his broken love

Chapter Seventeen

Braiden's Pov

I watched as David fell just feet away from the goal. I had jumped to catch both women before they hit the ground. One of the other wolves lifted David and carried him to the house. Once I got the women into the house I yelled for help, only to get two small children seeing what's going on.

"You're Zera's papa right?" The little girl asked.

"What happened to them? Zera doesn't look like she is okay at all." The little boy said taking in the sight of Zera and David on the floor.

"Where is your papa? I need help, THEY need help." I said almost in a total panic.

"I will go get Papa, but he is helping Momma with Lucious. I think they will need them carried to them." The little girl said as the little boy walked over and tried to lift Zera by himself.

She ran to go get help. I tried to get David to his feet, but he was in too much pain to even try. The wolf that Carried him in shifted and got under his other arm and helped me lift him at least to a chair. "Thank you I appreciate all your help." I said to the man.

"You're welcome, Your Highness. I am Ghramm, a freedom fighter." He said with a slight bow.

"No need for any of the formalities. My name is-"

"We know your name. Some of us don't know if we can trust you." One of the younger ones said cutting me off.

The female started to sign to the young wolf. All I caught was 'Don't start anything. We don't need to betray the men that killed Max.' She was signing so fast after the first two lines I didn't know how they could follow along.

"What happened to Z? And why is David sweating and pale? Answer me wolf." That was Angelica I think. I didn't have any contact with her or her twin, but I knew that it wasn't Maria.

"David is pale because he won't break the damned bridge between Lucious and himself. And Max happened to Zera, and David killed Max." I answered trying not to lose it. "Are you here to help or to just question everything? I need help with Zera and David won't listen to reason."

"We came to help with Zera and stop the bleeding. How did this happen? She doesn't deserve any of this. And on top of all this Emanuel escaped. We have to move as fast as we can. I don't want anything more to happen to her." She said with a snarl on her face. She acted like I was the most revolting thing that walked the earth.

I noticed Maria standing in the doorway. As she noticed that I was looking at her she hid on the other side of the wall. "Maria, do you know sign? This woman doesn't speak, but she was the one to hold Zera all the way here. She even helped us to save her life. Please come help us for Zera's sake. I'm begging please."

She came back to our side of the wall and said, "I'm only doing this for Zera, not for you." Then she walked over to the female wolf. She signed to ask her name and the female wolf replied that they called her Luna Moon. She tried to explain that she wrapped Zera's wounds as best she could on the back of a running tiger. I couldn't stop watching Luna as David started moving.

"Mom either put him under further or she finished up saving his life. Either way I think we are out of the woods for now. How is Zera? And I need to talk to you about something that Max had said to me before I killed him." David said to me.

"You know that he would say anything to get under your skin." I replied. "Either way I will listen to what you have to say."

"He said that I am a father. That I have a daughter. Layla was pregnant when she went missing and I never knew. He said that he broke her voice box and threw her away, but she survived. I have to ask them for help finding my daughter." David was loosing his mind with wonder. I could see it in his eyes. He never believed anything that Max has said before.

"How do you know that he wasn't just trying to buy himself more time? You know how he was, and you know that he couldn't tell the truth to save his life." I said very confused.

"I have to find her Braiden. I just know that this one time he wasn't lying to me. He couldn't have lied about that since Layla's body had appeared to have given birth twice. He couldn't have gotten her pregnant two times in less than twelve months. I believe that my daughter would be about 19 right now. Please ask them to help me." He looked desperate.

With a sigh I turned to look at my mate again not knowing if she would help. She doesn't really trust me all that much yet. I decided to just go and ask her to help my friend.

"Luna Moon, may I please have a word?" I asked as politely as I could. When she walked over to David and I she looked a little apprehensive. "I know this is not going to sound right coming from me, but would you and your friends please help my friend here find his daughter?"

She nodded her head waiting for more information. I need to know what her name is and how old, and do you know what happened to her? She signed when David didn't offer up the information right away.

"She should be about 19 by now and I don't think she was ever named. Her mother was my soulmate but she was wolf and Max didn't like the fact that she and I were meant for each other. Layla was pregnant when he took her. I didn't know until now." He rushed through everything he could and I didn't think that she could keep up. "Max said that he injured our child and then he impregnated her again and she gave birth to another girl. That's when he killed her." Despair took over his features.

"He believes that Max was telling the truth. I am skeptical myself, but I don't think it is a bad thing to try and find out the full truth. Does any of this sound familiar to you?" I asked as recognition crossed her face.

I am the only mute 19 year old wolf. The ones that raised me said that they knew my mother, but they couldn't tell me who my father was. I'm not sure if it is me that you are looking for, but it is also possible that you are talking about the other baby that was found with me. She didn't make it though. She signed with hesitation. I don't know how you will find out for sure.

"We can find out one of two ways. Number one, you agree to a DNA test. Number two, we try to get you to shift into a tiger. You would have to have both spirit residing inside of you in order for you to be mine. Would you be willing to try one at the very least?" David said with enthusiasm as she looked around the room at all the eyes on her. She finally nodded and I let out the breath that I didn't know I was holding.

Zera's Pov

I woke up slightly to the feel of stitches being placed in my thigh. I looked around the room realizing that I was back in my own bed. There was a small hand in each of my hands that had to belong to Livy and Luka. When the stitches were all done I tried to ask what had happened, but nothing came out. I tried to clear my throat, but again there was nothing. Panicked I tried to yell for Izzy to bring me a glass of water, air was the only sound that escaped my lips.

Crying was all I could do. I couldn't change anything that had happened to me and I couldn't talk to anyone when I needed to the most. I let go of Livy's hand and wiped the tears from my face.

"Momma she's awake. I think something is wrong. She's crying." She said sounding very concerned.

"Is it the stitches, do they hurt?" Izzy asked me concern thick in her voice.

I shook my head even though they did sting a bit. I tried to open my mouth and speak again, to no result I shut my mouth and motioned that I would like a drink. Izzy obliged handing me a glass of water. When I tried to speak again there was no change. They both stared at me until I started to cry again.

Micheal walked into the room with a few clean towels and sheets. As Izzy lifted my leg I noticed that I had bled through a stack of towels. "We will need to change the sheets soon. Do you think that you could take a shower and then eat?" He asked not knowing that I couldn't answer verbally. I nodded and tried to sit up only to get dizzy and fall to the floor.

"Braiden I need you female wolf friend up here please." Izzy yelled from the door.

I was lifted from the floor by Izzy and a girl I didn't know. They carried me to the bathroom and sat me in the shower on a stool that I hadn't noticed before. I tried to say thank you, but again nothing emerged from my mouth. The girl looked like she understood what I was meaning and she moved her hands almost like she was signing. I only learned a little ASL back in elementary, but I don't remember much. I think she was saying no problem.

"She can't talk. I believe she was signing you're welcome." Izzy said. "Now do you think that you can stay with her while I take care of those bloody sheets?" She asked the mute girl.

After she nodded Izzy walked back to my room closing the door behind her.