by Sydney Addae
“Yes, Sir.” Storm took off running until he came to a remote area, he unleashed his claws stuck them into the wall. Nothing happened. He moved further down, stuck his claws into the wall, nothing happened.
“Barticus, why isn’t the wall opening?” Silas said, concerned.
“They’re working on it,” Barticus said.
Storm took off and ran further south. He jumped and landed on the limb of a huge tree. From this vantage point, he saw the soldiers searching everywhere. It was just a matter of time before they located him.
“Amynta said for him to try it now,” Barticus said several tense minutes later.
Silas repeated the instructions.
Storm hopped down, released his claws and tore open the wall. The moment they penetrated, soldiers ran in his direction, yelling for him to stop and fired weapons into the dense forest.
Storm continued opening the hole until it was large enough to climb through. Once on the other side, the hole closed as if it had never been.
Silence.
Storm waited to see if the soldiers would follow but none did. “The fragrances in that place messed with my nose. I couldn’t get an accurate reading when I first entered through the veil. I crossed and cross-checked for a whiff of her scent and found none,” he explained.
“Thank you,” Lucian said. “I appreciate your help. Please leave that place before they come after you.”
Storm smiled. “I am returning to my evening lodgings and await further instructions.”
“Do you get the feeling Storm wishes they would cross that barrier?” Angus asked Silas.
“Oh yeah. All that running, he’s got energy to burn and nowhere to put it. Once the plane is refueled, I’ll bring him home,” Silas said.
“What about Raven? Where do we look next?” Angus asked.
“Have the pups found anything?” Silas asked.
“No. All dead ends. Whoever did this is cunning and covered their bases well,” Angus said.
“So, we keep looking for Raven,” Silas said.
“Agreed,” Angus said.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THAT NIGHT AT DINNER, Zoe sat across from her father picking over her food while he ate with gusto. Her thoughts remained on the female in the chapel and Silvia’s demands. Who was she? Why did Zoe feel a kinship of sorts with her? It made no sense.
What really made no sense was Silvia’s insistence that she had to be the one to save the Pack and this woman’s life. Zoe was no hero and didn’t want the role. Still, it pained her to think of the female’s death.
“What’s wrong? You closed our links, why?” her father asked, watching her closely.
There was no way her thoughts wouldn’t bleed over into his and he would know about the hidden female without her uttering a word. She shrugged and didn’t answer. Let him think she was still angry over this morning’s discussion. He asked questions but didn’t listen. Case in point, Thiago sat at the table having dinner with them.
He looked at her a few moments longer, pushed back from the table and walked out.
Zoe’s mind was firmly on solving this new problem and she didn’t hear Thiago move his chair close to hers. Her beast growled low in her belly as she cut her eyes toward him.
“Back up,” she said in a low, angry tone.
He looked around the room, held up his hands and scooted back a few inches. “Look, I get you don’t like me or the role I played in your being here. Most times the feeling is mutual. Pity, since we were friends once but times have changed. Alpha Sacha is a good man with a lot on his mind, can you meet him halfway? He’s been worried about how this whole thing is going to go. He’s afraid to lose you again and doesn’t want to start a new den.”
“Why not?” Curiosity made her forget she didn’t like Thiago.
“There are several who would bed him and carry his pups but his heart is taken with your Mam. There will never be another for him. It’s the way of mates.”
There was that word again. It seems she heard it all day. “I see.”
“Do you?” The look he gave her made her sit straight.
“You’ve been honest with me, so I’ll be honest with you. I don’t want a mate. I’m not interested in dating or mating or hooking up or any of those things with anyone. My father asked me to stay six months and that’s what I plan to do. Someone very dear to me is sick and will need my help soon. She didn’t abandon me when she could and I won’t abandon her. Not now, not ever. I’m really sorry life messed me over and I have no memories of anyone here or the year before the Queen found me. That wasn’t my fault. The only memories I have are the last 14 years in Lyrill, my home.”
His gaze flicked over her shoulder and back to her. “I understand. Believe me, I do. Dating and mates or hooking up as you called it isn’t a problem or an issue unless you make it one. None of this is your fault or Alpha Sacha’s fault either. Both of you were victims. It would help if you tried to be more like Pack, that’s all.” He pushed back, stood and left the room.
Why did she feel worse after being honest with him? She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea and think she agreed with her father about them. There was and would never be a them.
She rubbed her forehead and tried to think. How would she leave Hidalgo land and get to an airport unseen? That would take a miracle. What about flights? Commercial? With a comatose woman? Get real. She would need to charter a plane. The short notice would take a bite out of her personal account but she could do it with no problem. The Queen had always been generous, and Zoe rarely spent her own money.
Optimistic, she worked out the logistics in her mind. She would hire a car to meet her at the airport and take her... She frowned. Take her where? Silvia didn’t give her an address in Honduras. No matter, she would get the address tomorrow. Once she dropped the female off she would take another flight back here. Her father would be angry that she left without telling him but he would be alive. The matter would be settled and closed.
She frowned.
