CHAPTER 6 - MISERY

"Uhmmm, what I mean is I don't want you guys to go anywhere tonight. When I passed out I —I …." I was trying to explain the vision I saw to them without sounding like some psycho.

"No one is touching you tonight so you don't have to worry but I could consider it if you beg me." Zephyr teased.

Urghhhh, didn't he know when to be serious? I slapped my hand on my forehead in frustration before trying to explain myself again.

"What I'm saying is that your lives are in danger if you head out tonight, Please listen to me." I tried to convince them.

"What are you saying Araya? They are the Alphas of this pack, members of this pack would readily give up their own lives in exchange for theirs, they're safest on their grounds. Stop talking nonsense." Uncle Astor scolded me.

"Please can I have a private word with the Alphas?" I requested.

"And what gives you the right to demand such? We're their family and we don't keep secrets from each other. You're just on a contract, don't start to think too highly of yourself, by tomorrow night you'd be history." Nerson's irritated remark cut deep in my heart though it was my reality.

"Yes, just say whatever you have to say." Ava finally spoke up supporting her son's motion.

I looked at Zephyr pleadingly and hoped he'd grant me the audience "Please just let me speak to the three of you, alone."

"I think we should hear her out, what's the harm in that? Afterall, she's our mate and Luna until the contract is terminated. We owe her the respect." Dante spoke directly to his brothers ignoring the remarks of the other three.

Zephyr paused his lips and closed his eyes, "give us a few minutes to join you guys in the hall." Zephyr was being serious for the first time and he seemed quite different.

"How would you —-"

"Nerson, get the car ready." Axel interrupted Nerson with a cold glare. I could tell from Nerson's expression that he didn't quite appreciate being bossed around by Axel but Axel had rolled out an Alpha command and he couldn't disobey.

The three of them made a bee line out of the room leaving me alone to present my case to the Alphas.

An awkward silence seemed to replace the atmosphere in the room and I felt very nervous thinking of how to plead my course and convince them not to make any journey tonight.

"So you were saying?" Zephyr was the first to break the deafening silence.

"Someone or people are trying to get you all killed," I blurted out the words when I couldn't find a better construction to buttress my point.

Each of them stared at me confused before Dante and Zephyr started laughing. Axel rolled his eyes and sighed like he just heard the most impossible thing in the whole werewolfdom.

"Araya," The name rolled out Zephyr's lips like he owned it and I felt good that he was referring to me even if that was not my name. I couldn't help but imagine how my actual name would sound if he called it.

Before anything could register in my brain I felt a cold sensation on my lips, I closed my eyes to relinquish the feel but it was short lived, he tasted like strawberry shortcake.

Even after Zephyr withdrew his lips, I could still feel them on mine, it felt like I was floating, my heart was thumping hard within my ribs and my cheeks were completely flustered. I felt embarrassed that he had kissed me in front of his brothers.

We had been in such close proximity all along that I didn't notice when he brought his face close to mine and stole a kiss from me. He was my first and even if I liked it, I was a bit annoyed that he would do that without my consent. My face paled and I scurried away from him.

"F&ck it Zephyr, what did you do that for? You're scaring her." Dante got upset at Zephyr's line of action but he seemed unfazed and unrepentant.

He barely shrugged his shoulders before replying carelessly, "Nothing, she was staring at my lips so I thought she wanted a taste. That's all. It's no big deal."

Axel seemed rather irritated, "If you two wanted time alone, why didn't you just ask for that instead of dragging the both of us into your folklore of us being killed?"

"No!, I'm serious your lives are in danger." I said, my voice a little too loud.

"Oh Araya, do you want me to kiss you again before you understand that we protect this pack and no one would be foolish enough to pull any stunt on our very grounds?" Zephyr threw himself on the bed and stared at the chandelier as he spoke.

I didn't know how else to convince them.

"So, let's say we decide to believe you but you have to at least tell us how you know about this and who is behind it. It doesn't make sense without the details." Dante had a point but I had no proof and I wasn't going to blow my Araya cover by saying 'oh I'm Luna Reign and I have healing powers and the ability to foresee events.'

