His Savior

Impromptu Trip

~Cory~

               I was ecstatic when Zahara walked into the dining room for breakfast. I wasn't sure I would see her this morning. I had to remember that I was talking to her mother when she walked in. She is stunning, and she had me questioning my existence. Zahara walks in with her braids in a low bun, tight blue jeans, a red halter top, and red converse. The jeans cup her ass perfectly, and her top hugs her chest. I could feel myself getting hard, and I didn't want to be found out.

               Zahara sits next to me, and I place my hand on top of hers, drawing small circles on the back. I can feel small tingles, but I wonder if the feeling will become stronger as the wolfsbane leaves my system. The idea of gaining my wolf is exciting and scary at the same time. I hope he isn't disappointed in being tied to a human like me. I know that getting my wolf will put me on level with Zahara and the others, and I'm looking forward to that.

               Zahara is paying close attention to the food on her plate, and I'm not sure why that is. I hope she isn't mad at me for turning her away yesterday. I just needed time to come to terms with the news she told me, and I felt the best way to do that was alone. I lean into Zahara so that my lips are close to her ear. "I was hoping we could talk after breakfast. I mean, if you aren't busy." I watch Zahara's body shudder a bit, and I find myself a little concerned. I hope she isn't feeling under the weather. Zahara nods in response, and I continue with my meal. I enjoy watching the interaction between Zahara and her parents. You can see the love they have for each other. Her younger brother, Maurice, joins in here and there. He is only 12, so Zahara tends to tease him more than anything.

               Breakfast starts to wind down with plates being removed and people getting up to start their day. Zahara lingers to talk to her parents a bit longer before her father excuses himself to handle some pack business. Zahara's mom kisses us both on the forehead before she leaves the dining room as well. Zahara turns to me with a small smile on her face. "Would you like to go to my office or go for a walk?"

               "I'd rather a walk. I need fresh air." Zahara nods, and we get up from the table and head out the back door. It is a sunny day today, with the weather not being too hot or cold. If it were cold, Zahara would have been fine, but I wouldn't. Another great thing for when I get my wolf; I won't be so sensitive to the weather.

               We get outside and start to walk towards the garden. Our steps are slow and purposeful. I know I'm lost in thought and not quite sure how to address everything with Zahara, though I'm not sure why she is so quiet. I take a deep breath and let it out. "I'm sorry."

               "What about?"

               "Having you leave me yesterday. I just.......needed to process everything you told me." Zahara stops and tugs on my arm to have me stop too. I turn to look at her. She raises her right hand to caress my cheek.

               "You don't have to apologize to me. You were hit with some big news yesterday. I can't even begin to imagine how that news made you feel." I lean into her touch and close my eyes. Ever since I met Zahara back in high school, she has always had a calming effect on me. I open my eyes and kiss her palm lightly. I don't know what it is, but I'm feeling bolder when it comes to showing Zahara affection. I don't have any experience in this arena, but I figure I can't mess it up too much.

               I place Zahara's hand in mine and turn so we can continue walking. We walk a bit without talking before I start again. "I can't lie and say I'm not shocked at the news. I mean, I knew I wasn't liked much, but I never imagined that they would try to kill me. I wish I knew why." We make it to the garden and walk through a bit before sitting down on the bench by the fountain. They had a garden similar to ours back home, but this one was bigger. "I spoke to the doctor this morning, and he told me that as the meds leave my system, things will change. He doesn't know the extent of the damage from taking the pills so long, but he hopes my wolf comes in." Zahara starts to run her fingers across my hand, and I'm reveling in the softness of her touch.

               "How do you feel......about getting a wolf?"

               "I'm scared to be honest and also excited. I don't want to be a disappointment to my wolf. I'm untrained and just overall broken. Having a wolf though would make me worthy of you."

~Zahara~

               The anger that flows through me at Cory's words threatens to spill out. My body tenses up, and I know that Cory can sense the shift in my mood. I turn toward Cory and pull his face toward mine. I keep his face in my hands and stare into his eyes. I'm not sure what I'm searching for, but I know I'm looking for something. "You listen to me! I don't care whether you have a wolf or not, you are ALWAYS worthy of me. You don't have to be special for me or be of a certain pedigree. You only need to be yourself, and that is more than enough." I notice tears starting to form in his eyes. "I can't take you continuing to say things like this. It hurts too much. Please know how amazing you are, and I promise you that I will show you until you believe it." Cory turns his head and looks up into the sky, I'm assuming to keep the tears away. I decide that changing the subject would be the best thing to do. "Did the doctor say anything about the drugs having left your system while you were healing from your injuries? I would think that as long as you were in the hospital, you would have been drug free." Cory clears his throat.

               "I actually asked him that and he didn't have a clear answer. He says that since I was taking it so long, it would be hard to determine how long, exactly, it would take for me to be completely wolfsbane free. It also didn't help that as soon as I got out of the hospital, I took another pill. He says that we can try to rush the process and purposefully flush out my system which is something that wasn't done before."

               "But you were given some of my blood in order to heal." Cory nods at this and sighs.

               "I don't know. The doctor has never seen this before, so he has no answers. Honestly, he is surprised that I survived as long as I did. He says that even though I wasn't given pure wolfsbane all of these years, I was given enough over time that I should be dead. I guess the Moon Goddess had other plans for me." This is all strange, but then again, why dwell on everything? I guess that it is better that Cory is alive than to worry about getting answers to these questions. They tried to kill him and failed. I will not be without my mate.

               I smell Lennox before he appears, and I internally sigh. I swear I can't get alone time with my own mate, and I'm not even the Alpha yet. Lennox comes walking up to us and seems to be in a hurry. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Your dad sent me to tell you that we need to prepare for a trip." What the hell? I just talked to dad yesterday, and he didn't say anything about a trip.

               "Where are we supposed to be going?"

               "The Winter pack has been having issues with rogues and needs our help. We are supposed to represent the pack and our alliance. We are taking a few warriors, and we will be there for a week or two. He wants us to train their warriors to help them be able to handle this on their own." The Winter Pack is about 12 hours away by car. I know we will take the jet, but I don't really want to be so far away for so long.

               "Why are we going?"

               "Your dad wants us to take over soon so he felt that it would make more sense to send us as opposed to our fathers going." Damn, that makes a lot of sense, but I still don't want to go. I feel Cory squeeze my hand.

               "This is important. You go and I will be fine. No one knows I'm actually alive so no one will be looking for me. I will stay on packlands and I think I will take this time to learn from your mom. That will be helpful." I only nod at Cory, trying not to let my feelings take over.

               "When are we supposed to leave Lennox?"

               "Your dad wants us on the plane within an hour." Shit! That isn't enough time for a decent goodbye. Out of my peripheral vision, I see Cory stand up. He reaches out a hand to me, and I take it. Once he helps me stand, he wraps me in his arms and places a kiss on my forehead.

               "The sooner you go, the quicker you can come back. I will be fine and we can pick up where we left off." I bury my head in his shoulder while he strokes my back. Cory pulls my head up and winks at me. "I will help you pack."