His Savior

His Past

~Zahara~

               The meeting with Lennox was illuminating, to say the least. I wouldn't have thought that anyone in my pack would harass someone without cause or even if they felt they had a reason. The terrible trio has always been sketchy at best, but this is a new low. Unfortunately, it won't help matters to jump on them now. Lennox and I discussed announcing Cory to the pack to keep these types of things from happening. The problem with that is no one from his pack knows that he is actually alive. We have no idea who hurt him, and announcing him could be more dangerous than not doing so. There is so much to do and so much to consider that we had to put a pin in it for later. Maybe my dad will know the best way to deal with this.

               Cory is waiting for me in the foyer when I finish my meeting. He is in desperate need of essentials, and there is no better time to go get them than now. I silently watch Cory examine the pictures on the wall and other items around the room. You would think that he hadn't lived inside of a home for a long time, even though I'm sure that isn't the case. "Hey, are you ready to go?" Cory jumps a bit at my voice. He turns to me and gives me a small smile.

               "We really don't have to do this, you know. I can find clothes around the packhouse. I don't really need much." I walk over to Cory and wrap my arms around his neck. I touch my forehead to him, and I can feel his body tense up slightly. There is so much we need to discuss.

               "We are going to get you what you need. No more talking about it. Let's go." I lightly kiss Cory on his cheek and grab his hand. We head out of the door and into the waiting SUV. The mall isn't too far from the packhouse, and when we get there, Cory looks stunned. "How long has it been since you've been to the mall?" Cory looks down at his feet.

               "I've never been to a mall to be honest." I stop walking and balk at him.

               "How is that possible?" Cory rubs the back of his head but doesn't answer. I don't want to press him right now, so I grab his hand and march us into the mall. We go from store to store to grab clothing and shoes for him. Cory looks so lost in the store that I decide to go ahead and grab items for him. I inquire about colors he likes and styles, but ultimately I choose everything for Cory. We end up with bags and bags of items, and Cory starts to look tired. "You will need a lot of suits, but I can have the designer come to the packhouse to take your measurements and order you a few." Cory just nods but doesn't speak. I send the bags ahead with our escorts so they can get them packed into the car. There is a pretty fountain in the middle of the mall, and I guide us over there to rest. Cory and I sit on a bench and take in the sights. "Cory, Lennox told me what happened today." Cory doesn't move or respond. He looks out over the fountain with a blank expression on his face. I gently touch his arm. "Why didn't you tell me?"

               "It was nothing. Nothing happened."

               "What do you mean nothing happened? Those three attacked you verbally and were going to attack you physicially." Cory laughs a bit, and I can't imagine why.

               "An attempted attack is nothing I can't handle. I've been through worse." I scoot closer to Cory and lay my head on his arm.

               "What aren't you telling me? What has your life been like?"

~Cory~

               A part of me always thought that this question would come, but I had hoped that I could escape it. I don't want to relive my life as it used to be. I definitely don't want to tell Zahara what I've been through. I can't take how her view would change once she learned about my life. Zahara and I continue to sit on the bench quietly. I don't know what to say, and I know she is waiting on me to speak up. Maybe I need to come clean for Zahara to realize that I'm no good for her. If it comes to that, I can only hope that she allows me to stay in this pack. I don't want to go back to Wild Tail and live that life again.

               I place my hand gently on Zahara's leg and rub it a bit. I don't really know how to start so the best thing would be just to say it. "My life hasn't been the best. I guess I owe it to you to tell you how it has been." I take a deep breath and close my eyes. "I went to live with my father when I was really young. I don't really remember much about my mom, just some things here and there. When she died, I was sent to my father, and he was already married to Margaret and Margaret already had Laslo. Laslo and Margaret hated me from the start. They would always make it known when my dad wasn't around. When he was around, he would be good to me, and we would spend some time together at the end of the day. When Margaret noticed that, she would try to take up his time with any little thing she could think of." Zahara kisses my arm and lays her head back on it. "I only lived with my dad a few years before he died. Margaret was pregnant with Flora when some rogues attacked and killed my dad. Once he died, things got worse. I became a maid of sorts and not just to the family, but the entire packhouse. Laslo would use me as a punching bag. When I turned 16 and didn't get my wolf, the pack was informed that I was wolfless and, therefore, useless. The pack started to ignore my existence once they found out. The only people who would interact with me were Flora and Cyrus, our Beta. He tried to keep his interest quiet so as not to get me into more mess. Margaret and Laslo only interacted with me to order me around and beat me." Zahara starts to rub my back in circular motions. I take a few deep breaths and close my eyes.

               "When you met me at school, I tried to stay away because Laslo told me I had to. That came with some physical contact. You wouldn't allow that, though." We both laugh lightly at that memory. "When I disappeared before your graduation, it was because Laslo came home one day and beat me almost to death. I never found out why and I was in the hospital for months trying to recover. With me having no wolf, I heal like a human." I turn to look at Zahara, and she has tears running down her face. I turn back to the fountain, her tears breaking my heart. "Zahara, I have no wolf, and I have no knowledge of life. I have been used and abused, and I don't know anything else. You are an Alpha and will be taking over the pack soon. How in the world can I make it? How can I be a leader?" I can feel a lump form in my throat, and I try to swallow it down. "I'm not enough for you, and I know you need to reject me. You need someone who can stand by your side and help you with the pack." The tears are in my eyes, threatening to spill, but I'm doing everything to keep them in. I don't want to be weaker in front of Zahara, more than I already am. Zahara pushes my chin toward her face, and I look into her eyes.

               "You are such a strong person; stronger than so many I know. You have no wolf yet have survived so much hardship. How could you think that you are not enough to stand by my side and help me run this pack?" Zahara sits up straight and pulls my head down. She kisses me on my forehead and looks into my eyes. "I want you to stay by me. I want to be your mate. I don't want anyone else." Zahara touches her forehead to mine, and we sit like that for a while, just breathing.