Things never worked the way they should. She needed a backup plan and pulled out her phone. There were a few smaller airports with charters. Good. She would make arrangements later tonight in her room.
“You spend too much time on that thing,” her father said walking up to the table.
Her hand flew to her chest in surprise. Heart racing, she glared at him. “Do you like anything about me? You complain about everything.” She stood.
“Wait.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Nothing is going right. I wanted us to be like we were before, our den. So much time has passed and I wanted to spend this with you before... before I get too old. I like a lot of things about you.” He offered a peace-making smile.
“Yeah? Like what?” She crossed her arms and stared at him.
“You’re tall like me.”
She couldn’t help it and laughed.
“Strange gold eyes like mine.”
She shook her head.
“You’re smart and beautiful like your Mam. I’m an old man who wishes to turn back the clock and cannot.”
“Neither can I.” She tried to make him understand. “I can’t be this person you keep telling me I am. I’m Zoe. Whatever happened in the first 11 years of my life are lost. I have no knowledge of that time. What I do know is who I am now, and I like me. I think if you got to know who I am now; you might like me too.”
He held her gaze several seconds and nodded. “You want me to call you this new name?”
“It’s the only name I know,” she said.
He exhaled. “You’re right. In my mind, I know you’re right. My heart, it does not want to let go of the wee one I carried on my shoulders all the time and tossed in the air as she screamed for joy.” He exhaled. “I promise to do better. When I return we will do something together, maybe drive to the beach for a weekend. Would you like that?”
“Return? Where are you going?” Was he leaving tonight? Tomorrow? When?
He didn’t look at
her. “There’s something I need to tend to. It’s important or I wouldn’t leave like this.”
“Are you leaving town? How long will you be gone?” She couldn’t believe it. Had Silvia said or done something to clear the way for Zoe to leave?
“I don’t want to discuss it. I’ll return soon. Since there’s not much you can do around here, take the small truck into town if you want to get out or something.”
“The small truck?” she stared at him.
“My new one is off-limits. The smaller one is fine. Don’t hit anyone and try not to get into any fights. I’ll be leaving before sunrise.” He moved closer and gave her an awkward hug.
“Alright,” she mumbled against his chest.
In the corner of her eye, she saw Silvia cross the room and step outside holding a basket.
“Goodnight.” He left her staring at his back in total surprise of the turn of events.
“Don’t you have things you need to do?” Silvia asked from the hall.
Dang, Zoe would never question that woman again. “Yeah.”
“Come with me,” Silvia said.
Zoe looked around and stepped outside. They walked in the opposite direction of the chapel.
“Can you leave sooner?”
“Instead of at night?”
Silvia nodded.
“Yes. We may need to wait but I can still leave here.” Zoe looked around. “Can you at least wake her up so it won’t be so obvious?”
“We’ll discuss that when you come for Raven. Go, rest make plans.” Silvia walked away briskly.
Zoe headed back to the house, her mind whirling with tactics. It wasn’t until she was in her room that she realized Silvia had given her the name of the female.
THE NEXT DAY ZOE AND Raven sat in the hotel room waiting for the plane she chartered to arrive. It had been her rotten luck that there were no charters available out of the international airport she flew into last week. She chose this smaller airport that was three and a half hours from her father’s land.
She inhaled and looked at Raven who stared at the television. When she arrived at the chapel, not in the truck but in an older model SUV that was also parked in the garage, Silvia walked outside with Raven.
“Don’t worry that she won’t say much. Just get her home.” She handed Zoe a slip of paper with an address, a bag with food, and closed the door. “May the Goddess watch over both of you. Be careful.”
They made good time and would be in the air in another hour. Zoe couldn’t relax. Her father had sent messages, which she responded to. Her Mom called earlier, they talked briefly and then hung up. Fear that her Mom and sire were plotting to sabotage her plans almost made Zoe’s heart stop. She imagined several scenarios where they tag-teamed by keeping her on the phone while her father tracked her here.
She took several deep breaths and turned it off. The charter company would call the hotel and send a car to pick them up.
“Hungry?” she asked Raven.
“Yes.”
Surprised the woman responded, Zoe, opened the bag of goodies Silvia gave her this morning and fixed their plates. They ate in silence.
“How old are you?” Zoe asked. They looked to be close in age but she could be wrong.
Raven frowned. “I’m not sure.” She continued eating. When she was done, she pushed away her plate. “Thank you.”
“Are you glad to be going home?” Zoe asked.
Raven frowned again. “I think so.”
This was going to be harder than she thought. They lapsed into silence. Half an hour later, the charter company called.
Relieved, Zoe grabbed their bags and headed for the door. “Come on, it’s time to go home.”
Raven met her gaze, stood and followed her out the door to the limo. They were quiet during the ride. Questions flew around Zoe’s mind but she kept them to herself. The sooner Raven was home the better. Rather than take her all the way, Zoe would put her in a taxi and take the next flight to Colombia. If she was lucky, she would get home before anyone realized she left the country. Pleased with her new plan, she buckled up and prepared for takeoff.
