ALPHA VAN'S POV
My mate was being abused. Made a damn nameless slave.
The thought alone is nauseating, but seeing it for myself floods rage through me. It took everything in me to keep still in that house.
"You can sleep on the chair. Trip home is forty-five minutes."
My words fall on a frozen body. Still behind me, unmoving but raging in fear within.
Thank the gods I can feel some of her emotions.
I pick up my phone and deal with the cause of her deepest pain.
"Find me everything about Zade Astrid from birth till now." My voice low but carrying that controlling edge I've grown into.
It causes Zeph to flinch.
Physically, she's unmoving. But I can feel her.
I've grown accustomed to every one of her scents, abilities, traits I could pick. Instilled them into my core and wolf.
Thirty-three minutes into the quiet drive. Quiet... Zeph was talkative. Always with new theories.
I glance behind me. She looks fearful. More human than Priestess.
Weak.
That word is no definition of who Zephyra, High Wolveress of Homelin Household, is.
I think back to sixteen years ago. The Shift Ceremony. The happiest and shittiest day of my life.
The day that began the misery
***
****SIXTEEN YEARS AGO
****ZEPHYRA AT 8, ALPHA VAN AT 12
"Alpha Van, look!" Zeph's scream cuts through the celebration.
She runs toward me in her blue flowy gown, her wolf's tail glowing behind her.
Every head spins my way. Knowing what this means.
She's choosing me as her mate.
By nature, everyone's wolf calls out at age 10-14. Zeph's signs started last year. A persistent itch. A deep voice that surprised us. One time, she woke with golden eyeballs.
A rarity, which made people quietly call her the Moon Priestess.
Now at eight years old, she's completing her Wolf Birth.
"Keep her close." My dad says beside me.
"When both of you come of age, marry her as your Luna."
His voice clipped and quiet, carrying that business and calculated drip.
"We're just friends, Dad," I tell him lazily, and he grips my elbow hard.
"Don't be stupid." His tone harsh.
"That possible priestess definitely likes you."
His grip becomes stronger, painful as he whispers into my ear.
"You'll keep her close. Don't lose her to any of these little Alphas coveting her."
My gaze sweeps around my age mates and other men who look at running Zephyra with envy and desire.
I won't lose her to them.
I adore Zephyra. I agree with everything my dad says, but our desires for Zephyra are different.
He wants her as a tool. I want her as mine.
I wave at Zeph, who smiles brightly at me. Two of their house servants race behind her.
"Alpha Van, see! Grandma got me an Eagle neckl..."
Her feet step on her gown, about to trip before she can complete her joyous tale.
"LADY ZEPHYRA!" A few of the audience yell while the staff behind her tries holding onto her shoulder.
She fails.
I release my power to stop Zeph from falling, but a force pushes it back. I feel weak against her.
I shake off my father's grip, running to her.
"Ahhhhhh"
She falls onto my lap, straddling me. Her gown covers our legs while her hand rests firm against my chest for support.
Balanced. Our tangled bodies a mess of heat around me. My heart beats faster than usual.
Since I shifted at age ten, I haven't related well with my wolf. Now, I watch my hand transform into a brown shade. Moving on its own to Zeph's cheeks and she plays with it.
"Look at that! House Homelin and House Arnauld are mated families!" Someone says with joy.
I see my father's smile grow wide as he walks toward Zeph's dad.
Few people congratulate them but I ignore it.
"Are you okay, Zeph?" Worry laces my voice and my wolf retreats. One palm around Zeph's waist holding her, I check her face and body for bruises with the other.
None.
Some of the audience gathered for Zeph's Wolf Birth move to our parents when they see us together, safe.
"I'm oka..." She says with a soft smile, helping herself up before stopping. Her eyes sweep around my face.
And I breathe in, bracing myself for another mischief.
"Ahhhh ahhh, my ankle." She crouches down, holding it.
"Call the Doctor!" her dad, Lord Homelin, yells, but her mom stops him, understanding her game.
"You tripped on your left ankle, not right," I say, and she switches her palm to the left, fake screaming.
"It was actually right."
Everyone laughs at our exchange. Zeph's eyes narrow, her favorite practice when trying to show anger.
"You look so adorable."
I tease, tucking back a few strands of hair, but she scoffs at being caught.
"You annoying Alpha!"
My dad is the Alpha, but she chooses to call me this. It makes my heart flutter every time.
Embarrassed, she pushes my chest with her palm. A slight, playful tug.
But It sends me flying.
I fall flat on my ass, twenty feet away from her and everyone.
"Master Evander!!!" "Evander!"
The people and my dad scream, running toward me. All of them scared and worried.
I'm in shock myself. But my gaze searches for Zeph. She's not near me.
I see her where she fell, surrounded by the priest and her parents, who look at her like a mystery.
She looks fearful too, turning her palm around like it's foreign.
"Her power is even stronger now?"
"She can hurt others?"
"Is a child with such power allowed to be with us?"
The people nearby sound worried. A wolf can't use power till we clock twenty, nature's wolf age.
But Zephyra just pushed an Alpha's son a yard away. With just a slight push.
A few people have doubts about the safety of an eight-year-old's powers.
But all I want is to be with her. Protect her.
"I'm fine," I tell my dad and others, already on my feet to meet Zeph.
"Zephyra!" She looks up at the sound of my voice. Her dad hugging her from behind while the priest chants something.
"LOOK, I'm fine." My voice loud as I race to her, ignoring the pain coursing down my back.
"ALPHA VAN!"
Her scream match mine, joyful.
My gaze narrow, confusion gripping me before fear settles in... Not of Zephyra but behind her, at the alter of the ceremony, many wolves are emerging
Zephyra cries out my name as a wolf lifts her.
"Arrrg-hhh"
Another screams erupt from her mom as a formed wolf tears into her arm.
We're under attack. On a Shift Ceremony?
Those behind me run away while others, like my dad, shift into their wolves to fight. Protect.
But I remain still. In shock at the sight in front of me.
Seeing her mom's arm being torn apart, Zeph lifts up her two hands against the wolf that lifted her and transforms into a bright wolf with two heads.
The glow blinds few people. She kills all the wolves attacking in a loud roar.
Then I see someone stab Zeph's neck.
She falls.
Finally, I run. Screaming her name until my throat tears.
******
PRESENT TIME IN THE CAR
My cellphone vibration drags me from the memory that never stops haunting me.
"Yes."
"A few soldiers from Astrid family are here with a few slaves, Boss." Ronah, my PA, informs with fierceness.
"Send them back."
I should listen to why they're here, but I can guess.
"The Alpha isn't interested in your offer." Ronah's bluntness is why I have him as my PA.
"Our Alpha told us to not leave without the stolen slave." One of the soldiers snaps.
Ronah hangs up and I don't doubt he can chase them away before I reach. But I call him back.
My palm keeps twitching against the steering wheel. To release fire.
Stolen slave? Slave?
That practice was banished ten years ago, but the Astrid family refuses to abide.
Ronah picks after one ring.
"Chain them."
I call Naville and she picks immediately.
"Hey, brot..."
"Update?"
"Ashes."
"Well done. Help out Ronah at the pack house."
I hang up.
I look behind me. Zephyra is asleep, finally. Her face relaxed for the first time since I found her.
Perfect.
I drive faster now.
Ten minutes later, the iron gates come into view. They open automatically, recognizing my car.
I lift Zeph to her room.
"Welcome back home High Priestess"
I tell her then instruct the staff
"My sister will be here soon. Protect her"
She nods & I head to the council