A Weekend With The Alpha

I ran over to the door and banged in it as loud as I could for a while and then pulled it open. I found Aaron still at the doc facing me as if he had stood waiting for me. My breath hitched as once again our faces had come extremely close.

“You're a nightmare, Zera. In case no one has told you that before, I want to be the first.” he said, stepping forward and th made me back away. “One minute you look happy and the next you're a walking chaos.”

I didn’t want to be a nightmare or chaos but he wasn't giving me much of a choice.

My brow furrowed, “So are you just here to tell me that?”

“Yes,” he answered, his voice sounding anything but reasonable. “You have the natural talent of driving me crazy, nota lo can do that."

That was not a compliment but my heart already decided to take it as such.

“I just want my freedom, is that too much to ask?” I raised a brow but spoke in a softer tone of voice.

“It is when your freedom comes at the price of your life. You might hate me, I don’t mind, but I am trying to keep you safe he said and I could see the exhaustion in his face. He was tired, and I wondered what could have gotten him to this point Maybe I took him there.

“I am tired of you acting like a spoilt brat and treating me like an enemy. I just want you safe. Things aren't as black and white as you make them out to be. I saved your life. I brought you here to protect you despite knowing how much rebellic you embody. still, I have kept you here to keep you safe because those who attacked you could come back to finish the j We treated you of the poison in your veins and you would have died if you were left alone out there. AllI have done has been for you. That's not what a bad guy does, that is what someone who cares does. And you might call this place a priso but it's a haven. It's the only place your attackers can't come because they know we'll be ready. The least you can do is show a little appreciation.”

“I didn't ask you to fight for me. Taking my choices away from me isn't what a good guy does.”

“Well, then, I'd be the bad guy." he turned to leave, and I knew he might not return if he did, not after everything I'd said t him.

“You have to let me out. At least let me talk to Daniel. He probably is worried sick about me and confused as to where I am.’

He didn't turn back to me as he spoke. “Once Ivan returns, he feeds us his discovery and tells us the next line of action. I will know what to do."

“And when will he return?”

He hesitates before saying, “He just did. Get rest, we have a long day ahead.’

I wanted to wait for Aaron's return to know what their conclusion was, but my eyes were too heavy to keep awake and so shut them.

My lashes fluttered, and I glanced at the time at the lampstand close to my head to see ten a.m., I had slept for over eigh hours. I sat up and slowly rubbed my head to ease the slight ache thereon. Thoughts ran through my head and I wonder why no one woke me up. If Ivan had returned as Aaron said, he had brought the news that would determine my stay here It's been a few days here, but I needed to leave and get back to reality. The longer I stayed here the longer I lose sight of what was real and wanted what I shouldn't.

it had been eight hours since Ivan’s return, and yet I had heard nothing.

“Maybe he came, saw you sleeping and went back?’

That sounded like something Aaron would do. He might have seen me sleeping and figured I needed the sleep. He cared. lot, and it showed, despite my arrogance and rebellion.

I needed to know my stand. I wanted to go home. I knew he believed he is protecting me, but what I needed was to be far away from him. I already felt horrible for the kiss I shared with him days ago at Diya's wedding.

Being around him all the time wasn't helping. The only way to keep a sound head was to stay angry, and that wouldn't wc forever. He had done his best to remain calmer. It was good, and it reminded me of the Aaron I was with the weekend tha changed my life. It didn't help me; it kept me thinking about him even though I shouldn't. I had Daniel and it wouldn't be fair if 1 ended up cheating on him again.

“Your mind is already doing the cheating!

I stood at the window an hour later, staring through at the night sky and wondering how long it'll take for Aaron to walk through that door and tell me how Ivan’s discovery went. My patience ran thin, and it didn't surprise me. I never had the gift of patience growing up. I couldn't stay here while some people decided on matters that had to do with my safety.

I walked to the door and pulled at it. It opened, and it was no longer a surprise. I stepped out and made my way through the hallway. I remember what happened yesterday in the hallway. Damor had scared the life out of me, but I told myself this would be different.

