Chapter Thirteen (Zaid's POV)

I woke up feeling weak. I wasn't sick or nauseous anymore, just weak. Exhausted. Fatigued.

And surprisingly, it felt great.

I felt a cool breeze from my window and I forced my eyelids open to look around my room. The window was opened to reveal a bright and sunny spring afternoon, which caught me off guard. I usually woke up just after the crack of dawn. I had a feeling my parents were going to scream at me for it.

I tilted my head to the side to see my bedroom door partially opened. I sighed and rolled over on my side, tugging the sheets over my shoulder as I resisted waking up fully.

Until I felt the sheets sliding across my bare skin.

My eyes flashed and shot upright, throwing the covers back to stare at myself. I was naked and red dots covered the inside of my arms. A lump of panic was starting to well inside me.

What happened?

What's going on?

I pulled the sheets back over myself, pulling my knees up to rest my elbows on, staring at the blankets. I went through the last events I remembered happening, making me frown.

Holly. Holly was going into labor. I was freaking out and I remembered hiding out in the kitchen while she was in pain. I mentally cursed myself for my cowardice, then it hit me all at once.

Jack brewing the tea that had me passing out upstairs only minutes later. Waking up inside a steel cage in a small trailer in the middle of nowhere. Jack poking and proding me with needle after needle. The collar he clasped on my throat. The way he teased me by tightening it and loosening it, then tightening it again as he repeated the process.

His hands on my bare skin and the heavy scent of cigarette smoke. There was no oxygen in that trailer, only smoke, smoke, and more smoke. I remembered the way my lungs burned and my chest ached, my body feeling heavy.

The drugs. The blood tests.

The ranting and raving Jack did. His promises and his threats, his nasty obscene comments. The way he dragged me around and slammed me into things. The bathtub filled with water and his attempt to drown me. His bipolar mood swings. The way he, Scorpio, Adam, and Breece chased me in the trailer.

Busting the window open with my fist.

I looked down at my fist, seeing it wrapped in gauze. I felt a lump form in my throat.

It all happened. It wasn't just a horrible nightmare. It all really happened.

That aching, helpless feeling. The hopelessness. Feeling weak and fragile.

Rage boiled my blood and evaporated my unshed tears as I grabbed the nearest thing to me, which happened to be a glass of water. I threw it across the room, watching it shatter to pieces as the water splattered everywhere.

I couldn't resist angrily screaming past clenched teeth as I fisted my hair, pulling on it and burying my face against my knees.

I let that happen. I could've fought them off, but I didn't. Instead, I let them do whatever they want. I couldn't stop any of it. I was too weak.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my teeth gritted until I heard a familiar voice at the door of my room, making me jerk my head up.

"Zaid?" Scythe asked, his dark eyes glowing with warmth and concern. He immediately walked into the room, stunning me with his presence as I stared up at him. His legs were hugged by a pair of tight leather pants, the muscles in his torso so well-defined in the snug black tank top he wore, matching his motorcycle boots.

"Scythe?" I asked, wondering if he was really there. Was I dreaming? Was it the drugs? Was Scythe really here? In my room?

Scythe sat on the bed slowly, studying my face as he reached up, gently brushing the hair from my face. He smiled with relief when he saw that I was there. Did he think I was a dream too?

"Are you really here or is Jack making fun of me?" I managed, afraid to reach out and touch him. Sure, I felt his fingers on my skin, but I still felt like this was a dream. I tentatively lifted my hand, moving to touch his face.

I sucked in a sharp breath as my palm cupped his cheek. Scythe still smiled, reaching up to place his hand over mine. He turned my hand over, kissing my palm before nuzzling it.

"I'm here, Zaid." He murmured. I choked when he said that, about to pull my hand away, but Scythe took my hand and pulled me against him. I didn't dare let myself cry. I'd already shown enough weakness and shame. I would just be signing my death warrant if I cried now. I just took big, even breathes as Scythe stroked my hair.

"Thank you." I managed, pulling back. Scythe stroked my cheek with his knuckles, smiling faintly.

"Anytime... So, are you hungry? Breakfast is downstairs." He offered, gesturing to the door. I blinked and at the mention of food, my stomach clenched and growled. I grimaced.

"I can't even remember the last time I've eaten."

"Probably three days."

"Three days?! How long was I asleep?!"

"How would you feel if I said you've been asleep for a solid two days?"

"I'd freak! Two days? Seriously? Ugh, let me up. I'm starving to death." I grumbled, heaving myself out of bed. As soon as I stood, however, my legs wobbled and I almost hit the floor if Scythe hadn't of caught me under the arms.

