***Zara's POV***

Conlan's chest rose and fell in a quickening place. His aura completely changed. Even without my wolf I could feel the effect his Alpha dominance had in the shrinking cottage room.

"How could he do that?!" He growled. Just as before in the clinic, Conlan hammered the door frame next to my head. Like in an earthquake items around the room rattled and shook. My grandmother's Queen's clock didn't stand a chance against the tremor and fell off the wall. Shards of glass and bits of metal littered the floor making me jump. "I'LL NEVER TAKE A CHOSEN MATE!" I felt like his words were directed at me. A lump in my throat formed as the tightening in my chest spread to join the lump. Slowly, I backed away from him and bumped into someone.

"Woah," James called. I had walked into his chest covered in a Jean jacket. His arms are out careful not to knock the devices he was carrying. "Careful. These are hot."

"Huh?" I turned to look at him.

"Are you alright? You're bleeding." He asked. Concern was etched into his face and deepened when he glanced from me to Conlan. They seemed to be sharing a moment, obviously mindlinking each other. At some point James turned his greenish gray eyes and stared at me agape. After a few moments Conlan growled out in displeasure. James just huffed in annoyance and went inside to lay down the devices he was carrying.

"Get in the truck and stay there." Conlan barked.

"What are those? Explosives?" I questioned suspiciously. His silent answer was deafening. "What the hell. Can't my aunt and I at least say good-bye? Or ya know take a moment to grieve?" The tremble in my voice was impossible to suppress by the end. I'm sure I sound like a pitiful spoiled child at this point.

"No. Get. In. The. Truck." He commanded slowly with a clenched jaw. It looked like he was struggling to keep his temper in check. His steps were heavy as he drew close. Close enough for me to feel heat radiate off of him. I didn't even notice how cold I was until he popped into my personal bubble.

"Give us ten minutes." I beg. "Just ten."

He grabbed my upper arm. In my mind I was preparing to think of words that might reach him to be more reasonable, but I was too exhausted to think of any.

"She gets five." James called. "I forgot the detonator in the truck." He winked at me on his way past.

The big bad Alpha released my arm and I took the opportunity to step away for some breathing room. Immediately a chill ran through me and I shivered. Goose pimples sprouted over my skin. On reflex I rubbed my arms to generate a bit of warmth and hugged my chest to cover my hardening peaks beneath my thin cotton shirt. In the air there was this feeling like I was being examined with a heated gaze, but I quickly tried to shake off the feeling emanating from him and his wolf.

"Auntie." I called while avoiding interaction with Conlan. My hands cupped around my mouth to help my voice travel through the darkness. She wandered off towards the side garden before I came inside to call Fabian. He left for a moment while I called for her again. Waiting outside alone the cold spread further.

"She's talking to the Veiled Moon Pack." He came back and handed me a kitchen towel. Conlan stepped closer again. Warmth once again seeped into my bones. When I didn't understand why he wanted to give me a towel he slowly wiped the underside of my raw nose. "She found a shed full of clothes and supplies. It sounds like she's just about to wrap it up." After he was satisfied with his work he took a half step back. "Go." He lifted his chin towards the interior of the cottage. "She'll be right along. Remember, we leave when James comes back."

Only the interior plant lights were on. My grandmother and aunt loved plants and they instilled that type of love in me. For me it was watching them grow and bloom that was so satisfying. It was also a way for me to have a reason to get out of bed. I followed the ivy printed rug into my grandmother's bedroom and flipped on the bedroom light. The room still smelled of her; lemons and citronella. Bright colors and patterns adorned every surface. Much of the designs she created herself throughout the years. A sad smile graced my lips. Deep in my chest an ache started again. My fingertips trailed over the ornaments and picture frames as I examined each item; trying to commit them to memory for one last time. Scanning the room before moving on I noticed her closet door was open. 'That's odd. She always closed her closet door.'

"Sweetheart, are you inside?"

"In here."

"What are you looking at?" She asked when she saw me standing by the open closet. "What is this box doing here?"

"I don't know, but it has my name on it." I was still worried about what grandma left me and it was even more unsettling that it was almost destroyed.

"Well, go on. Open it." Auntie squeezed my hand in encouragement. Her laugh lines even deeper than before as she wore exhaustion like a heavy shroud. I squeezed her hand back to tell her how much I love and appreciate her being there for me, always.

White and unassuming with only my name written on top in purple sharpie. Inside, the contents were even more unassuming; a heavy wool coat with fur lining. "This looks warm." I joke and slip it on. An envelope falls out as I do so and Auntie picks it up and hands it to me. Then she looks at the bottom of the box and there is a second envelope with her name on it. "We each get one." I say as I admire the way the coat hugs my body.

