Chapter 62

Emmaline stared at the glowing ball embroidered on the dark canvas with a small smile stretched over her pink lips. That ball resembled a beacon of hope. It was the only source of light illuminating the endless dark sky, the only source which tells the world that there was still a ray of hope on which they can rely. Something potent which promises them the end is still very far if they just hold on to that small hope and keep moving forward.

When the depressed Luna had lost her will to fight, she met someone amongst the monsters who provided her an anchor to keep her spirit alive. To not back out and accept slavery, giving them the satisfaction they longed for.

Her ray of hope was none other than Zion, Beta of the Shadow Banes. An unexpected savior who promised her to be her lifeline.

Emmaline smiled while remembering their secretive meeting where she came to know his real intentions. He wasn't a foe but a friend, a true friend who used to look after her secretly while living in the shadows.

Flashback

Slapping his hands away, Emmaline took large strides backward and looked at Zion with disdain.

"Don't you dare touch me. Is every male in this family a sadist who loves exercising his dominance over women?" Sneering she glared at him and spat, "I am not a doormat whom you all can step on whenever you want to. Don't mistake me as a weakling, I will break your fucking legs if you take one step forward, I am warning you."

"Woah easy there, tigress," Zion snickered and raised his palms in surrender, "I came with a proposal for you. Slight hint- something that will help you kick Damien's ass." He spoke in a hushed voice.

Emmaline stiffened at his words but didn't let her guard down. What if he was tricking her?

"I don't need you or your help. So, scram." Saying that she tried to walk past him when Zion blocked her way.

"Another hint- I am at your side." He again tried persuading her.

Emmaline clenched her fists. The annoying Beta was getting on her nerves now.

"Didn't you hear me that I don't need your help?"

"And didn't I tell you that I am your family?" He shot back.

Emmaline squeezed her eyes and tried to calm herself down. Once her temper lowered, she peered at him and scoffed, "Which family? The ones who had confined me within the four walls and are torturing me. Well, sorry but I would die rather than accept help from you. Especially the person who gifted me with a painful scar on my back." She spoke with clenched teeth.

Zion sighed. She continued glowering at him but what left her shocked was the remorse shining in his forest hues.

Stepping forward, he grabbed her hands before enveloping them in his large ones, "I am truly sorry but it was necessary. To explain to you in brief, I was forced to do it to save your life and let Damien live in that paradise that I am on his side."

Emmaline tried to find any traces of lies on his face but all she could see was sincerity. She tried to yank her hand away but her gaze darkened when Zion didn't let her go instead tightened his grip.

"Stop talking in riddles and tell me what you mean by that you're a family?" she yelled finally done with his games.

"I am a warrior from Vengeful Hunters, Moon."

Her heart stopped.

"W-What? Stop fooling me." Emmaline raged and tried to get away from him but Zion grabbed her shoulders and pulled her towards himself with a jerk.

"I am not, Emmaline Richard Dawson. Wait, you don't believe me then what about this?" Saying that he fished out something from his pocket. Emmaline kept staring at him with a frown but her eyes widened when he showed her a platinum ring.

“Ring a bell?”

Her throat clogged up. Emmaline grabbed it with trembling fingers, "This, Alpha Blake gifted me on my fourteenth birthday." Croaking out, she lifted her head and looked at Zion with glassy eyes.

He nodded, "Yeah, the day you decided to abandon us and disappeared without leaving a single note behind."

His voice held an edge that instantly switched on her angry mode.

"I didn't leave with my free will all right? I was ousted by them because I abruptly became a sore in their eyes." Emmaline gritted while shooting him a death glare. How dare he accuse her?

Zion bobbed his head and cupped her face in her palms. Emmaline froze as he was being over-friendly with her when she barely knew him.

"I know Moon and you don't know how mad I was with the Colt family. I fought with him and despised them just like you. But all my hatred morphed into guilt when I came to know the truth. Alpha Blake was only trying to protect you."

Emmaline looked at him with askance. "What are you even talking about? Ela hated me because she didn't want Jasper to end up with me. Blake considered me a nuisance. They forced me to leave their house because I was distracting Jasper and-" she continued babbling when Zion bellowed in her face, turning her silence.

"It was all an act Emmaline to convince Xander."

*****

"OH, MY GOD!!"

