The Return of the Chosen

Don't play with me

"Dad!" The boys yelled as they jumped out of the truck, running to their father. Always so excited about seeing Zion, Catori knew he would be an awesome father. It pained her to see him and she wondered if that hole in her heart would ever heal.

"Defeats the purpose of meeting outside your boundaries if you're still the one picking up the kids," Catori said, tapping the steering wheel to the music pumping from her speakers.

"I'm not playing this game with you," Zion said to her,

"Game?" She looked at him over her sunglasses, so he would see how serious she was.

"Yeah, thanks for including Maddy on your trip," he said as he watched the boys climbing over the seats of the truck and shoving back and forth to see who would get to play in the driver's seat. "Cut it out!" Zion yelled at them and they immediately settled down.

"Catori-"

"Don't I'm having a good day Zion." She snapped, not caring how harsh her voice sounded.

"Catori, I didn't know and I don't even understand how I hurt you. I didn't know the rules changed with you being chosen. However, I need you to know I would never have laid a hand on her if I knew you would suffer in any way." Zion said sincerely. She could hear it in his voice, but she simply did not care, at least that was what she told herself.

"I'm so over it and this conversation. It changes nothing, Zion. So it does not matter that you could have trusted me and rejected her, but you chose your own path. It means nothing that I suffered because I am still suffering today. It means nothing, nothing, nothing at all. I'm just sick with it and seeing you hurts, s**t!" She hit the steering wheel as tears fell from her eyes.

"Cat, open the door." He tried opening it but it was locked,

"No, I just have to go. I don't need your comfort!" She growled,

"I feel you Cat, I feel everything you do. Please just talk to me, we can work through this." Zion pleaded,

"Damn it, look at my makeup now!" Catori said, sniffing.

"Who's truck is this?" Zion frowned,

"Amaralus," Catori said, Zion looked at her a moment and said nothing. He stepped back, "Nice ride "

"Zion, Amaralus had two of his office buildings destroyed." It hadn't even occurred to her that Zion could be responsible now she looked at him. He had his blocks up so she could not see what he was thinking.

"Unfortunate for him." He smirked,

"You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?" Catori asked him. He was impossible to read, but the words he said next infuriated her. "What happened to the Talmage, you getting around Cat, Hope it works, if not, the kitten is going to have a lot of miles on it." Zion casually said as Catori's mouth dropped into the open. Zion knew what he said was not nice, but at that moment he didn't care.

"Emoni, Leilani, who else have you f****d, Zion? And your f*****g right, because if it doesn't work I'm f*****g every guy that has big d**k energy, hot girl summer you asshole! It ain't yours so don't worry about it!" She was fuming. Zion, just shook his head. He got back in his truck and drove off.

Catori started the car and drove off. Her good mood was ruined and it was a as he drove in the other direction."What the hell is she doing?" Zion mumbled,

'Kali!' Catori, heard the faint whisper again.

'Vanessa,' Catori said, turning in circles, 'Where are you?'

'Am I dreaming? Am I dead?' Vanessa was asking. Catori could tell she was weak.

'Vanessa, why is it I feel you at times and others I don't? I have been searching for you.' Catori said, 'But every time I feel like I'm close you fade away.'

'Is this real?' Vanessa asked,

'Vanessa, where are you?' Catori asked a little more firmly. She was afraid she would lose the connection.

'Surrounded by darkness,' Vanessa quickly responded, but already she seemed more distant.

Her vague answer was pissing Catori off, 'Take that damn necklace off and maybe you could help,' Zion snapped, snatching the necklace off of Catori's neck. Before she could snap at him, he placed his finger on her temples and put his forehead against hers, 'Concentrate.' he whispered,

Something about this man's touch was so electrifying to her, those little sparks. Seemed to take her to places, ignoring the flip flops her lady parts were doing, she tried to concentrate as Zion's breath danced across her face, 'Vanessa!' Catori looked around her. She was in a cave.

She opened her eyes, 'they are dying,'

'Then let's go help', Zion said to her. She looked into those dreamy brown eyes. Her heart ached. Why come he couldn't just be hers?

