Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings (by jessica hall) novel Chapter 119

~Zirah~

My eyes snap open, shooting through the veil of sleep to take in the room cloaked in impenetrable darkness. My heart pounds like a drum, its beat so loud that I can't hear my own thoughts. The anxiety is palpable, a heavy weight settles in the pit of my stomach.

The only other sound piercing the silence is a low, mournful whine escaping from Gnash, sitting up, I look for him to find the huge white wolf sprawled out on the chilly balcony, his head propped on his front paws as he stares at the moon. I can't help but wonder if he's resonating with the potent swirl of guilt and regret churning inside me for Regan or if he just misses his owner.

Hastily, I push the thought away, forcing my body out of bed to check on him, only when I do I notice Zeke is not beside me. Grabbing the sheet, I wrap it around my naked body. Moving toward the balcony door I spot Hunter and Shadow watching him with worry. They instantly move as I wander over to Gnash, stepping aside and giving me room to kneel next to him.

"Gnash," my voice floats into the night, barely more than a whispered plea. My fingers meander through his dense fur, searching for some form of recognition, but he seems detached, his gaze lost in the vast expanse of darkness. It's a palpable unease that sends shivers down my spine. Something is amiss and I grab his huge furry head forcing him to look at me.

His tongue flicks out, licking up the side of my cheek before he puffs out a breath pulling away from me to return to staring into the night. "Are you alright, boy?" I ask him but he just whines loudly the sound tearing me apart he sounds like he is grieving. Hunter edges closer and I step back as the wolf lays at his side, resting his head on Gnash's back.

With a heavy sigh, I step over the both of them, my fingers grazing through Shadow's fur as I move back to the sliding door. However, when I open it, I can hear muted murmuring of voices seeping from somewhere within the room which distracts me.

"Sleeping," I hear Zeke say. My brow pinch as I wonder who he's talking to.

I slip through the slightly open door, my eyes locking onto Zeke's figure standing just outside the bedroom on the landing. He's caught in a sliver of soft moonlight that turns him into a spectral silhouette from the huge skylights. His voice, hushed yet permeates with an urgency, as it reaches me. Moving toward the door which is slightly ajar. Peeking out I can see he is on the phone with someone.

"Damn it... that means he waited till we were gone... we'll head back to the castle and meet him there...." he mutters into the phone, followed by a brief pause. "Wait, you're coming here?" he asks while I try to figure out what is going on. Pulling the door open slightly, it creaks.

Suddenly, he spins around, his intense gaze pinning me like a deer caught in the headlights. My throat tightens, a wave of guilt washing over me for eavesdropping. Zeke smiles, and motions with his hand to come to him.

"She just woke up," he says into the phone.