Dedicated to Bridezilla007. Thank you so much for being such a supportive and enthusiastic reader darling!

The amazing banner above was made by Life_is_Music1. Thank you honey! You're incredible!

DO NOT COPY MY WORK!

This chapter is unedited so please excuse the grammatical errors. Enjoy!

____

Suzzanah's POV

After about 15 minutes into the journey and having crossed over 40 powerful mazes, I started to slowly feel myself getting used to the sensation of passing through them. Zuerien kept rubbing my back or stroking my hair gently which did wonders for keeping me oriented.

I decided to keep my doubts about the Shadow People and their possible security measures to myself till Alpha Penson got here. After all, who better than the Alpha of Wisdom to explain such things to me.

Although...I'm pretty sure he'll leave me with more questions than answers...

Initially, the thought of the Shadow People having special defenses set up to keep us out had really worried me. After all, such a development would only mean that rescuing Karina would get ten times harder.

But Zuerien had assured me that we would retrieve her at all costs, as had the others. And if the Shadow People really did have their own barriers set up to keep the Werewolves out of their territory, then I was sure that Zuerien and the others were already aware of them.

Once I had arrived at that conclusion, I started to feel a little bit better. Things were looking difficult, yes, but not impossible.

We were here, in Dublin. We were here to rescue Karina. We had a plan, one I was unfortunately not aware of, but there was a plan nevertheless.

And I wasn't alone. My mate and friends were with me. I just needed to trust that they knew way more about this world than I did and if they still thought there was a good chance of being able to save Karina, then I believed them.

Hope for the best Anna...

Keeping that in mind, I decided not to let the Shadow people's powers overwhelm me anymore. Instead I concentrated on getting used to mazes and the obvious impact they were having on my body and mind.

Once the initial headache and dizzy spells had passed completely, I opened my eyes and looked up at Zuerien again. He smiled tenderly at me.

"Feeling better?" he asked softly and I nodded.

He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and the mark on my neck immediately tingled sensuously making me sigh contentedly. I couldn't help but feel blessed that of all the Supernaturals out there, I was mated to a Werewolf. To a man from a race that treasured the mate-bond above all else.

And I wondered how the whole 'love' thing worked for other Supernaturals. Were all Supernaturals as intensely passionate and fiercely possessive about their significant others as Werewolves were of their predestined soulmates?

Werewolves are probably the most possessive Supernaturals of all, when it comes to their mates

My gaze shot up to meet Zuerien's, Really?

He nodded, Werewolves, Dragons and Demons are notorious for their protectiveness over their mates, he said, Although that doesn't mean other Supernaturals aren't, lets just say that even someone who knows next to nothing about these three races would at least know not to mess with their mates, or he or she is as good as dead

I bit the inside of my lip mentally making a note of that fact. Speaking of other Supernaturals...

"Say", I said out loud, glancing at the two men seated in front, "Apart from the Werewolves, witches and the well...the other obvious options, which other Supernaturals reside in Ireland?" I asked.

Alpha Ashford glanced at me through the rear-view mirror while Delta Neil replied, "There are several others Luna, but the more populous of them would be the sea-folk and the Faery"

I immediately sat up straight, excited, "Fairy?!"

"Fae-ry", everyone except Alpha Ashford corrected me.

"Faery", I repeated uncertainly, testing the word on my tongue, "Are they the same as fairies?"

"Not quite", Zuerien replied, "Let's just say that the Faery are a subdivision in the Fairy species, because the term Fairy is rather broad and generalized. There are a large number of Supernaturals who fall into the category of Fairies, and the Faery are one of them"

"So how are they different?" I asked.

"They're half-breeds", Zuerien replied simply making my eyebrows shoot up.

"Half breeds?"

He nodded, "The Faery were born when the pure Fairy-folk mated with humans", he told me, "The Faery, or Fae as they are called are not tiny, sparkly winged creatures who fly around casting magic in the air. On the contrary, like most Supernaturals, the Fae look just like humans owing to their half human lineage, but possess powerful supernatural abilities which has earned them a respected place in the Realm of Magic"

"Oh", I breathed out, "So you mean they can wield magic too?"

