Zane - Confessions of a lycan

Chapter 19

Lily

A few hours later, Zane had packed some essentials for both of us into a large duffel bag, carried me to his car and headed out into traffic on our way to Crescent moon pack. Lucien had chosen to come along both as protection and to be able to continue working on the case. Whatever the reason, it eased my heart a little. I knew it was irrational to fear going into this pack.

But once shunned, you eventually expect to be shunned everywhere and by everyone.

But Doctor Thompson seemed nice enough, and I had Zane and Lucien with me. I’ll try to repeat that like a mantra.

“We’ll be there in 5.” Lucien informed us as he looked back at us in the rearview mirror.

I sat curled up against Zane in the backseat, who had held my hand the whole way.

I had been sleeping off and on again. But I had a feeling Zane was afraid I'd stop breathing because I kept waking up from him checking my pulse. “Do any of you know anything about this place we’re going to?” I asked, feeling the nervousness creeping back in. Zane took my chin in his callous hand and turned my face up toward his. "I can feel your anxiety, wildflower. What are you so afraid of? You know Lucien and I would never let anyone so much as glance at you the wrong way, right?”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I know. It feels like we’ve been a part of each other for a lifetime already, even though we have just met. So as crazy as it sounds and how little it makes sense, I know you won´t.” I said at the same time as I looked him deep in the eyes with all the devotion and amazement I felt for this gorgeous man already.

His golden-brown eyes sparkeled before he leaned forward and gave me a kiss that conveyed so many emotions.

“Remember that. And if you feel the slightest apprehension, tell me and I will gladly remind you, my love.” He said, leaning over me with his hand still stroking my cheek. He called me love, as if I wasn’t already swooning for this man.

"I’ve been to this pack before. I trained their warriors about 18 years ago. They still have the same Alpha. He was only a young man at the time, but a good one. They are one of the strongest packs in the West.” Zane told me and that knowledge calmed my nerves somewhat. “We have arrived.” It was dark outside, but I could still make out the forest surrounding us on both sides.

So this was Pennsylvania, I thought to myself. I had heard it was supposed to be beautiful here, but have never seen any photos to confirm it.

We stopped in front of a massive arched iron gate, with large stone pillars on both sides. Topped with old-looking lanterns.

All of a sudden, I saw a quick movement in the periphery and my gaze quickly searched out into the darkness.

My heartbeat increased, and the anxiety slowly started to creep back in. Out in the dark I could see several pairs of glowing eyes staring back. Warriors. “It’s okay, wildflower. They won’t hurt us.” I didn’t have time to answer, because a large, bare-chested man covered in tribal tattoos walked up to the car as Lucien rolled down his window to address the man.

“My name is Lucien Kieran. Duke of the Western Woodlands. I am bringing with me His Royal Highness, Prince Zane Wulfric and his Mate Lily. She is in urgent need of medical attention and your physician, Matthew Thompson, asked us to accompany him to your pack so he can give her the right care.”

The man crossed both arms over his chest and made a formal warrior salute. “You do us great honor with your presence your Highness. my Lord. I have already mind-linked our alpha, he awaits you.”

The gates were opened, and we continued on our journey forward, through the thick forest alley until the road opened up and a quaint village took its place. The houses were built of timber, and soft light illuminated the cobblestone street.

Probably due to the late hour, the streets were almost empty. Thank goddess for the little respite.

After a few crooked turns, the landscape opened up and we were met by a large mansion-like house in the same style.

Beautiful with unusual roof angles that I have never seen before and large windows looking out onto the packlands.

On the outside, unfortunately, there was a whole bunch of werewolves in human form standing in a neat row waiting for our arrival. Fudge!

Zane held out his hand for me to take as I got out of the car. My emotions were flying in all directions.

What if they see that I wasn´t worthy of being in Zane's presence? What if they refuse to help me because of that?

I felt the nausea take hold of me again, and I swayed with dizziness.

Before my thoughts and feelings completely overpowered me, a man and a woman started walking towards us.

I could tell by his radiance that he was the Alpha. But he still didn't look like an alpha I had ever met. He was tall, good looking with short cut blonde hair, broad shoulders yet not overly bulky. However, it was the big smile when he came walking towards us that completely threw me off. All the Alphas I had previously met had been serious and power-hungry with a mean streak.

But not this one, judging by the look of him. The beautiful brown-haired woman he had his arm around must be his Luna.

The cheerful Alpha walked up to Zane and held out his hand. They gave each other a strong handshake and a pat on the shoulder. "You honor me with your presence, your highness. Although I wish we would have met again under better circumstances. Allow me to introduce you to my mate and Luna, Cora. Cora, this is Prince Zane. I'm sure you remember everything I told you about him and his time spent with us here in our pack? The Alpha said as he looked down, beaming at the beautiful woman.

You could almost feel the love that was sparkling between the two. It was beautiful to behold.

I had always wanted that kind of love but never thought it would happen to me.

