Chapter Seven (Zaid's POV)

The next day, it rained.

It poured down to the earth heavily, making large puddles in the backyard. I watched from the kitchen window as the puppies danced around in them, splashing each other and barking happily without a care in the world while I sat at the table, watching with a frown.

Holly was washing dishes, humming gently as she swayed her hips to whatever song was in her head. Lars had come in moments again, giving her a kiss before he left on a hunt with everyone else.

Only Breece, Holly, Jack, and I were left at the house. Well, other than the pups.

The house was silent, except for the pitter patter of rain on the windowpanes and roof. The sky gently grumbled thunder, but no lightening lit up the sky. Breece sat on the porch under the shelter of the roof as he watched the pups play for another half an hour before he called them in to bath them before a nap.

I looked up at Holly as she washed the dishes.

"Holly, do you happen to know anything about Hunters?" I asked, although, I rathered doubted it. The silence was deafening and I was so unbelievably bored that I swore I was about to just throw myself in the fireplace, so at least I'd have something to do and I could leave the house to douse the flames.

Holly dried her hands off, turning to face me with a tired smile.

"You're so curious, Zaid."

"I have to know as much as I can. I'm going to inherit the pack, aren't I?"

"That's true... Honestly," She sighed, "I don't know too much about Hunters. Only what I've read in stories and heard from my grandmother. They're just dangerous humans who think we're some sort of devil creation. I also heard that there is a type of Hunter called a Searcher. I'm not sure if this is my just crazy grandma telling me this, but a Searcher is a type of Hunter that does crazy rituals and experiments on our kind. They try to extract our magic, our life force, our auras. They're sort of like really creepy doctors or scientists, but I'm not sure that's true or not, so don't quote me on it."

"Do you think there's a Searcher amongst the Hunters in town?" I asked. Holly shook her head.

"No. According to your father, the Hunters in town are just out to kill us. And there's only two of them, so personally, I don't believe there's that much danger. Your father is planning to have a meeting with the other packs in the area to discuss our next move." She explained calmly. I nodded slowly, but said nothing more.

I needed to do something. Anything.

I sighed and started to rise to my feet as Holly turned to do the dishes again when she gasped.

"What?" I asked, turning to see her panting, her hand grasping her belly.

"Z-Zaid. Zaid, my water broke." She managed shakily. I stared at her.

"Uhm?" Shit.

"Zaid, help!"

"I don't know what to do!" I panicked, hurrying over and wincing at my sore ankle as I struggled to keep Holly calm as she gasped for air, gripping the counter. I tilted my head back away from her ear.

"Breece! Breece! Holly! Her baby's coming!" I howled, my voice breaking at the end as I helped Holly out of the kitchen. No more than a few seconds later after I called him did Breece show up, easily taking Holly and leading her into the living room where he let her lie on the floor.

"Zaid, get blankets. Blankets, sheets, and a towel," Breece commanded me firmly, "And do it now!"

I didn't waste another second. I ignored the searing pain in my ankle as I went to the closet in the hallway, throwing the door open and ripping out towels and sheets. I managed to find a knit blanket before rushing into the living room again to see Breece stroking Holly's forehead as she groaned in pain, gripping his hand in hers.

"It's all right, Holly. Sit up a little more... There we go. Big deep breathes." He soothed. I was stunned to see him so calm as he took the sheets from me, spreading them out and placing the towel near her legs as he propped her against the sofa.

"Zaid, call Lars and the others. They should be just outside. Howl as loud as you can." He commanded. I nodded and bolted for the door, running out into the rain as it poured down on me. I tipped my head back, cupping my hands around my mouth and howling loudly. It echoed in the clearing around the house. I howled a few more times before I heard a loud scream from inside.

I whirled around and bolted back into the house to see Holly screaming, gripping Breece's hand tightly as she gasped for air.

"Breece-"

"Zaid, stop panicking. You're scaring her," Breece ordered, "Go get some warm water and another towel. The rest of the pack should be here soon, but move quickly. The baby's coming."

I only managed a nod as I rushed into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl from the cupboards and filling it to the brim with warm water before I snatched a towel out of the drawer near the sink, heading back for Breece and Holly.

Holly was breathing heavily, her eyes squeezed shut tightly as she panted for air.

"I don't know what to do." I admitted as I passed Breece the things he ordered. He shook his head.

"I'm not shocked. Just keep an eye out for the others. I'll do what I can until your mother and Ivy arrive." Breece explained calmly, then went back to soothing Holly, stroking her hair. I was surprised to see Breece do this. I didn't think he knew how to deliver a baby. Not to mention, he was so calm, it was almost unbelievable.

It didn't take long for the rest of the pack come bounding into the house. Lars came in first, almost slamming into a wall on his bare feet. He was soaking wet and naked from just changing. I heard everyone rustling with their coats to pull them on, rushing in and dropping around Holly.

I stepped back out of their way, grimacing as Holly wailed. I ducked into the kitchen, taking deep breathes as I wiped the rain off my face. I stayed in the kitchen until I heard the shrieking of a baby hours later. I stared out the window, hearing Holly sobbing along with the baby. I could hear Lars sighing heavily with relief while my mother showered her with praises for the birth.

You'd think I'd be used to the women here having children. Well, then again, Holly was the only one who ever seemed to get pregnant. Ivy had no mate and her bitchy attitude prevented her from ever finding another one. My mother, well, I guess she and my father didn't like kids and learned their lesson from me.

I took a deep breath, running a hand through my hair. The kitchen door opened and I whipped around as Jack's scent assaulted my nose. I frowned as he came in, smiling faintly.

"Your aunt has given birth to a healthy son. Would you like to see him?" He asked. I hesitated, then slowly shook my head.

