Twenty-nine

Whisper slept two whole days after Truent's work to help her heal quickly. At first, Zane was worried, but the doctor said it is fine, that the body is just healing itself and gathering strength. Whisper was hooked up to a drip because she was dehydrated as well as starved. Zane noticed after sleeping with her, that she looked a lot better, but needed more time. The bruise had faded for the most part, and the whippings and claw marks have scabbed over. Her breathing was finally even and rhythmic, not shallow and slow.

After a long restless night beside her, falling in and out of sleep, Zane decided to go check on Reed's mate, Simone. He left Nico with Whisper in case anything happened. Simone was in the pack house cooking something that smelled like lasagna when Zane found her. She heard him knock on the door and turned around, smiling. "Alpha Zane, what a nice surprise!"

Her eyes held a hint of sadness and fear, but that was to be expected. She was just in jail for a crime she didn't commit and probably tortured there, Zane thought. "How are you?"

She shrugged. "Not huddling in a corner in a ball," she said with a joking tone, but he saw the truth in her eyes.

"You don't have to hide, Simone. I'm not going to judge you."

"I know, but I thought I was over all that," she whispered. "I just became Luna and mated to Reed when I was taken. I was stronger."

Zane didn't know her story, but could sense it was a little dark. "Build yourself up again," he said. "This time, make yourself stronger."

"Thank you."

He walked closer to her and crossed his arms, not daring to touch her when he knew Reed would go off, not that Zane could blame him. "Whisper hid from me when we met. She was convinced that if we touched, I'd get hurt because of something she would do. It wasn't until she was in my arms, screaming for help while her mind played re-runs of her past, that she opened up to me. It might have a few minutes, but she opened up and told me everything about her nightmares or panic attacks.

"You need to open up to Reed if something like that happens. Tell him what you're going through. He may not be able to erase it from your mind, but at least he'll stop you from doing something you might regret, at least you won't have to burden it alone. Let him feel your pain. Goddess knows we all have it. Maybe it'll help the flashbacks. It did for Whisper."

"And if I can't?" she asked softly.

"Tell someone else. Have them tell Reed. Either way, let your mate shoulder your pain. Don't tear yourself up about it," he advised.

Simone looked up at him with blurry eyes. "I will if you mate her."

Zane chuckled. "This wasn't a deal of some sort."

Simone smirked. "No, but you continuously wait to mark her. You got lucky this time. The next time, how will you find her? Reed wasn't able to find me because I had silver caging me in on all sides. You'd have been able to find Whisper if you mated her. Don't wait for anther attack. You might not get another chance."

Zane nodded as his phone buzzed. "Hello?"

"You're being summoned," Nico said with amusement.

"By whom?"

"Do you have to ask?" Zane chuckled again and winked at Simone. "She says to hurry your ass up!" Nico said, holding in his laughter.

"I'm on my way," Zane said and hung up. To Simone he said, "Deal, but after I mark her, I expect you to have opened up."

"Should we have a set date?"

"A week." At the shake of her head he explained, "She needs a few days to settle. I don't want to scare her."

"Fine. One week."

When Zane entered Whisper's room, he smiled at the sight of her digging into fried chicken with crumbs all over the place. Nico chuckled and left them alone. Whisper didn't look up from her food until there was not one sliver of meat left on the bone. "Zane!" she squealed.

"Hello, Little Wolf!" he said and sat beside her. "Enjoying your meal?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "The best meal I've had yet since I met you!"

"Good." Whisper wiped the crumbs off her face and hands, then moved the table out of the way. She opened her arms to him to which he happily obliged. "Do you hurt anywhere?"

Whisper shook her head. "I want to go home," she whispered.

"Me too," he breathed into her hair. "But not until we know you're healthy."

She looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, my dear, we're going to take a look at your vitals," said a voice from the door.

Zane instantly saw the way Whisper's body tensed at the sound of Truent's voice. "Relax, Whisper. Truent is a nice man."

Whisper shook her head. "No, no doctor is nice!"

"Maybe I could help?"

Both Zane and Whisper glanced back at the door to see Wren. "Wren!" Whisper said happily.

"Hello, Whisper. Miss me?"

"I saw you!" Whisper suddenly said with wide eyes. "You were there with him! You yelled at him!"

Wren furrowed her brows in confusion until it dawned on her. "Where were you?"

"Hiding and being held quiet," Whisper said more quietly than before.

"Alright, why don't you two talk about that later. I need to check and see if Whisper is back to normal," Truent said.

Wren volunteered to be guinea pig so Whisper could see what the doctor was going to do. Once Whisper approved of his actions, he was allowed to check her. Zane sat behind her the whole time, encouraging her to continue with whatever the doctor wanted her to do.

Once Truent was finished, he grabbed a chair and sat down, looking up at Zane and Whisper. "First of all, everything is back to normal." Whisper smiled in delight while Zane kissed the back of her head. The doctor went on, "But, Whisper, you're still exhausted. You need to stay off your feet as much as possible for the next couple of days. Sleep as much as you can. When you're awake, eat and drink a lot. We don't want you back in the infirmary again, my dear."

Whisper nodded and leaned back against Zane, her head resting in the crook of his neck. "Her bones are good?"

"They're fine, mostly thanks to you." The Alpha nodded and sighed in contentment. "Zane, you need to do what is needed before it's too late."

"I know. Believe me, I know now."

Truent shook his head. "No you don't." He glanced at Whisper quickly before moving on. Rovell is definitely one to take fast actions to get what he wants. He will get it by any means necessary."

Zane's grip around Whisper tightened slightly and she responded by snuggling closer to him. "I'll do it tonight."

"And the ceremony?"

"Soon. One thing at a time. She is already stressed out as it is."

"At least explain everything then. Explain it and we can go from there."

Zane nodded. "Is she free?"

"Unless there is anything else I need to be worried about, yes. She's free."

Zane wrapped his arms around Whisper and got off the bed, walking out of the room to see Nico waiting right outside. He smiled. "Good to go?"

"Yes, and we are going."

"Good," Nico said and ushered Zane down the hallway towards the door. "Reed has the jet set up and ready to go. I just need to get Anton."

"Where is he?"

"On his laptop researching a few things," the Beta said with a shrug.

"Get him and tell him to hurry up."

Zane carried Whisper all the way to the jet and into the compartment where he sat her down on a soft chair and buckled her in. She opened her eyes and looked around. "Where are we going?"

"Home."

She nodded her understanding and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Zane, I don't want to sleep again."

"You're safe, Little Wolf. I'll be there when you wake up and hold you in my arms. Just sleep and think of something good. Don't think of all the bad you've seen. Just the good."

She hummed softly. "Like you?"

Zane chuckled. "Like me."

After a few seconds, Whisper fell asleep, still holding onto him as if he was her lifeline. He carefully made her lean back and rest her hands in her lap. Kissing her forehead, he stood and went to the exit, not completely stepping out. Nico, Anton, Reed, and Simone stood there on the ground talking. Reed noticed him and broke apart from the others to walk up to him. "If you need anything, let me know."

"Same to you."

"How is she?"

Zane sighed and looked at his mate. "Hardly able to keep her eyes open, but she's better."

"Good. Take care, Zane."

"I will." He looked up to his men. "Let's go!"