ZIRA
James taught me a few new techniques, like using my opponent’s size to get them to the ground, going from defense to offense in quick succession, and learning how to use my foundation to add power to punches.
After training, the three of us went back to the pack house. I set Arias up with some toys James got from the market. I sat on the couch to read, only to have James pull me into his lap.
“See, isn’t this more comfortable?” He whispered, kissing a sensitive spot behind my ear.
“Sure, just don’t distract me,” I said, picking up one of the many books I’ve been reading. “I never get past a few chapters before you start...”
I moaned softly as his lips found their way down
ISABELLAI’m so bored!I was sitting at the Alpha’s desk, reviewing a few documents. To the left of me were piles of financial papers that showed every expense needed to run the pack and every expense made for the pack. On the right side were papers from neighboring packs detailing our alliance and trade.The middle of the desk housed countless ‘Get Well Soon’ and ‘Sorry for you lost’ cards made from the pups of our pack. I sat the papers down and looked at the two Alphas sitting in front of me with their Betas near the door.“Thank you, Alpha Fennec and Alpha Tariff, for traveling so far for this meeting. I know you were supposed to be meeting my brother today, but, as you see, there’s a slight change of plans.”
ISABELLAI needed to check in with Victoria, but she wasn’t at physical therapy like she should have been. Lately, she’s been trying to walk independently without help and gets frustrated when she can’t. So, she’s been lashing out at me these past months.I walked through the hospital looking for her when I bumped into Mary. She was attacked by Alaia, also. Though, I never understood why she was there in the first place. According to her, she had been spying on Alaia, along with Victoria, for a while now. Victoria corroborated her story when she explained the events leading up to her getting hurt.Alaia has been manipulating Zira from the beginning. Heck, manipulating a lot of people without us noticing. Of course, we had an inkling, but nobody could prove it. Victoria’s last memory was Zira whispering
ISAIAHI groaned as I covered my eyes from the brightness. The lights above me were colorful, and I thought I was dreaming momentarily. The bed I was lying on was rough and wasn’t doing me any favors. I moved, and my body protested with muscle aches and pain.I have to remind myself to get a new bed. I finally opened my eyes enough to notice I wasn’t in my room. Instead, I somehow found my way into a bush. I was outside. I slowly sat up, pulling twigs and leaves out of my hair.My vision was a bit blurred from the raging headache, but at least I could tell I was still in my pack or at least near it. I looked up at the lights and realized they were the festive ones I put up last year. They were for Zira.Zira.
ALAIA“I said no talking,” I growled.I shoved a piece of cloth into Nas’s mouth as I rode him. For the past months, I haven’t been able to find anything on James. The stupid scarf didn’t do me any favors. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get his exact location. I was so close to him that day. So close to being with him. It was frustrating. So frustrating, I needed an outlet.Entered Nas. Ever since that day I rescued him from the dungeons, he’s been quiet. Too quiet. I felt he wasn’t grateful for the fact that I saved his life, even those of his men. I was the one who ordered them to escape and burn down Mirja’s bar before Isaiah’s men got there.I gave them a place of refuge when the ‘secret’ b
ALAIA Two of Nas' men walked through the door. I released Nas, and he fell to the floor. “It seems Nas doesn’t like the comforts I’ve provided him, so how about we take him somewhere he could be more comfortable. You like dungeons, right? Been in one before, so I figured you might like the familiarity. Besides, I hear the stone beds are to die for.” The two men grabbed him, and he looked at them surprised. “What the hell are you doing? She murdered two of our brothers. It’s her we should be detaining.” A lot has changed since that night on the cliff. When Nas was caught, I knew I had to find a way to get as many rogues on my side as possible. What better way to start than his men? Do you know what speaks more volumes between loyalty and money?
ZIRAI sat there at the side of my parents’ house. Still shocked by the scene before. There they were, sitting around the dining table, Each in their own world. No one spoke, joked, or even looked at each other. We were never this quiet at the dining table.Granted, most of the sounds came from me eating, but there’s usually conversation. My mom talked about her day at work, and my dad talked about training the younger pups. Even Zed threw in an ‘I’m better at everything,’ comparing himself to his friends.Even the scenery looked drab, and no dessert or cookie was in sight. There was nothing, and it was probably because of me. I grabbed my hair in frustration, trying to keep my tears at bay. I blocked my mind from James, or he would instantly be on alert and come find me.
