True Wolf (Bennett Pack #3)

14. Nessah

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

NESSAH

I came here for answers, not to create issues. So when I felt Zion’s wolf raging beside me, I slipped my hand in his and intertwined our fingers, praying it would ground him.

“Is me being here a problem, Calhoun?” The smugness of Zion’s tone had Rolf’s expression hardening. It was a sign of disrespect for Zion not to address him as Alpha.

“Depends on why you’re here.”

“Nessah needs to see Sula. I figured that while we’re here, I might as well check in to see how things were going. There have been a lot of complaints connected to your pack members not following council rules. I’d be more than happy to speak with your people if you need a voice of authority to ensure they’re clear on how things should be.”

“I’m more than capable of handling my pack.” Rolf’s muscles flexed and he took a step forward.

“Are you?” Zion released my hand and moved forward as well but he also made sure to block the path to me in the process.

“Babe, what’s going on?” The sound of a feminine voice, then her presence next to Rolf while she rubbed his arm, had a frown on my face. The voice didn’t belong to my sister. I had no clue who this woman was.

“Are you cheating on Neyla?” My eyes narrowed on Rolf and he smirked, draping his arm around the woman whose narrowed glare bounced between me and him.

“Who is this and why is she asking you about her ?”

“She’s no one and her question is irrelevant.”

“She’s my mate. Show some fucking respect,” Zion growled and I grabbed his arm before he ripped Rolf’s head from his shoulders. I felt his need to do so pulsing through me strongly. I also believed Zion was very capable of doing so.

“Your mate?” Rolf’s eyes darted between the two of us as if he was seeing us for the first time or understanding something he hadn’t picked up on until that very minute. Our connection. His eyes flickered with anger, which I didn’t understand. He had me, could have fought for me, gone against his father, but he didn’t and now he wanted to challenge Zion for claiming me when he was too much of a coward to do so. Pathetic .

“If you’re repeating me, you heard me right. And if you’re repeating me only to question my claim to Nessah then you’re not very smart.”

Rolf exposed his canines and his chest expanded but he didn’t move, which meant he weighed his position and options. The hierarchy of Hollow Grove placed Bennett Pack at the top and Calhoun at the bottom. If he challenged Zion, he was challenging that hierarchy, which was a problem he didn’t want nor could he handle.

I laughed at how things had come full circle. I’d once pictured myself with Rolf. Thought I would be his mate, have a family. Now I was questioning why the hell I ever considered the possibility.

“Is something funny, wolf ?”

“Yes, you are. Funny and pathetic. I can’t believe I ever considered you worthy.”

His eyes narrowed and his canines extended on a growl. “Then I guess we agree that we wasted time with each other. I only agreed to the union because my father pushed the agenda. You were never what I wanted. You were never…”

“Careful, Calhoun. Your actions are dangerously close to costing you in ways you can’t begin to imagine. I would hate for your mate to witness the consequences of your fragile ego getting the best of you.” Zion smirked arrogantly. Rolf’s chest expanded again when Zion stalked toward him, standing chest to chest. “Stand the fuck down and apologize to Nessah.”

It took a minute but Rolf once again considered his options, flicking his eyes past Zion to me. “My apologies. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

He was seething when his eyes met Zion’s again after he took a step back.

“Nessah is here to speak with Sula. I’m only showing my face with you to make sure we’re clear that while we’re here, there will not be any issues from your pack members. If there are, I’ll handle them however I see fit. Anyone that feels the need to disrespect me or my mate will be handled accordingly. Are we clear?”

“Yeah, we’re clear.”

Zion angled his head to the side, waiting, and Rolf’s jaw tensed before he offered, “ Alpha .”

“You’re dismissed,” Zion asserted then glanced at me. “Let’s go.” He reached for my hand but I stepped around him.

“Wait, why didn’t you marry my sister?”

Rolf glared at me. “Because he found a better option.” The woman next to him responded before he did, but from the way he cut his eyes at her, I knew that wasn’t the reason. Something else happened, which had me asking. “Where are she and my parents?”

“I don’t know where your sister is. She left a few days after you. Your parents are at Alcove.”

“The cottages?”

He smiled smugly and nodded. “And I don’t think they’ll be very welcoming or happy to see you considering you’re the reason why they’re there.”

I flinched, blinking through the process of what he was confessing. A few seconds later a door slammed and I lifted my eyes to find the porch empty and Zion’s concerned eyes on me.

“What’s the Alcove?”

“It’s where the laborers and staff cleaners live. My parents shouldn’t be there. They own businesses.”

“Do you want to see them?”

I shook my head. “No, but I need to find my sister. I blocked her after everything that happened. I hadn’t spoken to her since the day I left. I thought she married Rolf. I assumed…”

“That she chose them over you too.”

I nodded.

“Reach out to her. Let her in. You two need to talk.”

I wanted to talk to her but the past few months, I’d punished Neyla for something she didn’t do. I assumed that when my parents made the demand for Rolf to choose Neyla and he agreed. They forced me to leave so I didn’t stay around long enough to see if it happened. The last conversation I had with my sister, she refused to marry Rolf, but said she didn’t have a choice. I assumed that meant she would.

“We do need to talk but can we go see Sula? Neyla’s not here.”

