CHAPTER 17:

(Two years later:  Zeki)

He was looking out the window. His men were training in the field while he chose to stay in his room today.

They were not only practicing with swords and daggers but were also training to aim their targets with Beretta M9, Glock 18, and M16A1.

He could hear the shooting sounds in his room.

Ahava Moon pack was the most powerful pack in the world but the moment he became the Alpha of the pack he started working on it to make it stronger, more dominating, and more influential by merging the smaller packs in it.

There was a slight knock at the door and then it got opened. There was only one person who never waited for his answer or permission to enter the room.

“What is it, Kate?” Kate smiled and hugged him from behind.

“I was missing you.” And when he did not reply to that she did not show any reaction, “I’ve heard you have called a pack meeting this evening. What is it about?”

He tilted his head a little with a soft smile, “You would be there in the meeting. You did get the invitation, right?” He was not ready to give away the details.

Removing her arms Kate came around to stand beside him.

 The beautiful man standing there had taken away her heart two years ago when he came to their pack and claimed his rightful place as an Alpha. Before him, her father who was the former Beta of the pack was juggling between the responsibilities of an Alpha and Beta.

 Now her brother Joshua had taken over the Beta responsibilities.

She had turned twenty this year and still had not found a mate. Just like him.

Ever since he came here she tried to stay close to him, befriended him. But after a certain limit, he used to push her back not allowing her to cross the invisible line drawn by him.

For her, it was love at first sight

He was intelligent, brilliant, and sinfully handsome. Could carry an intelligent conversation. Was a perfect shooter, knew how to use a dagger and sword.

His sword fighting used to remind her of the adult scenes in the movie, which her mother used to fast forward in her presence when she was a kid. He was unbelievably fast while fighting with his amazing moves.

She on the other hand became the pack warrior to stay close to him.

When she told her parents about her decision, her mom was baffled.

“Have you gone crazy Kate?”

The girl was always fond of cosmetics, hair styling, and fashion. Always updated about the new fashion trends, was suddenly interested in becoming a fighter.

“Mom. I have never been so sure in my life.” She smiled convincingly.

“But Kate, this is something too different to try this time.” This was her father, but she turned a deaf ear to all those, opposing her ideas.

They were fine with her brother fighting on the battlefields but the idea of their daughter dancing along the field did not sit well with them.

Later her father squeezed her mother’s hand when they were alone, “Don’t worry darling. Let her do whatever she wants. Just mark my words. She will be back within a week.”

The weeks turned into months and months into two years and Kate had become one of the most savage warriors.

She used to enjoy fighting along with him, observing him, just looking at him. Other girls used to envy her. They used to taunt her about not having a mate yet girls of her age had become mommies. 

But now they used to look at her grudgingly. The whole pack was under the impression that somehow they would be mated and she would be the Luna.

She used to accompany him everywhere. She did cherish his friendship but she wanted more. She wanted to become his shadow. Always near him, ready to absorb in his body, not letting him go.

Men in her pack and from neighboring packs used to approach her for dating purposes.

They used to pay her father visits to accept their proposals. They just wanted a chance with her and why not?

She was the most beautiful woman they had ever witnessed. After becoming a warrior they felt more attracted to her.

But her heart only belonged to him. On the other hand, he seemed completely oblivious to her charms. Too immune to her spells.

“You did not have your lunch this afternoon. Should I bring you something?” She placed a hand on his arm.

He felt a little irritated now. He personally liked Kate but he was not planning to start any romantic relationship with her. Not now, not ever.

Very gently he removed her hand and at last looked at her, “I need some time to take rest. Do remember to attend tonight’s dinner.” Taking a deep breath he started walking towards his bed, “Don’t forget to close the door after you leave.”

In other words, he was dismissing her. She felt hurt but did not let it show on her face and nodded her head with a smile.

“Take rest my Alpha.” With that lifting herself on her toes she gave a peck on his cheek and left.

Ezequiel James closed his eyes in anticipation. He was not a kid but a grown man with desires. But his heart only desired of her. He had to stay faithful. He promised her two years ago that he would return to her. He had to fulfill his promise.

A series of flashbacks started playing in his mind. It felt like yesterday.

He asked Albik to follow her. Albik was the only companion he was left with. He was in pain with no one to turn to.

He started torturing himself by shunning his family away from him. His family despite being hurt respected his decision. They hid the news from everyone except a few that he had become disabled. They did not want media trials for their son.