ISAIAH I didn’t even remember stepping off the edge. At that moment, I felt like I was floating, and the wind lifted me over the cliff’s edge. Oblivious to the world around me when I felt myself being yanked back and pulled into someone’s arms. My vision was still blurry, but I got a faint hint of cinnamon. At first, I thought it was Alaia, but why would she be here? I won’t lie and say I wasn’t hopeful she would return to save me. I knew that was my heart talking. It still called out to her even now. I focused on my vision as I felt tears on my face. Were they mine? I wondered. When my vision cleared, I saw her eyes first. Warm, hazel eyes looking over me. She was speaking, but I couldn’t pay attention. My brain was trying to wrap my he
ISAIAH After the little reunion at the hospital and Isabella chewing my ear off because of what happened on the cliff earlier, we all returned to the packhouse. I was sitting on the couch holding my little Zacharias. Zacharias. I couldn’t help but groan at the name. Now, that was something I would have to get used to. What was she thinking? Naming him after that…that insufferable man. I could already see Zack’s smug face in the back of my mind. Maybe I could convince Zira to go with just Arias. “Our son,” Devon said. “Yeah, buddy. We had a hand in this. He’s perfect.” I was
ISAIAH Water splashed on my face for the hundredth time as my son’s laughter filled the bathroom. I looked down at Arias, who apparently got a kick from throwing soap in my face. Each time seemed to make Arias laugh more. “Arias, we’ve been in here for twenty minutes. You have to let me wash you,” I said, trying to grab him, but Arias slipped out of reach. “That’s it. I’m coming in.” Arias shrieked, trying to get away from me. I couldn’t help but laugh. Who knew bath time could be this fun? After another ten minutes or so, I was able to thoroughly wash and dress Arias for bed. I laid Arias down in his crib and grabbed a book to read from the bookshelf. Arias climbed out of his crib and
ZIRAI stretched and yawned as the light from the window crept across my face. I reached across my bed and realized it was empty. I instantly sat up. Panic starting to set in. I looked around the room for him, and it was empty.I was on my way to get out of bed when the door to my bathroom opened. James walked out and noticed my panicked face. He cocked an eyebrow, with a smile playing across his face.“What?”“I thought,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “I thought you were gone.”James laughed. “Where would I go?” James asked sarcastically. “You barely let me pee without hovering over me. And that snoring-”
ZACKAfter Alaia’s death, getting things back together slowly improved as the days passed. I took her body back to my pack to have a proper burial. Mirja didn’t think she deserved it. She wanted to burn the body, but I stopped before she could.True, Alaia was evil, and I knew that. However, she was still my sister, and I felt partially responsible for everything that had happened. So, I brought her home and buried her next to our parents. She was their problem.After that matter was settled, our days were filled with rebuilding the Blue Moon Pack. With the help of Alpha Isaiah and Alpha Fiona, we were now working at a ninety percent capacity. Most of the houses were rebuilt, and Bronx proved to be a responsible Beta. George and Harry came around more often. Harry was obsessed with Mirja’s knowledge of
ISABELLA"No, no, no!"Luna Bella's screaming filled the entire hospital room and down the hall. She sat in bed, holding her hands out in front of her while Victoria stood in front of her. Victoria sighed, holding a teacup of medicine in her hands."Luna Bella, you have to drink this to get better," Victoria said to her, clearly frustrated. "Are we seriously going to go through this every morning?""Are you seriously going to force me to drink that crap," Luna Bella growled at her.Hitting the breaking point, Victoria growled back. "Drink it!"Luna Bella leaned back with a shocked expression before glaring at Isabella, who sat back, watching everything unfold.
THIRD POV After her little laughing fit, Alaia turned her attention back to Mirja, who was trying to claw her way out of Alaia’s grip. Alaia could see her brother stalking back and forth beyond her little shield, looking just as helpless as his little mate. “You know,” Alaia started with a malicious smirk, “it tickled me when I found out you were my brother’s mate. All this time, I couldn’t figure out why you always dismissed my plans of wanting to kill him. Subconsciously, you were always on his side. You just didn’t know why. So now I’m going to enjoy killing you while he watches.” Alaia tightened the hold around Mirja’s neck as Mirja gasped for air. Alaia was so wrapped up in her fury to kill that she didn’t notice anyone entering her space until the last moment. She whipped around and came face to face with James. 
THIRD POVAlaia blocked another attack from Deacon as he pushed her away from Arias and Zira. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Zira finally getting up and assessing the situation.Alaia looked around, confused. James’ wolf, Deacon, was attacking her, but she could clearly see James’s body in the hall. Unfortunately, her mind was so clouded that she couldn’t figure out who was real. Besides, this wolf was moving too fast for her to focus on attacking.This…this wolf had to be an imposter or some sort of trick. She thought.Deacon kept attacking her, pushing her back, and she could feel herself getting weaker, or maybe it was tiredness. She watched Deacon stand between her and Arias. The one whos
THIRD POV It took a moment for Zira to realize she was being carried. Then, she looked up and saw James, who noticed she was awake. “You...you rejected me,” Zira said softly, and it tugged at James’s heart. “James would not reject you, Zi. I can tell he loves you,” James said to her. Zira looked at him, confused. “You’ve never called me Zi before, and why are you speaking in the third person?” “I’ll explain when I get you as far away from here as possible,” James said as he proceeded down the long hallway. They descended a few hallways before Zira squirmed out of James’ hold. “No,” Zira screamed. “I have to get Arias. I have to find him.”
THIRD POVThe sounds like that of beating drums echoed throughout the woods as werewolves collided with each other. More rogues descended upon them as they tried to hold the line. Deacon maneuvered as best as he could, taking down a rogue every step of the way, but they seemed to be multiplying. He did his best to concentrate, but he felt pain spiral throughout his body occasionally.Zira. He had to get to her, but there were too many obstacles.“Portals are open,” George linked him.Deacon immediately started running towards George when a rogue jumped right before him. Maybe it was because he was only a few minutes away from her, but he felt a new kind of energy surge through him.
THIRD POVMary gripped the bottle behind her back as the rogues glared at her. She tried controlling her fear as she approached them, but it slowly took over as she felt her legs shaking slightly. She was still just an Omega with meager fighting skills.“No one should be in this area,” growled the she-wolf as she gave Mary a once-over, noticing the shaking. “Why are you here?”“Luna Alaia,” Mary squeaked out before clearing her throat and failing to stand tall. “I’m here at Luna Alaia’s request. She wants me to check on the baby.”Mary tried to step through them, but the she-wolf held her back. Mary was able to get close enough to spray the pheromones on the she-wolf.