"Ugh." I winced, reaching up to hold the side of my head as the world did a little twirl. Scythe helped steady me and guided me to my wardrobe.

"It's probably whatever drug they fed you... It seemed he really had you out of it." He said quietly as he opened the doors to my wardrobe, reaching in to pick out my clothes. For a second, a warmth spread over me that he was being so considerate.

Then a fire snapped in me when I heard Jack's voice at the back of my mind...

You won't have to protect him anymore. After all, isn't this a hassle? ... You'll spend the rest of your life taking care of him.

No, I thought angrily. I don't need someone to take care of me. I was perfectly capable of handling myself.

"I can find my own clothes." I stated calmly. Scythe glanced at me, then shrugged and backed up, holding his hands up in defense before tucking his thumbs into his pants pockets.

"Sorry. Figured you were having trouble." He answered calmly. I paused, staring at the clothes in my wardrobe before sighing, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"I'm sorry, Scythe... I'm not helpless or anything. I can handle myself just fine." I answered, even though my voice cracked at the end of that. I cringed.

Yea, right.

Handle myself my ass. If I could, I wouldn't have almost been killed or kidnapped... or worse.

My throat closed and I looked away from Scythe. I felt his eyes watching me, then his hand on my shoulder as he pulled me to face him. He placed both his hands on my shoulders firmly, his eyes locking with mine.

"You're right," Scythe agreed, making me blink, "You aren't helpless, but don't rain on my parade. You were taken from me and almost gave me a heartattack. Just let me spend as much time with you as I can before your dad boots me out." My eyes widened.

"My dad... Wait, he knows you're here? Everyone knows you're here? What the hell happened after I passed out?" I asked in disbelief. Scythe smirked, but it held an irritated twitch to it as he let go of me, stepping back and gesturing for me to get dressed. I hesitated, but obeyed as he sighed.

"Your dad said we could stay so long as you were still out of it... Could you, like, I dunno... Pretend to be unconscious so I can stay here with you?" He asked with a wicked grin as I tugged on a pair of leather pants. I scowled.

"My dad actually agreed to that?" I asked, seriously surprised as I grabbed a shirt off the hanger, feeling Scythe's eyes on my backside. I turned to face him and he looked away innocently. I rolled my eyes, then tugged the black shirt on over my head before I turned to face him.

"Is... everyone downstairs then?" I asked. Scythe nodded.

"Yea, even my pack. We wanted to make sure you were all right. Not to mention, your dad had a cow when I informed him that I'd chosen you as my mate. He seems to think his power overrides that of the Goddess. Talk some sense into that man." He replied. I blinked, then a sudden thought hit me.

"Breece," I blurted, "He was working with Jack-"

"Key word," Scythe answered quietly, "Was." I froze, staring at him.

"He's... dead?" I asked. Scythe nodded. I stared at the floor, feeling a little lightheaded. Breece was dead. The wolf that had come to my father's pack when no one else would accept him. He fought my father for place of alpha and lost, becoming our omega.

He'd always been so kind to the pups and gentle, when he thought no one was looking. He always protected them with his very being.

And yet, he betrayed us. He was so desperate for the alpha position that he sold me off to Jack. I shuddered at the thought, but I was caught of guard as Scythe wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest gently.

"I'm sorry, Zaid. I really am. Sorry for what was done to you, sorry for not showing up when I should have, for Breece, for everything." He murmured, stroking my hair before he held me back to study my face. I stared at him for a while, stunned before I regained my right mind and shook my head.

"It wasn't your fault, Scythe." I said quietly, placing my hand over Scythe's, bringing his hand to my lips to kiss his fingertips. I felt far more comfortable with Scythe touching me. I didn't really want to leave the safety of my room or Scythe's touch, but part of me knew I had duties to attend to and one of them was assuring my pack that their heir was still alive.

I said nothing, just let go of Scythe and led the way out of my room, taking my time. Any quick movements meant a dizzy spell and I really didn't need one of those right now. Scythe stayed right at my side, watching to make sure I didn't fall head first down the stairs.

I heard chattering from the kitchen and the living room, but the smell of my pack came from the kitchen. I went straight inside and everyone seemed to stop immediately what they were doing to gape at me.

"Zaid!" My mother gasped immediately when she saw me, then leapt from her seat, still in her pajamas as she threw her arms around my neck. I winced a little, surprised at her immediate show of affection. I was waiting for her to slap me as I stood there stiffly, but she just cupped my face in her hands, scanning me over quickly and studying my bandaged hand.

