face on it, nose flattening at the impact, a zing makes its way through me and then I bounce off.
Before I fall, arms catch me. Nope, not a tree, just my damn so called mate.
“Why’d you run?” He asks, roughly. I can’t tell if he is angry or sad.
“I can’t.” Is all I say before sending a shock through him, forcing him to let me go, I begin to run again before I smack into him again and he wraps his arms around me. Curse the transportation gift.
“Let me g.” I begin to struggle, but then feel a prick in my neck and a warmth envelops me. My legs stop flailing and my body begins to feel like lead.
“What did you do?” I ask before everything turns black.
Alpha Killian’s POV
Ziana rushed out of her mom’s office and didn’t even look at me. The fact that she tried to reject me has crushed me and my wolf. Her actually saying the beginning words of the rejection hurt so much worse than when I thought she was ignoring me.
“You can come back in.” I hear the queen call and I enter back into the cosy office. I take a seat this time on the small loveseat she has. My leg is bouncing up and down with anxiety.
When I look at them they are eyeing me with apprehension.
“Ziana has agreed to give the bond and chance. If after three months she still would like to reject you, she will.” King Warick says, stomping on my already broken heart at the thought of her completing the rejection.
“She is my mate. I won’t lose her.” I say and he nods his head in understanding, but then his eyes get hard. He walks closer to me, his aura smacking me in the face.
“Do you know WHY I gave her three months?” He says, dangerously and I shake my head.
“We had a mating ceremony invitation arrive yesterday between you and Alpha Collier’s daughter, Rebecc Set for three months from today.” He says and I go still. Sh*t I didn’t think they sent those out yet.
“Here’s the deal. You will give a true try with the matebond, just as Ziana will. If at the end of three months, she rejects you, you can still have the ceremony.” Alpha Warick says and I shake my head.
“With all do respect sir. I won’t be doing that. Ziana is my mate and I will not disrespect her by keeping an engagement with another.” I answer and a smile spreads across his face. This was a test, and I am assuming from the smile, that I have passed.
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< Chapter12
“Good. Now we need to explain some things.” He says, turning a chair and sitting down in it. Queen Evan does the same with the other chair.
“Alpha Killian. We are not at liberty to explain why Ziana wanted to reject you, that is for her to tell you, once she trusts you.” Queen Evan says and I nod in understanding..
“I can respect that.” I say as she reaches out her hand and opens her palm, revealing a syringe. I take it and eye it in confusion.
“She will try to run away and won’t go calmly, this is a sedative. We love our daughter, but we also know her. She is feeling trapped and her only way out, in her mind, is to run. We figured with you having the transportation ability, it would be easier for you to get her when she runs. The sedative should last around 12 hours, but we don’t know with her. We recommend leaving as soon as you sedate her, since your drive back is 9 hours.” She explains and my eyes widen. They are trying to help me.
“If this is another test, I may fail, because I will use this to bring her back with me.” I say and they smile slightly.
“No. It is not another test. We both respect the mate bond and the goddess chose you two to be together for a reason. We want to help in any way we can.” The queen says and I nod.
“But don’t take our kindness for granted. If you hurt her we both will torture and kill you, justice court be damned. We already organized a few bumps for Alpha Clint.” King Warick warns and I gulp.
“Of course sir.” I say, and then register that they are doing something to Alpha Clint. I don’t know what it is, but after hearing that Ziana stabbed his hand at lunch and what happened during the conference, I don’t like him.
The queen stiffens and she looks at me, but her eyes are unfocused. I have never seen anything like it. It must be her gift. Her eyes focus back on me and she smiles sadly.
“She is running. South east direction. Warriors know that you are to gather her, they will not interfere.” She says and I nod, going over to the window and looking at a particular spot. The next thing I know, my body feels light and then heavy, as I land on the earth in the spot I was looking at.
My heart hurts, but determination sets in as I smell oranges and cranberries. Following the scent I finally catch up to her.
After I sedate her, I bring her back to the castle, allowing her parents to say goodbye, even if she won’t remember it. They already packed a duffle bag for her and informed my warriors to have our SUV’s ready. I carry her into the vehicle and sit with her on my lap.
Brushing the hair off of her face, I can’t help but admire her beauty and strength. The bolt she struck me with tells me that she doesn’t want to hurt me. I know she could have killed me if she wanted to. She just sent enough to force me to let her go.
I study her face, her long dark lashes fluttering, the only makeup she has on is a scarlet color to he. sable lips.
I frown as I trace the scar along her face.
“What happened to you little one?” I ask, even though I know she won’t answer me.
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