I heard a voice coming from far away on the left side of the hallway and I dragged my legs there, careful not to make a sound. The Harts were downstairs and the discussion they were having had gone out of control from the look of it. The door of the study was open, and I stood hidden by the entrance door where no light was. It wasn't dark, but I stood hidde from the angle of the passage.

Aaron was seated on the armchair, still, in the grey long sleeve, he wore last night. He looked less affected by everything that was going on. His mind seemed to have wandered off.

“That is bullshiti” Damor snapped, pacing around. He seemed pissed off at whatever was suggested by Ivan. “I say we attack. Draw the first blood. Show them why the Harts are not to be messed with."

“Who do we attack then? Because we do not know who was behind the attack and for all, we know it was an act by one w was out of control” Ivan, who also stood, spoke with much reasoning.

“If we treat this mild, they will take us as weak," he growled.

“I agree with you, Damor, but we do not even know who we are up against. As Ivan said, we can't afford to start a war we can't finish” Sesi spoke up in a calm tone. She sat opposite Aaron in the chair.

“Then we take them all” Damor answered with much confidence.

“That's foolish,” Sesi argued.

He turned to her with his eyes flaring red. “Do not use that word on me. I am still older than you."

“Then show it in your words and action.’ She shot at him.

Damor wanted to speak but stopped himself and his head whipped around to Aaron who had sat without saying a thing and asked. “Are you going to stay silent all day?” at Damor’s question, everyone's attention turned to Aaron.

He sighed, “I agree with Ivan that an attack without an aim is pointless.’

Damor scoffed, not so happy with Aaron's response. “So do nothing?”

“Sometimes doing nothing is the best strategy. If there was more to the attack, then doing nothing would make the instigator of the attack return, and then we will be ready.” He answered and took a moment to pause before saying.

“You shouldn't be up or here. You should be in your room, resting." Aaron spoke up, moving his gaze over to me and the eyes of the three others in the room turned to me at the door.

“Resting isn't helping me, is it? Besides, this is about me as it is about the rest of you, my son and I were the ones who gc attacked. I'm the one who almost got killed by the poison the attacker injected into my veins, do not forget that” I said, stepping further into the study.

Aaron nodded and rose to his feet. “Yes, how can we forget that? But right now it's a matter of war and bloodshed, and I don't think you should be part of it"

“Like I said, my life was on the line twice, so pardon me for choosing to be stubborn.” I moved closer toward them. “What are your plans?”

“We believe the attacker acted alone,” Ivan answered and my attention turned to him.

“That's bullshit and only a fool would believe that.” Damor interrupted with a still furious tone and Ivan didn't like that ve much.

“Nothing is a coincidence.” Ivan supported, “but we can't stage a blind attack. That would only leave us vulnerable to a wi we can't win.

“We have the numbers. We can take them on. Make sure no one ever thinks about rebellion against the Harts again.” “And our alpha is weak, and he grows weaker with every day that passes. He didn't shift yesterday because that would ha left him at the most vulnerable state. Did you not see what that lowest-ranked wolf did to him? This attack would leave h in a vulnerable position! Is that what you want?” Sesi demanded with a voice half angry and half disappointed as she spo to Damor.

My eyes travelled over to Aaron, and I found him looking anywhere but at me. The look on his face said she told the truth and my heart went to him. I cannot believe I have been so rebellious and hateful towards him when all he had tried to dc was keep me safe and out of harm's way. He had risked his safety and life to save mine and Zion and all 1 gave in return was stubbornness.

“Everyone leave!” Aaron said, and, they all turned to stare at him, “I said leave!” he growled furiously, his eyes blazing anc jump on my stand.

with no form of objection, they departed from the study, leaving it empty but for the both of us. I would have also taken my leave, but I couldn't bring myself to. I felt frozen on the spot by the truth of Aaron's condition and his outburst, and I stood still.

“You should leave," he spoke in a softer tone of voice and turned away from me.

I wish I could. I felt sad and angry and guilty. Sad because I didn't want to see him this way and guilty because if what Se: said was the truth, then Aaron had little time and that means Zion would be fatherless in no time...