Holden’s POV

    I already knew that things were about to get worse. Gretchen just basically admitted that what Tiffany had been used of, she had actually done. I felt sick. We had asked them to help Ana, yet they both took the opportunity to hurt her as much as they could. Then tried to threaten her into silence. My mother was crying: she had held out hope for Tiffany. But I think Dad already suspected what had happened. I believe that’s why he left her in jail until someone tipped off those reporters. Tiffany probably told Gretchen to do it because she wanted to get out of jail.

    I saw her face, and Tiffany was scared, which meant that things were going to get even worse for her. I knew who those guys were. They used to be jocks at our high school. The minute she saw them, she paled. What in the hell has she done? If she hurt Ana, I won’t let her off. Dad already said that he would be cutting her offpletely if Tiffany were convicted. Mom was still thinking that she could still find Tiffany a husband. But I’m not so sure that Tiffany is going to be able to dodge a conviction.

    “Where is she?”

    “Grandville centre at the south of the state,” he answered, and it took Aaron back a little.

    “That’s almost out of the state. What do you think she would be looking for there?”

    “She’s with Daniel,” he replied, and Aaron’s face paled up at his words.

    “Daniel?” he echoed in confusion.

    “I think she remembers him somehow and I think that’s where she has been since she left the hospital.”

    Aaron wondered why Daniel, of all people, was the only one she remembered, but he was happy she was with him. Happy because if she had been with him since she left the hospital, then she hadn’t had the time to mingle with others or had a reason to kill anyone. It meant her powers hadn’t overridden her, and she was still in control.

    He also wondered if he had discovered what she was or if he was still in the dark about it. He wondered what his reaction would be when he did. He was human thest time he checked and might have little knowledge of who or what Zera now was. Daniel wasn’t a bad guy from what he knew about him, he just didn’t like him because Zera had a soft spot for him.

    “Why Daniel?” he mumbled, more to himself than to Ivan.

    His brother who heard answered, “I don’t know, but I can’t get into her head anymore and so I can’t see anything.”

    “We need to find her now.” He reached into the wardrobe and picked up his long ck coat from the hanger. He shrugged it on and turned to Ivan.

    “Yes, we do. But we also need to inform the others.”

    …

    Lionel and Sesi were both passionately kissing while standing on the balcony of the house. “From what I heard, Ivan is closing in on finding Zera,” she told him and heard his heart pick up in its beat.

    She had seen him miserable since Zera ran away from the hospital and the only way to take his mind from overthinking was by seducing him. She had to make herself the centre of his attention, and that distraction had worked so far.

    This news had also helped lighten his mood and knowing it wasn’t false hope made her happy.

    “You mean it?” he breathes against her mouth.

    She nodded, smiling, and she leaned in to take his lips between hers. “Soon we will have her back.”

    Her hand glided down into his trouser to y with him slowly when their lips met, earning a thick moan from his mouth.

    “You do know the bedroom was created for this sole purpose. Right?” Damor asked, making his presence known from not so far away.

    Without turning to her brother, who just interrupted, “Or you can ignore it and walk away.” She said.

    Damor didn’t seem to care that he had invaded their privacy because he spoke. “Why should I be the one to ignore when you’re the one overstepping boundaries?” he argued.

    Sesi sighed and pulled her hand out of Lionel’s trousers before turning to Damor with her arms folded over her chest. “What do you want?”

    “From you, nothing. Aaron wants to have a word with us, which is the only reason I’m here.” he said and walked away mumbling, “and I’m the annoying one.”

    Sesi turned with an apology to Lionel, and he nodded in understanding. “It’s okay, go. I will wait.” he leaned in and kissed her lips and she kissed back, before pulling away.

    “Next time, it will be in the bedroom and with the doors shut,” she promised.

    “Okay…”

    Sesi was thest to step into the study, and Aaron didn’t look too pleased about that. “Where were you?”

    She stayed quiet.

    “Why don’t you answer, Sesi?” Damor asked, and she cast him a hard re before turning to face Aaron.

    “I was with Lionel.” the displeasure in his eyes reduced and an understanding look sets in.

    “How is he?”

    “Getting better. Thank you. Damor called for me. He said you wanted to talk.”

    Aaron bobbed his head. “Yes, we finally located Zera. Ivan informed me earlier, and I wanted to pass the news on to you two. We will set out to bring her home. Damor will be in charge of the pack, he will lead and tend to them until our return, and you will be in charge of Zion and the household. Is that understood?”