"How did you know that taking off the necklace would help?" She asked, her lips merely inches from his,

"I didn't, I just wanted to touch you. Now are we going to help or not?" He asked,

"Yes, come boys, you can help too," She transported them to a cave deep within the mountains, "here they are trapped inside. Hmm, I can move the rocks but I'll have to hold them in place and there are at least 60 to 70 men there. You can't move them all."

"Why not? If you can hold them up. I can move them." Zion assured her,

"They are in hibernation, Zion, it's dead weight, and-" she paused as it seemed his brown eyes stared into her soul. She felt that familiar stirring between her legs and it dawned on her. Zion Black was the one throwing her into heat. Damn it, she could take her pills and be fine for weeks and have no problems around Amaralus, but the moment she was near this man her body went crazy! If she knew he wouldn't mark her, she would certainly go one more round with the Lycan but she knew he would claim her again. Surely, when Amaralus wore her mark he would not have this effect on her. Zion looked at her, 'Kitten, I smell you,'

Catori took a deep breath, "let's get this over with," she hissed, ignoring the dark look in his eyes and the bulge in his pants.

She took a stance and the rocks began to shift. She had soon moved them to the side and now she held the cave up as, one by one, Zion lifted each beast and carried them out. Catori watched admiring his strength. She found herself remembering how he would lift her and carry her around the bedroom with ease as she bounced up and down on his hard c**k, 'Kitten your block is down,'

Catori blushed as Zion said, 'As much as I love the trip down memory lane, the timing is a bit off,'

'Sorry…wait how are you able to still roam my thoughts?' She asked, confused,

She watched as he removed his shirt and wiped the sweat from his face. Mother had spent entirely too much time on this design. Zion was all muscle, and the way his body gleamed as the sun hit him was sending her through changes. Her scent was not helping him out either, but he focused on his task as he continued to work. Catori was so proud as her boys both worked their healing powers. Maden, even to both Zion and Catori's surprise, came to find the smaller, still-living pups and carried them out.

'Maddy is just like you, he just rolls his sleeves up and jumps in.' Catori said to Zion. He nodded at her but his mind was now thinking about what she asked. He wasn't sure why he was so connected to her, but the more he saw her the more things felt like they used to, which made it harder to imagine life without her. She had grown so much in the five years she was gone. The old Catori would have killed Leilani on day one. In truth, that had been his greatest fear. Seeing her with the boys and how she loved Maddy, like Elijah and Earth. Zion chuckled to himself. Amaralus was crazy as hell if he thought he was marking his mate. He would be at that party and the first chance he got he would kill Amaralus. Unlike Catori, he had not grown in that sense of things. He was not giving her up. Zion had made it to the center and there was Vanessa in her beast form but he knew it was her. She was bigger than the others. "Vanessa, you need to shift. It will be the only way I can carry you out."

"Zion?" She looked confused,

"Yes, we have come to help." Zion noticed the cave was cold and damp even though it was a hot summer's day, Vanessa shifted her body, "Saying take him first. In Zion's mind, he fully expected to see a child when she lifted her body, "Kade," Zion fell to his knees, "Brother!" Zion's heart jerked as he realized Kade was actually alive,

"Zion, he has a head injury. He doesn't remember anything." Vanessa explained,

"How have you survived? It's been almost 2 months." Zion looked at her in disbelief,

"In our beast form, we could live off stored fat and they have survived off the milk from the nursing mothers," Vanessa explained to him,

"They," Zion asked, confused,

"Yes," Vanessa shifted and scooted to the side,

"Mom!" Zion called out and Catori felt like she was hit with a wave of emotion, "Zion are you okay?"

Catori heard Elijah yell, "Grandma? Grandma, it's you!"

Seconds later, Zion came out carrying Luna Rochelle. Catori watched as Zion fussed over his mom.

"Mom," Zion held on to her tightly,

"Lucas, what's happening?" Luna Rochelle said, She looked at her son with a dazed look.

