6
Zeke
I was running away from the fact that I felt something for Valor and that feeling might be greater than my hunger for revenge. Right now I was at odds with myself, but after last night, after my confession. Maybe I could give this a try. Maybe I could forget everything that happened in our past and move on with the present. I was sitting under the shades of the trees opposite from the crystal clear lake with Valor. I had planned our picnic together as a way to foster our relationship and so far it had been going well. Except the part where some of the food I made were too spicy and that had Valor grumbling the whole time we had lunch together. He was lying on the floor with his hands under his head, looking through the canopy of trees that partly clouded the skies, the rays of sunshine spilling through and brightening his beautiful face. As I looked at him, I imagined what it would be like to actually give myself over, to fall in love with him and to have him in the way we both deserve and bring pleasure to his body. These thoughts were still a battle in my head, but as each moment passed, my desire for revenge blurred into a line of longing. For him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
He bit back a smile as he eyed me still in the same position.
“Nothing,”
I chortled and lay next to him. “Just charmed by the man lying right here with me.”
I smirked at him, then there was a sudden silence that followed my words. I reached out to him and ruffled his hair. “What is it, Valor?”
“I talked to the guy who killed me. I know things didn't go well with us, but I…”
Sadness masked his face as he struggled with the words. He rose to a sitting position with that look in his eyes. I drew closer to him and pulled him into an embrace.
“You know you can show me, right? If you can't speak about it then show me.”
I reassured him. He sighed and we knotted our hands together and shut our eyes.
Valor
I woke up early the next morning, joining Logan and the other wolves for an early morning run. Zeke joined this time around and I was head over heels into him. My wolf seemed indifferent, like something was wrong. But I had to give him time to readjust after all—Kane had chased us through the woods and tried to kill us.
After the patrol, we all headed back to our rooms for a shower and returned downstairs for breakfast. This time I had to catch up with my cousin, Anthony and how he was dealing with the duties since my absence. Anthony was away at the Sentinel Training Camp as one of the warrior wolves that oversaw the cadets in the camp. With me gone, Logan had pulled him back home to take on the duties at the pack, and I was glad he did because he had equally helped to take care of my father. “Hey, Anthony. I haven't gotten the chance to speak to you since I came back. Thank you for everything you did for me and my dad.”
“Sure, don't sweat it. We are family.”
“Yes. We are.”
“Besides, my brothers are out there trying to make babies and, like you, I'm unmated, so I don't have anyone to dedicate my time to, do I?”
“No, we don't. Just the pack. Um, I have to catch up with the Luna. It's really important.”
“Of course. I'll see you later.”
He said and headed out of the house.
I sauntered into the common room where Frey was pacing on the floor with her son. She gave me a smile and raised her brows when she saw the look of concern etched on my face. “Is anything wrong?”
“Um, I'm not sure if Aiden is still here. Is he?”
“He is, but Shannon asked us to put him away after he tried to kill Logan and I.”
“And successfully killed me.”
I chuckled and pocketed my hands.
“But you want to see him.”
“Yeah, but if he's still a danger to the pack, then no.”
“Don’t worry. I can protect us. I, uh, have to put Killian to bed before I show you to the basement where he is.”
“I can handle it.”
I shrugged warily. I wanted to be the only one who would see him and talk to him.
“You should know it's the same dagger Shannon used on Logan that we used to put him down.”
“Only witches can take it out, right?”
“I’m really sorry, Valor. I know how close you were to him.”
“Yeah, I used to think that until he killed me. How did you guys find my body?”
“He brought you back home and put a spell to preserve your body. I guess he wanted to work on something to pull you back from the other side.”
“But that's not possible.”
“It is. But it's dangerous and if it works, you won't be a wolf anymore among other things. See it's better to resurrect a witch than a werewolf.”
Frey explained and held her son, continuing the lullaby she was singing before I interrupted.
I found my way to the basement and saw the casket he was in. I pulled it open and glanced over at his body with a twinge of ache as to the unimaginable pain he was going through. I reached for his face and smiled, petting softly. Being here with him reminded me of the time that Frey was coming into her powers and we left the pack to find a way to pull her out of the dream state—when I put myself to save the Luna and
have the witches draw from the Delta spark.
Aiden ushered me into the house's kitchen and asked me to sit on the stool after I had tried to convince him I was alright. He didn't listen. Instead, he pulled out tissue paper and used it to stop my nose bleed, then he took my hands and muttered some enchantments that helped me regain my strength and hasten my healing factor. And the moment he closed his eyes, his beauty took me unawares, and I lost myself in it, and the way he smiled and talked. But I promised not to let myself think that way about him.