"Thank goodness," My mother breathed, touching my face and smiling at me in relief, "I didn't think you'd ever wake up."

"I did," Ivy declared, leaning against the wall with a mug of hot coffee, giving me a cocky smirk, "Kid is tough as nails like his ma and auntie. Mostly his auntie. Good to have you back, kiddo."

"I couldn't agree more." Lars sighed with relief, coming over to give me a bear hug that almost choked me to death. I just smiled weakly at everyone, but even as I smiled, I felt the dull ache of failure inside.

Heir to the most noble and powerful pack in Moontstone, depended on by not only my own pack, but the others in the surrounding areas. So important.

And so stupid.

I had allowed myself to be captured by a rogue wolf and two Hunters. And a traitor, no less? How could I not have sniffed him out? I was pathetic. And I was just waiting for the one person to tell me.

"Where's father?" I asked. My mother frowned and Ivy curled her lip.

"In the basement tending to our new pet." She snorted, looking away to gulp down her coffee. My mother scowled.

"We ought to kill him." She muttered. I blinked.

"Who?" I looked at Scythe, who raked everyone in the kitchen with a disgusted stare before looking at me, his expression only slightly softening.

"The Hunter known as Adam. We brought him back alive in hopes of... Well, last night, I attacked Jack, but he had gotten away. We're hoping Adam knows where he went, however, he's not being very cooperative." He explained calmly. Even so, I felt a bolt of ice go up my spine.

"He escaped?" I demanded, mentally congratulating myself on keeping calm, even though inside I was panicking.

Jack was alive.

He was out there somewhere and Goddess knows he'd never give up on trying to get his hands on me again.

"I'm sorry, Zaid," Scythe said, looking honestly pained at the revelation, "It was my fault for hesitating. Next time, I'll kill him."

"Let's hope there isn't a next time." My mother grunted, then reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear, her eyes gazing up at me worriedly. I was honestly stunned. Since when had she become so gentle with me? Any other time, she'd be smacking me around and then only offering a hug before storming off.

Parents were strange.

"I want to see him," I said at last, backing up, "I want to talk to the Hunter." Everyone stared at me in disbelief, Ivy choking on her coffee and wiping it on the sleeve of her skintight turtleneck.

"Are you suicidal," She snapped, "That Hunter down there is one of the monsters that snatched you away and did Goddess knows what."

"No," I protested, "That Hunter did nothing to me. Nothing that he wasn't forced to do. I want to talk to him, maybe he'll listen to what I have to say. I'm not afraid of him." My mother grimaced.

"Zaid, please. You still need to rest-"

"I"ve been asleep for two days. I'm perfectly capable of handling myself. Stop chiding me. Scythe, take me to where Adam is." I said, turning to him. Scythe stood there under all the angry eyes of my pack members, his eyes locked on mine before he nodded, gesturing for me to leave the kitchen. I ignored my mother's calls to return as Scythe came out, leading me down the hallway to the back hall that went from one side of the house to the other. We went to the furthest door on the left, opening it and reveal the stairs.

The basement was far better than most would expect. A simple white hallway with doors on either side. Scythe led me to the fifth one on the right, his hand hesitating on the handle before he opened it.

The room was cold with a hardwood floor and walls that were painted dark red. A simple metal bed was sitting in one corner, but the mattress was gone. I frowned and my eyes fell on Adam, who was leaning against the wall by the bedframe.

I was stunned to see his ankle shackled to the wall. His clothes were torn, bloody, and filthy as if he'd been rolling around outside. They had kept him in the clothes he wore the last time I saw him, only his flipflops were gone.

"What...?" I couldn't finish. Adam glanced up, revealing two day's growth of beard and a gash across his nose.

"If you're here to rant about how I'm a horrible person, go ahead." His voice was hoarse as if he'd been kicked in the throat. I blinked, stepping forward as Scythe closed the door behind me quietly.

"No," I said calmly, "I'm here to talk to you about Jack." Adam groaned, tilting his head back against the wall.

"I don't know where that mangy mutt homo is. Like I told the big guy who came in here earlier, I hardly know a thing about that asshole." He snapped, then rested his head on one of his knees, his other leg spread out at an odd angle.

His ankle, I realized, the one in the shackle was broken.

"Did my pack do this?" I asked, gesturing to his ankle. Adam tilted his head, still resting it on his knee, but so he was looking at his ankle, then up at me.

