AS LONG AS THE SUN SHINES

ZARA

I felt an adrenaline rush as I ran up the mountain. I always loved a good challenge and I knew Anders was capable of giving me a run for my money.

I leaped in excitement when I arrived at the top of the mountain before he did. He seemed surprised as though he thought he was going to beat me.

"Didn't I tell you?" I bragged. "I spent the past few years training on this mountain so how could you beat me?"

He walked closer to me and tapped me lovingly on my head, "I'm so proud of you, Zara. I have something to give you."

I was surprised when he took out something from his pocket and opened his palm to reveal a choker. Its pendant was one of the most beautiful pearls I had ever seen.

"It matches your eyes," he said when I kept running my thumb on the pearl.

I stared at the choker on his palm for so long. It was a simple gift yet the fact that he had thought of gifting me something so unique made me emotional.

He moved to my back and placed the choker around my neck. I wasn't big on body adornments but I knew the moment he put the choker around my neck that I was never taking it off.

I felt the choker around my neck with my hands and turned to stare at him, "thank you for this, Anders. I will always treasure this gift."

He caressed my lips and cupped my face as he looked into my eyes, "Zara, I need you to know that I cannot imagine my life without you.

Always remember this; as long as the sun shines, I will never let you leave me. I love you."

I briefly looked up at the sun before looking back at him, "I promise you, Anders, as long as the sun shines, I will never leave you. I will love you until I take my last breath"

As the sun bore witness to our love, he pulled me closer and kissed me before burying my face in the crook of his neck. I wrapped my arms around him and held him so tightly, wishing that time would stop.

Suddenly we both heard the sounds of someone approaching. We pulled away from each other and looked around, it was from my territory. I observed from the top of the mountain where we stood and recognized him, Brandon, who was slowly becoming the bane of my existence."

I quickly went down, "it's Brandon, he can't see you here otherwise I am fucked. He will definitely fight you."

"Then I am more than ready to rip his head off," Anders replied, already showing his claws."

"No," I cried, "you can't do that. He's my pack's beta and leader of the warriors. My pack needs him."

Anders regarded me for a while and became calm, "in that case, I will see you at the boundary." He quickly shifted and descended the mountain with a swift motion.

I stared at the big white wolf in awe as he disappeared into his territory. Seeing how fast he moved, made me wonder if he had deliberately let me win against him earlier.

I looked in Brandon's direction again and realized that he was very close. Was he here for me? How was he able to figure out that I was at the neutral grounds? This wasn't good.

Anyways, if he wanted to speak to me, he was going to have to run up the mountain because I wasn't getting down for him. On a second thought, I realized it was a bad idea. Ander's scent was still all over the place, if Brandon figured out that there was someone up there with me, he was going to start keeping tabs on my every movement and I could not let that happen.

I descended the mountain and noticed him looking all over the place, yep, he was definitely here for me. I called out to him and when he turned and saw me, he took long strides toward me and I could tell that he was unhappy, well that made two of us.

"What is this I am hearing, Zara?" He asked

"I can't marry you," I repeated the words I had said many times, mostly to myself.

He stared at me in surprise, "why?"

I scoffed, "isn't it obvious, Brandon? I don't love you."

"But you have not tried to," he insisted. "Zara, I will give you everything; love, happiness, loyalty, respect, you name it. I will fight beside you against our enemies and together, we will bring powerful children into this world."

I rolled my eyes, obviously bored by his rehearsed speech, "stop getting ahead of yourself, Brandon, I have never given you any guarantees. All these things you want to give me, give them to Avery because she is the one who loves you the most."

"But I do not love her," he replied. "You are the one I love, Zara."

I smiled, "then I guess you understand the feeling of trying to force yourself on someone."

I was already unhappy that he ruined my opportunity to spend more time with Anders, I did not want to keep repeating myself so I turned to walk away. At the very least, I would be able to look at Anders at the boundary.

"Who is he?" He asked, halting my steps.

I turned to stare at him and he continued, "you had his scent all over you when I saw you earlier this morning. I am no child, Zara, I understand what that meant but I am willing to forget about that because of my love for you.

Listen, Zara, no werewolf will be a good fit for you as I will. Give me a chance."

"it is not your place to determine who is a good fit for me, Brandon. For the umpteenth time, I will not marry you and my decision is final."

After speaking, I turned and walked away without sparing him another glance. I reminded myself to be careful. Now that he had found me here, my relationship with Anders was in danger."