Part 3 Tears Under the Moon

Single White Rose

Emotions by Destiny Child

"Alpha why is it that you never attend the annual festival or any of the alpha conferences?" Zion asked as he watched her place a single beautiful white rose in her hair. He wondered how it was alive this time of year.

"No need to. My pack is small but we are so far up in the mountains we seldom are plagued with the problems you have down below. Plus I am Lycan. I can choose my mate whenever I want. Nobody is challenging me to my land so why bother?"

"It's so far out." Zion looked around, the scenery was beautiful but it was cold.

"Yes makes us feel closer to Selene." She said to Zion and he realized she had a very calming tone. She reminded him of his mother in ways. They entered her home which seemed much smaller on the outside but the inside was quite spacious. "Have a seat."

"Do you not wish to be claimed?"

She looked over at him from under those thick lashes and Zion felt an uncomfortable stir in his loins. He was attracted to her and for some reason, he was not prepared for it.

"I bet your people are missing you, Lycan King." She said observing his every movement as if she was trying to memorize them.

"How did you know who I was?" He asked studying her as well.

"There are lycans and then there are lycans." She said smiling at him

Her tone made Zion tilt his head and look at her. Shame washed over him again. "Most men find me attractive Lycan King. It's okay I know what is for me and what is not." She said assuring him although her tone seemed inviting to him.

Zion's eyes narrowed as he studied her most women found him to be attractive which made him note he did not smell her scent. "I wish to belong to me and only me although my people are pushing me to find someone suitable. What is there for an alpha queen when the king has been taken?" She smirked earning a chuckle from Zion. He was almost disappointed when she found a teeshirt and covered herself until he looked back toward the water.

"Catori had more than one mate," Zion said as almost an afterthought.

"How does that work for you?" Illiyanna asked him.

"I don't know she was gone before I had to address it." He replied honestly, "she was gone before I had a chance to address many things."

"Werewolves are not normally very good at sharing." She tossed him a pair of pajama pants to cover himself. "We are normally in our wolf forms so we don't have much need for clothes this far up but those should fit you."

Zion slid into the pants and they did fit quite well. He noticed how her eyes watched until he pulled the pants up to his waist covering his manhood, "Been up here alone for a while I'm guessing?"

"Yes, and the scenery gets a little old." She said still admiring his bare chest. "I was going to mark him, claim him as my own but …" she looked off into the distance, "the Vargis came."

"They came this far up?"

"No, we were coming down the mountain completely unaware they existed. We walked right into a herd and they attacked. They took him so quickly. About eight months ago now. " She turned away from him and once she gathered herself she looked back at him.

"That was around the same time I lost Cat. How long did it take you to feel again?" Zion looked at her intently waiting for an answer.

She said in almost a whisper, "Those waters are healing. I go there to feel close to him."

"I don't understand."

"When he died I died inside. My entire pack perished the only ones left were me and a few elders and the two boys that poked you with the stick." She laughed. I wanted to end things and then I walked into the water but I felt his warmth. Look around you Alpha those waters should be freezing this time of year they usually are, but since he died there is only warmth when I enter them. You felt it too."

"Yes but-" she reached out and put a finger to his lips

"It is only those who have suffered a great loss that will find comfort in those waters. I have seen it with my own eyes. Others have entered and nearly died. Your girl feels your grief and she comforts you." She wiped at his cheek as a single tear ran down it.

"As my love comforts me." She stepped closer, sitting beside him, laying her head on his chest they held each other and cried softly. Once they had shed their grief they ate in silence.

"Lycan, I have a request when you return to your people will you take the boys? They can be quite a distraction at times and although this may sound selfish I would like my time to just grieve."

"Zion, it's Zion. Their parents have been lost." He asked her.

"Yes."

"Of course, I will Alpha," Zion said, 'Tell me about them."

She smiled at him "you may call me Yanna. This is what my friends refer to me as. They are delightful I have to admit they keep me going. There is another you know?"

"Where is he?"

"He will come later and you grow to low him too." She looked up at him.