"Yes, but not autonomously", he replied, "You see, the Fae, unlike the pure-breed Fairies or witches and wizards, can't create magic. But they can however tap into existing magic and wield it however they please, until of course, they run out of it. The Fae are also known to be very powerful Elementals provided they have the Elemental gene in their DNA, which most of them do"

"That's cool", I said excitedly, "It seems I'll be meeting a lot of your and Rino's distant cousins then, huh?"

Opposed to the amused reaction I expected, all three men in the car immediately went a little stiff and I knew I had once again unknowingly ventured into forbidden territory.

"I'm afraid not", Zuerien replied, his voice low and stern, "The Faery are not to associate themselves with Werewolves in any way"

Apprehension immediately flooded my body and he confirmed my suspicion as he added, "They are allied to the Shadow People"

A heavy silence befell us all as I took in what he had said. So like Witches and Wizards were allied to Werewolves, the Faery were allied to the Shadow People. Our competition was starting to seem even more intimidating with every passing second and my thoughts immediately shot to my sister once more.

I'd bet anything that my sister had met a couple of these Fae, and there was no doubt that they would act as yet another obstacle in our mission to retrieve my sister.

Karina...

Probably having sensed my distress, Zuerien immediately tightened his grip around me and leaned in comfortingly, "Don't look so concerned Suzzanah", he said gently, "As long as I'm here, you don't have to worry. Everything is going to be okay"

The confidence in his eyes and the stability of his words instantly reassured me. I believed him. As long as he was here, everything would be okay.

I gave him a small grateful smile before looking out the window again. For a city that was so heavily fortified and supernaturally segregated, the people looked very much at ease. Seeing them so relaxed and going about their day unperturbed thankfully served to calm my nerves some more.

Sighing, I leaned forward to view the tall buildings out of the windshield, but suddenly something caught my eye and I immediately jerked in shock.

Stretched across the left side of Delta Neil's neck was a thick gruesome scar two shades paler than his tan skin. It started a quarter way up his neck and disappeared into the front of his shirt. The site of it immediately made me cringe at the thought of how painful the experience of acquiring it might have been and before he noticed me staring at it, I hurriedly looked away.

Quietly leaning back into Zuerien's chest again, I bit the inside of my lip. As anyone would, I too did wonder how the man had come to bear such a disfiguring scar and I couldn't help but ponder if it had something to do with the Shadow People they were sharing territories with here in Dublin, or a different reason altogether.

I knew it was not my place to ask. After all, it could be something personal. Something he didn't want to share with strangers.

His own secret battle...

My eyes once again drifted to Zuerien who was now looking out of the window next to him. In all the time that I had known him, I had seen him shirtless multiple times- the memory of which, I had to admit, was very extremely enthralling- but as far as I remembered, Zuerien didn't bear any scars on his body.

Not one.

I knew for certain the Zuerien had seen his fair share of battles, and although he was now a near invincible opponent, he couldn't have been born that way.

And as much as it pained me to think about it, I was sure that Zuerien had acquired plenty of injuries in his years growing up, a number of which could potentially leave scars, but it was probably due to his supernatural healing abilities that his injuries never left their marks on his body.

So what kind of a terrible injury was it that had caused poor Delta Neil to scar so badly?

Shaking my head, I quickly decided that I was yet again, on the wrong line of thought and needed to divert my attention to something else.

We stopped at a traffic signal so I turned around to find Beta Darren's car right behind us. Through the windshield, I could see Rino saying something animatedly, with Beta Darren laughing heartily while Marco sat in the back with his head in his hands.

Poor Marco...

"How much longer till we reach the hotel?" I asked, worried about Marco.

"About 10 more minutes, Luna", Delta Neil replied and I hummed in acknowledgment before my eyes then drifted to Alpha Ashford.