"Mom it's me, Zion." He touched her face. Catori did not want to rush him but she really wanted to see Vanessa and it was apparent the woman had a head injury.

"Grandma." Elijah immediately started trying to heal her head,

"Zion let Elijah work, and-"

"Yes yes, you're right." He agreed before she finished, he went back in and returned with Kade, who looked way worse than Luna. Catori wondered how he had not succumbed to his injuries.

"Is everyone out!" Catori called out,

"Yes!" Zion called out, Catori gently let the rocks fall and the structure collapsed.

"Vanessa!" She ran to her first, she was in her beast form. Her beast looked at her and bowed. She could tell it was different from the others,

"What is your name?" Catori asked her beast,

"Have none," the beast said.

"You understand you are not supposed to be here?" Catori said to her beast. It nodded.

"You're different from the others, you seem to have your own identity." Catori said to it, "Do you know what you are?"

Her beast nodded and replied, "Everything," Catori found this answer intriguing. "May I speak with Nessa?"

Her beast nodded, 'Vanessa hi,'

'Is it really you?' Vannessa choked out,

'Yes, you all need nourishment, I'm going to get you all to the pack hospital and then we'll talk. Your beast is beautiful Vanessa.' Catori said, "She flies?'

'Thank you Kali,' she giggled, 'Yes she flies,'

Catori first took all of the infection from those around her and then they were all transported back to Mystic Moon, the hospital was packed and an IV was given to them all. "Once the humans are better, we will return them to what's left of their homes," Zion said.

"I should be going now," Catori said. "It looks like you have everything under control."

"No, not yet!" He grabbed her hand, practically dragging her to Vanessa's room,

"Vanessa," Zion went to her bedside and took her hand, "how can I repay you?"

"I'm sorry I could not save them both. Your father insisted I take her. He was going to try to find my mom." Tears rolled down her cheek. "When I came back, I saw Kade and I grabbed him. I never saw anyone else. I couldn't help the cave collapsed,"

"Vanessa, my father, was buried with a woman and we just assumed it was Mom. It must have been Ms. Jene because she was listed as unrecovered, her injuries were substantial enough that they did not recognize her. They are about the same weight and hair color. I'm so sorry I could not protect her. She meant a lot to me."

"It was chaos, Zion, everyone was in impossible situations. How is Kade?" Vanessa asked with a long look in her eyes.

"Confused, he woke up for a second and called out your name, then fell back asleep. His head injury has been healed. We're getting fluids and food into everyone. Dr.Arden says he should be fine come tomorrow. Vanessa, you helped me when-"

"Zion, it's okay, really it is. Now Kaleigha Pinckney, or Catori Black,"

"Knight," Catori mumbled. Ignoring the squeeze, Zion gave to her hand that he had still not released.

"Give me a hug," Vanessa said, reaching out to her.

Catori gave her a hug and playfully shoved her to the side, crawling onto the bed beside her. She curled up with Vanessa, as Vanessa used to so often do to her. Of course, now that she was who she was, she knew she had only done that because she felt insecure at those times and Catori was there. Vanessa smiled, showing all her teeth as they lay back on the pillow, "Thank you for coming back to us, to me. I never realized what I was losing until you were gone and I have to tell you you like my sister. When they said you were gone," Vanessa started to cry, and they held each other,

"It's been so hard coming back," Catori broke down,

"Why," Vanessa asked, Zion wanted to go to her but he understood they needed this time, so he left them to talk. "Zion replaced me, Nessa, he moved on."

"But you're back now." Vanessa snuggled closer,

"Yeah, but it's not the same, nothing is the same. When I left, he could barely stand to be away from me and now," she sighed, "I can't stand to be near him half the time. Then other times I wonder how I could breathe without him. It's awful,"

Vanessa squeezed her hand, "I know what you mean. I feel that way about Kade. He infuriates me but when I need him, there he is." Vanessa smiled at Catori, "I don't think I could love anyone else." Vanessa looked at Catori's face, "What? What is it, Cat?"

