The Moon's Daughter

Chapter 14 ZAHRUK

“What's the problem?” I stood up from the floor. Josh eyed the room, shocked, then back to making eye contact with me. I knew he had some questions -- which I would too if I had come into a room that looked like the one we were in. Glass shards were on the floor from when Aodin shot his ball of fire at me, and missed. Blood was smeared all over the floor from when the ritual happened and when I knocked Aodin down onto the ground,  tipping the bowl of blood. I hadn’t realized it before but now that I've calmed and taken in my surroundings, I too was covered in blood, head to toe. I looked at Aodin who's still sitting on the floor who's also covered in it as much as me. 

“Zahruk, the hospital just called. I need to go”, Elira interrupted Josh as he was about to speak.

“Why?” I asked.

“The hospital is short staffed at the moment and I need to be there to help them out and...”. 

"And?" I crossed my arms across my chest. She shifted on her foot trying to keep something from me but I can tell from just looking into her eyes that it isn't good news. 

"And I think there's been more patients that are not humans being admitted". 

"No!" I growled. Last time she went, she fainted. There's no way that I can let her go back out there without me. 

“Have you heard about what is going on out there?” Josh finally brought himself back into the conversation. Both Elira and I shook our heads at him. He sighed, “It’s chaotic. Vamps are literally running around and feeding on the humans on the street. s*x demons are out, unleashing the biggest wave of pheromones anyone has ever heard off -- I-5 is literally blocked because of it-- and the Elves are showing face for the first time in centuries”. Elira pulled out her phone from her back pocket, looking it up. I walked over to her, hovering, as I read over her shoulders. 

“There’s an article about dragons out too”, she said while turning back to look at Aodin. “It’s saying that they came from down South”. 

“Down South? Like Mexico?” I asked. We both looked up from her phone, looking at Aodin who’s looking as clueless as we are. 

“No idea. The only dragons I know are of the ones I was with. These dragons that are roaming around… I don’t know them". He leaned his head next to Elira's and for a second I thought I saw her cheeks turn pink. She likes him. She just doesn't want to f*****g admit it. 

“Zahruk”, Josh's voice snapped me out of whatever pissy land I was in. “I should also mention that the council wants to hold a meeting”. 

I tilt my head confused. The council has nothing to do with me. They consist of the Elders of each supernatural group. Since my mother died, Zakeem has taken my mother's place and my father speaks for all the wolf shifters out here. 

Of course the Alpha of each pack would meet with my father beforehand, discussing the issue but why would they be asking to meet with me? Shouldn't Zakil be the one to go in my place? 

“What about Zakil?” I asked. 

“He’s busy dealing with rogues and vamps that are invading the Sun’s territory”. 

“s**t”, I whispered. I was getting ready to leave when a hand on my arm grabbed my attention. 

“I’m going to the hospital to help out. It's not a yes or no. You don't control me, Zahruk”, she told me.

There was sharp authority in her voice and her aura all forced me to submit. Josh couldn’t even look her in the eye and it’s taking everything inside of me to keep eye contact with her. 

“Fine”, I caved. “But take the lizard with you”. Even though I didn't want him to be around her. 

“Why? Not that I mind having him with me but he's literally just going to stand there". 

"I can help", he looked at her lovingly and I wanted to rip his eyes out. 

“Because if something happens out there, he’ll be there to protect you. He’s bound to you after all. You die, he dies'', with a little spite in my tone.  

“f**k you, dog. She’s my mate first before becoming a walking voodoo doll”. The rage I felt when he called her a voodoo doll spiked and my canines grew ready to take a piece of him out. 

"Who's fault was it that made her that way?" I walked up to him, our noses skimming. He was tall but I was an inch taller at least. I looked down at his cut frame and scoffed. I was much bigger in body size and probably d**k as well. He'll never be able to satisfy her like I can. 

"Oh, you think this s**t was my fault?" He pushed me back. I growled and his body heated as the stench of blood filled the room.

"She was my mate first, you f*****g snake". I was livid. No. Beyond livid. I hated him and I wanted him dead. He took Elira from me, marked her and claimed her as his when she was mine to begin with. 

