His Savior

I Failed Her

~Lennox~

               I send men after Laslo, but I know they will come up empty. He was ready for us; he had time to move Zahara. This pack is lost to Laslo, so I don't hesitate to send warriors on a search. I want anything and everything that may be a clue or may have to do with where he could be.

               Cory's anger was already building from the moment we found Laslo in here alone. I know it's only a matter of time before he flips out completely. Because of Zahara's scent, Cory searches the room we found Laslo in. Wherever she is now, she spent some time in this room.

               The more Cory searches, the more prominent the changes become. I can see fur sprouting from his arms and legs. I notice that his claws are coming out. I mindlink the team to leave the cabin at once, and I take a step out of the room. I make it just in time to see the TV ripped from the wall and flung across the room. Most of the furniture follows the same fate. The books are being ripped in half and deposited around the room.

               Cory has completely shifted and is shredding all of the cushions to the seating as well as the walls themselves. Sylas has taken over, and he is destroying the bookshelf, the coffee table, and anything else that can be broken down. Sylas howls a long, mournful howl, which just about breaks my heart.

               I keep out of sight and let Sylas do what he needs to do. I make sure to keep all warriors out of the cabin while keeping an eye on Sylas. I want to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself, or Zahara will have my head once we finally get her back.

               I'm not sure how long Sylas goes at it, but eventually, he gives Cory control back. Cory shifts and slumps down in the middle of the debris. He places his arms on his knees, head down, and starts to sob.

~Cory~

               I lost her.....I lost my mate. I can barely breathe without her next to me. I was so close to ending Laslo. I should have ended him for all the agony he has brought upon my mate and me. I let him go...I fucking let him go. I wanted to run after him and rip his throat out, but he was right. I couldn't kill him and risk never finding my love.

               The pain is almost too much to take. The tears flow from my eyes like a river, and my chest is aching. I have to do something; I have to find her. I can't go for two more days, not knowing where she is and if she's alright.

               I feel a hand on my shoulder, but I don't look up. I know it's Lennox. He stayed here and watched me lose my shit. He didn't try to stop or console me, and I will forever be grateful. He has quickly become one of the best men I have ever been fortunate to know.

               My throat is dry, and I feel like speaking would zap any energy I have left, but I need to speak. "W....what's the update?" I croak the words out, and my throat feels like sandpaper is rubbing against it.

               "I have warriors who went after Laslo, and I have the rest searching the pack as we speak. Alpha Byron has reached the elders, and they are on their way. They say that they haven't heard from the two they left on packlands and were unable to reach anyone here." I give a slight nod because I can't manage much else.

               "She was here, Lennox. My Zahara was here." He squeezes my shoulder but doesn't respond. "I was so close....so fucking close. If we had just made it here a bit sooner.....if we had ju....jus....." I can't finish with the sob in my throat. I don't want to cry anymore, but I can't stop it. I take a shaky breath and lean my head back. I swallow the sorrow as best as I can. "I failed her."

               "Enough! I won't listen to it anymore. You didn't fail her; we didn't fail her. We WILL get her back; we will find her." I can't meet his eyes or look at his face. I'm failing as a mate and an Alpha, and it's too much to bear. Lennox drops to my level and makes me meet his gaze. "Hear me, Alpha. You HAVE NOT failed. We will find...." Lennox stops, and his eyes glaze over. When he focuses back, he is looking at me intently. "There is someone to see you, someone who may have some information."

               I look at Lennox, wondering who he could be talking about. Who would be coming and with information about Laslo, no less? The door to the cabin opens, and I look past Lennox to see who it could be.

               A slender, toffee-skinned girl walks into the cabin slowly. She looks around tentatively and gasps when her eyes catch the mess I made. She starts to take a few slow steps back. "C...Cory?" I close my eyes to try to clear the tears clouding my vision. When I open them back up, I look at the girl and am surprised. She has grown up so much. Before I left, I hadn't seen her much in the last few years. I remember a skinny little girl who would try to sneak me food and things for first aid. Before me, now, is an almost grown woman. Her hair is long and black, and her eyes are chocolate brown. She looks a bit like her mom but more like our dad.

               "Hey Flora. How have you been?" She runs to me and wraps me up in her arms. I hold her back, tightly.

               "Cory, I....I thought you were dead." She sniffles while pulling back to look at me. "I missed you so much."