Zion could not force himself to leave although he knew his people needed him. He had never put himself before his pack but he also had never vacationed he was there since the moment his father said he would inherit the pack. Today he chose himself. He spent the next few days bathing in the spring, talking to Catori.

Before long days became weeks and weeks became months.

He enjoyed the company of Illiyanna her laugh warmed his heart and although his attraction for her grew daily he never crossed the line. The boys which Illiyanna called, big boy and little boy had quickly grown on him as well.

"Why do you not call them by their name?" Zion asked her once.

"Names do not seem important anymore. Really nothing does." She said simply.

He found himself watching her a lot, she seemed so familiar to him in ways he could not understand. Her movements, her voice, although she often talked in riddles.

"Maybe I should stay here forever."

"And leave your people behind to wonder what happen to the Lycan King? And what about your boys?"

Zion frowned as he looked at her, "how did you know about them."

"I know many things about Zion." She said placing her hand on his chest. "I know you are still not quite ready to see."

"See what he asked her." She did not respond, she just walked away.

His fondness grew for the two boys daily, always they seemed to be in some sort of mischief and always he or Illiyanna were coming to their rescue.

One day Little boy captured a mountain lion's cub they played with the cub wandering out of sight of Zion and Illiyanna. Zion was the first to hear their cries when he reached the boys; they were both on top of a rocky incline and the lioness was approaching with the fierce intent to kill. "Back off my boys," Zion growled the Lioness's eyes grew big and she stepped back. "You see." She said and turned and walked away. Zion looked confused looking up at the boys their faces had changed. He now saw Madan and Elijah holding on to each other. "Dad." They were older but he saw them.

They both looked terrified and then he knew he turned to look at Illiyanna her eyes began to glow that brilliant silver that caused his heart to sting. Catori his mate. She leaned in and kissed his lips, "go home Lycan King they need you." And just like that, she was gone everything was gone. The small hut, the two boys anything that showed their existence. Zion turned running back toward the spring he came to a halt it was completely frozen over. One thing still remained a single white Rose the one that Illiyanna had worn in her hair the first time he saw her. Tears rolled down his cheek. "Cat." He whispered it was her the whole time giving him time to mend his broken heart.

'It's time Champ.' Czar said to Zion This was the first he had heard his wolf speak to him in weeks, 'I think she is gone Champ. I think she is really gone.'

"I know." Zion said, "We must be strong for our pups. Besides you believe whatever you have to, to hold on but I will never believe that ever. One day she will come back to me."

'It is a long journey home.' Czar said softly, 'I'm sorry.'

"It's okay Czar had you not been so upset we would have never had the chance to say goodbye to our love."

They had at least a week's journey ahead of them. Without another word, they begin the long descent down the mountain homeward bound.

Zion had nearly reached the foot of the mountain when he came upon the remains of the Northern Wind Pack. He knew he had come upon the remains of the beautiful Alpha Illiyanna by the shell necklace around her neck. Often besides that rose in her hair it was all she wore. Without a shovel, he used his paws to dig a hole to bury her and the rest of her pack. They were small in size. 27 pack members perished at the hands of the Vargis. The thing was as Czar and he had traveled they had come across quite a few packs that were now scattered here and there. Their Alpha lost defending them. Now as he made his way back he came upon the same scared people roaming now rogues. He thought to leave them, food was scarce already they could not afford to feed more people. But as he looked at the small children clinging to their mother's skirts he heard himself saying. "I am Alpha Zion Black do you seek refuge?"

"Yes Alpha yes please."

Zion simply nodded and before long he had about 30 to 45 men, women, and children trailing behind him.

They traveled behind him silently all sensing the Alpha had gone through something seeing the sadness in his eyes and knowing he had lost his mate. Most of the packs had built walls or some type of barrier to protect them from the Vargis. Now that they were in hibernation none even bothered stopping the alpha as they passed through. They were all focused on one thing which was storing enough food while the Vargis slept and creating a barrier strong enough to protect them when they woke. All had heard rumors of the Night Walkers Pack. So as they approached the territory he heard stirring from the crowd behind him.

