Chapter 9 Zeke
2129 Words
Zeke POV
Numbness and then pain. Intermittent and startling. My head pounding like a constant alarm rattled in my brain as I tried to recall why darkness surrounded me.
I don't remember going to bed.
No. I had a mission. The start of a plan that would hopefully repair the bond with my mate and my pack.
My plan.
Go to the pack.
Yes.
Go to that horrible pack and down to the cells.
The twins.
They had confronted me.
Nausea overwhelmed me as memories flashed from our conversation.
No. No. No.
I willed my eyes to open but my eyelids gad other plans. Top heavy for me to fight against. Did the twins knock me out?
Wait. Am I dead?
If I were dead then would I be in complete darkness? The thought making me sick. Possibly due to my own actions I deserved to go to hell. Pushing the feeling of hatred for myself aside I tried to gage my surroundings but the alarm blaring in my head screeched louder and louder. Pulling me back into darkness.
Waking I felt strange, out of sorts even. What the hell happened? Where am I? Taking stock, I'm lying down.
Yes. I could feel a soft mattress beneath me and a pillow. A thin blanket covered my legs up to my waist. My shoes gone and my socks, why would they take my socks? Also my jeans had been removed but my boxers were still on.
Hell. Why were my jeans gone?
Where am I and why does my head hurt?
I groaned and realised I should have checked my surroundings before making clear to those around me that I am awake.
I tried to gather my bearings as the ringing in my ears stopped.
The room having a distinct smell of lavender and a sort of stale, dusty smell that only came from lack of use. It smelt familiar. I had either come in and out of consciousness or I'd been here before.
I retraced my memories to try and figure out...
The twins.
I had come to Camerons pack for answers. To get what had been mine. To get what I risked everything for including my life. My mate.
Pain struck me again.
I'm too late.
I needed to get out of here. Search the cells myself. I needed to see it with my own eyes.
I tried to strain my hearing but if I had to guess then I'd been placed in the Alpha's house that happened to have sound proofing in each room. That alone made my hairs stand on end.
I praised open my eyes. The room dark and the curtains drawn. A slither of light broke through the darkness at the bottom corner of the door. Someone must have damaged it at some point. That would work for me.
Steps dampened my hope. My heart beat quickened.
Instantly feeling on edge, I tried to make my breathing steady. I'd been on edge for so long that I couldn't remember the last time I felt calm or content.
A memory struck me like lightening. For a fleeting moment I had been blissfully happy. Angry at first at the two pups that managed to get s**t faced at Rogue X. Had to escorted to the managers office and I had been the sucker to look after them for Michael. Then he walked in.
Scotty.
Or should I call him Ryan. No, he would always be my Scotty.
"I've let Dad know about Zeke. Scotty has been checking in as well but it sounds as though Scotty rejected Zeke but he never accepted so the bond is slowly breaking. We will have to check the archives see if there is anything in there about a tethered bond. May explain Zeke's exhaustion paired with all that scheming. I don't blame Scotty. Can you imagine being stuck with a mate that betrayed his family, pack and soul mate to get into an Alphas trousers." I knew that voice as footsteps stopped out side tve door.
Laying back on the bed I quickly turned my head and closed my eyes. If they thought I was asleep then I would guess they would leave.
The door cracked open slowly and footsteps drew closer.
"You don't just throw a fated mate away like a toy." The voice darker, must be belonging to Nate.
The undertone of annoyance to his statement surprising.
"Dude. This guy. He betrayed his pack for dick." Nico must have been walking towards me as he sounded closer than Nate.
Nate sighed.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Something doesn't feel right, Nico. Do you know for certain? Plus. Zeke didn't start a war. He was used by a psycho Alpha. What if he thought he was in love? What would you do for someone you love, Nico?" There was a sadness in Nate's voice.
"It's not the same. Scotty was his mate. His more. Its life changing." Nico growled at his brother.
"Is his mate. The bond isn't broken. Yet that doesn't stop a wolf from loving another. The bond is not meant to make you fall for another wolf, its not a f*****g love spell, Nico. The bond is about finding a part of your soul. Making it whole. The bond is about partnership. We both know that sometimes love can over ride the bond, its rare but it happens. That you can choose. What if your soul is already fractured too much? What if the bond doesn't make you whole? It's unfair that the Goddess would inflict that on another." Nate snarled.
"You're talking out your arse again, Nate. That book is bullshit. You know the bond is to pair mates. No matter what. The bond will override anything. The bond makes you love. Stop with whole dark thinking." Nate's breathing getting heavy stressing his aggravation.
"Guess we agree to disagree, brother. Zeke is on our pack lands now and he gets a chance to explain himself. Did you see the panic in his eyes? I want to know what went on here, don't you?" Nate now sounding alot calmer.
Hmph. "Considering you're supposed to be the twin without a heart, if they'd hear you now they'd know how wrong they'd be." Nico almost whispered.
