Zane - Confessions of a lycan

Chapter 39

Zane

We walked hand in hand down the stairs towards the breakfast room. I knew how hard it would be for Lily to be in this pack again. Therefore, I had mind-linked Mason and asked him to arrange a joint breakfast for just our own warriors and those she felt safe with. I couldn't stop my eyes from constantly wandering down to my wildflower. Even in jeans and a t-shirt she was radiant.

The most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She met my admiring gaze with her own innocent blue eyes, giving me a shy smile before quickly looking away, blushing. I couldn´t hold back a smug grin. The fact that she could still be shy after everything we've done, I found incredibly endearing for some reason. It wasn't a personality trait I ever thought I'd find particularly appealing, but with Lily it's something I've come to love. I hope she never loses that part of herself.

As we entered the dining room, everyone greeted us politely, but I could immediately sense the tense atmosphere that seemed to hang in the room like a dense fog. I raised a questioning eyebrow at Damien but only got a stern look back.

Even the twins' otherwise jovial attitude seemed somber. What the fu*k was going on?

Cassie waved at my wildflower, trying to get her attention. I fu*king hope she learned from our previous encounter not to try to come between us because I could sense Cassian holding a grudge. His possessiveness was bordering on rabid because we hadn't marked each other yet. I damn well hope she has sense enough to understand that or else this could end up as a bloody mess and Lily would never forgive us if that happened. Cassian whimpered in my head as I showed him my thoughts, but he had better behave himself.

Connor smiled when he caught sight of Lily. Much to my relief, she smiled back and when he stood up to greet her, she let go of my hand and gave Connor a friendly hug. I took the opportunity to slip away towards Damien in the meantime.

Something was going on, and I wanted to know what the hell it was. I shot one last quick glance at Lily. She smiled and sat down between Connor and Cassie, already in full swing talking.

“What the hell is going on, D? I grumbled, while I did my best to make sure Lily didn't hear what was being said.

Worrying her was the last thing I wanted. I sat down on the chair between Damien and Theo. On Theo's right sat Tristan and on Damien's right sat Mason and Henry. Everyone was fully focused on my and Damien's conversation and my guess was that everyone knew what was going on except for me. I fu*king hated that feeling.

Damien leaned against me and lowered his voice as he told me, "The Crescent moon pack was attacked last night by rogue wolves. The strangest thing about this whole story is that their best tracker sniffed out the trail of a vampire when the threat was over. Anything else you forgot to tell me, little brother?” His stern expression told me he was seething.

Goddamn it! Why did I keep fu*king sh*t up!?

“I'm sorry bro. Lucien said he informed Ronan and Mason about the possible vampire problem. I thought they shared the information with you. I know it's no excuse that I've had a lot on my mind lately. But to be honest, I'd pushed the problem away for now.” I explained. Damien took a deep sigh, leaning back in his chair as he ran his hands over his face.

Now that I looked closer, I could see that he looked worn, with dark circles under his eyes.

Maybe it was I that hadn´t been a very good brother?

"Did anyone get hurt?" I asked.

“3 dead wolves on our side and all the rogue wolves but 2 were killed. The two rogue wolves that survived were taken in for questioning. According to them, they received a considerable sum of money from a vampire whose name they did not know to carry out the attack. Something that is a big mystery in all of this, however, is that the she-wolf, Ava, was found dead in her cell with her heart ripped out.

"You know the woman who behaved disrespectful towards Lily that day at the training ground?” Mason exclaimed with a sour expression on the usually easy-going werewolf.

“That son of a bit*h!” I growled, pi*sed off as hell before I managed to rain in my emotions.

Everyone's heads snapped up at my outburst. Sh*t, so much for not wanting to worry my wildflower.

"Keep eating your breakfast folks, don't mind him." Damien grumbled next to me. However, my wildflower looked at me questionably. I sent a mind-link that everything was fine and that she should continue eating in peace.

One of the perks of being royal was definitely being able to talk to everyone via mind-link if you wanted to.

Unfortunately, Lily couldn´t answer me as long as we hadn't marked each other and she didn´t look completely convinced by my words but did as I asked and continued her conversation with Connor.

“The woman Ava, are you sure it was the vampire that killed her? Ripping out hearts is not a typical course of action for a vampire.” I asked Mason. “I said the same thing when Ronan called to inform me of what had happened. But we have some of the best werewolf trackers in the country and they're sure they smelled the vampire despite the heavy scent of a cloaking potion. In addition, the rogue wolves attacked from the south. Not a chance of one succeeding in getting past our defense line, running through the whole district, then sneaking down into the dungeon, killing ava, then getting out unseen and escaping through the forest and back through our defense line.” Mason explained.

“Sh*t, you´re right. I am more convinced than ever that it is Nolan we are dealing with. His anger at me for taking Lily. His promise to buy her and everything else that happened before I saved her makes him the only likely suspect. Also, mine and Lucien's apartment in New York was broken into while we were in the Crescent Moon Pack. The place is completely thrashed. That motherfu*ker is following us.” I growled menacing when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

As I looked up, I saw Damien staring intently at me. "We will protect your mate with our lives, little brother. I swear it. And when we find this piece of sh*t, we´ll make sure he wishes he'd never been born.” Damien promised with such a dark expression on his face that I knew that Nolan was in for one hell of a fight if he ever came across one of us.

“We agree with Damien, cousin. We have your back.” Theo exclaimed, and Tristan concurred.

The twins were only 21. But they were both already distinguished warriors and a good addition to have at your back when needed.

“I appreciate all your support, Thank you.” I spoke.

"The only question is, why would he want to kill Ava? Did he do it out of anger when he couldn't find Lily? Or was Ava someone he had met before? One might wonder if Ava approached you for a reason other than just selfish ones. Had he paid her off, to distract you so he could sneak in and take Lily under our noses?” Mason elaborated.

I sighed, tired of all the problems piling up around us. "I'm afraid we won't find the answer to that question until we catch Nolan. I just hope we do it before more innocent people die because of his obsession." I uttered, ready to end this fu*king mess.

***

Lily

Something was off over at Zane's table. But I couldn't bear to bother with more depressing things. I'm going to trust Zane to tell me if he thinks I need to know, until then I´m going to enjoy this breakfast.

“How long do you intend to stay, grandpa?” I asked. A little strange to say grandpa to someone who doesn't look a day older than 35 though. Even though he still looked worn. But with everything that happened to his son, my father, it´s no wonder. Life hasn't been kind to him either. “I will stay indefinitely. Adam needs me and I would like to get to know both of my grandchildren better. I would have liked Jake to be sitting here with us too, but from everything I've heard…” He trailed off. I placed my hand on top of his and hugged it gently. He didn't have to say more.

“That makes me happy to hear. I really want to get to know you better as well. And that goes for you too, Adam.” I admitted as I leaned forward to get a better look at Adam. He blushed and gave me a gentle smile in return.

“I would really like that as well,” he replied, making me smile. Happy that he wasn´t at all what I had made him out to be in my head.

"I have some things down in the basement that I'd like to get. Would you two mind coming down there with me after breakfast?" I asked hesitantly. I could have asked Zane, but honestly, I didn`t want him to see how I had lived.

I'm not ashamed like I was before, but I knew he would be angry and upset on my behalf.

“Of course, Lily. When we've eaten, all three of us can go down together. You shouldn't have to do it alone.” Connor promised with a tender expression. I'm really glad we came here, to my home pack. Even though I had to fight my own fears to do so. Because knowing that I had a few more than Cassie and her family on my side made it all worth it.