I had met a few quiet Alphas before- Zuerien, Alpha Penson and that Alpha Broderick from the Annual Games were good examples- but this guy took the word reserved to a whole new level. Normally, regardless of how silent they were, I had noticed that Alphas did have a tendency to take the lead and be the first ones to react when someone asked questions.

Alpha Ashford however seemed to really have no problem with letting his subordinates do the explaining for him while he mutely stared out of the window with a blank expression on his face.

Yet regardless of his nonchalant attitude, there was something about him which left me in no doubt that regardless of who did the talking, the command behind the words would always be his. He was the Alpha, and no one could take his place.

But I did hope that when his mate finally came along, he wouldn't expect her to do all the talking, while he just sat there and stared at her as though he were in detention and she was a wall in his classroom. Surely such a relationship would be a little...taxing...

Shaking my head, I sighed softly, leaning against Zuerien's chest before looking up at him once more. He was still staring out of the window, his handsome face a mask much like Alpha Ashford's, not dropping any hints of what he may be thinking about.

My silent, strong Alpha mate, I thought watching him lovingly, You've grown a little more talkative since we met, haven't you?

Having sensed my gaze on him, he turned to look at me and his eyes immediately softened, a gentle look crossing his face. He raised his eyebrows questioningly at me.

What? He asked softly and I shook my head.

Nothing, I replied and his brow furrowed.

It wasn't nothing. What were you thinking about?

It really was nothing, I insisted, not lying.

He narrowed his eyes at me, Tell me

I snorted, unable to hide my smile. A few weeks ago when we first met, Zuerien was avoiding me like the plague and was even considering rejecting me. And yet, here he was now, with me in his lap, his mark on my neck and his arms wrapped securely around me, compelling me to talk to him about, well, nothing!

I chuckled to myself silently as I thought, Nah, Alpha Ashford and his mate will be just fine

Suzzanah-

I love you

My reply immediately shut Zuerien up, his eyes widening ever so slightly in surprise. I looked into his eyes and smiled lovingly, meaning those three words with all of my being.

I love you

Zuerien's lips slowly curled into a soft, warm smile, his eyes brimming with unconcealed affection before he pulled me closer, kissing my temple for a long moment.

He didn't say it back.

I closed my eyes and smiled to myself, ignoring the slight prick in my heart. It was okay, he could take his time. I would never force him or pressurize him to say it back. He could take as long as he liked.

As long as he needed.

"We're almost there", Delta Neil said making both me and Zuerien sit up straighter.

I immediately leaned to my left to look out of the window at the tall, magnificent group of buildings that we were approaching. As we passed under a giant archway, I read the words written on the board overhead.

ASHFORD HOTEL ENTERPRISES

Several guards bowed deeply as our cars passed through the automated entry gate, not stopping us for any sort of identification. I suppose none was needed.

Sliding off Zuerien's lap, I scooted closer to the window, watching excitedly as we passed by rows and rows of beautifully groomed plantations and under the shade of several majestic tall trees.

The car slowed down as we reached the entrance of the hotel building and we stopped right in front of a giant fountain spraying water into the air in beautiful patterns, as though welcoming us to its not-so-humble abode.

Before I could even reach for the handle, the door was already being pulled open for me by a boyish young lad in a uniform.

"Welcome", he said brightly before bowing deeply as he stepped away from the door to give me space to get out.

I couldn't help but feel awkward as I got out and nodded at him, "Uh, thanks very much", I said smiling at him.

He raised his head and was about to smile back at me when all of a sudden his face was turned thunderstruck and he fell forward again in the deepest bow I had ever seen someone do. One so low that one would think he was attempting to headbutt the floor.

Wow, he'd even beat Mr. Talon's record!

"ALPHA KING!" he gasped out in terror and my brow furrowed as I looked to my side to find Zuerien staring down at the boy impassively.

It was then that I realized that there were several other heads touching the ground all around us and I flinched in discomfort at the site of a dozen staff members nearly prostrating themselves in front of us.