"Alpha maybe we should go around their territory." One woman suggested

"No, we will not I have unfinished business with their Alpha." Zion turned to them." if you wish to go on without me that is fine but I'm going through the land and I hope like hell Brayden approaches me." With that, he strolled through the pack's territory. He heard calls as he slowly took his time.

"They are alerting their Alpha" He heard someone say from behind him.

"Good," Zion said he didn't bother with the looks of concern he simply went on his way.

Several months prior

"What do you mean he is gone?" He turned to see warriors dragging the body of his lifeless son in.

"No no, my son."

"Scott helped us in a great way. They outsmarted us with their witch, but he died with honor." Brayden announced.

"Honor! There is nothing honorable about this! Witch, you have a witch, and if she could not prevent this of what good use is she?" He said throwing his hands up in anger.

"Father, Alora says this witch is very powerful. She was able to put a force field up expelling us from their territory."

"This does not explain the death of my son. Zion did this?"

"No, he died at the hands of another."

"Surely a warrior did not do this. Scott is a Lycan!"

"Father this is true, but she was not just any wolf. She was a monarch wolf."

"You're kidding me! How is it that Mystic Moon is blessed with so much favor? The moon goddess seems to favor them and now my son is dead. I blame you. Your greed to be on top has cost me a son."

"Father, my need comes from you. This is as much your fault as it is mine." Brayden growled.

"Mine?"

"You-you're the one that constantly compared my worth to Zions nothing we did was good enough."

"Lies your insecurities are not my fault. I praised you as well but you were too busy listening to Zion's achievements as knocks to your ego to notice! Scott would still be here if it were not for you now what do you plan to do?"

"Nothing. They have a barrier around the territory father we can not enter." Brayden tried explaining.

"So my son is dead and there is no justice!"

"You can not blame me for this father!"

"YOU ARE WEAK AND SMALL-MINDED! YOU WILL NEVER BE ZION BLACK! AND NOW PAUL IS DEAD!"

"Do not speak to me in that tone again! I am tired of your constant belittling father. This is my pack and if you insist on berating me every time something does not go your way,"

"THEN WHAT SON? WILL YOU BANISH ME?" The two men stood glaring at each other, both challenging each other to make a move. With Scott gone no one was there to separate the two.

"You love this, don't you? You think I don't see you. First, you steal his mate, and then you have him killed!"

"This is your last warning, father." The old Alpha laughed then he reached across the desk and slapped his son. The warriors all ran from the room in fear. No one dared try to separate the two lycans. During the fight, they both trampled over Scott's body. When Alora, Izzy, and Lizzy came in they could not believe their eyes. Alora said a spell tossing the men into walls and holding them captive there she knelt before Scott. One of the girls went to touch him and she snapped. "Do not touch my mate!"

"Mate!" Brayden said in disbelief.

"Yes, mate he never said anything because he feared you would disapprove. You never appreciated him, neither of you. Stumping over him like he was dirt. You're despicable! Even in death, he gets no respect."

"It's his fault!" Brayden yelled.

"Yet it is you he tried to please. You that think you are so mighty. I think the brain between your legs is smarter than the one on top of your head."

Brayden was appalled.

"You can't talk to me like that!"

"I just did, you had Scott his whole life he will be mine in death." With that, she straddled Scott and her broom appeared under her. The window opened and she flew out of it holding her dead beloved.

Both men fell from the wall to the floor. Brayden's father looked at him. "There is no need to threaten me with banishment. I will leave willingly maybe my nephew will have pity on his dear uncle."

"You would not seek refuge there."

His father pulled himself up walking out with his head held high.

