ZION’s GREAT DIRE
~8

Zion POV

Awake in our bedroom I trace the delightful features of her curves with my fingertip. I didn’t want to wake her up because I’m sure she hasn’t been able to sleep well when I was gone. I got out of bed to make dinner for both of us. I was on the edge of the bed ready to stand up till Azah grabbed my arm. I turn around to see her worried eyes opened.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going?” She asked softly.

She sat up on the bed and leaned her full breast on my naked back while wrapping her arms around my torso. I took a deep breath and inhaled her intoxicating scent. To think that Aaron isn't allowed to experience this type of connection all because he wasn’t a pure dire for his mate. I don’t know what I would do without Azah.

“I’ll show you.” I gave her permission to go inside my mind there she will see everything that happened during my trip to the Great Land. With that permission she used her magical energy to penetrate my mind. I could see what she is seeing all over again this time in her perspective watching myself. I understand her reaction when she saw me jump into the water. It was sudden and my body did not suggest that I had processed through exactly what I was doing till I went inside the waters. It was as if I was under some spell. She gaspe, her eyes wet with tears. The dreadful sight of our pack slowly being destroyed by the dires. She couldn’t focus her energy long enough to see the rest but she saw enough to know.

My tribal markings are now visible for her to see. I was trying my best to hide them but how could I ever hide something this big from her out of all people she’s the one I trust the most. Her hand was covering her mouth while she tried to hold back her sobs. I take her bridal style out of the bedroom and place her on the black leather sectional sofa.

“I’ll get something for us to eat first then we can talk about what this all means.” I know she has thousands of questions ready to be asked.

“Zion.”

“Yeah?” I looked at her doe watery eyes.

“We must go. I’ll inform the High ranks to start the ceremonial on getting the next Alpha.” She quickly got up for the sofa and started mumbling about our next plans..

“Azah you don’t wanna stay here?”

“Zion! Do you not understand what you mean to them? Do you not understand who you are!”

“The vision they’ve shown you can be seen in both ways. Either you save your previous pack from the dires or you join them in destroying this pack.”

I walk away from Azah and head to the kitchen to replace something to eat. Too furious to face her I throw one of the glasses at the wall.

“I’m TIRED OF PEOPLE HAVING SUCH SMALL FAITH IN MY LOYALTY FOR MY PACK!”

Azah quickly rushed to the kitchen and placed her hand on my chest where my heartbeat rapidly.

“Stop doing that!” I slightly push her away from me. Angry that she would try to use her magic on me.

“I’m not doing anything. Babe Just listen please!”

“WHAT! What are you going to say to me that your grandfather or Aaron haven’t said!”

“Zion your pack is not here anymore.”

I began to growl aggressively unhappy that Azah is not on my side. “I’M THE ALPHA OF HEIGHTS PACK! ME!”

“You can not be an Alpha for two packs. Those markings are tribal dire markings. Have you ever seen your grandfather Zion?”

“What does he have to do with this? Why would I want to meet the person who exiled my parents to death!”

“A true Alpha of the dire has tribal markings of the dire ancestry. He has them too.”

“And! My mom didn’t. Are you saying she wasn’t?”

“Did her wolf glow? Have you ever seen her human form at any point besides her eyes! I was just in your mind Zion, pay attention to the fucking details and listen to what I’m telling you. She was the true alpha which was then passed down to you. The current Alpha of dire doesn’t have those tribal markings. Many people believe since they’ve been cursed that tribal markings will no longer appear on their Alpha. Since they’ve never believed or ever would’ve imagined that Luns would be their next true Alpha -.. “

I cut her off only for me to end up finishing her sentence “they believed him to be next in line.”

“Exactly.” She said in a sense of relief.

“I’m an Alpha here Azah, there's no reason for me to go to another pack and start leading them. Where would I start? Who would I trust? Who will be my beta and gamma? They all want someone to be a pure dire and there’s your safety I’m worried about. How many will try to kill you?”

She hugs my bare back. “I’m here. Dire’s don’t choose their betas or gamma my love. There’s probably a Beta out there serving you as we speak and a Gamma ready for your command. I will be fine, I could do bad all by myself. Anyone who tries will regret underestimating me.”

I smirked “I feel sorry for those fuckers.”

I lifted her up and placed her on top of the kitchen counter. Pulling her in, claiming her mouth, hungry for only one thing now. Her. I became aware of her gentle touch. As if time had stopped, we continued to kiss each other. Our breathing heavy with each kiss. My fingers sank in her skin with a mind of their own and so did hers. We parted lips and I looked at her like she's my very own Mecca in the flesh.

“He won’t go down without a fight.” I said with faint tone , playing with her locs.

“And neither will you.” She laid her head on my chest. I could hear the sound of her heartbeat matching mine.

“I love you Azah.”

“I love you too Zion.”

Forgetting about making dinner. The entire night we made love. Our desire, our sincere need for every inch of each other. It’s beautiful to have someone that is in-love with my mind, someone that undresses my conscience and makes love to my thoughts. Sending earth shattering electric feelings all through your body. The smell of her breath only my needing lips, the taste of her, and her hypnotic voice rummaging through every vein in my body. I want her, I need her, I crave only for her.

