Zyon: The Alpha Of The North

Chapter Twenty-Seven

It took me quite a bit of time to find my way back to Zyon's wing, but when I do, I find Lita and Rita in there as usual. They tell me they need to take my measurements for the gown for the marking ceremony tomorrow, and I mindlessly let them, focusing solely on the fact that I needed to speak to Zyon tonight. I couldn't delay the conversation I needed to have with him. If he marked me, there was no going back, but first I needed to speak to Zarah.

Just as Lita is exiting the room, I call out, "Lita, I need you to take me to see Zarah."

I was expecting that I'd be denied, or she'd say that I wasn't allowed out of the Alpha's wing, but she nods, and asks me to follow her. I find Zarah in the pack grounds. She's sitting on the grass, reading a book. I walk up to her and sit down beside her. Her face snaps to look at me and I see the immediate relief that etches out onto her face. I give her a small smile.

"Kat. I can't begin to explain how relieved I am to see you. I thought you were really done for this time."

"I thought I was too." I say with a shrug off my shoulders.

I look out at the pack grounds in front of us. A light breeze blows. Zarah pulls my hair away from my face.

"What's on your mind, Kat?"

I look at her tears welling up in my eyes. "I don't know what direction my life is going in. He's so controlling Zar, he wants to know how long I've known, and I keep lying to him, I don't know how much longer I'm going to get away with it. I don't know what I want. When I leave here, I will have no sense of direction. That is, if he even lets me go. I need to have a conversation with him before the ceremony tomorrow. If he marks me, there's no going back."

"I don't get why you are still lying to him, Katherine. Don't you want to give this life a shot?"

"A shot? No. Zar, I do not. Apart from the lust I keep feeling cause of the mate bond, there is nothing else that draws me to him. He's cruel, and controlling, and if he ever found out how long I knew, he'd lock me up in his room and never let me out. I'd become a sex slave or a breeder for him and I can't Zar. I can't be that. How do you not get that?"

"Because, Kat. I think you are so wrapped up in your head, your own thoughts and the past, you aren't really giving him a shot. You are holding back. There's not just the lust. And I know this isn't what you wanted to hear from me, you wanted encouragement, but I can't give you that. I will support you no matter what your decision is, but he is your mate. I find it hard to see why you are resisting it so much. I understood before, but now... this guy came after you when you ran. Yes, he hasn't handled everything so great, but you haven't made it easy either. If you would just talk to him, explain. Give it a fair chance, before you decide you want to leave..."

"A fair chance, Zar? I don't have time to give this a shot. He's marking me tomorrow. He doesn't care if I'm ready or not. All he's thinking about is claiming me. That too, as part of a barbaric tradition, in front of his stupid pack."

"Katherine, he's Alpha. He has to work with the traditions of his pack?"

"You're just pissing me off now. Why are you defending him, Zar?"

"Oh goddess, I am not defending him. I am trying to get something through that thick skull of yours and I'm not supporting him and his marking you before you are ready at all. I am not doing that. Calm down and listen to me."

I take in a deep breath, and turn my attention back to Zarah as she continues, "Kat, I am not on his side. I am on yours. I am always on yours. I do not support him marking you before you are ready. I do not in any way support that. He should give you time, and maybe try to understand why you're acting the way that you are. Why you ran away from him. He should try to understand all of that. But he's an Alpha, who's found his mate very very late. Alpha's are by nature more controlling and possessive, which is why you need to work around that. I know you're hurt and betrayed that he chose Aly when we were younger and I know you want a life for yourself, I get all of that. But all of this needs to be communicated to him, Katherine. He's never going to get it, if you guys keep repeating these same patterns. All I'm saying is, if you want to leave, fine, leave him, but at least talk to him. Communicate. Don't keep it all in your head."