That is interesting. Out of the twins Nico also seemed to be the lighter of the pair. Always cracking a joke but I had heard he acts on impulse while Nate always seemed more mysterious. Calculating. Like a darkness swirled around him in his broody ways. I couldn't recall if I had ever seen him smile. My musing shattered instantly.
"You can open your eyes now Zeke." Nate called over to me and I cursed under my breath.
Opening my eyes, I find the twins staring at me. Nate at the door and Nico leering over me. Startled by the close proximity, I jolted upright. Pain radiated from my left side. Clutching my ribs I panted in pain. Did the twins do this? I turned away not wanted to show weakness.
"You landed like a sack of s**t right on top of a rock." Nico shrugged.
Nate placed a glass of water and two pills on the bedside unit. Eying them warily I tried to swing my legs over the side if the bed.
"They're pain killers, Zeke. If we wanted to kill you we would have ripped your head from your body and placed it on a spike at the border." Nate smiled wickedly.
There stood the dark, dangerous twin I had seen fighting like a killing machine just days before.
Shaking slightly I reached over for the pills, wincing as the pain intensified, swallowing them and bulping down the water, I refused to make eye contact with the menacing twins.
"We'll give them a moment to kick in and you can lead us to the cells." Nate stated before turning and leaving the room.
"How did I get here? And where is my stuff." I asked Nico shyly.
"Don't worry Zekey baby, you're not my type. I didn't peak. Although you could use some new clothes. These have holes. There's a pair of jeans and some fresh socks with a clean t-shirt. Your boots weren't worth saving but Nate noted you're the old Alpha's size. His boots by the side of you." Nico instructed.
If I didn't know him or his reputation I would have thought he was being nice. His tone calm and expression almost friendly. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
"Don't be long though, Zeke. I'd hate to have to come back here and drag you out by your little toe, after I knock you on your ass." Nico sneered.
There's the frightening wolf I had come to know over the last few weeks.
I wanted to go to the cells but I feared what I'd find there and whether the twins would believe my story.
My whole body felt sluggish and I ached from head to toe. Thinking this must be the aftermath of the rejection I pushed through and hoped the pills would help. I scoffed. Never in my life have I ever needed medicine to heal. The twins must have had experience of this to know what I needed.
Opening the door I was surprised to see the hallway empty. I moved out to the light modern corridor. Alpha Cameron may have been an absolute scumbag but he had expensive and modern taste. The walls were a light pine or glass giving the house an open and yet had a cabin feel. Abstract art hung on the walls and the rooms each held a double door leading to the numerous bedrooms. The high ceilings white with handing lights that reflected the sun. The end of the corridor opened up and gave a view down to the front door.
Pausing for a moment, a flicker of fear coursed through me and for a millisecond I thought about running.
Running and never stopping.
Then it passed. I could never out run the pain and responsibilities. I had to get my head back into the game.
Turning I made my way down to the front doors but turned around to search for the hidden door that sat just under the stairs. Boots were lined up in front. Knocking the woods I waited until I hear a hollow sound. Pushing the panel, it refused to give way. I had only seen Alpha Cameron do this once and his large frame had obstructed my view.
"Damn." I grunted as the panel refused to budge.
It had to be the one I pushed. It felt different and I had been standing across the way. What had he done to make it open? I searched but everything looked as though it were one wall. Running my hands over the wall I tried to find any indent.
Any clue.
Frustrated, I started to kick and punch but the bastard panel would not move. Throwing everything into the wall I begged for it to move.
"Wow. Now I can see why they called you a warrior." Nate mocked me as I turned round, my eyes probably resembling a deer in headlights.
"There is nothing there, Zeke. This is a pretty show. Pretty pathetic." Nico mocked. "I told you so."
Nico winked at Nate who rolled his eyes looking expectionally disappointed in me.
A bundle of emotions rolled over me.
Growling low, I gave them my best angry warrior look making Nate c**k his eyebrow and Nico laugh.
The fucker actually laughed. In. My. Face.
Anger rose and before my brain actually sparked to life. With claws drew, I lept forward. Nico kick out and his foot collided with my chest sending me straight back into the wall. Dust fell around me as the wind flew out of my lungs.
A click of some mechanism echoed after my groan and the panel shifted exposing a hidden set of stairs.
"Well I'll be fucked." Nico laughed.
Wiping the dust from my eyes I tried to clamber to my feet. Feeling slightly lighter headed I shook it off.
Nates hand on my shoulder steadied me. His brow furrowed looking from me to the door.
"What did he have on you?" Nate whispered but nudged me forward before I could answer.
Sweat formed on my brow and my hands started to shake. Racing forward I pushed Nate out the way taking the steps two at the time I descended down into the cells.
"Zeke." Nico shouted as I ran into the darkness.
"Tay. TAY!" I screamed into the abyss.
"PLEASE ANSWER. TAY!" I roared.
A whimper followed with a vicious howl answered. Fear made me instantly still as it choked me.
"Tay?"
- Writer