"She wasn't your mate when I f****d her", he grinned at me. My eyes widened as my wolf surfaced, ready to take out his jugular when Elira stepped in between us. Pushing us away from each other. 

"Okay enough! This is getting f*****g ridiculous. If you want to hate someone, hate me! I'm the cause for all of this s**t. I could've let Aodin die but I didn't. I could've pushed you off, Zahruk, but I didn't. I made my bed and I slept in it. Just -- Just f*****g stay out of each other's way, alright?" There was more to what she wanted to say and we all sensed it. Instead of provoking her or comforting her, we stayed silent and watched her walk away.

"Elira", I called. 

"No, Zahruk. Just do your thing and I'll do mine". I felt a sharp sting in my chest and swallowed it down. I knew she needed her space but I don't know if I can stay away from her long enough to give it to her. 

 Aodin bumped his shoulder against mine, pushing past me to get to Elira. "I care about her too, you know? It's not fair that you did that without letting her choose". 

"It was f*****g consensual!" I hissed at him. "She asked me to mark her and she marked me!"

"But still, you knew that her feelings were conflicted. If anyone's in the wrong, it's you". 

My heart sank at the realization of his words. Did I really not give her a choice? She slept with me willingly and told me to mark her. So where in the hell did I go wrong?

"Zahruk, we have to go", Josh called me. 

"Alright". I spent my entire walk back to the packhouse office just thinking about how much of an asshole I had been. 

When I first met Elira, I had literally just f****d her roommate. Abby’s c*m still fresh on my d**k as I made my way over to her. At first I could care less that she ran away from me, I found it amusing to be honest. Especially when she shifted and ran into the woods. Who doesn't love a little chase? 

But when I saw her in that dress the night I was crowned Alpha, my heart wouldn't stop beating and my d**k begged to be buried deep in her warmth. That first kiss we shared that night was magical. It was as if I was floating on air and the only thing tethering me down was her. I had never felt that way before, not even for my first love Caroline. 

Caroline was beautiful, sweet and blonde. Her sterling blue eyes had always captivated me and her words were hypnotizing. Anything she told me to do, I’d do them. Even if she had told me to kill somebody. Back then I had really thought that she was the one, my one and only but when she had turned 18 and found her mate, I was devastated. I f****d around to numb the pain. Any female that showed the slightest interest in me, I'd willingly take them to my bed. I was a disgusting pig. I broke the hearts of many because no one was able to mend my broken heart. But that kiss I shared with Elira changed me. I wanted to be someone she could proudly call her mate, partner and husband. Now I've f****d it all up. 

My egotistical personality from before I had met Elira had surfaced and I hated it. Hated me.  I've been angry, desperate and horny all the damn time and if it wasn't for Aodin, none of this s**t would be happening. I would've been f*****g charming the s**t out of everyone especially Elira and I wouldn't have gotten jealous and f****d her because she thought Josh was a piece of eye candy. 

Gods. What in the hell is wrong with me? 

I swung the door to my office open and Elira’s scent hits me like a freight train. My wolf surfaced and I could feel my canines itching to come out. Emotions of guilt and regret spewed inside me as the memories of how I had taken her flooded into my head. I let out a low growl, angry at myself for even asking her if I could take her. I should’ve known better. I should’ve known better. 

"I see you've been thinking", Fenrir cleared his throat. 

I jumped, startled to see Fenrir sitting on the couch, waiting. "I'm sorry, just a lot on my mind. What brings you here?" I walked over towards my closet and stripped out of the bloody clothes I was wearing and not bothering to shower. There was so much s**t that needed to be done that taking a shower is the last thing on my mind. 

"Take me to the council meeting as your confidant". 

"Why? And how did you even know about the meeting?" I slipped a shirt over my head. "On second thought, don't answer that. You probably know everything since you're a God". 

He chuckled and walked over towards the front of my desk, tapping his fingers onto it. "Actually no, I overheard the conversation that went down with all of you". 

"I didn't see you there", pulling on sweats over my legs.  

"Oh, that's because I was out in the hallway. Didn't want to interrupt", he answered with both hands up in the air. 