"Uhm... Not yet." I added. Jack nodded, closing the door behind him, but he didn't leave. He stood across the kitchen from me, blocking the only exit- Well, except the back door, but if I were to step one foot out of this house, my father would castrate me.

"You're probably tired from running around. Would you like me to make you some tea?" Jack asked.

"Sure." I said hesitantly, stepping out of his way as he came to the oven, putting the kettle on as he got a couple of tea cups. I still avoided him, standing on the other side of the kitchen.

"You don't like me, do you?" Jack asked quietly. I blinked and glanced over at him uneasily.

"Sorry."

"That's fine. I'm used to it. A lot of people are weary around me. I should expect it now more than ever now that I have no pack." He explained, sounding pained. I felt a ripple of guilt hit me, but I wasn't going to let it stop me. Something about Jack was suspicious. I didn't trust him for a second.

"Well, if you didn't look at people the way you do or acted so different, you wouldn't get that sort of attention." I answered honestly. Jack laughed.

"Then I wouldn't be mean. It's not my fault I find you interesting."

"So it's just me?"

"Of course," Jack replied, turning to face me, "You're enticing. Everything about you. Your voice, your thoughts, your personality, your body."

"My what-"

"Zaid! Fetch Holly a glass of orange juice, right now!" My mother's voice thundered. I winced, casting Jack a curious stare before I grabbed a carton of orange juice, hurriedly pouring it and rushing out into the living room. I was limping the whole way and my ankle was starting to throb. It was any wonder I didn't spill it all over her.

I froze, though, as I watched Holly cradle her son, who was now wrapped in a bundle of white sheets. He was so small, so fragile. His screaming had ceased and he was now gurgling, his eyes closed as his little hands grasped at his father's finger that was stroked his cheek.

I watched as Holly smiled dreamily at her baby, holding it protectively. Lars didn't move from his spot, despite the fact that he was completely nude, save for a sheet over his shoulders. He stayed by Holly's side, stroking the baby's cheek and kissing his wife on the forehead.

A surprising jolt of jealousy struck through me. How could I be jealous? I should be happy. Holly had given birth to a healthy baby boy. Our pack needed more males, more strength to fell our prey. At the same time, I was maybe more envious than jealous. I couldn't remember a time my parents looked at me like that.

Sure, my mother worried and fretted, but she never got so comfortable with me. She usually smacked me after she went on a tirade about how I scared her. As for my father, well, he'd probably sooner lop his own gentials off before worrying over me. The only reason they did what they did was for one reason and one reason only.

I was the heir.

The next alpha.

And that's all I ever will be.

I set the glass down and swiftly left the room, feeling my body go rigid. I walked into the kitchen to see Jack pouring our tea. I frowned, still keeping my distance as he set the cup on the table for me.

"You should go upstairs and rest," Jack advised, glancing behind me toward the door before looking back at me, "I'll let your parents know."

"I'm not a child."

"Of course not," Jack agreed, coming forward and I thought he was going to walk by me to the door, but he stepped right up to me, causing a lump to form in my throat as he stared right into my eyes, "You're anything, but." I just managed a short nod. Jack smiled.

"Don't worry, Zaid. Everything's all right. You just need rest." He replied. I frowned at him, sidestepping past him to get my tea. I just gulped it down before quickly leaving the kitchen to avoid his intense stare.

I went upstairs, ignoring the fuss in the living room and the fact that Jack had followed me out the kitchen, but stayed at the foot of the stairs to watch me depart. I immediately went to my room, shutting the new door behind me and taking a deep breath.

I needed to talk to someone, I thought miserably, pushing off the door. Someone who would actually listen to me. The ony person who came to mind was Scythe, but there was no way it would work. He told me not to go out into the woods; he wouldn't be there. My heart ached, but I didn't dwell on it.

I needed to distract myself.

So I paced around my room for a while, until my bedroom door opened. It squeaked on its new hinges and I spun around to see my mother standing there with a stern frown.

"We're taking Holly to the hospital out of town to make sure she's all right. We're leaving you and Breece here alone, with Jack. I'm trusting you to remain here. If you should leave, your father will be the one to punish you. Watch the house, Zaid." She commanded. I scowled.

"We can't let Jack stay here anymore." I admitted openly. My mother blinked, then scowled back at me, growling low in her throat.

"Don't test me now, Zaid. We have a lot more important things to worry about. Just guard the house, you can do that. It's simple. And stop running around on that leg of yours. There's a trail of blood leading to your bedroom." She added in irritation. I blinked and looked down to see that there really was little droplets and the pantleg of my jeans was soaked through.

I rolled my eyes and went to my bed, plopping down and riffling through my nightstand for a roll of gauze while my mother watched for a moment, then sighed, departing from my room and slamming my door shut.

I grimaced, then changed the bandages on my ankle before I got up. I resisted a wince as a sharp pain in my ankle went up my leg. I took a deep breath, then stopped when the room suddenly tilted.

"Whoa." I managed, grasping the post on my bed to keep my balance. The world teased me, shifting from side to side. My vision faded in and out. I couldn't stand anymore. I slumped to my knees and hit the floor on my side.

Shit, shit, what's going on?

I opened my mouth to call to Breece, but my mouth felt so dry, so parched. I panted for breath, digging my nails into the wood floor, making jagged marks. I sighed heavily, feeling even more dizzy than before.

I heard footsteps vibrating the floor, but I couldn't see anything anymore. Everything felt like it was wrapped in a thick layer of cotton. My vision was now nothing, but blurry images. I felt my lips moving, but I couldn't hear what I was saying now.

It didn't take long before my vision was engulfed in darkness and everything around me faded out of the picture as I passed out.