This man right here was the first to awaken a feeling in me, although we never really had a chance to explore that part between us, especially considering he was also a fuck boy. I rolled my eyes and chuckled, wiping of the tears that trickled down my cheeks. “I forgive you, Aiden. I need you to know that.”
I professed and pulled away from him, shutting the coffin and turning on my heels.
Kane
I saw images of some memories in Valor’s head and a flash of anger boiled in my blood. Just then, Valor reopened his eyes and a line of tears pooled from his eyes. I had no choice but to hide the rage with a smile, showing him affection by swiping off his tears and reassuring him that everything would be alright. That he had me now and I wasn't going anywhere. But what could he be doing with that monster, Kane Creed? How was he even alive? The last time I saw him, he was in his own pool of fucking blood. I needed to know more. I had to know how far that bastard had dragged him into his swindle. I placed my hands on his temple and for a moment, it was like the world stopped. His mind was open to me and I could see every single moment of his life, like movies playing on a television screen.
“Let’s see what you've been up to. Hmm, he calls you little wolf,”
I chuckled, and he sat there oblivious to what was happening to him. “Just a little tweak and we are back on track.”
I pulled back after implanting memories into his head. He regained his senses instantly and smiled, pulling me into an abrupt embrace.
“Zeke, you didn't leave.”
“I told you I wouldn't.”
I answered and forced a smile, caressing his cheeks in the most pleasant way. My skin still crawled that somehow my nemesis had wound back into my life after more than half a year of losing contact. I would do everything and anything to get rid of every single memory of Kane in his head.
The buzz of my phone saved me from giving into the anger I couldn't bear anymore, and I rose to my feet and took three steps away from him, answering the phone call, completely surprised that one of the wolves from the Eclipse was calling me. “Hello.”
“How many times have you guys fucked?”
The guy at the other end of the phone asked, and I rolled my eyes, certain that Valor heard him because of his heightened senses.
“Seriously, was this the reason you called me?”
“No. Just checking on you. I wanted to tell you what the leader said about you getting back on the team.”
I walked farther from Valor because I didn’t want him hearing this either.
“Well, what's the news?”
“No luck, Ezekiel. I'm so sorry. I tried to be convincing, but he just wouldn't listen to me. Besides we're out of the country, not sure if we're ever going to come back again.”
“Yeah, I know. I won't miss it,”
the realization that I just lost everything hit me and I instantly knew that the only person I had left was Valor. And Kane was coming after him. I wouldn't let him take him even if I had to manipulate Valor to keep them apart. I would do anything. I sucked in a deep breath, and hung up, turning to Valor with a sense of urgency lingering in my gaze. “Valor, I'm heading back to the Eclipse. They need me.”
I shot at him and he bolted to his fist with astonishment bleeding into his eyes.
“What? You can't just leave. You haven’t even stayed up to a week.”
“I told you earlier. It's really important. We need to get together for something very important,”
I declared. Valor just stood there watching me with an expression I couldn't decipher etching on his face. “I know we should talk about this, but…”
I was saying, desperation seeping from my voice as he cut me off.
“You are just going to leave the same way you left twelve years ago. You just left…”
He frowned, anguish appearing on his delicate features.
“Well, that's because you found a mate, and there was no reason for me to stay. I couldn't compete with her for you.”
“A mate who rejected me. You told me you were going to come back after you left before and now you're leaving again,”
I winced at his words. He's clearly confused from the memory manipulation I had used on him, making him think I was Kane. But either way, it still hurt him like a deep knife wound. “You know what it's fine. Go, leave! After all, that's what everyone in my life has done. If they don't try to kill me or maybe even succeed, they fucking abandon me, so go! I don't need you!”
he roared at me, his tone laced with annoyance. I was supposed to love seeing him in pain, but right now, all I wanted to do was comfort him, to hold him and tell him that I would never leave again. I shouldn’t feel this. Not for him. Not even in the slightest. But I did.
I cleared the distance between us and reached up to his face, but he swatted my hands off and barked, “Don’t touch me.”
I leaned in so close that we could both feel our breathing moving in sync. He didn't struggle. He just let me hold him. I claimed his lips in a kiss and pulled him closer to me, deepening the affectionate embrace, my lips finding its way into his tongue and tasting his sweetness. I pulled away, watching his eyes, which were captivated in awe, and I played with his brunette hair, grinning at him.
“I don't want to leave you.”