Ai yai yai

"Rise"

One word from Zuerien was enough to make all of them stand up straight, but they kept their gazes down, not that they could keep it level with his seeing as he was a head taller than most people there.

The boy who had opened the door for us sucked in a sharp breath when his gaze fell on Zuerien's arm which had unconsciously found its way around my waist again. He gulped, his eyes widening in what looked like realization but before I could smile at him he immediately lowered his head.

I bit my lip and blinked quietly, feeling quite out of place. I knew that the respect and reverence that Zuerien's presence commanded came with an inseparable sense of fear too, and although not much could be done about that, I did hope that my presence would not demand the same.

Delta Neil gave the car keys to a valet before both he and Alpha Ashford came to stand beside us. The sound of another car coming to halt close behind ours made us all turn just in time to see Marco almost long jump out of the car, groaning loudly as he got out.

"Bloody hell!" he growled out as he walked up to us, "That was the longest and most painful car ride of my entire life!"

While Rino and Beta Darren got out of the car, I watched worriedly as Marco came up to us looking like he'd pass out of exhaustion any minute now.

"Gee, are you alright Martha?"

"MARCO!" A series of voices corrected making Rino's eyes widen in shock.

"Oh! My bad", he said, "Are you alright Marc-"

"Do I bloody look alright?!" Marco cried out making Rino smile and raise his hands up in surrender before looking at me and smiling wider, "ANNA!"

"DON'T hug her", Zuerien managed to grit out just as Rino started towards me with his arms wide open.

"Or me!" he added hurriedly when Rino abruptly changed directions towards him.

"Aw, you're no fun", Rino said before his expectant gaze fell on Alpha Ashford.

The Alpha immediately tensed and as though he had sensed Rino's next target, without wasting another second, the man strode into the hotel, barely remembering to call out, "This way"

I bit back a smile and exchanged amused glances with Zuerien before we all followed Alpha Ashford into the posh looking building. The minute we entered the building everyone in the vicinity bowed their heads deeply in respect, clearing a path for us as we walked by them.

Does this mean every single person here is a werewolf?

No, Zuerien's reply came instantly, But everyone here is a Supernatural

My head whipped towards him in shock, You mean-

He gazed down at me with a small smile and nodded, Ashford Hotel Enterprises is an all Supernaturals Hotel Industry. Only Supernaturals can get reservations here.

Still letting that information sink in, as we walked into the lobby, I tried not to keep my jaw from falling, but failed miserably. This, by far, was the most exquisite hotel I had ever stepped into in my entire life.

As I gazed at the architecture, the furniture and the rest of the interiors in awe, I realized that I didn't even have enough vocabulary to describe most of the artifacts in this room.

Several people threw curious and awed glances at our group, more specifically, at Zuerien, and as we made our way to the reception, I was sure that anyone would have been able to recognize the commoner amidst our otherwise wealthy company.

It was the girl who was gaping at every single object as though she were a pervert watching porn.

It was me.

Ahem.

As Delta Neil and Beta Darren completed the last of the formalities for us, I tried to reel in my awe and compose myself. My sister had always told me that I was a rather easily excited person but I was quite sure that had she been here, she would have had a similar reaction to mine.

I wonder which hotel Karina is staying in.

Karina...

The thought of my sister immediately brought a flood of mixed emotions to the surface. I didn't know whether I should feel excited that I would soon see her or worried about all that we'd have to do before I could see her.

As long as I'm here, you don't have to worry. Everything is going to be okay

Zuerien's words from earlier resounded in my mind and I smiled. I guess that means I'll go with being excited!

Emerging from my private thoughts, I looked up at Zuerien to find him frowning as though he had just become aware of something disturbing. And it took me less than a second to realize why that was because my gaze almost instantly zeroed in on his eyes.

His chocolaty brown eyes glazed over glassily.

Mind-link!

I took a step closer to him worriedly and his gaze immediately dropped to meet mine. A second later his eyes returned to normal and he blinked before giving me a small smile.

"What's wrong, heart?" he asked softly.