Scott had been a bit of a fuckup but only because he was always doing something to get his or Brayden's attention. The boy had his ways but when alone he spent a lot of time laughing at Scotts's antics. He was actually a lot like he was when young, his brother was the serious one. They were very close until she came along. His mate had actually belonged to his brother but he had met her first and he had fallen hard for her but the moment she met his brother she had fallen for him. His brother had rejected her though once he found out he had been with her. She was so hurt. He thought it was a chance they could be together. She did not agree she had left him and he had spent years dwelling over what could have been. So when he stumbled across her years later and she had a daughter and had lost her second chance mate he jumped at the opportunity to be with her. She had changed though. More flamboyant, always flirting it infuriated him. He needed her to have eyes for only him. He pushed the bad memories back. Looking side to side he went to take a step when he felt it. The claws of his own son tearing his flesh ripping his skin, "If you will not be a father to me you will not be anything to Zion Black either."

He looked into the eyes of his eldest son as his life seeped from his body "disgrace." That was his last word.

"Clean this mess up, immediately! The old man is already starting to draw flies." Brayden said in a very callous tone.

Present Day

"Alpha, alpha!" One of his warriors came running in.

"What is it?" He said lazily as he continued to stroke in and out of Izzy.

Who he had bent over his desk.

"Alpha Black is strolling through our territory with a bunch of rogues. What shall we do?"

"Attack them, you idiots!"

"Yes sir yes sir." The warrior said and went scurrying away.

Aggravated Brayden pulled himself away from Izzy he slapped her ass, "we will finish this later." He looked at her sister and saw her smile for the first time in weeks. "Why are you smiling."

"Because today you will die."

"Lizzy," Izzy said trying to shush her sister.

"Don't shush me what good is it being the mate to alpha if he has community d**k! I know you feel the pain every time he is with another because I do and you may be okay with a piece of a man but I am not. I'd rather die than be tied to the likes of him for a lifetime. You murdered your own father."

Brayden slapped her and she fell to the ground then he went for the door. "If you wish to die I have no problem making that happen for you."

He swung open the door and headed out.

Outside Zion watched as the warriors began to surround him. They separated long enough to let Brayden pass, "you have the nerve to enter my territory, cousin."

"Cousin. You are no family of mine. We fight with honor."

Brayden laughed, "Surprised you survived my little concoction, maybe you are half of what my father made you out to be so sad he won't be here to see you die."

Zion laughed remnants of his usually cocky behavior peeking through, "by who's hands?" He stepped closer "I don't even want your pack, ROGUES!" He growled grabbing Brayden by the neck he slammed him to the ground. He slowly begins to pick him apart first breaking his arms then his legs. He reigned punches down on his face releasing his anger on him and every one of the members that stepped towards him. To his surprise, the few that stayed with him fought alongside him.

"Cousin, please! I am sorry. I beg you for mercy!" Brayden begged.

"No," Zion said simply ripping his heart out he devoured it. Then without a second thought, he ripped his head from his body.

"Zion Zion please forgive us and let us come home," Lizzy said running up to Zion. It took a moment for recognition to hit him but once it did he stared at her and her sister that was watching the blood fall to the ground from Brayden's head.

"You have been here feeding information to the enemy this entire time. You betrayed your family and you stand before me asking for second chances. Zion grabbed her and snapped her neck and as Izzy stood standing screaming he sliced her neck with his claw.

He had no tolerance for traitors, a traitor had killed his mate. with that, he continued toward home just as he was before. "Excuse me Alpha may I carry the head for you in my satchel? A woman asked.

"You may."

He ignored the howls of the mourning pack. No living son they were Rogues. Now he was satisfied. He had not gone far when he heard "Alpha Black Alpha Black!" A frail wolf came to approach him she was not one of the people that had followed him before. She must have been from the Nightwalker pack which made him notice he never saw any in of their women.

She held her head down never looking him in the eye.

"What is it?"

"I know we have no right to ask you for anything but the warriors are refusing to let the women and children free."

Another older woman approached stepping lightly as If she feared he would attack. She placed her arm on the other woman's shoulder, "Come mama leave him be." She never looked at him either keeping her head to the ground, "mama we can't save them we must escape now." She pleaded.

Zion knew he would regret asking but he had to know, "Where are the women and children?"

"Brayden takes them before they reach adulthood and locks them away for his own personal use unless he finds you… ugly then he makes you work in the house as a maid or cook."

