Chapter 171: Holding Her Fragile Body Close
Kane
"Don’t you dare die in my arms, Zara," I whispered, pressing my forehead to hers. Her bright eyes were wide, but full of emotion. She didn’t want to carry out this plan, and I knew her wolf was tormented by the same selfish thoughts as me.
We could run away; that was always an option. Leaving all these innocent people to their fate, hoping Marcus would follow us. It was an option we both couldn’t bear, an option that would never see the light of day.
"I won’t, I promise," she whispered, running her small fingers over my jaw. The sparks caressing my skin couldn’t calm the fear boiling within me, a feeling I was beginning to hate. "I’ll always find my way back to you."
I trusted her and knew she would find me again. "It’s best for you. I’m not sure I can let you go," I breathed, smiling lifelessly. My wolf was fighting me right now, demanding that we protect our Luna at any cost, demanding that we devise a plan to save her from Marcus.
"You’ll let me go because you love me," she smiled softly.
She was right. I loved her too much to tear her away from her pack and her family, too much to deprive her of a choice. I would follow her anywhere, and I knew that no matter how this war ended, we would never be separated.
"Then you’ll spend the whole day with me," I smirked, but my expression was insincere.
I had no intention of letting her out of my sight today. I couldn’t afford to be as selfish as I wanted, so selfish as to take her away, but I could afford it. I will hold her close until the very last moment, until I am forced to let her go.
I spent the day with Zara, as I often did, absorbed in work. Since Zara was destined to be my Luna, I knew she could handle the job. Her devotion to this pack was as strong as mine, and I knew there was nothing we wouldn’t do for the good of our people.
Running a pack is much more than just paperwork and curt orders. You must be prepared to sacrifice yourself, your time, and your life. Being an Alpha meant giving up your hopes and dreams, your passions and personal interests for the good of the pack.
You sacrificed all of it so your people could do what they loved and enjoyed.
As soon as Bran and Zeke awoke, my day began. The three of us gathered thousands of warriors in this small town, preparing for the inevitable war. The downside of a large army was providing them with everything they needed. They needed a place to sleep, eat, and breathe. The people of this pack were willing to volunteer their time and energy, helping the warriors, preparing food, and sheltering them. The owners of large houses offered guest rooms, opening their homes to countless warriors.
It was a debt I could never repay, but for which I was eternally grateful. I opened my home to many warriors, providing every inch of space so they had a place to sleep and a roof over their heads.
Even with the influx of volunteers and the use of the Community Center, some warriors were forced to live in tents around the pack. The pack was open to those living in tents, providing showers and food when needed.
After several hours, a headache throbbed in my temples, radiating to my forehead. We both worked hard, but there was always more to do. It was an endless stream of work, but the results were always worth it.
"You need a break," Zara grimaced, rising from her chair in my office. I watched her approach me, swaying her hips as she often did. The more time I spent with Zara, the more I was struck by her beauty.
Completely oblivious to her, as was often the case, she attracted the gaze of many men. No one dared look at her for more than a few moments, staring at the cobalt mark on her neck—the Alpha mark.
"Don’t go," I sighed, holding her fragile body close.
I buried my face in the crook of her neck, on the side where my mark was, and inhaled deeply. Vanilla and pear—such a unique scent, incredibly powerful. I felt my tense muscles relax as I held her in my arms, like a spark licking my skin.
"If I had a choice, I wouldn’t do this." Her voice was soft, and I almost moaned as she ran her fingers through my hair. Her nails slid across my scalp, sending waves of delicious pleasure down my neck. "I’m doing this for the pack. I’ll get through life to come back to you, I promise." I knew she would; I could hear the conviction in her words. She would kill Marcus herself if it meant returning to me. She had unconsciously taken Luna’s place and embraced all her stressful, terrifying aspects.
I could barely cope with the guilt that followed. Did I deserve someone so selfless? So irrevocably brave?
"You’re too good for me, you know that?" I murmured, pressing my face against her neck.
She shuddered as my breath hitched.
It washed over her neck, sending a wave of primal pleasure through my wolf. He wanted her to be here and now, just as he had been since we first met Lola.
I tried to keep my distance, to let her develop her own feelings, but self-control had never been my strong suit, especially with my wolf breathing down my neck.
She pulled away from me, making me wince at the lack of comfort, at the absence of Zara. She looked into my eyes, searching for something, diving deep until she reached that part of my soul I’d kept hidden, that only she had access to.
"You’re wrong." She shook her head. I closed my eyes as her fingers slid through my stubble, gently tracing my jawline. "We’re perfect for each other, that’s why we’re friends. You need someone willing to sacrifice as much as you do for the good of this pack. "You don’t have to deal with this alone anymore. Let me help you in any way I can. And right now, I’m helping you by making you take a damn break. Come take a bath with me."
My wolf’s ears perked up at her words, and pride swelled in him as we looked at our mate. I couldn’t refuse her, not when she looked at me with those sparkling eyes. She looked at me as if I were the one she’d been waiting for her whole life.
She looked at me as if all the terrible rumors couldn’t hide who I really was. It was a vulnerable feeling, but Zara was the only wolf I’d ever submitted to, my mate.