Two hours later they landed at the airport near the military base. The car Zoe reserved was late. She checked returning flights to Bogota and could catch one in an hour. Pleased that something was working right, she walked with Raven off the flight and ignored the stares in their direction.
“Hello Raven, how’re you doing?” someone asked.
Raven smiled and waved but didn’t stop. The limo pulled up. Zoe opened the door and Raven slid inside the back seat. Zoe handed the driver the address, said goodbye to Raven and returned to the airport, ignoring the stares drilling in her back.
“I’d like to buy a ticket to Bogota,” she told the woman at the counter.
“We need you to come with us,” someone said from behind her.
Zoe didn’t turn around and continued looking at the human working the counter. When a full-blood sent the human on a break and took over, Zoe knew there would be problems.
“You need to come with us.” She turned and looked at two full-blood men wearing security guard uniforms.
Zoe stepped out of line, held up her finger to them and placed a call. “Mom, I’m in Honduras at the airport. Two full-blood security guards are telling me I have to go with them.” She turned the phone around so the Queen could see them. “What should I do?”
The men frowned and looked over her head at the man behind the counter.
“None of that’s important right now, I’ll explain why I’m here later. What do you want me to do?” Human passengers watched as they passed by.
“Come with us now,” the security officer said in a low voice.
“First off, I don’t know you. Why should I go anywhere with you? Airports are not any Alpha’s jurisdiction.” Later she would ask her Mom how she knew so much about Pack rules. For now, it was working.
“You cannot leave Honduras,” one of the guards said.
“Yes, I can.” Zoe met the security guard’s gaze.
“Our Alpha wants you to wait for him.”
“Your Alpha can meet me at home. I’m leaving in 15 minutes.”
They stared at her and looked at the crowd forming nearby. Zoe turned to leave. A human security guard stopped her.
“Miss Zoe?”
Suspicious, Zoe looked over her shoulder at the full-bloods and nodded.
“Queen Miriam sent us to escort you to your charter.” His words held a ring of truth but before moving, she verified it with her mother. Four men ran through the concourse to join him.
“Mom, is there something you want to tell me? How did these men get here so fast?”
“Be serious, Zoe. There’s no way I’d allow you to travel anywhere without security in the shadows. You’re my daughter, a Princess. They’re always nearby. Go with them, I’m arranging for a plane to return you to Sacha. Safety first, then you’ll explain what in blazes you’re doing in Honduras.”
Turning she walked down the concourse toward the waiting area for her flight. She thought of all the trips she had taken the past two years and shook her head over her mother’s long reach. That was one formidable woman.
Within an hour Zoe was in the air and returned to the small airport. She picked up the car and was home before nightfall without talking to her father or Silvia. Tired, yet pleased with herself, she fell asleep with no idea of the storm headed her way.
CHAPTER TWENTY
LUCIAN DROPPED EVERYTHING in Costa Rica and returned to the Alpha house in Honduras the moment he received Duke’s message of Raven pulling up in a limo and walking to the door. She looks dazed. Couldn’t remember much beyond her flight and a pretty female on the plane. He still couldn’t link with her and that bothered him.
His heart leaped in his chest as he strode through the door and picked up her scent. It was lighter than before but definitely her. Eager to see for himself, he tore through the living room and ran to her bedroom. The door was ajar.
Duke sat in a chair in the corner watching Raven sleep. Profound relief staggered him.
“She’s been sleeping since she got home.”
Lucian didn’t care. She was safe and home where she belonged, that’s all that mattered.
“It might be a good idea to scan her now while she’s sleeping. Make sure she’s alright,” Duke said.
Lucian looked at him, thought about it and sat on the side of the bed. He placed his palm on Raven’s forehead to read any recent memories for clues of what happened to her. There was nothing. Not even the day she left the office. The last memory was from their dinner. Next, he did a slow physical scan to make sure she was alright. There were no memory bubbles in her head, thank the Goddess. No sexual assault. No bruises.
“She’s fine,” he told Duke.
“Thank the Goddess,” Duke said. “You should have seen her when she got here. It was like she didn’t know who or where she was. It took a while for me to get her to understand she was home. Our links still don’t work.”
Lucian frowned. “Tell me again how she got here.” Now that Raven was safe, he wanted answers.
“A full-blood from Colombia, at least that’s where the chartered flight flew from, brought her. I’m waiting for more information.”
“Full-blood? All this time we thought humans took her.” Lucian shook his head. “Who is she? Why didn’t they hold her?”
“They tried. She refused to stay. Stated that no Pack owned the airport and human security guards escorted her to her flight. We couldn’t get to her without making a scene,” Duke said.
“Find out her name. Who chartered the flight and where it landed?” Lucian said incensed the woman slipped out of their hands.
“Working on it.”
“Um.” Raven rolled over, drawing their attention. Her eyes fluttered open and she squinted up at Lucian.
They stared at each other for a few moments. His heart squeezed tight as he sent another silent thanks to the Goddess for Raven’s safe return.