Ziana’s POV
1 stir and feel as if there is a body in my bed, with an arm wrapped around me. It takes a minute for my mind to catch up as I am enveloped in nothing but the smell of smokey teakwood. As soon as it does I bolt up and whip my head around.
Zane is laying next to me, the setting sun, slivers through his curtains on his face. It’s beautiful and tears come to my eyes as I realize he didn’t leave. The feelings of longing, hope, and worry fill me.
What if in time he decides to leave? To pull away? The only people who have stayed after knowing what I have done are the ones who were forced to be there with me.
I’m nobody. I’m a traitor, a spy who will turn on anybody without a second thought. That’s what they told me
in school.
I never missed the way people looked at me. Like I was untrustworthy, at any minute I could lose my
and turn on them.
mind
Not to mention I have no wolf. I’m defective, he deserves better than to have a mate like me. I don’t deserve to have a mate like him. I don’t deserve a mate at all.
My breathing begins to come in short as I begin to spiral. My throat constricts as my thoughts begin to muddy into memories.
I need to get out of here. Quickly I get up and run out of the door to my room. I hear Zane call after me but I don’t stop as I make my way to my room. I quickly reach the door and close it, running to the bathroom to
retch.
I lay my arm across the toilet and rest my head on it. My thoughts turn and so does my stomach.
Zane’s POV
I am startled awake when Ziana jumps off the bed and runs out of my door. I chase after her, calling her name, but she closes her bedroom door before I could reach her.
“Ziana?” I call outside of her door. There is this pit in my chest as I reach out to her.
“There’s my boy!” I hear cheered down the hall. I look down to see my father, his blonde and gray hair neatly pulled back, and his green eyes sparkling. His brows pull down in confusion as he walks closer to me. “Everything okay Zanie boy?” He asks and I smile slightly as all emotions flutter in and I hug my dad. It’s been almost 8 months since I have seen him. The feeling of warmth envelops me.
The emotion overwhelms me and I begin to cry. I haven’t cried in my father’s arms since my mother died. He squeezes me tight and waits until Jam calmer before gesturing down the hall.
“Let’s go somewhere more private and you can tell me what’s going on.” He says and I nod, sniffling and
smiling slightly.
I stare at Ziana’s door, hoping that it might open, but it doesn’t. I will come back later, after I get a handle on
my emotions.
We walk to my office, dad’s old office, and he pulls out the stash of whiskey and pours two glasses, handing
Chapter 38
me one and taking a seat in the chair next to me..
“Are you going to tell me or am I going to have to pull teeth?” He asks, after sitting in silence for a while. I sigh and set my glass down.
Everything pours from me. About the missing girls, Killian finding Ziana and bringing her here, me finding out she was my mate, everything that happened after. I grab my glass, taking another sip, trying to figure out how
to tell him the next part.
“Shew that’s a lot.” He says, holding my gaze, knowing there is more. “It sounds like Ziana has been through a lot. I heard more of her through my travels than I did here. There were a few people who spoke of her brutality, when she and the rogues attacked their packs. She was among a lot of the attacks. There are a few Alpha’s who assisted in the war recalled her and a blonde girl zipping through and saving others. Alpha Colton in particular recalled her exploding a person just as they were about to attack him. Quite the story, especially seeing him turn green, recalling the stench of the burnt guts over him.” Dad recalls, chuckling at
the memory.
“There are a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to her.” He says, watching my reaction. I nod, swallowing
thickly.
“What do you think of her?” I ask and he smiles sadly.
“From all of the rumors and stories, she seems like a young girl who was forced to be a part of something
she shouldn’t have been a part of. I am reserving any other judgment until I meet her though.” He answers
and I nod as he eyes me scrutinizingly.
“What is it?” He asks and I swallow. I don’t want to tell him about Ziana, but he deserves to know about mom
and aunt Rose. The look of concern in his eye makes my decision for me. He is a good man and I know that
he will think the way I do.
“The reason Ziana pushed us away wasn’t necessarily because we re–traumatized her.” I begin. “When she
was a child she was forced to help kidnap people, Luna’s in particular, in order to weaken the packs before an
attack.” I start to explain and I see the moment he realizes where I am going with this.
“She helped draw mother and Rose out of the territory, where they were overpowered and taken. She shared
that they became her substitute mothers, helping her, telling her stories and becoming her family. Once
Franklin saw the attachment, he.” I paused. “He made her kill them. After that she joined the attack on our
pack.” I say quietly. The glass in my father’s grasp shattered, causing blood to drip down his hand. He has
tears in his eyes.
“That b*stard.” He girts, squeezing his hand tighter, cutting himself further with the glass.
“Dad I.” I begin, but he shoots up, and begins pacing back and forth.
“How could he force a child to do that? I heard stories. She must have been what? Eight? Forced to kill her
only family? He should have been tortured before he died.” He begins to rant, then stops and stares at me
with a tear streaking down his face.
“How?” He asks and I know exactly what he is asking.
“Franklin threatened Ziana, immobilizing her and threated to torture her. Starting with her eye. Mother and Rose begged her to kill them. She complied and electrocuted them. It was fast.” I answer and he nods, more tears streaking down his face.
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“Can I meet her? I want to see her.” He asks and I shake my head.
+ Porite S
“She fell asleep in my room and I think it freaked her out. She ran out, I was going to check on her after we spoke.” I answer and he nods in understanding.
“Of course. I. I would like to meet her soon though.” He says and I nod.
“Of course.” I answer, standing up and hugging him.
“Dad. Could you refrain from talking with uncle Raegan about this? I don’t think Killian is going to tell him. At least not yet.” I ask and he eyes me.
“Please don’t tell me that kid didn’t think of the timeline.” He groans and I shake my head.
“I don’t think he did. He was and I am guessing, still is, upset.” I answer and he shakes his head.
“Stupid boy.” He mutters, making me chuckle.
I leave him in the office, and make my way to check on Ziana. It’s almost dinner time and I know she didn’t eat lunch. I need to make sure she eats. Blade growls in agreement at the thought.
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