I walked over towards my desk and picked up my phone to check what I've missed and apparently lots of calls from both my brothers. "Do you mind if I make a couple of calls?" I asked Fenrir as I dialed Zakil's number. 

I was worried about the rogue and vampire situation he's dealing with. Especially with Dad being all out of it from the news about the death of his sister and her children.

"No, I don't mind. Take your time".  

The phone rang for what seemed like forever before Zakil picked it up. "Oh now you decide to call me back" He yelled as soon as he answered. 

"Sorry, I've been busy". 

"Busy f*****g?" He said a little agitated. 

"No, those days are over", I grinned as I thought of Elira. Even though she was with that bastard of a reptile at the moment, the thought of her smiling at me can put a sun over my rainy day. 

"Hmm, is it that serious?" He asked.

“It’s a little complicated”, I chuckled nervously while scratching the back of my neck and looking over at Fenrir who gave me a tight lipped smile and hiked his brows at me. 

“Do I want to know?” He asked, concerned. 

“Not really”.  

“You know I’m here if you ever need to talk”, he reminded me. Zakil and I are closer to each other than we are to Zakeem due to the fact that we are more wolf-like than we are Fae.

“I know, I just haven’t had the time. Sorry brother… But I do miss you. How is Dad?”

Zakil sighed and I can just imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose like he always does when he’s stressed or frustrated. "He's out of it. He's back to that state when mom passed. And I don't know what to do, brother. I'm f*****g drowning out here. I'm tired. My men are tired and these vamps and rogues just keep coming as if there's no end to them". 

I could hear his fatigue through the phone, his voice was hoarse and dry as if he hadn't slept or drank water in days.

"Let me send you some of my men. You need to build a schedule, some sort of shift so that your Warriors are constantly rotated. Do you even know why they're attacking?" 

"No, none of the rogues or vamps we capture would speak". He sounded defeated and exhausted and I just wished I could do something about it. "Oh and about that meeting with the council, I need you to handle it for me. I've already informed Zakeem, so you should probably give him a call, brother". 

"Alright I will. Expect help within two to three days. Don't push yourself too hard". 

"I'll try not to, thanks… Gods I wish you were here''.

“You’re a better Alpha than I’ll ever be”, I chuckled. 

“I highly doubt that brother. I gotta go but it was nice talking to you”. 

“You too”.  The line clicks and I walk over towards the window, smiling at our conversation. I do miss Zakil and I really do think that he would make a great Alpha someday. And when the day comes when the Sun and the Moon become one again, I’ll gladly hand it over to him. 

My phone rang and I looked down to see Zakeem calling me. I slid the little green button and answered, "Zakeem?" 

"What's up brother!? You finally decided to answer!" He greeted me excitedly but with a hint of a displeasure. 

"Sorry I’ve been--". 

"Oh by the way, we're all going to be meeting here in about a week's time. That should give you enough time to talk it over with all the other Alphas before coming down here, right?".

"Why not just have them attend the meeting? Isn't it fair--". 

"Look Zahruk, I know this is your first rodeo and all but it isn't mine. If each leader from a supernatural category were to come, the meeting would never end. That's why the Elders or the Kings come instead of their subjects. There's always going to be a problem but there's no way that we can fix it all at once".

I stayed quiet on the line, knowing that he's right. "Okay", I finally replied. 

"Good, don't disappoint", he said seriously before hanging up on me. 

I sighed loud and heavy before making my way back to my desk. I was clueless with maybe a thing or two in mind. I don't even know where to start. 

"Do you want my help?" I looked up at Fenrir, almost forgetting that he was there with me. 

"Yea, I honestly don't even know what I should be doing. Zakil was supposed to be Alpha of the Moon but discussions on merging the two clans haven't been brought up yet. He would've been a better Alpha than me". 

"I think you're doing a good job from what I can see so far. Sending help was the right thing to do. Asking about having the other Alpha’s at the meeting was a smart move. You're still young, there's so much to learn for being a leader. You have so much potential, you just don't know it yet". I felt like I was being comforted by my dad for a bit. I smiled and nodded at him, grateful for his kind words. 

"Thanks, Fenrir". Alright well I guess it's just time to call the other Alpha’s and get information on what their situation looks like.