“Don’t accept his word, Ness.You should ask someone else.”

I smiled weakly. “I don’t need to ask. She’s not here. I can’t feel her. He’s not lying.”

The minute I realized Neyla wasn’t his wife, I unblocked her, but nothing changed. I couldn’t feel her. If she were close, I would have.

Zion kissed my forehand. “We’ll find her. This can wait.”

I shook my head. “No, we’re here.”

His expression turned hard. “I don’t need this. Whatever we are and whatever our future looks like is okay with me.”

“I do…” I withered and his brows pinched but he nodded.

“Okay.”

We left Rolf’s place and drove into town, bypassing all the businesses until we reached the northwest part of the city where Sula had a house sitting in a small clearing on the edge of the forest. When we arrived at the door, I felt a wave of disappointment when we were greeted by a man and not Sula. His narrowed glare bounced between me and Zion and I stepped up to mediate the situation before it went bad. I could sense Zion’s wolf standing defensively.

“Do you live here?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Watch your fucking tone,” Zion growled and I stepped in front of him before he had the chance to move.

“I’m looking for Sula. She used to live here.”

“She’s my aunt. Why do you need her?”

“She’s here?” I perked up, hopeful.

“First tell me who you are and why you’re asking.” He was defensive, protective.

“She…”

“Karr, who’s at the door?”

“Nessah. Nessah Marrock ,” I yelled out before he could lie or shut this down.

She appeared behind him and I frowned, realizing her eyes were cloudy and glazed over. She also had her arms extended and palms facing forward like she was cautious about things being in her way.

“Nessah…” She smiled softly.

“You can’t see…” I blurted out and her smile expanded.

“I see, but not through those eyes of mine anymore.” She latched onto Karr’s arm as if needing him to balance her.

“Oh, I just… Last time I saw you…”

She smiled again. “Yes, a lot has changed. For both of us, I see.”

I wasn’t sure how but she turned her head slightly and smiled toward Zion at my right.

I frowned. “You see him.”

She shook her head. “No, I feel him. I feel both of you. You found him.”

“What?”

“Your mate, child. You found him.”

My mouth dropped open.

“You know them, Auntie?”

“I do; you can relax,” she addressed Karr. “This is Will and Ina’s daughter. You know her sister Neyla.”

“Neyla, yes…” I narrowed my eyes at Karr. Something about the way he said her name felt different but Sula spoke right after, shifting my thoughts.

“Nessah was to marry Rolf…”

Zion growled lowly next to me and my wolf responded the same. Sula smiled. “I certainly am not insinuating she should have, only that she was selected. Nessah and Rolf were never meant to be.”

“You knew that too?” My frown deepened.

“I know a lot of things. These visions are both a blessing and a curse. Part of that curse is losing my sight each time I allow foresight. The other is having to keep secrets that could ruin lives. I kept your secret.”

“My secret.”

“Yes, child, your secret. When I refused to bless the union…”

“Because I couldn’t have children,” I cut in and she smiled.

“I never said you couldn’t have children, Nessah. I said you wouldn’t have them with Rolf. You’ll have twins. A boy and a girl, for him . Your true mate.”

My mouth dropped open and the words jolted through my brain. “Twins…” I whispered. “But you said…”

“I said what I needed to save you from a destiny that wasn’t meant to be yours.”

“You lied,” Zion stated, his tone laced with anger.

“I didn’t lie. I never said she couldn’t have children.”

“But why wouldn’t you tell me the truth? I thought I…they made me leave. I was alone…”

“I couldn’t tell you or they would have forced you to marry a man that wasn’t meant for you, or worse, punished you for not being what he needed you to be. You weren’t meant to be Rolf’s, Nessah. If you stayed, you never would have found who you were fated to. I did what I had to do and I have no regrets. It all worked out. You can be angry or you could thank me.”

“She thanks you.” I felt Zion at my back then his arm around my waist when he spoke over my head.

“I’m sure you both do.” She smiled softly.

“Is that all you need?” Karr cut in. “My aunt needs her rest. It’s been a long day.”

She sighed. “He’s right. I should be getting settled in for the evening. So if that’s all..”

“Yes, that’s all, but if it’s okay, I would like to hug you.”

My eyes darted from Karr to Sula but she smiled and extended a hand to me. I accepted it and stepped forward enough to be pulled into a hug. “Thank you so much for this. It means the world to me.”

She tightened her hold and whispered lowly, “You worried when you shouldn’t have and that’s my fault. I apologize for any pain I may have caused you, Nessah.”

I eased away. “It’s okay. Thank you for seeing us.”

“You didn’t exactly give her a choice,” Karr gritted.

“Don’t be rude.” He grunted again and turned to help her back into the house but I thought about something.

“Wait, my sister… Do you know where she is.”

“No, I don’t. She left a few days after you and no one has seen or heard from her. She refused to communicate with anyone here, including your parents.”

“Oh, okay. Well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome and congratulations,” she sang just before Karr slammed the door in our faces.

I turned toward Zion whose intense eyes were on me. His expression was stoic until I smiled and said the word which hung like hope between us.

Twins. - Me

His grin was slow but he nodded, yanked me to him, and brushed his lips over mine and breathed a word that settled my soul.

Twins. - Zion