They wanted to hide it as long as possible. As a crown prince, they thought he deserved it.

He had given up on his life and wanted to suicide but she saved him.

And then she conveyed her grandmother’s message. It was meant for him. He was about to turn 18. He started planning an escape but postponed it because of her. To keep her away from any trouble. To keep her safe.

He planned to do it as soon as he would be shifted to another city. But someone informed him that Albik was killed. Somebody was following him that night. That night he lost his only ally, someone more than his brother, his partner in crime. And he could not do anything to save him. He blamed himself for it but he got more worried for Zella now.

Her life might be in danger. But his informant told him that Albik was killed near the palace and no lady was seen around.

The night he was shifted to the other city’s hospital care unit, he started planning on his own. Without letting anyone know. He had to do it alone. Albik was not there to take him to the roof-top.

So he had to do it in his private room. It was midnight, few minutes to his birthday. He made sure that nobody was around him. He asked everyone to give him some privacy.

He wanted to believe that the message from Zella’s grandmother was meant for him…

The moment the clock struck midnight he started waiting for his transformation. And then after some time, he started feeling it. It started gradually, the bone-shattering pain was making him crazy. He took the bedcover between his teeth to suppress his screams.

After a certain time, slowly and gradually the pain started to subside. When he overcame the pain and looked down, he could see his paws covered in jet black fur.   

It had been months when he last saw the light or any object. He was looking at everything with his own eyes now, he was standing there on his legs.

Though they were shivering like hell but he knew that it was temporary. He turned his head and found a glass wall behind the curtain. With a smirk, he shook his head and ran towards it to jump through the glass causing it to shatter.

The clamoring was heard in the whole facility.  He did not get hurt, did not feel any pain. Even after the jump from the top floor of the medical facility, he was standing there, but in his wolf form.

He could feel his senses becoming sharper. The moment he heard some commotion inside the building, he started running. Entered the forest and kept running. He did not know about his destination but it seemed like someone had taken the control of his body.

“Hello, Ezequiel. I am Caleb, your wolf.” He heard someone speaking in his head.

“Where are we going, Caleb?” He was now getting tired of all the turmoil and chaos of his life and Caleb seemed to understand it.

“We are going to the place where we belong. To our pack. Go to sleep Ezequiel. Just lay back and chill.”

With that Ezequiel gave the control to Caleb and when he got consciousness he was standing butt naked in front of former Beta and his son, Joshua.

They took him in. Got the proof of whatever they needed. Trained him, which was just a formality because his father King Lucas James had already done a great job.  

He had sent away Kate with the excuse that he wanted to rest however he did not have any plans to even bat an eye.

He was having restless nights ever since he arrived here.

Standing near the window giving a damn if Kate would catch him standing there instead of taking his rest. Just then his eyes fell on a child running towards the field where warriors were practicing with their swords.

He bellowed and was quick to go out of his room, and started running downstairs. Kate saw him racing to the door and shouted after him, “Ezequiel!”

But when he did not pay her any heed she ran after him.

He mind linked Beta Joshua to prepare a medical team at the packhouse. After causing all the havoc the child was now standing there, with his palms covering his ears and screaming at the top of his lungs.

The warriors had stopped practicing and now there was a pin drop silence. Even the birds had stopped chirping.

Ezequiel went to the kid hurriedly and lifted him in his arms. He started saying soothing words in his ear. He had grabbed him to his chest a little tightly to offer some comfort.

When the kid got quiet and his breathing became normal he tilted back his head to look at the Alpha with his big blue eyes. His one hand was clutching Ezequiel’s shirt.

He was around 6 to 7 years old with golden hair falling on his forehead.

The kid reminded him of Noah.

When he reached near packhouse, a lady was standing there with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Are you the mother?” he asked a little sternly and just shook his head when she nodded her head guiltily.

“I am sorry Alpha. I was working in the packhouse kitchen. I don’t know when he ran towards …” she could not continue and started crying silently.

The Doctor came and checked the child. There were no injuries but he was just frightened, not able to let out any word or sound.

“He would recover, just give him some time.” His mother came forward to take him in her arms but he clung to Ezequiel.

His mother was amazed, “Sorry Alpha. He usually avoids strangers. I don’t know what got into him.”

Ezequiel did not utter a word but kept staring at the boy, who did not seem frightened by the Alpha.

Just then a strange wish crossed his mind.

 A wish to have and hold his own child.

He needed to go back to her. As soon as possible. She must be waiting. It was time to fulfill his promise.