**********

Aaron POV

The night peered through like an upside-down ocean, bottomless and cold. After arriving back from my three day journey, I knew that this was going to be a problem when Zion left the Great Lands. Once the true Alpha leaves the land the full moon disappears and the waters freeze back, motionless. Our powers once again drained. It’s worse this time, now that we've gotten a taste of the all-powerful divine energy from the Moon of Goddess’ full Moon. Everyone wanted more. To feel our powers slowly drain is painful, it almost feels like we are losing our wolf along with it. Shifting has become painful for all of us now.

When I reached the veil to enter the Heights I sensed someone’s scent nearby. My wolf surfacing, scratching with its crawls to come out and fight whatever threat. Maxwell has been very protective ever since meeting Zion. Instead I pushed him back suggesting for him to calm down until we know who we are dealing with. Anyone could’ve disguise their scent.

A woman appeared from the shadows whispering “Aaron?”

“Who’s asking?” I murmured.

“It’s me Mrs. Wrights.”

Heather Wrights. I met her when I first crossed over the dires veiled. I was a young boy who had shifted prematurely. Something about the way my mother had commanded my wolf Maxwell to awake that caused this. I’ll never know how she did it but from what I heard very few dires are capable of awakening someone’s wolf and forcing them to shift at a young age. Mrs.Wrights had helped me with legal documents in case I ever needed to prove that I was the son of Princess Luns and Aaron Heights.

Ever since then she would visit me in secret, three times a month to make sure that I was taken care of properly. My mother had entrusted her life, making Mrs. Wrights the Princess's secret keeper. Everything that she and my father left behind was under her care until either I or Zion were old enough to take over. No one knew of this, just she and I. She put her life at risk just to keep what belonged to my parents. Mrs. Wrights is the only one from the mainland that is allowed to cross over the veil and enter the Heights Land.

She came closer to me and gave me a motherly hug. I truly missed her. We cross over the veil. Fearful of being heard or seen, we take the longer route to my house. Finally arriving home I gave her a cup of tea and relaxed on the sofa.

“You came early this month?”

“Sometimes it’s best to mix up the dates so we won’t get caught.” She said in a playful tone. She takes a sip of the tea before speaking again. “Enough about that. We have a situation.”

Figured. The whole land is talking about it. “Continue.”

“I’m afraid it is the time we’ve been dreading but knew it will come soon. It’s time for you to reveal your identity.”

I looked down at my cup, and then took a deep breath. “What do I need to do?”

“They will ‘make the call’ I don’t know when or what time but-..”

“THE CALL!”

“Shhhhhh…Yes I couldn’t expose that I’m allowed in. It will be very complicated to further aiding you and Zion.” She looked around wondering where Zion would be.

“He’s gone. I warned him not to go but he suggested he had to go. He has a mate there so it’s not easy for him to stay here for a long period of time.”

“Did you tell him that he has about fifteen days. Luns was very specific about this in the vision she had shared with me.”

“I know. Mom had also shared the same thing. I don’t know what his plan is. Though I feel the connection and trust he has for me, I do believe he is being cautious as well.” My tone is gloomy because of this. I only want to help my brother succeed. My devotion is a promise that I made to thank my mother for saving me. I knew if she wasn’t there my future would be completely different, bound in chains for life. Mrs.Wright's notice my change in mood.

She gently lifts my chin up for me to meet her eyes “Oh my child. I’m sure Luns would never have wanted you to feel as if you owe her something. She saw her mate Aaron in you and passed that love to you. She loved you very much for the moment her eyes set on you. You owe her nothing. You understand me?”

I nodded.

“Well I had hoped to see him but I guess another time would due. Be on the watch for the call, Aaron. I don’t know what it is but if anything seems unusual be ready. Also I have a feeling Alpha Ethan is not too happy about the idea of having to give his throne. So be on a lookout. He may try to kill you and Zion. Have you found your secret keeper yet?”

“ I have an idea of who it will be. I just need to reach her.”

“Her?” Mrs. Wrights raised an eyebrow in question.

“Yes.”

“Ok. Keep me updated from our secret messaging. I can’t stay for too long. They've been following more than usual now that I suggested this plan. I may have to stay away from you for awhile but I’ll see you in our dreams, ok.”

Mrs. Heights formed a different way to communicate in case one was ever in danger or we couldn’t physically see each other. We meet in our dreams. One would visit another through dreams to pass along any messages or just talk as if we were physically present. It’s funny how the Great Lands have worked so hard to separate the half-caste but not quite as hard as they think. Mrs. Wrights, the Head of the Royal Law, one of the most powerful positions in the mainland. She is a half-caste herself. Her father was a powerful sorcerer who had placed a powerful spell on her before she was born. The spell he cast is so powerful that no one even knew that there was a spell that hid her half sided blood. Only my mother was able to figure out that she’s half dire and half witch.

She stood up and disguised her physical form before giving me another bear hug.

“I’ll see you around kiddo! Love you! And don’t worry about your mate if she’s not accepting you for who you are then trust that the Moon Goddess will bless you with another one”

“Love you too!”

I waved and watched her disappear outside my door into a mystical mist.

I went back to the living room and sat on the couch. I looked up at the high vaulted wood beam ceiling, lost in thought to what Mrs.Wrights’ had said. It’s very rare to be given a second chance with a mate. Still. I send a silent prayer to all the divines to see hear my wishes and have her come back to me. I will protect her, I promise.