Chapter 152
Zara
The shadows pulsated around my body, slithering between my legs, rushing toward her.
“What… what was the price?” She groaned, her body unnaturally still as shadows slid around her.
“Your wolf form I croaked. Pain shot through my entire body, but it didn’t come from the wound in my stomach. The pain that lanced through me was pain for my friend and for what she was willing to sacrifice for her mate.
Her wolf would remain in her mind, trapped in a prison of flesh. Unable to shapeshift and roam the earth, unable to feel the dirt beneath her paws. She had made the ultimate sacrifice for Govinda, and I prayed he would be willing to do the same.
“Are they taking my wolf?” Her voice was quiet, as weak as I’d ever heard it. Her voice was paper-thin, transparent as fear clouded her eyes.
“She will still be here, within you.” My voice wavered as I struggled to get the words out. “But you won’t be able to shapeshift anymore. This… this is their price p>
Realization flashed in her eyes as one of the shadows lunged forward and grabbed her chest. I froze as a heart-wrenching scream erupted from her lips, cracking with the strain of her vocal cords.
After a few moments, the scream died down, turning into a heart-wrenching moan. My insides clenched in pain at the sight of her face, and for a moment, I wished I were the one to pay for it.
One by one, the shadows slid from Sophia to Govinda. The blood covering his body was thick and sweet-smelling. I knew that without the shadows, her pair would be all but lost.
The shadows caressed his body, and her eyes widened as the shadows’ voices filled the air. I heard Kane’s sharp intake of breath, and I knew he heard them too.
“Take the knife from his chest, wolf.” They hissed, their silky movements frozen in impatient anticipation.
She gripped the knife’s hilt tightly, ignoring the silver coating burning her skin. He grunted as the knife slipped from his chest and clattered to the pavement. She tore off the torn shirt covering his chest, revealing the smooth surface of his bronze skin.
The shadows wasted no time in sliding across Govinda’s body to the wound just above his heart. In agonizing silence, I watched as the threads of his flesh knit together, muscle melded with muscle, and his life force drained.
The shadows slid away from his body, wrapping around my ankles, as if bidding me farewell.
The street was silent, the only sound coming from Govinda’s chest. A dull thud. The feeling grew stronger and faster as the wounds on his body healed. When his eyes flew open, a sob tore from Sophia’s chest. She threw herself into Govinda’s arms, trembling as his arms wrapped around her.
Govinda’s dark eyes met mine, and for a moment I swore there was a message hidden in the depths of his haunting gaze.
Alpha Kane was by my side a few seconds later, his hands shaking as he peeled off the bottom layer of my dress. Blood soaked the black fabric, staining my skin as he roamed over my stomach.
“I’m fine, Kane,” I hissed, not taking my eyes off my best friend.
“You were stabbed, Zara.” Alpha Kane met my gaze with murderous fury, his hands shaking as they glided over my bloodied skin. Alpha cast a hard glance at Govinda and Sophia: “Stay where you are p>
“I have nowhere else to go.” I saw a flash of surprise in Kane’s gaze at his unexpected answer, followed by suspicion.
“Where is the wound, Zara?” Alpha’s voice was hard and wary as he stroked my stomach.
“I’ll explain later,” I whispered, meeting Govinda’s gaze. He had been listening to our entire conversation, and though Sophia seemed to trust him, I remained wary.
Alpha’s eyes burned with emotion, each flash happening faster than I could process. His rough hand remained on my stomach, where the knife wound had once been.
“You betray your own for her?” Kane turned away from me, casting me one last glance before turning his attention to Govinda.
Alpha’s voice grew louder, a wild authority filling him as he assumed the alpha stance. His honey-colored eyes… darkened, heavy golden highlights swirling in their gaze. Govinda didn’t flinch, his hands never wavering beneath Sophia’s trembling body.
“Yes,” Govinda replied, and I noticed there was not the slightest hesitation in his voice. “Yes, I would p>
“And what are you t…Are you waiting now?” Alpha asked sharply, though there wasn’t a hint of malice in his words. “A place in the pack? Are you ready to join a community that hates your kind p>
“As long as Sophia lives, then yes.” Govinda nodded, hugging her tighter.
I noticed the way she looked at him, the comfort and love that blazed in her brown eyes. Something dawned on me at the sight of them together. She had been with him before, had met him before. I had no idea where or how, but that kind of love doesn’t happen instantly.
The way she looked at him struck a chord, and I wondered how different he really were from werewolves. Alpha was right, this town harbored great hostility toward him, and with good reason, but they had no idea of my true origins.
Would my own pack reject me if they knew who I was?
“Kane?” “I whispered through the mental link, though no one could hear us.
He didn’t take his eyes off him, but his voice reached me.
“What p>
“Do you trust me?” I asked, and this time his gaze met mine. There was still confusion in his eyes, but I could see from them that he trusted me completely.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Give Govinda a chance,” I spoke quickly, not giving him time to interrupt. “Interrogate him, keep him away from the pack, but don’t separate him from Sophia p>
“You support this?” His voice was full of anger, though not directed at me. “You’ll allow this pack to harbor a halfbreed, knowing how many deaths and attacks we’ve endured p>
“I’m halfbreed, Kane.” I struggled to speak the words, realizing it was the first time I’d confessed the truth to anyone other than myself and Nova. “It’s wrong to let me stay here while you banish Govinda p>
“You’re a half-werewolf too, Zara,” Alpha replied, his tone harsh. “Govinda was directly involved in the deaths and attacks on this pack. For all we know, he may have helped take Ryan p>
“I understand,” I replied, my voice shaking as I thought of my father dragging the wounded Ryan into the house. “He’s Sophia’s mate for a reason, Kane. I think things are changing p>
I could feel the reluctance seeping from Alpha’s pores as our eyes met, but I also saw his unwavering trust in me. The feeling was so strong that tears welled up in my eyes, but Alpha’s gaze softened.