    “Yes, but don’t you think Lionel should be here in this meeting as well? She’s his little sister, after all.”

    He shook his head. “You can deliver the message to him. There’s no reason to involve him.”

    Ivan and Aaron departed, taking the Ford car at Ivan’s instruction. Aaron didn’t see the need for them to take a car. They could race there faster, but Ivan told him this was the way, and he had to give in. He had no other choice. The most important thing for him right now was to find Zera. Two days without her felt like twenty years, and he couldn’t wait to see her again.

    In her absence, he had kept his mind upied by reading up all he knew about Sages. This was his way of not being left wanting when he finally met her.

    They were supernatural being just like them, but with abilities and strength than any supernatural being has ever known. They were human and could blend and live amongst humans without being detected, because the full moon did not affect them. There were rarely ever Sages and there had been no record of one in thest hundred years.

    It took four hours to get to the south and Aaron surprised himself with the level of patience he possessed throughout the drive. He would get to see Zera in the end, so it was worth it to him.

    “Is this the ce?” he asked as Ivan packed the car by the side of the road, which had no house or station close by.

    “No, it’s not, but I think it’s best we use our legs from here on.” he opened the door and stepped out and without asking a question Aaron did the same.

    Ivan took a left turn after about ten minutes of walking. And not long after, there stood a cottage before them.

    Aaron’s heartbeat res as he picked the scent that belong to none other than Zera. His whole being came to life, knowing he would get to see her…

    Now…

    The bedroom door opened and Aaron and Zera pulled away from the kiss and turned around to find the emotional Lionel in the bedroom. Zera rose to her feet and stepped forward, and there was a look of guilt on her face as she approached her brother.

    Aaron understood why he was emotional. He had lost Tia and not long after, almost lost her too. Even in his misery these past few days, he felt pity for Lionel.

    He smiled cheerfully, “Hey, sis.”

    Tears ran down her face. “Lionel,” she called out and threw her arms around him.

    He tightened his arms around her, and they stayed that way for another minute before pulling away.

    “I am sorry I ran away from the hospital.” She hups, “I never meant to make things difficult. I couldn’t remember anything. I’m sorry if I scared you.”

    He smiled at her. “It’s fine, I understand. You were afraid and confused. It happens to the best of us. I am d you’re here now.”

    He pulled her into aforting hug. Everything was falling into ce and Aaron loved the feeling it brought.

    …

    “Make love to me.” was thest word Zera offered after stepping back into the room and closing the door behind her. Her eyes glowed and the lust she felt for him red in her eyes. He had no choice but to obey.

    He watched her sleep. It was a sight he couldn’t pass off. This was not a dream. This was the reality. She was alive and with him, the woman he loved. There was still so much more to discover, but he knew it would only get better.

    In the past hour, he had shown her just how much he missed her and reminded her just who she belonged to. Each kiss, each touch, every caress. Perfection. He would never tire of her, not now, not ever.

    She twirled in bed and a few secondster she sat down abruptly, and his arm around her dropped. He sighed in discontentment and he sat up as well, not liking the sudden change.

    “Already changed your mind?” he asked, and the uncertainty in his voice came forth.

    “I’m never leaving again, Aaron. Unless you ask me to.”

    “Never.” he leaned in and kissed her shoulder.

    She shivered at his kiss but didn’t pull away. He kissed further up her shoulders to her neck when his mark was.

    She must have sensed the thought that almost crossed his mind because she asked. “I am no longer human, am I?”

    He nodded, “You’re not. We were out of time and we weren’t ready to let you go yet. I wasn’t ready to let you go.”

    “Will the ritual work now that I am a werewolf?”

    He stayed quiet, and she turned to stare at him with a narrowed gaze. “You’re not a werewolf, Zera.”

    Her eyes narrowed on his trying to find the humour, but she saw none. “What am I?”

    “You’re a sage.”

    “A sage. What is a sage?”

    Ana suffered for no reason, and my heart hurt for her. The other two men got up and basically said the same thing. Not verbatim, but close enough that we all knew that they were telling the truth. My mother looked horrified as more information eventually came out as to how it all worked out with two girls and three guys. My father looked like he had sucked on a lemon. I wanted to tear them all apart for not helping Ana. They were practically adults when the incident urred. They had no excuse.

    The worst part was that one of them, Greg, still had the video saved. yton and Michael had deleted theirs. It was good, for proof, but absolutely humiliating for Ana to have to sit through it. They pixted her important bits, but you could tell that she was naked when Tiffany ripped the towel off of her. Tiffany deserved to be punished for what she had done.