"It's an honor to meet you, Cora. But seriously Ronan, your highness? Really? Since when have you become such an arse-kisser? Call me Zane for fu*k’s sake." I wouldn´t have been able to contain my shocked expression at Zane's comment no matter how hard I tried. But Alpha Ronan just threw his head back and gave a deep belly laugh. "You haven't changed much have you, you grumpy old fart?" Ronan jabbed back. What the f-ing mushrooms? Coming here, this was so not what I was expecting.

The woman, Cora, giggled at their antics. “I remember the stories. I'm afraid you made quite an impression on our pack, Prince Zane.” Cora said, with a twinkle in her eye.

They continued to talk but I stopped hearing because I felt myself breaking into a cold sweat, their voices zoning out.

What's happening to me? Everything around me began to spin and I felt how my whole body started to cramp.

Goddess, it hurts like hell. Before I knew it, I fell down on all fours on the ground. I could feel how the gravel dug into my hands as my stomach started cramping violently and I threw up. “LILY!!” I heard Zane calling my name frantically, but it felt like the voice was coming from far away. I closed my eyes as I felt the acid burn in my throat and the smell of blood hit me.

Then everything went black.

***

Zane

What the hell? One second Lily seemed perfectly fine, the next she collapsed on the ground next to me.

I fell to my knees next to her, stroking her back. "Wildflower, what’s happening?" She closed her eyes and didn't answer me.

Sh*t, she's shaking. “Where the hell is the damn doctor?!”

When my wildflower started throwing up blood, I felt like I was losing my mind. I roared with all my might in anger, fear, desperation! I kept thinking I couldn't lose her, not now when I had just found her. I would die of grief.

There would be no reason for me to continue on this earth. I heard people shouting in the background, but I blocked it out.

I pulled her up into my arms, chanting to her to be strong, to fight.

"Zane, let her go. She needs help. She could die. Let go, old friend, we can't help her otherwise." I heard Lucien carefully trying to persuade me and I felt myself slowly coming back to consciousness. Without being aware of my own actions, I had shifted and my Lycan had taken over. He had spent the last 87 years being depressed and angry with me for what happened to us when I was 25. Judging me and distancing himself from our bond. I couldn´t blame him, though it hurt like hell that he no longer spoke to me.

But since Lily came into our lives, he had come back to the forefront of my consciousness.

I saw Lucien crouching in front of me while I, in Lycan form, hovered over Lilys passed out body. s**t, what the fu*k was I doing?

I quickly took control and changed back, naked as the day I was born. But right now I don’t give a flying fu*k.

I picked up my unconscious wildflower in my arms. Blood was smeared on her chin and her arms fell lifelessly to her sides.

Dread almost consumed me and, for the first time since I was a young boy, I could feel tears prickling in my eyes.

“This way, quickly!” The doctor exclaimed. He started running toward the building to the right of the packhouse.

I followed, running with Lily in my arms. I could still hear her heartbeat, but it was faint and uneven.

He brought us to a white hospital-looking room, with monitors and medical equipment.

Lucien was right behind me, as was Ronan. “Put her down on the brit.” The doctor ordered as he pushed a button on the wall that made an alarm sound go off. As I put Lily down on the hospital bed, I heard several footsteps come running our way.

“I know you’re possessive, that you don’t want me to touch her. But if you don’t want your mate to die, I have to ask you to back away from her and let me do my job.” the doctor said, and gave me a stern look.

I couldn’t control my Lycan, who was already one step away from snapping at everyone. He gave the doctor a viscous snarl before I could stop him. Both Ronan and Lucien stepped up behind me, grabbing my arms and pulled me back.

“Enough of this, Z! Go to work, doctor, we will be waiting outside.” Lucien and Ronan pulled me out of the room, closing the door behind us. My Lycan tried to fight me tooth and nail but I knew Luci was right.

I leaned back against the wall, taking deep breaths, trying to regain control.

Someone pushed a pair of sweatpants into my hands, that I put on in pure reflex.

What the hell was going on in that room? I needed to be in there. I couldn’t do a damn thing out here.

I had never felt so powerless, so scared as I was at that moment.

How the fu*k could we go from this morning's bliss to Lily fighting for her life?

I ran my hands through my hair in pure frustration as I started pacing back and forth in the hallway.

The smell of disinfectant and hand sanitizer did absolutely nothing to ease my fear and my growing desperation.

I was seconds from breaking down when I felt a pair of cold hands on my shoulders.

“Zane, look at me.” Lucien stood before me, looking serious. I could barely meet his eyes. The weight that this was my fault, that fate was punishing me, was draped over my shoulders like a heavy blanket.

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself and pull yourself together! The gods give their hardest battles to their toughest soldiers. Remember that. That girl in there has had to fight all her life. She is strong, one of the strongest wolfs I have ever met. She has survived months of slow poisoning but is still breathing. Very few would survive even half the time this went on. So, stop underestimating her and be there for her, be her support, her will to fight and her strength to beat this!” Lucien exclaimed. He had never lectured me like that. But he was right. I had to think less about what might happen and why it did, and think more about her.

Give her my strength, my love, so that she found the will to fight. The battle was not over until it end.

And as long as it kept going, I was going to fight. Fight for her, for us.

So, with determined steps, I marched into the hospital room. To be there for her.

To be the reason why she fought and found the will to win, the will to live..