Chapter 17

Zante POV

I had been watching Maggie all week without her knowing, but I needed to keep my eye on her. While doing that, I also noticed Stacey leaving at weird times and heading towards the city. I decided to shrug the feeling off; I had more important things to sort out. The dinner went okay. I guess. We all felt the pull as we left, and Maggie being so distant from us was making it worse. I hated that we had marked her without consent, but it was the only way to save her.

"Zante?" Kodan mumbles next to me, snapping me back to reality. I turn and look at him; his eyes are deep with concern. "Call her," and he gestures his head towards the forest. I pull my phone out from my pocket and stare at Maggie's name, hesitantly I press the call button.

"Hello?" Maggie responds through the phone.

"Hi, I was just checking in on you", I slowly respond, delicately choosing my words. 

"We are all fine. But, hey, do you fancy coming over? Just you." She says quietly. I glance at Kodan, who can hear the call, however, agree before placing my hand on his shoulder.

"Baby steps", Kodan sighs, running his hand through his hair before turning on his heel and leaving. I know Maggie was nervous, but Kodan and Zev could feel how distant she was from them. She had chosen to sit by me during the dinner with her parents and barely spoke to the other two. It angered me that she felt like this, but I knew it wasn't her fault; I didn't understand why she was so nervous around Kodan and Zev.

I shrug my coat on as I leave the house and watch as Stacey slips into the forest, glancing behind her as she does. Heath growls deeply, he knew she was up to something, but I was more intent on seeing Maggie. Stacey, although being an Omega and my instinct to protect her, didn't mean anything to me anymore. 

Nearing Maggie's house, I hear a female voice in the trees nearby. The excitement I had for seeing Maggie suddenly disappeared when I realised whose voice it was.

"We can't meet in the house; Maggie and her parents are there. Zante has the place on lock down. Scouts and fighters surround the house; we need to think of somewhere else. But Alpha!" 

I walk towards the voice and peer through some bushes. It was Stacey. Pulling myself through the vegetation, I show myself to her. She must have been so engrossed in her phone call that she didn't pick up my scent while I was hiding and dropped the phone immediately as soon as she saw me. 

"Fancy seeing you here, Stacey" I peer at her as she struggles to pick up her phone in a panic. 

"I... I'm just going into the city to do some shopping. I have my wages from helping the pack, and I want to spend it on something." She whines, showing me some cash in her bag. How much was I paying her for this? She seemed to have much money in her purse just from wages. Again I shrug the feeling off, which probably isn't the best plan, but I need to see MY Omega. Stacey gives me one glance and runs into the forest; I watch her for a moment until Maggie's scent hits me. 

"Keep an eye on Stacey, see what she is up to" I mind link Kodan and Zev, who both agree to watch her, even though they complained about babysitting. I turn to head towards Maggie's house when I almost walk into her, making me jump and almost shift.

"Lord Maggie, don't sneak up on me like that", I sigh, forcing Heath back down. When he realises who startled us, he turns into a puppy, rolling on his back and whimpering. Maggie giggles and looks up at me with her beautiful, emerald-green eyes. The flame flickered brightly occasionally, and when she met my gaze, she suddenly looked down and started work on a hang nail. 

I pull her face back to meet mine and feel her tense at my touch. Then, instantly let go, a wave of guilt floods through me. But, on the other hand, I am happy that she hadn't marked me back yet, as she would be able to feel the emotion ebbing through the bond. 

"Shall we walk?" I question her. I would do anything to spend time with her where she didn't feel unsafe or at risk. But, letting her take the lead, I follow her around the back of the house to a small stream. She sits down on a rock and gestures for me to join. I sit opposite her and lean against a rock, watching her eyes move up my body before meeting mine. I watch as she fidgets uncomfortably while her eyes roam over me. Then, smirking, I hold my hand out to her.

"You don't need to be scared of me, Maggie; I'm not going to hurt you", I purr softly. I could see she was struggling with the whole marking situation. We had just gotten to where she was giving into the bond, and now we are back at square one.

Maggie POV

I knew I shouldn't be worried about Zante, Kodan and Zev, and I could feel the bond tugging. Still, no matter how hard I tried, I instinctively pulled away whenever I tried to get close to them. My brain was telling me something wasn't right, but I couldn't pinpoint it. 

I could see in Zante's eyes that this was causing him so much pain, so I forced myself to take his hand and slowly fall into his lap. The last time I was in his lap, I felt so relaxed and safe, but right now, I was worried he would mark me again. He runs his fingers over my neck and his mark, and unconsciously I take a breath and let it out after he stops touching it. 

"We're Sorry", Zante stutters while staring into my eyes. I force myself to hold his gaze and squeeze his hand gently.

" I know", I mumble, looking down at our hands " I guess I was expecting it to be different and Jase..." I shudder at the thought of him. 

"We understand; we know you are still processing, but Kodan and Zev are also worried about you."

"Honestly, I'm finding it hard with them because I know you could command them to mark me again at any moment." Zante's mouth drops open briefly before composes himself, causing me to giggle at his expression.

"Maggie, you understand I didn't command Kodan and Zev, they didn't want to, but they knew that was the only way to save you. Is that why you are nervous around them? In case I force them to do anything to you?" 

"I meant Jase; I think he used the command on one of his mates to mark me." I stutter, pulling my gaze down to his hands again.

"Maggie, please," He says, pulling my face up to his. " We would never do anything to hurt you intentionally, and I would never command them to mark you." He smirks and wiggles his eyebrows at me. I instantly blush and hide my face in his chest. 

"I'm sorry, I just don't know what to think or feel right now", I whisper into his chest. My heart and body needed him, but my mind was racing.

"There is no rush, baby", he purrs nearly enough of a whisper and runs his fingers through my hair. I feel my body relax and suddenly sit upright, staring at him.

"I wasn't using my calling. I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to," He says, sighing slightly, as he pulls me closer. I frown slightly and decide to trust him and settle into his lap.

Stacey POV

I glance back to where I had just left Zante in the trees. My heart pounds like a drum, and I feel my anxiety heighten with every crack of a twig. What if they were following me?

"Alpha, this is too close to the territory, too risky," I say to Jase, hoping he will understand.

"You know our deal; you do what I say when I want it done. Your secret is safe with me for now; if you don't do what I ask, Zante will know all about how you got his Omega kidnapped," He purred venomously down the phone, causing me to swallow hard. "Put the cash where I told you to, and nothing will go wrong. Oh, Stacey, I need more information on his pack, such as how many fighters he has and his work routine."

After emerging from the trees and into the city's back streets, I lifted my nose and sniffed to see if anyone was around. Thankfully, I could smell only humans, and they rarely came back here, as it was too close to the pack. 

Finding the abandoned house and slipping through the back doors, I locate where Jase wanted me to hide the money. I could smell he had been here recently, but I hated how nearby the pack was. If Zante came much closer, he would be able to smell me.

*Done*  Sending a quick text to Jase; I leave after not getting a response. On the way back, I decide I want to see how many scouts Zante has positioned at the house. Alpha Jase seemed adamant that he wanted to meet there in the future and was not getting the hint at how locked down the place was. No one could get near it.

Pushing through the trees, I follow the stream that leads past the house; the scouts wouldn't bother me as, technically, I'm a pack member. I stopped hearing Zante's familiar voice, but I couldn't determine who he was talking to. 

Peering through the bushes, I could see Zante and her cuddled up by the stream. My blood boiled, and Crimson threatened to surface as my claws elongated and ripped through a tree next to me. I shake myself and tell Crimson to calm down. Yes, that should be me there, but she still hadn't marked him back. There was still a chance.