"Times up. Get in the truck." Conlan calls impatiently from the entrance of the cottage.

Auntie and I look at each other. We hold each other for a moment. Just a moment to soak up the feeling of the warm embrace of the cottage. "It's going to be alright sweetheart." She whispered to me as tears welled in her brown eyes. "I promise." I barely heard her say under her breath. I watch as she gathers a pot with the flowers grandma always gave me. Aunt Hazel just shrugs and says, "Maybe, it will come in handy."

Outside, Conlan eyes our envelopes and seemingly random plant but to his credit he doesn't say anything. I think he's rather keen on leaving and would like to just to get on the road. He guides us to the truck. There is some rolling of gravel and the numerous voices quiet down.

"Alpha Luna." One of the pack members greeted me. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. There has never been any love between me and my mother's old pack. The urge to protect her pack was strong in my mother, maybe it was because she was raised in one, but for me it was different. My pack was my family: Mom, Auntie, grandma, and my uncles. Later on I included Fabian into that tight knit group. Heck, I even felt more protective over the rogues that lived in E.T. than that pack. "We have sworn to protect you and will stay with you until you come back home." To my side Conlan lets out a low warning growl.

"Gamma Rolland. If you wish to protect Zara then fine, we will allow you and your pack to follow us." He calmly states. "But, she does not belong to The Veiled Moon Pack."

I rest my hand on his elbow during the pause in the air. His body stills. "Rolland." Gamma Rolland's gaze softens as he looks down at me. "Thank you for you and the other members wanting to protect me, but I can't take you all away from your home. There is so much good you could do here like rebuilding-"

Rolland walked forward while saying, "We don't want to protect you. We need to protect you." My face fell a bit. 'Of course. Stupid me.' "That's not what I meant." He took a quicker pace to get to me in desperation to convey his words properly. I think I knew what he was trying to say but his words were still a bit hurtful. Before the Gamma could get within five feet, Conlan used his massive frame to block his path.

"Throw your belongings in the back, Gamma. We're leaving now." Without a further to do, Conlan picked me up and stomped over to throw me in the back of the truck despite my pathetic attempts to protest.

Once inside Auntie laid out an assortment of medical supplies, but all I could focus on were the granola bars. Stomach pains ensued. 'When was the last time I ate? It's been a year at least!' I grabbed a handful out of the netting from behind the passenger seat. My aunt chuckles.

"I thought you would like some inside. It seems mother thought of everything." She smiled wider and yawned. "Let me take care of your back while you eat."

***

We traveled for days. The more North we went the colder it became. Breaks were only taken to eat a fast meal or to use the toilet. At some point during the journey into Canada I felt like a heaviness was lifted off my shoulder. In the silence of the truck I was able to process all the events that have happened. I no longer had to keep secrets, and I no longer had to wait for 'him' to find me. He already has. A sudden unsolicited longing to see him surged through me when I thought of him. My body tensed up and I tried to focus on the scene outside. Air was coming in short supply.

"Zara?" Conlan questioned with a hint of alarm in his voice. He kept glancing at me between the snowy road in front of him and the rearview mirror. A part of me wanted to say I was fine, but I just couldn't bring myself to lie to him. 'He's been really talkative. I feel as if I've grown a bit closer.'

"I..." I labored to say something. It feels like the world is closing in. The Earth was spinning faster and sounds were disorientated. In a flash Conlan pulled the truck over to the side. A wolf howled in the distance.

"Why'd we stop?" Auntie said sleepily.

Cold blasted my face. Strong arms picked me up like I was a rag doll. He took me outside and sat me in his lap a safe distance away from the road. I looked up at the pure blue sky, but inevitably I focused only on his sinfully handsome face. A face of a man I've grown to trust. He's rough around the edges but he's promised to protect me, and I believe him.

"Just breathe. Slow and steady." He smoothed my hair back with gentle fingers. "That's it. In and out." We stayed like this for countless minutes like a spell was put on us. Neither of us wanted to look away for fear the moment would be ruined. But the spell had to break. Conlan's eyes glazed for a minute as he talked to either James or Theo or both. I felt a slight frown develop on my face. When he finally came to full attention again I tried to smile.

"Thank you." I manage to say.

"We're going to rest for the night at an inn not far from here." He said as he scooped me up and headed back.

"I can walk you know."

He's silent for a moment until he said "I know," with a smirk tugging dangerously at the corners of lips.

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I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.  The next chapter should come out in a few days.

HERE ARE SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

What do you think Grandma Willow wrote Zara and Hazel? 

What do you think the potted plant is for? hehehe

Why did Conlan  say that Zara didn't belong to the Veiled Moon Pack?