"I have a boyfriend who has asked me to be his mate." Catori laughed as Vanessa stared at her with her mouth all open.

Vanessa's eyes were huge, "Zion knows this?"

"Yes!" Catori laughed,

"And the guy is still alive, in one piece?" Vanessa asked, giving her a suspicious look. Catori laughed, "His name is Amaralus and he is a horn Dog."

"Tell me everything," Vanessa stared at her in the eyes, taking in every detail.

"He is fine girl, like fine, he has those sexy eyes and I love how he is all hot, but at the same time, he is sweet and loving." Catori went on and on about Amaralus and then she said, "And then there is Talmage,"

Vanessa's eyes narrowed, "Wait, where did he come from?"

Catori giggled like a schoolgirl as she told Vanessa all about Talmage, "And guess who rejected him?"

"Who?" Vanessa thought about it as Catori sat quietly waiting for it to hit her, "No…Leilani! You're shitting me!"

"Nope," she said, giving her the most serious look, "and Zion practically called me a hoe today because of them." She glanced at the clock on the wall,

"Oh s**t look at the time. I have to go, Nessa. I was supposed to go dress shopping. You're coming to my party, right?" Catori asked,

"Yes, of course, I have no idea where I will get a dress." Vanessa pointed out.

"Come with me shopping tomorrow. Humans treat like a freaking celebrities. You won't believe who all I have met since returning. All the way up your alley girl"

"You have done a lot in a few short weeks," Vanessa pointed out.

"I have to stay busy. It keeps my mind off-"

"ZION hey!" Vanessa winked at Catori,

"You two finished gossiping about me? If so, I brought you a visitor, Vanessa." Zion said as Kade stepped into view. Vanessa felt her heart flutter. I look like s**t, Vanessa thought to herself.

"Hey there beautiful," he said to Vanessa. She waved him over and he went and sat beside her and they hugged. Catori watched a second and then said, "Well, I will let you have your time."

"Wait Luna," Kade said, walking over, he hugged Catori, "Glad your back,"

"Thank you, I'm not the Luna anymore though," Catori said and she sounded sad, which pissed her off.

"Yeah, well, apparently I'm not a beta, which means I can speak my peace, respectfully. You will always be my Luna Catori Cool Cat." Kade said to her, using the nickname Kevin had given her.

"Thank you, Kade, loyalty is hard to come by these days." Catori said, trying not to side-eye Zion, "Goodnight," she said, vanishing,

"s**t where did she go," Kade asked as Vanessa just looked surprised,

"Oh, a new talent she has picked up since her return. Drives me f*****g crazy." Zion admitted,

"Sounds like we have a lot of catching up to do, brother," Kade chuckled. Zion just gave him a weary look.

"I must say seeing you was a site for sore eyes. I'm so glad you're back." Zion did not mean to be sentimental, but losing Kade had been harder than he imagined.

"It is good to be back." Kade looked over at Vanessa, "Zion tells me you saved my life."

Vanessa just shrugged like it was no big deal, "You would have done the same for me,"

She looked away momentarily and then back at Kade, "You were touch and go there for a while, the both of you."

"I remember feeling like I was in a fog but I kept hearing you talking to me. Your beast even spoke to me at times." Kade said to her,

"Well, I'm glad you are better, Kade," Vanessa said to him. They stared at each other. "Zion says Catori healed everyone but you,

"Yes, she has given me the option of keeping my beast." Vanessa said, then she asked, "Where is Javoni?"

"Javoni?" Kade asked,

"Yes, I don't remember seeing him among the people carried out," Zion said to her. He could see the look of frustration on her face.

"I will look into that and check on Mom. Give you a chance to chat." Zion said, dismissing himself.

Kade looked at her then walked up, pulling a chair next to her bed, "So are you and Javoni an item?"

Her forehead wrinkled as she looked at me, "No," she laughed, "dating has not been on the forefront within the last 2 to 3 years. Um. how would that go, hi my name is Vanessa. I enjoy long walks on the beach, hiking, Chinese food, and oh, and I have a ferocious beast that is inside of me. You can meet her but be careful if she is hungry or horny."

