True Wolf (Bennett Pack #3)

12. Nessah

CHAPTER TWELVE

NESSAH

A re you okay? – Mina

I’m okay, what about you? -Nessah.

I rolled over, snuggling deeper into the coziness of Zion’s sheets, turning my face just a bit more to inhale the scent of him that lingered. I filled my lungs and exhaled, feeling a wave of comfort that I didn’t deserve. Comfort that wouldn’t last beyond this but instead of focusing on what was to come, I decided to enjoy the privilege while I had it.

I am now. After hours of interrogation and scrutiny from Xander, Lazar, and Jo, they released me. – Mina.

Released you, shit. What did they say? Where are you going? If anyone should leave it’s me, not you… - Me

She interrupted my thought.

Relax, Ness. I meant released me from the interrogation they had me engaged in. Not released me from the pack. They’re not making me leave. – Mina

Thank goodness. This is all my fault. – Me

It’s not. You can’t control fate. Zion is your fate. Being here is your fate. Even if they don’t like the outcome, no one else can control it but you and Zion. That’s what I’ve been trying to get through your thick skull for months now. – Mina

I flipped over onto my back, bringing my heels in toward me, tenting the bedding with my knees before I straightened my legs again, letting them flop onto the mattress. A smile spread across my face which I quickly got under control.

This still won’t work. – Me.

Where are you? – Mina

At Zion’s place. He wouldn’t let me leave. – Me

I didn’t want her getting any grand ideas. We had sex. Really amazing sex I wasn’t sure I would recover from emotionally but I would have to because…

I know you’re with him, at his place, but where specifically? – Mina

I cringed.

Yep, that’s what I’m getting at. You fucked him or he fucked you. However you want to label it, you get the same result. Nasty, wild sex. He still wants you and he knows, Ness. – Mina

I exhaled and sat up, throwing the covers back enough to bring my legs over the side of the bed. I bent forward enough to drop my elbow onto my thigh and cradled the side of my face in one palm.

He thinks he wants me. That will change when he realizes what he’s losing by choosing me. It won’t last, Mina. – Me

My stomach clenched with the reminder that this was all temporary.

The decision is his to make. You can’t do it for him. Let things be what they are. -Mina

I wanted to, I really wanted to, but after the fiasco with Rolf, I wasn’t sure I could handle the same rejection from Zion.

It’s not the same, Nessah. Do you miss him? – Mina

Get out of my head. I realized she was tapped into my thoughts deeper than I assumed.

I will when you answer the question. Do you miss Rolf? – Mina

No. – Me

I cared about Rolf. We dated, spent time together, and I could have possibly been happy, but I’d known him for years and didn’t feel a tenth of the emotional pull I did with Zion who I had known for less than twenty-four hours.

Like I said, it’s not the same. Rolf was chosen, and not even by you. By your parents. Zion was chosen by the moon goddess. It’s not your decision to make or even Zion’s for that matter. The goddess chose for you. Accept her decision. It’s going to be okay, Nessah. When you can get away, come see me. – Mina

I frowned, lifting from the bed.

I don’t need to get away. I can come see you whenever I want. – Me

Mhm, well if that’s the case I’ll be here but you might want to clear that with your mate. – Mina

Her tone was smug when she spoke and she blocked me before I could respond.

I looked around the room, hopeful Zion had at least been kind enough to bring my bags in before he disappeared. Another thing that had me anxious. He was gone. Maybe he had regrets about last night and was too chicken shit to face me.

With the thought taunting me, I left his room in search of my things and collided with a tiny person who hit my legs then ducked behind them. Before I could get a grip on what was happening, another little person bent the corner with a scowl etched on his tiny face. I assumed he was in pursuit of the first little body hiding behind me.

“Mine,” Rafe yelled and stomped his foot.

“No.” Kaleb, Lazar and Jo’s son, mirrored Rafe’s motion, stomping his little foot. The cousins were close and always together with either Toyin or Jo which meant they were being raised as brothers and fought like them too.

“My truck.” Rafe rushed us but I reached down and lifted him into my arms before he could get to Kaleb.

“Hey there, Wild One. What’s going on?”

“My truck.” His eyes glowed briefly and mine went wide. He wasn’t two yet and his eyes were glowing. That wasn’t possible. The pup was too young. Hadn’t even shifted yet but I remembered he was pure blood like his father and uncles.

“Rafe, I thought we discussed sharing with your cousin.” Toyin’s soft but stern voice had her son’s little face settling into a pout. He dropped his head on my shoulder and my heart melted.

“Aww, little one, don’t pout. It’s okay.” I rubbed his back and Toyin approached, taking Rafe from my arms and effortlessly balancing him on her small frame. She was at least a foot shorter, but held her son like he weighed nothing. He smiled and kissed her cheek.

“Rafe wuv Mommy.”