"Why do you care? You should be torturing me too, right? I'm the one that held you down and hunted you." He grunted. I frowned, stepping forward and getting on my hunches in front of him so we were eye level.

"You were paid. You're a Hunter, that's what you do." I answered. Adam snorted.

"I'm a hunter, not a Hunter. I don't hunt paranormal shit. That was Scorpio's gig. I just hunted small time game, like wolves, bears, and foxes. I never believed in any of that werewolf shit... Until now." He added under his breath, looking away from me.

I grimaced. So he wasn't informed of exactly what they were hunting. He just took the money and came here. It explained all his mocking of Scorpio from before. Now that I looked at Adam, he didn't look like he was evil and cruel. At least, that's what a part of me said. The animal in me wanted to rip him to pieces because no matter how you looked at it, Adam was also one of the people who hurt me.

I blinked away the rage boiling my blood, taking a deep breath.

"Adam. Are you positive you don't know where Jack is? Where he might go?" I asked. Adam glanced up past his hair, his eyes studying me narrowly before he glanced at the wall.

"Positive. Jack didn't really tell us anything. The plan was to come here, capture some wolf and take him back to Washington for testing. Once we got back to Washington, I was going to leave and head back to Virginia. Scorpio knew more than I did, he and Jack were probably homo with each other too." He spat. I frowned.

"I'm sorry, Adam."

"Me too."

"Well, then if you don't know anything, you're useless to us." I sighed, rising to my feet. Adam's head snapped up to watch me. I sensed every muscle in his body tensing, his heart pounding and pumping his blood through his veins. The fear wavered off him in streams, but his face didn't show it.

"You're going to kill me." Adam stated, his voice firm. I'd give him credit, he was scared, but he wasn't going to show it. I looked at Scythe, who folded his arms over his chest, studying Adam, then looking at me.

"You'll be eighteen in a few days," Scythe told me, "Once that happens, you're in charge and you can call the shots on whether to kill him or not. We both know your father is planning to burn him, no doubt." I looked at Adam, who studied us both like a caged animal.

Even humans had animal traits when they were in such a position.

"Here's the deal," I said to Adam, who raised an eyebrow, "I turn eighteen in a few days, like Scythe said. Until then, pretend you know something whenever someone comes in here to question you. The day I turn eighteen, I'll release you and even give you money to head back to Virginia, but you must never, ever speak of what happened here in Moonstone. In fact, you were never here. You never met me or Jack. Do we have an accord?" Adam stared at me for the longest time and I saw the gears working in his head, the way his muscles slowly loosened and his heart rate returned to normal.

"My lips are sealed." He said at last, making a zipping motion over his lips. I nodded in relief.

"I'm trusting you, Adam. You should be honored. Our kind doesn't take kindly to those who wronged us, but... I'm not normal." I answered.

"That's what Jack said." Adam blurted, then looked the other way. I went to roll my eyes, then stopped when something seemed to click in my head. I stopped, reaching up to cup my head thoughtfully.

Not normal.

That sounded familiar, and not in an insulting manner either. What did he mean by that? How was I not normal? Sure, I was a little more forgiving and cautious than most wolves, but that didn't make me some kind of scientific experiment, right?

"Come on," Scythe spoke up, making me glance at him, "We should go before your father shows up. He already hates me for claiming you as my mate." I said nothing to that as we departed, leaving Adam to sit in the darn, dreary room.

He wouldn't be there long, I reminded myself. It wouldn't be long now before I turned eighteen and performed the mating ritual as well as the alpha rite. The birthday ceremony wasn't my idea of a birthday celebration, not like the ones the kids at school had.

It was too formal, too mysterious and dark.

Scythe led me back upstairs where I heard chattering and someone yelling. We shared looks before drifting into the living room where both Luna and Blood Rain were sitting, pretty much arguing.

"What the hell is going on here?" Scythe demanded, folding his arms over his chest. The man I assumed was his father snorted.

"We're leaving, Scythe. It would seem Nyt likes doing things the hard way." He told him, then glanced at me for a moment before looking at my father, who was glaring daggers at him. My father barely paid me any mind.

"I told you until Zaid woke up. Now that he is awake and well, you must leave! That was our deal!" He snapped.

"Rather difficult when Scythe has chosen Zaid as his mate, isn't it?" Scythe's father challenged. My father's face mottled red with hate and I could sense him losing his control over his emotions.

"Get out!" He barked.

"Wait," I protested, "If Scythe's-"

"Zaid, shut your mouth. This doesn't concern you," My father snarled, making me grit my teeth, "I order that your pack leave immediately. I don't care who Scythe has chosen as his mate, but it surely is not my son. Leave now!"