Kade stared at her blankly, "how does that work again?"

"Oh well you're certain to get eaten," Vanessa laughed. Kade gave her an awkward look and then said rather seriously, "I mean the other part."

Vanessa blushed so deeply that Kade gave an amused laugh, "When you turn red like that is it all over?"

"Seriously Kade, why are you asking how… ya know that works?" Vanessa asked.

"Oh, I plan on confronting Javoni if he is planning on making a move." Kade gave her the most intense look, "I suppose you're going to want to go back to school and I am okay with that, since I'm no longer a Beta, I can go with you. Unless this is not what you want and in that case…"

Vanessa waved him over and Kade wasted no time kicking his shoes off and crawling into bed beside her, "I love you, Kade. I wish I had never left you." Vanessa said,

"I am not with the whole anal probe thing but I think you should keep your beast," he chuckled.

'Don't knock it till you try it,' her beast chimed in.

Kade had learned to tolerate her beast's dryness. "It's an outie!"

Vanessa and her beast both laughed.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked Kade. Without saying another word, he leaned in as if he was going to kiss her, but instead grabbed her chin, turning her head to the side, he sunk his teeth into her neck claiming her once again. Vanessa moaned again as the most wondrous sensation went through her body. Seconds later, their moans could be heard bouncing from the walls in the long corridor.

Leilani sat in her office doodling on a sketch pad. Her mind had not been right since the encounter she had with the Chosen. Faye was completely non-responsive. She tried talking to her but she was still angry and embarrassed. Not so much because of the fact that they took the beating of their lives, but because she s**t herself in front of the entire pack. It was humiliating and she was not sure if they would ever recover. Her brother had told her earlier this morning he was over Zion Black and the way he treated her. He said Zion was more concerned about Catori's feelings than the fact that she had nearly killed her. He was right that she had not seen Zion after the attack took place for nearly two hours. The fact was, the man loved the Chosen. He was hers and she was his and she was collateral damage. Being in that dome with Catori was mind-boggling to Leilani. Catori had combed through every memory in Leilani's mind and while she did this, she left herself open, so Leilani saw all the moments she shared with Zion. She had to face facts and the fact was, Zion would never look at her, love her, want or need her like he did his fated mate. The odd thing is, it's normally your wolf that feels tied to your mate the most. As of recently, she discovered in the worst way Faye loved Czar but it was Talmage's wolf, Ock, that she was tied to most. She was mad they rejected him in the first place and now that she saw what a life they would have shared she was angry at herself. Zion came in and she closed her book to look up at him, "How are you feeling today?" He asked, sitting on the edge of her desk, "Can I get you anything?"

"I'm fine Zion. Sara was in here complaining about Emoni. Something about her refusing Quamir's service. Do you think you could handle that? I don't have the energy. I asked Quamir and he seemed oblivious as to what she was talking about and I don't want…any problems with the Chosen." Leilani said,

Zion looked at her and just nodded. She got up from her chair and went to stand near the window, "I know that Cat can be-"

"Please don't! I was told not to say her name in or out of her presence," she shivered, "I would like to honor her request."

He stared at her but said nothing. She walked over to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Zion looked around her office. His eyes fell on the sketch pad on her desk. He casually flipped through the pages. Leilani walked out, seeing him holding it and she hurried over, snatching it from his grasp. "Please do not rummage through my personal things, Zion."

He gave her an intense look, then got up and walked to the door, "Mom asked about you." He tossed over his shoulder on the way out.

Leilani mulled over his words, then sat back down. He didn't say anything about the sketches. Maybe he did not flip through the pages, she thought. Rubbing her temples, she thought her situation over as she looked down at the pad. Placing it back inside her desk, she gathered her things to go see Luna Rochelle.

As soon as Zion saw her cross the yard, he walked back into her office. Opened the desk, and he removed the sketch pad. 'River'

'Yes, Alpha?' River replied.