“I love you too but you’re still going to share with Kaleb.” He frowned and was pouting again before wiggling off her hip. She helped him down and the toddler took off, running back toward the living room. Kaleb felt safe enough to unleash my legs and hurried after him.

“Oh wow, that was a game.” I laughed, admiring how Rafe attempted to charm his mother.

“It most definitely was. He’s a Bennett. They use whatever they can to get what they want. Rafe is his father’s son.”

I couldn’t help the smile that blossomed, but then I realized what was going on. She was here in Zion’s apartment witnessing me exit his bedroom in just a T-shirt. His T-shirt.

“Um…”

“It’s fine. We’ve all been here before. Exposed and overthinking.”

“Are you…”

“In your head. No. Witch, not wolf. Unfortunately the only person I have that type of connection with is Xander. I’m just good at reading people, and right now, your whole vibe says, fuck me, she knows I’ve been fucked.”

My mouth dropped open and hers curved into a huge smile. “We’re family, get used to it.”

“We’re not family.” I cleared my throat. “I mean… not exactly. Zion and I aren’t…”

Mated…

“See what I mean, Toy. She’s really not trying to make this easy. But it’s not like she has a choice.” The low rumble of Zion’s voice had my eyes darting to the end of the hallway where he stood dressed in low slung sweat bottoms and a T-shirt that hugged his body, exposing his cut and toned physique.

“I thought you were gone.”

“Thought I was or wanted me to be so you could make your grand escape?” He arched his brow and smiled cockily.

“Both.” I shifted my attention back to Toyin. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I just need my things so I can get dressed. I have to go see Mina.”

“Do you mind if we talk first?” Her expression was hesitant but gentle.

“Talk about what?” My gaze shifted between Toyin and Zion. His stare was intense while hers was much softer.

What the fuck is going on?

“I’d like to try something. Jo mentioned that…” She paused and I glared at her then Zion.

“That I can’t have kids? Is that why you’re here? To fix me? I know you’re a healing witch but you can’t heal or fix me.” My angry gaze moved back to Zion. “Why is she here? Is this you?”

A scowl shifted onto his face but she spoke first. “No, he didn’t ask me to come. This was all me and I’m not here to heal or fix you, Nessah. You’re not broken. Even if you can’t…”

I snorted. “Have kids. It’s okay. Say it.”

She rolled her lean shoulders back. “Even if you can’t, you're not broken. I just wanted to see if maybe I could give you another opinion. Maybe they were wrong…”

“And if they weren’t, I don’t fucking care,” Zion asserted with a fiery look in his eyes. My wolf whimpered from the longing to connect with his.

“This truly is just me wanting to help. Can I?”

Her eyes lowered to my stomach. My heart clenched and I almost denied the request but maybe this was exactly what I needed. What Zion needed. Proof that he and I were a terrible idea.

“Go ahead,” I murmured with my eyes locked on his.

She smiled softly, stepped closer, and placed her hands on my stomach. After a few seconds her eyes closed and the spot where she touched me grew warm. A heavy sensation of heat pushed through my veins and jolted down my spine. After a long pause she slowly peeled her eyes open and her smile expanded.

“What exactly did they tell you?”

“Who?”

“The elder who was supposed to tell your future?”

“That I would never give Rolf children.”

“Were those her exact words, that you would never give him children?”

“Yes, what does it matter?” I frowned and Toyin dropped her hands and clasped them in front of her.

“It matters because the wording is key. These things aren’t an exact science sometimes. She said you would never give Rolf children, not that you couldn’t have them. That was her prophecy for you with him. It makes sense. Rolf was chosen . You’re fated to Zion.”

My mind rushed through so many thoughts. What if I’d misunderstood? What if we’d all misunderstood? My eyes shot up to Zion’s.

“Is that what you think?” he asked her.

Toyin shook her head slowly. “I don’t know for sure what she meant or what her prophecy was but what I do know is that my magic is quiet right now.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

“It means I’m not being pulled to heal. I can’t promise you anything but if there was a problem, I would feel it. My magic has a mind of its own. It’s only up to me to follow whichever way it guides me. It’s possible you misunderstood or that she even misunderstood the message and translated it incorrectly.”

I wanted to be hopeful but if she was wrong…

“Maybe. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get dressed.”

“Sure.” Toyin nodded but before I could get around her she hugged me tightly, lifted onto her toes, and kissed my cheek.

“I’m glad it’s you, Nessah.” She backed away and I left the two of them in the hallway, heading to the living room to grab my bags which were sitting on the sofa. However, I was temporarily distracted by the sight of Rafe and Kaleb playing. A slight twinge of hope pushed through my chest at the thought of our son or daughter being just as close as the two of them were.

But then it was gone. I exhaled a shaky breath, lifted my things, and headed back to Zion’s bedroom without saying anything as I bypassed him and Toyin. Hope was for fools and I refused to be one.