I should be asking you that

"Who was it?" I asked anxiously.

He swallowed subconsciously, "It was John"

My apprehension spiked, "Did something happen?!"

"No heart, don't worry", he said gently, tucking a lock of stray hair behind my ear, "I was just asking him how their travel has been so far, and he replied saying it has been quite comfortable"

"Then why did you look like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like...frowny!"

"Queen, its the King. That's his face!"

Zuerien glared at Marco, "I suggest you not listen in on private conversations I'm having with my mate or I'll give you something way more killer than a headache to worry about"

Marco's eyes widened in alarm, "Hey! I'm a werewolf. I can't help it if I have better hearing than most normal people and overhear stuff once in a while", he defended, "Besides, its not like you guys were discussing any dirty couple stuff that others shouldn't be let in on"

Zuerien narrowed his eyes at Marco but didn't reply and I knew that his thoughts was elsewhere.

"Zuerien", I said softly, drawing his attention back to me, "What else did Alpha Penson say?"

Zuerien's brow furrowed slightly but he immediately schooled his features to look impassive again, "He was telling me about Prophecy"

"About Fussy?" Rino asked, joining in on the conversation.

"What about her?" Marco asked, immediately turning serious, "Please tell me the cow hasn't disappeared again"

Zuerien shook his head, "No, she's fine and she is with everyone in the flight right now", he said and me and Marco immediately exhaled breaths I hadn't realized we had been holding in, "John was actually telling me about her latest teleportation"

"You mean from when her spirit disappeared just before we were about to leave for the airport from the resorts?" Marco asked and Zuerien nodded.

"What about it?" I asked, "Where was her spirit teleported to this time?"

Zuerien's eyes immediately glazed over again and I heard his voice in my head,

To California

My eyes widened at the same time that Marco tensed beside us and I realized he too was in on the mind-link.

The past? Marco asked and Zuerien nodded, his gaze never leaving me.

I bit my lip in hesitation before asking uncertainly, My...past?

He didn't reply immediately as he mulled over my question, Maybe, he said after a few moments, Maybe yours...or maybe...

He didn't have to complete his sentence for me to understand what he was implying.

Or maybe Karina's, I said and he nodded.

Karina...

"Hey, hey, hey", Rino's voice snapped us out of the mind-link to find him staring at all of us wide-eyed, "This is cheating! I want to know what you're talking about too!" he said.

"This isn't the best place to be discussing these things", Zuerien said in a low voice, his eyes discreetly scanning the large room.

I immediately realized that he was right. This place may have been an 'All Supernaturals' hotel but it wasn't an 'only-werewolves' hotel. It was probably best not to discuss these things out in the lobby.

"Besides I didn't ask for all the details yet", Zuerien said, "but we'll know when they arrive here in a couple of hours"

Rino looked at me questioningly and I mouthed to him, 'California'.

His eyes widened in understanding and I had to say I was surprised. I didn't think he'd be able to understand. Who knew he was a good lip-reader!

'Past?' he mouthed and I nodded.

We both then turned to look at Zuerien and Marco who we then realized were still mind-linking each other. Marco now wore a disturbed expression resembling the one Zuerien had been wearing a few minutes ago and I knew that there was something he had deliberately not told me.

Having sensed our gazes on them, they immediately broke the mind-link and looked at us.

"Once Prophecy gets here, we'll get her to narrate her entire experience to us again", Zuerien said before I could ask him what it was he was hiding. He then looked at me, "And only you will be able to tell whether what she saw was your past or Karina's", he said softly.

"It could be both too though, right?" Rino said and Zuerien and Marco nodded.

Just then Alpha Ashford and his subordinates turned to clarify something about the rooms with Zuerien and Marco and we dropped the topic of Prophecy's teleportation, silently choosing to discuss it at a more appropriate time and place.

But I couldn't concentrate on what Beta Darren was saying because something about Rino's earlier statement had struck me as odd. I couldn't place my finger on it but his words had made a bizarre feeling flow through my veins that left me slightly unsettled.