"Locks them away for personal use?"

"Sex." She blurted out. Zion frowned

"You said children, not girls."

"He likes the boys to the um pretty ones."

"So your telling me this man has women and children locked away for s*x and he had no heirs."

"No he and Scott were unable to reproduce." The younger one said.

"Well that is not true there were three daughters born but Brayden did not want girls so he locked them away too."

Zion just stared at the woman dumbfounded he had to see this.

"Where?"

The woman looked at each other, "the building on the left of the packhouse. Once they go in they can't come out. They are considered breeders but Moon Goddess would never grant such monsters an heir."

Zion followed them to the pack and sure enough, warriors were standing guard.

"Move!" Zion said and they scurried away. He broke the lock and yelled inside, "everyone out!"

He heard mumbling and one by one woman and children came from inside. All holding a hand over their eyes. "They have never been outside." The woman said as she strained her neck trying to lay eyes on someone. Once everyone was out she started to panic "Where is she where is my Katie!"

"He killed her months ago. She refused to let him have her in a certain way and he killed her." A young girl said they all held their heads down.

'This guy is a real twisted son of a bitch.' Czar said.

'Yeah I wish he were alive so I could kill him again, and he had our blood. We must assist Vladamir in rebuilding the council.'

'Yes, but in the meantime, you know what must be done.'

Zion sighed, 'How am I to feed them.'

'They sure need not miss another meal.'

'Champ there!' Czar's eyes had him focusing on three young girls. He walked over to them, "look at me he demanded," the oldest appeared to be around ten. She looked up while still holding a hand on each child's head to prevent eye contact. "In this pack, we are not allowed to look authority in the eye," Zion smirked as he sniffed the air. She was an Alpha why would he reject an heir because she is female?

"What is your name."

"Nohni,"

"That is different."

"They called me no name because we did not think I was worthy of a name. It was just shortened over time."

Zion could hear Czar growl.

"And the little ones?"

"I named them because everyone is worthy of a name." Still holding their heads downs she said, this is Isis and this is Kennedy."

"Do you know who I am?" Zion asked her.

"No, I know you are an Alpha and very powerful." Nohni could feel his power.

"I am your cousin Zion Black Alpha of Mystic Moon. And as of today, you will be called Zenobia. I refuse to call you Nohni and if anyone else calls you that they will be slain.

You no longer bow to authority Zenobia because you are the authority. Do you understand?"

"No, I don't."

"You are an Alpha female. And you should be treated with the same respect as anyone else you are also Lycan, where is your mother?"

"Dead, he killed her the day I was born because she had a girl."

"And there's?" Zion asked.

"Dead their mothers were not Lycan they died in childbirth."

"Amazing they survived," Zion said looking at the skinny children.

"Zenobia from this day forward is your Alpha. And only for that reason do I claim this territory until my cousin is old enough to rule. Alpha Zenobia, you will train under me until you turn of age and your wolf arrives. Do you accept your calling?"

"Are you serious but what about Brayden and Scott and-" She froze as the woman pulled Brayden head from her satchel. "I accept."

"Very well do you wish to say anything to your people before we make the journey to Mystic?"

She turned to face the warriors that had tortured them. "Banished?"

"No, wait Nohni!" One cried out and Zion almost like a reflex reached over and snapped his neck.

She smiled as his body dropped. She looked at Zion, "What I am a man of my word." He shrugged.

"Alpha if I may speak." The same woman that had called out to him said.

"You are brave and had it not been for you I would not have known of their existence and how many I help you."

"In case you are worried about food please follow me." She lead him to a building that was huge and when he opened it he found that they had their own livestock, enough to feed both packs."

"What is your name woman?"

"Donna."

"Donna you are quickly becoming my favorite person."

She smiled shyly.

"We got to fatten you, ladies, up. Excuse me I must reach out to my pack."

He had planned on popping up but now that he knew of the food he felt it best to stick around he could not take a chance on the livestock escaping or being stolen away.