&

“You look happy.” Mina arched her brow as she pushed a mug of coffee across the counter. “And stressed.”

“Of course I’m stressed. Zion believes we’re perfect for each other.”

“You are.” She shrugged and lifted her mug. “You’re fated, Ness.”

“I know…” I released a sigh. “Yet there are a million and one reasons why we don’t work.”

“And a million and one reasons why you do that trump every argument you have about not submitting to him.”

My mind shifted to the conversation I had with Toyin. A twinge of hope crept in. God, I wanted to be hopeful but hope hadn’t fared well in my life. I couldn’t rely on a fool’s wishes that weren’t tangible.

“I have to go home.”

“What? No, absolutely not.” Mina’s shocked expression had me explaining.

I told her the things Toyin said and her thoughts on what the real issue might be, that this could be a misunderstanding. There was only one way to know for sure and that meant going home to ask Sula the right questions, like if I couldn’t have kids at all or if I couldn’t have Rolf’s children.

Two very different things that could affect my future and Zion’s.

After I was done, she was fully on board with me going home. Her only goal was me accepting the bond with Zion, but she had one demand. I was not going alone.

“What kind of family would I be if I allowed you to go back there without a support system?”

“You’re the best kind of family, Mina. You’ve already risked everything in support of me.”

“Everything worked out. Lazar and Jo didn’t force me to leave,” she argued so I tried another approach.

“This isn’t your problem to fix and you have just as much reason not to go back there as I do.”

She cringed but then schooled her emotions. “It’s been a long time and I don’t know anything for certain.”

I nodded but we shared a look that expressed what she and I both felt. Years ago, her parents, my aunt and uncle, had gone out for a hunt with several other pack members. They never returned and the story told was that they encountered a group of rogues. They were all under attack for entering territory claimed by vigilante wolves and Mina’s parents were a casualty. According to those who survived, my parents were witnesses to everything that happened but their stories didn’t exactly add up. No bodies were recovered and brought back to our territory to be buried on pack grounds, which was tradition.

No one ever fully expressed what happened, even when Mina demanded answers. She never felt comfortable with the Calhoun Pack after that, so she left and roamed as a lone wolf, moving from pack to pack until she ended up here in Hollow Grove. She had bad memories there and unrequited feelings about our old pack. I refused to let her revisit those bad memories in support of answers I might never find.

“You’re not going. I can do this by myself. I have to do this by myself…”

Such a hardheaded thing aren’t you. – Zion

Damnit!

Open the door. - Zion.

I glared at the door then shifted my gaze to Mina. “I uh…”

She grinned and flicked her wrist to the door. “By all means.”

With annoyance, I lifted from the sofa and headed to the door, yanking it open. A very sexy and irrational Zion was who I found waiting for me.

“Wherever the hell you think you’re going, is a no go.”

“I most definitely am going and there’s not a damn thing you can do to stop me.” I balled my fists and dropped them to my hips, narrowing my eyes on Zion, while trying extremely hard not to enjoy how good he smelled, looked, and felt.

Fuck…

Why do I feel him and he’s not touching me?

Zion grinned sexily. “Because I am touching you. I fucked you, Nessah. I’m in you, on you, and a part of you. You might as well let me complete the bond.”

His eyes dropped to my neck and I sucked in a sharp breath. My wolf was going berserk, begging me to say yes.

“I feel like a third wheel and this thing between the two of you is very potent and very awkward so I’m going to fill in all the missing pieces to get the two of you out of my apartment…” Mina said from a few feet behind us.

I issued a blazing scowl over my shoulder. “Our apartment, I live here too.”

“Yeah, sure…” She grinned then focused on Zion. “She’s going home. She needs to ask Sula some questions to clarify what happened that night of the blessing. She wanted me to go but I refused because of some family stuff I’m not ready to deal with…”

“Mina, you did not refuse. I refused to let you go.”

“Same difference but the point is, I’m not going and he is.”

“He is not,” I growled, glaring at Zion.

“Oh he most certainly is. You can be in denial if you want but I feel that so I know you feel it too. He’s going. Good day, people. Please get out of my apartment. You too are a lot , however, I say that with love.”

Mina shoved me in the back and I stumbled into Zion but he caught me and protectively brought me into his chest.

“Thanks for the heads up and thanks for the decorating stuff with my dinner last night. Jo made me promise to thank you but with all things considered, last night wasn’t the right time.”

“Yeah with you threatening my life and all…” Mina rolled her eyes and Zion chuckled.

“Glad you understand.”

“Totally,” she mumbled seconds before she slammed the door in our faces.

Love you, Ness. Let your man be your man and fill me in when you two get back. – Mina

I smiled and shook my head.

Love you too. – Me

I supposed I was going home, and like it or not, I wasn’t going alone.