'I need you to deliver a package today through fairy mail." Zion sighed as, once again, he flipped through the sketch pad. Leilani was very talented and he was not even slightly bothered by the fact that all the drawings were of Alpha Talmage.

'Why are we playing this f*****g game? I am tired. Can we not just beat him into submission and force him to take her?' Czar suggested,

'Of course, I thought of that and it will happen that way if it is not natural. She deserves happiness and she will have it, but I think she will be happier.'

'Fine, but if he does not take her,' Czar grabbed,

'It's not an option. If he refuses her, I will break him.' Zion assured his wolf.

'Zion, I'm on my way to your office now. Who is the package going to?' River asked,

'Alpha Talmage Hunter, it needs to end up in his possession today and anonymously.' Zion explained,

'Got it, Zion,' River said as he made his way there.

Zion went back to his office. He sat back in his chair, as always, his mind wandering to Catori. Working with her again, just being in her company had been so pleasurable. He wanted her so badly, he was aching. River knocked on his door and he handed him the package, "How are you and Shannara?" Zion asked,

"Complicated, she is so concerned with everything Jaora says and it's pissing me off," River complained,

"Do we need Catori to have a conversation with Janora?" Zion asked. River thought it over.

"No, she needs to stand up to her herself or let me go," River said.

Zion stood watching River cross the yard heading toward the boundaries. 'Cat,' he whispered. To his surprise, she answered him.

'Yes, Zion,'

'I want you so badly it hurts,' he said to her.

'Why do you not...' she thought her words over,

'Because I want you,' he answered her,

'You can't have me, but you can watch,' she said seductively, Zion suddenly found himself being pulled away. He felt like he was soaring, his eyes opened and he found himself in a dark room. There was a window and certainly the curtain pulled back, and there was Catori. Zion thought he would explode as she wore a sexy little red number. She walked up to a pole and began dancing as the clothes began to slide off. As she worked that pole, Zion growled, he wanted to touch her and then she walked up to the glass and he watched her hand roam until they went between her legs. He stood to get a closer look as she went and sat on the stage and began to touch herself in a way that made Zion think he was going insane. 'Cat, let me touch you!'

'No baby you gave this up, but you can watch,' She moaned. Zion huffed but finally, he gave in and started to touch himself too. He could almost heal her heat, her wetness, taste her in his mouth, 'Cat please!' he begged,

'Don't talk Zion,' she screamed as she was close to release,

He could almost feel her when she came. So did he. Unfortunately, as soon as it was over he blinked and was there in his office, 'You're welcome'. He heard her chuckle,

'So are you sweetheart. Don't act like you didn't love it either,' he growled.

'Whatever,' she said in a husky tone and he nearly went insane as he smelled her,

'Cat,' he said longingly.

'No,' She knew Zion loved to go all day and that would never be enough for him, but her birthday would be here soon and Amaralus would claim her, so this was as close as she could get to Zion. She did hate it as much as he did, but she would never admit that to him. 'Cat, you can't let him mark you.' Zion said, and Catori felt a cold wash over her.

'I certainly can and will, Zion Black and the quicker you accept it the better.' She snapped,

'Fine, you do what you feel you need to do, Kitten, and so will I.' He announced.

'What does that mean, Zion?' she asked, as her heartbeat raced,

'It means you must have bumped your head, Catori Knight, if you think another man is marking my mate.' He hissed,

'I AM NOT YOUR MATE!' She found herself screaming at him,

'THE HELL YOU NOT CATORI AND THIS GAME YOUR PLAYING IS GOING TO GET YOUR BOY TOY KILLED!' He yelled back at her,

'Don't you dare threaten me, Zion Black! You will not hurt Amaralus!' she screamed at him,

'No, I won't hurt him. He will barely feel a thing when I rip his heart out.' Zion assured her,

'Don't play with me, Zion. Don't force my hand!' Catori warned,

'Consider your hand, forced sweetheart, because I don't play games. I will take every f*****g thing that man has, including his life, and sleep quite peacefully.' Zion threw up his block.