Chapter 9

close my eyes, remembering Zare's kiss. That can't be our last kiss, I would die a crazy man. I have to get her back. It will be painful and long to walk to camp.

I stop walking. "I am returning to Zare."

Ajay eyes me. I see the redness on his face. The interactions earlier have already irritated him.

"Chetan cut the bullshit," he yells.

"How can you leave her with the vampires, they are hurting her Ajay!"

"Zare needs to be a big girl and decide to come home on her own.

I feel my fits forming, the sweat building up in my hand.

"She is scared Ajay, and I am not letting this go on any longer."

I turn to leave before I kick Ajay's ass. I know I will feel guilty later.

I feel his hand on my arm. I yank my arm away forcefully.

"Chetan, if you leave now, you're not welcome back," Ajay eyes me.

"Ajay, don't you ever claim you love Zare more than me, because I am doing whatever it takes to get her to safety."

I turn to leave.

"Chetan, please don't go," I hear Abooksigun cry.

I look at her face. She looks so upset.

I run my fingers through my hair. I feel my knots in my stomach. My eyes are drawn to Aanya, who looks equally shaken up.

"The girls have been so much, if you're leaving, just go at night," Ajay tells me.

I nod.

****

The rest of the pack members joined us, meeting us halfway. Getting closer to camp, I feel on edge. I am just ready to escape and get my girl back. I take out my whisky, I need something to calm my nerves. I am a mental mess lately.

I see Ajay eye me. He doesn't say anything. I know he wants me to stop drinking.

They laugh and joke away. I stay quiet, I have nothing positive to say. I feel like I will be an asshole.

We stop walking, smelling Zare's scent. All of us suddenly transform into werewolves.

"Come out, Zare," says Ajay. He sounded very aggravated.

She approaches us. I am the first to change to my human form. Cricket, Smoke, and Dev all growl at Zare.

"It's Zare, calm down."

"What are you doing here?" Ajay asks.

"I just want to talk. I miss you guys, all of you."

"Where are the other vampires?" Ajay asks.

"They're out hunting."

"Of course,'' says Ajay.

"They have to drink; otherwise, our throat burns really bad."

"So now you're defending them," Ajay remarks.

"I am not just explaining."

Ajay changes into his human form. He approaches Zare face to face.

"Are you coming home?" He asks.

"I still can?"

"Stop, you know I've been worried sick about you," he says.

"I can't leave Ash."

"Do you have some romantic thing with him?" I had to ask. I need to know.

"No, he's just my friend, and believe it or not, he's very decent."

"Then you'll have to choose adagyudi," Ajay says.

"I know." I see the water in Zara's eyes.

"I won't protect a vampire or risk the lives of my pack," Ajay says.

"He is harmless."

"Maybe to you, but to me, he is still a vampire," Ajay replies.

"Fine." She crossed her arms.

"And I won't hesitate to kill him," Ajay says.

"Then I won't be able to join the pack."

"Zare, I can't live like this anymore. I can't describe the pain I feel. I smell you, and I long to touch you. I see you and my heartbreaks. I need you here with me."

"I know Chetan, I feel it too."

"I was so angry at you for not understanding the misery you put me through not being here."

"I do," she eyes me.

"So, do you love Ash more than me?" I hear my voice break.

"Of course not, but Ash is my friend. I can't watch him be destroyed."

"Then I guess you made your choice," Ajay says with his arms crossed.

"And what about me? I am half-vampire. Are you going to kill me too?" Zare asks.

"If you stand with them and I have too, yes, and that scares the hell out of me, Zare, because it's no secret that I also love you," Ajay says.

"He is a vampire. We are your pack, your family. How are you even torn?'' asks Kiara.

"I don't know." Zare stares blankly at Kiara. She looks like she is daydreaming, not here in reality with us.

"It looks like you made your choice," Abooksigun says.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

"Abooksigun," she remarks.

"We came across her as a lone wolf the other day," Ajay says.

Zare nods.

"I'm sick of seeing Chetan being tortured," Abooksigun remarks.

"I don't need to explain myself to you." I can see Zare getting upset, she clearly didn't like Abooksigun questioning her.

"Stop, I don't need another fight," Ajay yells.

"Sorry, Alpha," Abooksigun says.

"Yeah, sorry, Alpha," Zare rolls her eyes.

Ajay laughs, "You're still a pain in my ass, and you're not even here."

Zare acts funny. She begins to panic. Looking all around. She must smell the vampire's scent.

"I must be going."

"Zare, no, please." I just want to protect her.

"This isn't goodbye, Chetan." Zare runs away, not even looking back, and again my heart is ripped out of my chest.