Twenty-eight

Zazriel lifted her head from Eva's body to gaze at the people around her. Most had horrified expressions on their faces, some had shocked expressions, but the faces she had come to know and love were smiling with approval. Including Mourgent.

He grinned and stepped forward, holding his arms out for her, but Zazriel didn't go to him. She wanted to, very much, but she needed to do something else first. She turned her head to another male, another alpha, and challenged him with her eyes.

Mourgent was at first disappointed that Zazriel hadn't gone to him, but then he watched as she turned to Marric with challenge. Instead of interfering, he watched. Marric was a younger alpha, a new alpha, and so he would likely want to show off his ability. But that didn't mean Mourgent wanted Zazriel to be hurt.

However, Marric didn't rise to the challenge. Instead, he bowed his head and stepped back. "I apologize for my words of disrespect. Please forgive me. You have proven me wrong, and I'm sure many others tonight."

Zazriel stared another moment at him then finally turned and hopped into Mourgent's embrace. "Everyone, let's go back and finish the dance," he announced to his pack through the link. To the other alphas he said, "It is up to you if you wish to enjoy a few more hours of fun or go to bed or leave. My pack will be gathered in the dance room for a few hours if any of you should need anything."

The crowd dispersed and he didn't move. He continued to hold Zazriel for long minutes, feeling her breathe into his chest, feeling her body with its beautiful fur and strong muscles, sensing she wanted a little more time.

"Can someone bring me clothes for Z?"

"Zelda and Aster have already gone to do that," Carlotta confirmed.

Mourgent said nothing more. Instead, he fully sat on the ground and pulled Zazriel flush against him. She did nothing, just let him. A few minutes went by before Zelda appeared with the clothes, then left. Mourgent still didn't move.

After another half hour, Zazriel became a woman again, falling against him. He wrapped his arms around her, rolled so she was under him, and looked down. She was staring up at him and he didn't know how to read her face. "What is wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said and gave him a smile. "I'm happy."

He kissed her. "I'm glad."

"Marric backed down. Do you think he's scared of me?"

"Maybe, but I think he respects you more than anything. He is young, but no coward. If he didn't respect you, he would have accepted your challenge."

Later, they were going back to Mourgent's house, Zazriel in clothes and her chair while he pushed, when all five of the patrol leaders came up and gave Zazriel congratulations and hugs. The rest of the pack was in their homes, preparing for bed. Everyone was accounted for, and so these few could relax a little. Orion opened Mourgent's front door and they all entered. They stayed and talked for another hour before Mourgent shooed them away. Finally, they left.

Zazriel yawned and snuggled into him. "They are very good at making others feel like they've done something miraculous."

He chuckled. "Indeed. It's their way of letting the pack know they care." He kissed her head and tightened his arms, standing. "We both need showers. Do you want to be first?"

Zazriel shook her head. "No. You."

"Are you sure? You sound like you're about to fall asleep."

Smiling, Zazriel shrugged. "I guess I'll go first."

Mourgent left her in the bathroom and shut the door, then went and locked the doors, turned out the lights in the sitting area, then checked in. "Is all well?"

"No disturbance," Brec said. Four other pack mates agreed.

"Don't hesitate to wake me if something should come up," he told them. After a few more conversations, he went back to check on Zazriel. She was already in bed, asleep. He grabbed clothes and went to the bathroom, showering.

When he stepped out again, he glanced at the bed. She was still sleeping peacefully. Mourgent didn't know whether to stay or go to his own room. Recently, he had stayed and he liked holding her, but she had also put the situation with Eva in the back of her mind. Now, it would be somewhere in the forefront, and Mourgent didn't want Zazriel resenting him or thinking he was taking advantage.

However, he felt reluctant. Not just because of his feeling for Zazriel, but he remembered Duffy reporting an unfamiliar and unexpected person in the fray right before Zazriel's fight. If it was the the same one who kept attacking, he didn't want to leave her alone. Zazriel could handle herself in almost any situation, he knew, but not if it was the person she thought it was.

Frustrated, he sat beside Zazriel and cupped her face. Her lashes fluttered before opening. "What time is it?" she asked with a sleepy tone.

"Too early. Do you want me to stay or sleep somewhere else?"

She blinked. Mourgent smiled softly at her as she tried to process his question. "You don't have to. But I want you to."

That was answer enough for him. He went around and climbed in, then pulled her in close so she had her head on his shoulder. Closing his eyes, he went to sleep.

When he woke a few hours later, Zazriel was not in bed. She wasn't in the bathroom either. Thinking she was probably getting a drink or something, he went back to sleep.

"Alpha!"

Mourgent jerked awake at Ansel's urgent call through the link. "What?" Mourgent looked around and found daylight washing the room and Zazriel still not with him. "What is wrong?"

"The Luna! She's calling for help!"

Mourgent swiftly got up and ran out of the house and began to round up his high rank wolves. "How do you know, Ansel?"

"Her whistle. She whistled. It was faint, but I would recognize the sound anywhere!"

"Where was it coming from?"

Ansel thought for a moment. "First, from north. But it's been changing direction every half hour. She's zigzagging."

"Keep listening. Follow her! Do not lose the sound!"

Hours later, late afternoon, Ansel reported back with despair. He told Mourgent that Zazriel hadn't given another call for over an hour. Before, she was giving whistles every ten minutes. But she had stopped.

Mourgent cursed. He felt himself going insane like he had when she was first taken. But this time, Orion stopped him with a point up in the sky. Mourgent glanced up and saw Nyx.

His heart lifted at seeing the bird as she swooped down and landed on his arm. She gave him an affectionate nick to his ear, then flapped back into the sky. She circled once, gave a call, then took off. "Follow her!" Mourgent ordered.

Zazriel woke in the middle of the night, still tied to the tree. Her captor was sleeping next to the fire, knife in reach. Luckily, she wasn't in wolf form. Zazriel brought out her whistle again and blew three long breaths. She hoped someone had heard her call long before now. If they hadn't, they wouldn't now.

She'd escape, but was too scared of any more of the pack being killed and mutilated. She would shift and attack, but wanted backup in case she wasn't strong enough. She wanted Mourgent. He gave her strength she didn't know he could give her. He encouraged her like no one had ever done, not even her father. She wanted his presence now.

She blew the whistle again, clinging to hope and listening for any sign that someone was close. But nothing came.

Mourgent heard the three whistle blows and began running. Behind him, Orion and Ansel followed. He left the others to keep the pack from falling apart.

He heard four more whistle patterns before they went silent. Considering it was almost two in the morning, he figured she was sleeping. He hoped she was sleeping.