His Savior

A Pleasure to Meet You

~Cory~

               The silence stretches on, and I wonder if I lost the call. Before I can check, I hear maniacal laughter. "You.....you are challenging me?! You are weak as hell!" The laughter continues, and my grip on the phone gets tighter and tighter. I wish I could rip his throat out right now.

               "Are you done?" I huff out in impatience. The laughter stops, and it becomes silent on the other end of the phone.

               "You're serious, aren't you? I can't......fine. If that is how you want to die, then so be it." I have so much to say, but I can't form the words. I quickly hang up the phone and try to breathe. I just want to run over there and rip Laslo's throat out. I want Zahara back in my arms, and I don't want to have to wait.

               "We need to contact the elders and inform them of this conversation. I believe they left some people on site at the Wild Tail Pack, so I'm not sure how he was able to get Zahara on the grounds without them being aware." Alpha Byron is talking to the group, but it's hard to focus on his words with the anger that is brewing inside of me.

               "Challenge or no, we need to find a way to get eyes on his territory and try to see where Zahara is being held. We also need to see if we can find a way to get her out. I don't trust him at all ever since high school." Lennox is sounding further and further away the more he talks. There is a buzzing noise that is starting to drown everyone and everything else out.

               Sylas is getting increasingly worked up in my head, and I'm quickly losing the small amount of control I had over him. I start pacing behind the desk, but that isn't enough. A growl rips from my chest, and the room shakes. I run out of the office and down the stairs. As soon as I get outside, I see pack members looking scared and jumping out of my way. I jump off of the deck and shift immediately. I take off through the woods, howling as I go.

~Zahara~

               I walked around the room, checking windows. It looks like this place is isolated from anything or anyone else. There are people posted outside of this house, so there is no escaping. I can't even tell how many people are sitting on this place right now. If I were to try to leave, I would have to fight my way out, and without Aria, I'm not sure that's a good idea. On that topic, Aria is still gone. I can't reach her or feel her. I'm not sure what they did to her or how long it's going to last.

              The woman left me alone in the living. She says she's Laslo's mate. If that is the case, I have so many questions. Why the hell am I here if Laslo has a mate? Why is Laslo's mate locked up in some house? I'm so confused, and none of this makes sense. All I know is that I'm without my mate, and it was the terrible trio that helped deliver me into this mess I'm in now. I wonder if there will be anything left of them when I get back or will Cory tear them to pieces in my absence.

               I hear movement behind me and turn toward the noise. The woman is making her way to the kitchen; I'm guessing, to get some food to eat. "What's your name?" I'm not sure if she will answer me, but it doesn't hurt to try. The noise stops, and I hear footsteps get closer to me.

               I look up, and she is leaning against the wall in the living room, looking at me. "Why you? What is it about you?" I shrug my shoulders.

               "I have absolutely no idea." She rolls her eyes and walks further into the room, sitting down in an armchair opposite me on the couch.

               "How do you know him?" I launch into the story of me switching schools and everything that came after that. She listens intently, keeping her arms folded across her chest. When I'm done, a deep quietness settles throughout the room. "I was pregnant, you know." I say nothing, waiting for her to finish. "I hadn't even told him that I was pregnant. He must have been able to smell my new scent. I went to bed one night pregnant and woke up without my child." I can hear the break in her voice as she talks, which pains me. "He....he took away our child. He said.....he said me being pregnant was a mistake and that I could have children later. I have no idea what that means, nor do I care. It's bad enough that as soon as I found out, he was my mate, he had me locked up. Can you believe that? He had his mate locked up! I can't leave here.....I can't see my family. Then he takes away my child." I hear the sobs coming from her, and my heart hurts. I get up from the couch and walk over to the chair. I kneel next to it and tentatively reach out my hand to rub her back. She doesn't pull away, so I try to trace circles on her back, hoping it soothes her.

               "I'm so so sorry you have been through all of this. That is not how a mate should treat you." The woman takes a few deep breaths, and I wish I could take her pain away. "Maybe we can figure something out and get out of here. I know my people will come for me and I'd be more than happy to take you with me." She looks into my eyes and gives me a sad smile.

               "My name is Nona Slade. Who are you?"

               "I'm Alpha Zahara Peters of the Ash Band Pack. It's a pleasure to meet you."