Could be both...too...right?

Karina...

After thinking about it for a few more moments and not being able to pinpoint exactly what I was feeling or why, I decided to save the issue to worry about at a later time, as I had done with a thousand other thoughts since morning.

And I came out of my reverie just in time to hear the words, "Yes, three rooms"

It took a few seconds and a lot of blinking for those three words to sink in, or more specifically, the number.

Three rooms.

Three.

For four people.

Wait...

My head whipped towards Zuerien in absolute shock but I was too late to stop what he had already started.

"Thank you Sir", the receptionist said, sliding three sets of keys towards us, "I hope you have a pleasant stay here at Ashford Hotel Enterprises"

Wait a minute...WAIT!

"Thanks sweet-cheeks", Marco managed to grit out with a wink despite being in a world of pain and if I hadn't been so flabbergasted, I would have definitely have shaken my head at his behavior.

Zuerien turned away from the reception to face Alpha Ashford, "Its 9:00 am now", he said, "In about 5 hours, the others will be arriving in Dublin"

Hold up! I'm having a life crisis here!

Alpha Ashford nodded, "We will be sure to receive them and bring them here as soon as they arrive", he spoke after what had seemed like an age.

"Good", Zuerien said, "We'll be going up to our rooms then. You and your subordinates can carry on with your duties"

"Understood", Alpha Ashford said, "If you need anything, please mind-link us. We'll be in the vicinity at all times"

"We've picked the very best rooms for you. I'm sure you'll find the arrangements to be very agreeable", Beta Darren said and my head immediately shot towards him as I gaped at him aghast.

How can you be so sure? Can you not see the look on my face right now?!

"Okay"

With that their short conversation ended and Zuerien's arm wound around my waist once more.

"Let's go", he said softly before giving Alpha Ashford and his men a nod.

They bowed curtly to him before nodding at Marco who nodded back, but not without flinching. Rino on the other hand did not let them leave till he had hugged all of them and waved at them for several minutes while I gawked back at them helplessly and utterly flustered, blushing the color of a brick.

The minute the elevator doors slid open, we all stepped in and although I was absently grateful that it was an enormous and spacious one, right then I was so panicked that I may actually not have noticed even if it had been a teeny-tiny little thing.

Sharing a room...we're sharing a room!

I felt Zuerien's grip around my waist tighten making my head shoot up to look at his face, and my heart rate spiked a hundredfold when my eyes met his amused yet dangerously darkening ones.

Don't worry, my heart, he drawled out, his voice sounding deep, husky and extremely sensual in my head, I'll make certain that your first time sharing a room with a man is an experience you will never forget

My eyes widened in horror as his hand slipped down my waist to rest on my hip and a devilish smirk made its way to his face as he added,

Or better put, I will not let you forget

Memories from last night in the woods flooded my mind so fast and so powerfully that had Zuerien's hand not been holding me up, I would have probably collapsed on the elevator floor in a puddle of hot mushy-gushyness.

"As long as I'm here, you don't have to worry"

Zuerien's words from earlier that day resounded in my mind and I was left thunderstruck at the irony of that statement in my life right now.

Boy had he been wrong about that!

As the elevator doors closed suggestively behind us, I was sure that anyone would have been able to tell exactly what kind of a conversation the King was having with his mate given the crimson color of my face and slack disposition of my jaw hanging close to my belly button.

And three familiar words continued to resound in my mind,

Ai yai yai

****

A/N

Hey guys!

I know, I know, its short! And I'm so sorry about that. But I promise to update again next Sunday, for sure!

I also know that not much happened in this chapter, but I'll ask anyway.

How did you like it?

Once again, I'm really sorry that this chapter is so late. I can't promise faster updates but I will do my best to complete this story, even if it takes a while. 

Please bear with me, and thank you so much for being such amazing and patient readers!

If you enjoyed the chapter, please do VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE! It would mean the world to me!

Until next Sunday,

All my love

Angel