ZIRAI bolted up and almost ran straight into Isabella’s face. I concentrated on my breathing, looking at my surroundings. I was in a room, a doctor’s office. My head was spinning as I tried to focus. Isabella was talking to me, but I could barely understand her. There was a slight throbbing pain around my neck as I touched it. The choker was gone. “Isa,” I croaked, feeling how dry my mouth was. She hugged me, and that’s when I saw the two nurses and the doctor on the floor. I was too dizzy to panic as I remembered how I got there. I walked in earlier for my appointment. The doctor asked if I wanted an ultrasound, and I said yes. I saw my baby on the screen, no bigger than a turnip. The nurses helped me undress and did the final examination. They gave me medicine to help sedate me and waited for it to work, but it didn’t. I was still wide awake and nervous. So, they left to get me another round when I finally fell asleep. Now I’m here, which means...I did it. I had an abortion.
ALAIA "Dammit!" I smashed the mirror, showing Isabella barging into the hospital's room to stop the doctor and nurses. I was so close, and Isabella had to butt in. How the hell did she know something was wrong? Why can't things just go my way for once? "Why?" Elaine asked me. "Why can't you just be happy with what you have?" "Because it's not enough, Elaine. Can't you see that? As long as she is here, she's a threat!" I yelled at her. I was pissed and needed an outlet or someone to blame. "As long as her baby is here, it threatens mine." "But it doesn't have to be that way, Alaia. She agreed to your terms. She doesn't want Isaiah. She doesn't want to be Luna. All these insecurities are of your own making. Can't you see that!" Elaine snapped back. I took a moment to reign in my anger. Adding more stress to my already stressful situation wouldn't be good. It wasn't good for the baby, which was more important than anything else. "Maybe you've been spending too much time with
ZIRA There he was, standing in the doorway with Alpha Zack right behind him. I could see how angry he was by the way his whole body moved when he breathed. He was wearing nothing but shorts with a shirt bunched in his hand. I guess he didn’t have time to put it on before busting down the door. I stood there with the towel clenched tightly against my body, but his stare made me feel like the towel was just an illusion. Not in a good way. I took a moment to look at Isabella, who was just as shocked to see him, so how did he find out? She was the only person I told. “I swear I said nothing,” Isabella linked me. “Don’t!” Isaiah roared, and it vibrated off the walls. “Don’t you dare talk in secret while I’m here.” He took a threatening step into the room, making me mirror his movement backward. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but his power felt dark. “Isaiah…” He cut Isabella off with the wave of his hand while still staring me down. He took a deep breath, staring me down. “Plea
ZIRA Isabella dragged me out of the room, still in my towel, towards her car. The farther I got away from the room, the better I started feeling. It felt like the pressure was lighter than before, and I didn’t feel the urge to rip out someone’s throat. What the hell was going on? We got into the car, and Isabella quickly pulled off. But it wasn’t before we heard Isaiah growl the loudest I had ever heard. I looked back, thinking I would see him chasing the car. I bet he was coming for me, and I was scared, but my anger wouldn’t let me show it. “My stuff?! It’s still in the room,” I remembered. “Fuck your stuff, Zira. What the hell was that!” Isabella yelled. “And what is going on with your eyes right now?” I pulled down the car visor and noticed my eyes were red, just like Isaiah’s, but they were slowly returning to normal. I sat down in the seat as my breathing started to increase. “I don’t know, Isa. I don’t know why I was so angry back there. I guess...I had a lot on my
ZIRA Isaiah looked at me, and I noticed his gray eyes still held anger. My heart raced as I pressed my back against the door, facing him. For a moment, I thought I was having another dream. However, my nerves started to calm when I saw Isabella slide into the back seat. “Relax, Zira. I’m not going to hurt you,” Isaiah growled as he pulled off, keeping his gaze on the road. I’m sorry. Were we both in that room back there? I thought to myself. We drove for a few minutes before I settled back into the seat, pulling the towel tighter against my body. We didn’t talk the whole ride, and I was glad. I didn’t know what to say about everything that happened. It felt like I didn’t have control over what I was saying, and Isaiah... How he looked at me like I was the most hated person in his life broke my heart. I get it. I do. I would be mad if someone tried to get rid of my child. Hell, I might even try to attack them too. But, I just really thought I was doing him a favor, both of t
VICTORIA I couldn’t believe everything I missed while away, especially the part where my mate was involved in helping Zira get an abortion. Of course, I was worried about Zira, but I was more worried something might also happen to Isabella. This was why I shouldn’t leave her by herself. She makes stupid decisions all the time. I should’ve stayed, but no. I wanted to go see my cousin. I had to. Two weeks ago, I rode with my Aunt Vera to James’ new pack, only about three hours away from Zack’s. We rode in silence most of the way. She knew my reason for coming, and she didn’t like it. She didn’t want to cause trouble for her son, and I couldn’t blame her. James has already been through a lot, but I knew if he heard why, he would help me. I was smiling at a text from Isabella when my aunt broke the silence. “Guessing it’s that Isabella girl you’re smiling about,” she said, glancing my way. “Yeah. She’s at a spa with Luna Alaia and complaining about the mud bath. Says she gets eno
VICTORIA I placed my hand on James' shoulder and smiled. “Then maybe I am that person. Maybe the Goddess wants you to help me take down evil, once and for all.” James laughed a bit and looked at me. The serious guy was gone, and in its place was my goofy cousin again. “What are we? The Power Rangers? Defenders against evil? You don’t quit, do you?” “I know you don’t want to be a part of this, but you know her. You know how she works better than anyone. So, I just want to make sure she isn’t hurting Zira. That’s all.” “Zira?” “You know her?” “No. Just sounds familiar. Like in a dream,” James said, staring off into the distance before shaking his head. “Anyway, what does this Zira girl have to do with Alaia?” It was my turn to laugh when I thought about everything that had happened. I told my cousin the entire story from the night I met my mate to my first encounter with Alaia, the bracelet Isaiah was wearing, to Zira’s pregnancy. I could see him clenching his fists thro
ISAIAH It’s been two weeks since the day at the motel, and Zira was still locked in the room. So, she kept to herself most days, not that it was her choice. I didn’t want to keep her locked in her room, but I needed to keep her close and safe. I let her family visit as much as they could, but I couldn’t help but think they had something to do with the abortion. Well, at least, that was what Alaia thought. Zira was close to them, so maybe they did know something. Mary delivered her food three times a day, and every time I asked about her. Mary would tell me the same thing. Zira wasn’t sleeping well, but her appetite was as strong as ever, and of course... “She wants to get out of the room,” Mary said, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t trust her anymore. Mary once asked if Zira could get some fresh air. It was fall now, and I knew how much she loved the fall season. She told me she loved how the cool air felt through her fur and the sound of the leaves crunching underneath her paws. Th