I ground my teeth together in irritation. What did he mean this didn't concern me? This was my life! I had the right to choose who my mate was. How dare he make decisions for me!

"I want them to stay!" I blurted. My father whirled on me, his eyes angry and his fists clenched.

"I said shut your mouth, Zaid. You're already in trouble for sneaking off to meet Scythe. I should've known you were meddling with the wrong kinds of people. First Jack, then Breece, then Scythe. If you don't learn your place, I'll kill you without a moment's hesitation." He threatened, his voice icy cold. I stiffened, feeling the ice strike me hard. I didn't move, didn't speak for a moment.

I felt like he was blaming me for the situation with Jack. Was it really my fault? According to Adam, Jack already knew I was here. He was already coming after me. That wasn't my fault because I didn't know Jack up until the time we met in the woods.

Wait...

Jack already knew about me.

How could he possibly know about me?

I was a small town guy living in Alabama, doing regular household chores more than half the time. I was a regular. Sure, I was a werewolf, but even by werewolf standards, I was rather regular. I was weaker, I told myself with a flit of irritation, but I was nothing to hunt down and steal.

"Stay away from my son," My father sneered at Scythe, bringing me out of my thoughts, "You've corrupted him enough. The last thing I need is for you to teach him rebellion against his father. Get out of my house, get off my territory, and stay as far away from my son as possible, or I'll rip you to pieces before you have a chance to claim him as your mate."

"Too late," Scythe seethed, "We've done plenty to prove that he's my mate." My face turned red hot as my father seemed to choke on his words. My pack gasped and so did Scythe's.

"You never said you actually..." Scythe's father's words trailed off in disbelief. Scythe scowled.

"It wasn't the ritual, I assure you, but believe me. Even if you don't let me stay as his mate, other wolves won't go near him so long as he carries my scent on him. So either you let us mate or you can leave him alone for the rest of his life, and you can't become an alpha without a mate. Or did I miss something?" He sneered. My father sputtered, trying to find the right words.

"Zaid, please, tell us this isn't the truth." My mother moaned, covering her face with her hands. I felt everyone's eyes on me.

"W-Well, I mean..." What do I say? They already knew Zaid had chosen me as his mate. How could I possibly make it any worse by denying or agreeing? I just nodded my head and my mother choked.

Probably a bad idea to openly admit you had sex with the enemy, especially with my raging father just two feet in front of me. He took advantage of that and backhanded me hard across the face. My head snapped to the side and winced.

Scythe snarled, lunging at my father and shoving him back hard, ready to pounce on him, but I caught him under the arms, jerking him back.

"Scythe, stop! He's my father!" I protested.

"Lies!" Scythe spat.

"Scythe, shut up!" His father snarled. I frowned, but I was too busy struggling with Scythe to care as he tried to maul my father, who was growling at him threateningly.

"Get out of my house!" My father bellowed, his voice practically shaking the glass chandelier above our heads. My pack immediately took a few steps back to avoid my father's rage. Scythe wasn't the least bit intimidated, which worried me. He couldn't fight my father. There was a reason my father had become alpha and could take on at least three times his weight, hence Breece's defeat.

And since Scythe wasn't part of our pack, my father had full reign to tear him apart until he was dead. The thought clung in my throat like a spiderweb as I gritted my teeth, pulling Scythe back.

"Stop!" I snapped at Scythe.

"Nobody touches Zaid like that, ever! I don't give a shit who you think you are! I'll kill you!" Scythe shouted, his voice ringing in my ears as I gripped him tightly, my cheek pressing against his back as I dug my heels into the crack between the floor boards, which wasn't going to work for long.

"I don't care who you think you are," My father returned icily, "Storm, take your son and pack. Leave and never come back."

"Nyt," Storm started, "That might be a bad idea. You've gone through much to have an heir and without a mate, he won't be able to do the alpha rite. You must let them mate if you wish to have an heir. Otherwise, all you've done is for naught." My father stood there, shaking with fury, but it looked like the situation had finally clicked in his head.

"I shouldn't have let you into my pack." My father spat at me. I let go of Scythe, stunned. Scythe stumbled forward and almost went at my father until he saw my expression. I didn't know what to say to that. I didn't understand. My father shoved his shoulder into mine as he passed me, storming up the stairs. We waited until we heard the door slamming behind him.

I looked around the room, then at my mother, who was staring at me in agony.

"Zaid, what have you done?"