I mustered and leaned on his forehead. My eyes reflected the same turmoil that raged within me. What was I doing? This wasn’t part of the plan.
“I don't want you to leave either.”
“This thing between us. It's complicated, and I know we've spent these past days getting back to each other and putting the pieces of our lives together. I just want you to always remember that I care for you.”
“Please, don't leave me, Ezekiel.”
He cried. I had to actually wonder if he felt something for me, if this was for real. Maybe his love was enough for me to let go of every horrible experience I've been through. Maybe I should find the strength to subdue the hunger for revenge and just love him. I brushed my knuckles on his cheeks and grinned. “Do you want to come with me?”
“Yes, yes. I do.”
He answered without hesitation.
“What about your dad?”
“Anthony is here. He'll care for my dad. He's been taking care of everything while I readjusted with my life. I can't lose you again. I want you.”
He tugged at my shirt, but I could still see the uncertainty in his eyes, like he's torn between the decision he's making right now and not having to see me again. Or the fact that he felt something stronger with Kane and shared his first kiss with him. The thought of that monster having him sent a growl lodging in my throat. I had to ask myself again. Why am I feeling this for a man I had pledged to ruin his life? When I signed up for this, I wasn't supposed to fall for him. For a moment, I had to ask myself if he was so dumb that he didn't tell when his lie detection powers were working or the fact that I was telling him the truth. That I genuinely wanted him to come with me and that I enjoyed kissing him and would love to do more to his perfect body and make him cry out my name.
“You can come. But first you have to talk it over with your dad.”
I agreed with a hopeful smile.
“Alright. I need you to go back home and get our stuff ready. We'll leave tomorrow morning.”
***
Through out getting ready to leave the pack, all I could think of was how Valor managed to run into the bastard Alpha Kane Creed. He wasn't supposed to be here. He was supposed to be dead, but I guess he survived after I abandoned him in a pool of his own blood. What bothered me most was the uniqueness of the bond he felt with Valor. It was so genuine I felt it when I got into his head and manipulated his memories. That leech had crawled into his life and wanted to take him away from me. I grumbled under my breath. Valor was mine not his. He would never ever be his, and I would do anything to keep him away from Kane. I would make him see what I wanted him to see, twist his mind as much as I wanted it to be twisted. As long as he didn't end up with Kane and was always with me then I had no problem.
These thoughts moved back and forth in my head as I headed downstairs with our bags and put the luggage in the car. I had spent the rest of the evening getting ready for the journey while waiting on Valor to return from the hospital. He needed all the time with him because once we left, he was never coming back. I stayed on the hood of the vehicle as darkness encroached the earth and it was almost pitch black when Valor made it back to the pack house. “Sorry, talking with Logan and Anthony delayed me. My dad’s ok with it. Says we can visit from time to time.”
“Are you sure you're ready to leave all this behind?”
“Yes, yes. I am...am,”
he stuttered. He wasn't sure what he wanted. I had to make sure. I moved toward him and placed my hands on his temple. “I want to go with you. I know it's sudden, but it feels right.”
He proclaimed more excitedly than last time. I gave him a nod and proceeded to the other side of the vehicles, opening it and letting him inside. He thanked me and I crossed over to the bonnet, to the driver's side and got in. I turned on the engine of the vehicle, glancing at him. “There is something else,”
I continued, and he leveled his gaze at me. “I want to apologize for leaving you years ago…”
I was saying, but he interrupted.
“You don't have to.”
“No. Maybe if I had stayed, then I would have saved you from all the heartbreak you experienced.”
“Well, that heartbreak is what brought us together again. You see me for who I am without judgment, and I appreciate that. And I love you very much.”
The genuineness of his words still bothered me. I only smiled at him as I put the vehicle in reverse, drove around the fountain, and headed out of the house. Valor spent most of the journey telling me how his father approved and how his cousin was on board with everything. He also informed me about Logan and Frey’s agreement, and I chuckled at him. Most of the journey leaving the pack and driving half way through the country was spent with sharing our past life experiences. We had left the city by the time the clock struck midnight and Valor was already asleep after hours of his ramblings. I looked over at him, watching as he slept peacefully, with the feeling that he was protected in my arms. In that moment, all I wanted was to just hold him and never let him go, make him mine forever. I smiled and got my eyes back on the road. Maybe this revenge thing was wrong. Maybe I should just abandon the idea of killing him because the worst thing that could happen to me was Kane stealing him away from me. I couldn't bear the thought. I’d rather have him than anyone else.
I needed to get rid of that bastard because he was here to ruin things for me the same way he was the reason the Eclipse kicked me out.