Hell No! I wasn't going to let anyone else take advantage of me like Chester and his family did.

"I just know, but I don't know who or why. Please believe me." I tried to sound as reasonable as possible.

"You're a little too dramatic for my liking. I'm done with this, I'll be leaving first. You all can join me in the car when you're done with your pep talk with your little temporal mate. I'll wait for just 10 minutes then I'll drive off with however shows up." Axel remarked angrily before storming out of the room.

"Come with me Araya, I can't afford to leave you with Zephyr and Axel doesn't make empty threats." Dante reached his hand out to me and I took it,

"So I'm the bad guy now or what, Dante?" I ignored Zephyr's words.

"so yo all would still go out tonight?" I asked hoping for a different answer other than the obvious.

"Yes we will, and we'll be fine too. Trust me." Zephyr replied as he closed the distance between us and cupped my face in both his hands. I believed him and for a split second I thought he was going to kiss me again. Not like I would oppose if he attempted.

"Let go, I'm not letting you close to her again. The contract rules are clear, stop flirting with her already." Dante hit Zephyr playfully and he released his hold on me.

Zephyr threw both his hands in the air in mock surrender "fine. Then let's leave immediately so I'd find myself a better distraction if I'm staying away from her."

I sighed and resigned to fate as I followed Dante out and Zephyr trailed behind us. I could feel his eyes on me all through as we mazed through the castle to the car park.

We got to the pack and found Axel already revving the engine.

"Ok, could we at least go with a different car than planned?" I was thinking of all possible ways to avert the impending danger but all to no avail.

" No!, Nirsorn already did a thorough check on this car and it's completely bulletproof." Axel insisted and I recoiled.

"Maybe Lyon should drive Axel, you're already getting worked up." Zephyr offered. From the look of things Lyon was their bodyguard.

"I'll drive, I'm fine there's no—"

"Yeah, I think Zeph is right! You shouldn't drive Axel," Dante seconded.

"Are you both serious now?" Axel looked from each brother and none seemed to budge. Zephyr went around the vehicle and Axel handed him the keys, Zephyr let Lyon handle the wheel while all four of us sat behind in the limousine.

I was a bit relieved. In my vision I felt as though Axel was the main target and that was why he was shot first so it would be way better for us if he wasn't the one driving.

We bid Uncle Astor, Nirsorn and Ava goodbye and set on our journey. Since I was insisting a lot, Zephyr had arranged a vehicle to escort us behind but I still had an odd feeling about the journey.

"Thinking of me?" Zephyr asked looking at me through the rear mirror. He had been stealing glances at me through out the journey, my cheeks turned pink under his lustful gaze and I looked away.

I sat across Axel and Zephyr while Dante took a seat by my side.

Suddenly, the atmosphere seemed familiar. The car slowed at a bump and Axel lowered his glass to check what the block ahead was. Just then I saw them, just like in my vision they were dressed in black and had masks over their faces.

"Don't lower the glass!" I shouted but I was too late, the glass was down and the deafening sound of a gun rang through my ears as pain coursed through my body. I had rushed to stop Axel and wrapped my body around the particular spot I saw him bleed from in my vision.

Axel wanted to push me away instinctively until he noticed the blood dripping on his face. I could see Zephyr and Dante panick as they rushed to my side.

I was loosing touch with reality but I tried to conjure up energy to sustain myself. They were so closed but their voices sounded distant. When I couldn't hold on any longer I resigned to fate.

"Araya! Stay with me. We're almost at the hospital." Someone was calling out to me.

"Araya! Araya! Don't sleep, keep your eyes open we're almost there." The voices were too distant. I felt pressure at my rib where the pain hurt the most. I felt thirsty and I was very weak.

"Araya! Listen to me, we're at the hospital already just keep breathing and stay awake." I opened my eyes to behold Zephyr's beautiful face for the last time before I gave into the darkness that long threatened to consume me.

I wish I had spent a little more time with him. He was indeed beautiful, they all were.

"F&ck it Axel, we're losing her." I heard him cuss before I blanked out completely.