Slumping to the floor like a broken doll, Emmaline started wailing out like a child while Zion struggled to console her.

He told her that Blake and Ela purposely turned their backs on her because Xander had come to know about their shenanigans. Before he attacked the Vengeful Hunters and punish them for hiding his enemy for years, Blake made sure to estrange Emmaline to such an extent that she ends up hating them and leaving the pack house. But that truth left Emmaline bogged down in the pool of regret and self-loathe.

"They were only trying to save me and I thought that- God, that's why this is happening to me." She kept shedding tears while hitting her chest with her fists until Zion stopped her.

Emmaline was completely shattered. She doubted them and cursed them day and night when all they wanted was to protect her from that psychopath.

Zion wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in a hug. Emmaline also fisted his shirt into her tiny hands and continued crying. Her body went limp in his hold as she was frazzled and needed comfort.

"Don't blame yourself. You were the Moon of our pack and the star of Alpha's eyes. He can never hate you. We all love you Emmaline and it pains to see that you still ended up in the hands of those monsters despite the Alpha's sacrifice." He spoke while caressing her back without realizing that his words were only amplifying the burden of her guilt.

Emmaline leaned her head on his chest as her cries slowly ceased. Zion rested his chin on her crown and threaded his long fingers in her locks as he massaged her scalp gently, "But don't worry. I am here for you. I will save you. The command is still in our hands, Moon. But we can only succeed if you build your trust in me."

Emmaline as if struck by a lightning bolt immediately freed herself and moved back. Zion was also startled but he quickly schooled his expression. He knew that his identity was still bugging her.

Smiling softly, he opened his mouth to tell her the truth for which he had been waiting for so many years. Maybe she would have forgotten his face as it’s been so long but once he makes her remember him, she would literally jump in his arms.

Excitement bubbled inside him.

“Moon, I am-“

Stifling his smile, Zion tried speaking but his whole world crashed after hearing her next words.

"But I have never seen you in the territory of Alpha Blake. You are definitely not a relative of the ruling family as Jasper had told me about his entire family tree. And if you're a warrior then how come you know so much about me? You're behaving as if I was close to you when I had never befriended any other boy except Jasper."

Emmaline spoke her thoughts, not realizing that her every word stabbed his heart. His smile faltered as he gazed at Emmaline who was really clueless.

‘I am a stranger to her.’

Emmaline patiently waited for his answer but all she earned was a sad chuckle.

Zion shook his head. There was sadness and disappointment painted all over his face as he laughed at his stupidity.

"Of course. How can you remember me?", his laughter couldn’t belie his grief.

Emmaline bit her lips, her gaze turned rueful. She had no intention of hurting him but she failed to hold back her curiosity and ended up asking him a straightforward question. But now Emmaline was regretting. Even if she didn’t know him, she could have opted for a better way or best, keep her damn mouth shut and waited to hear him.

"I-I am sorry," Emmaline spoke politely and tried to grasp his hand but Zion abruptly moved back and stood up on his legs.

"No need. Well, I am Ralph's son, perhaps you remember him, at least?" he sneered in a low tone but Emmaline didn’t mind him and also got up from the floor.

“You’re Master’s son.” Her lips twitched up into a wide smile, “Oh, my God. I never knew he had-“

She quickly clamped up but to her bad, Zion heard her. He tried hard to control his anger but still a chuckle escaped his mouth, “Yeah, I know you don’t know me but I am Zion. I heard from Dad that you were his favorite student that’s why I think it’s your right to know the dark story of your Master. The lion-hearted Beta who was famous for being the mastermind of the Vengeful Hunters committed the worst mistake of his life by marrying the sister of Alpha Xander, Fiona.”

Emmaline was shell-shocked, “WHAT??”

Zion looked at her and nodded, “Yeah. To begin their painful love story, you need to learn one humorous fact- the cruel Alpha Xander loved his sister a lot. One because she was his only sister and two because he wanted Dad to become a member of his pack.” He husked.

Emmaline gaped, “What? Why?”

“Because Dad was very strong and brave. Xander always despised Alpha Blake because unlike him, the Beta of Shadow Banes was pathetic and he envied Blake for that. To lure Dad, Xander didn’t leave any stone unturned, he even killed his Beta to show him how desperate he was to get him but Dad remained firm on his decision. He had sworn eternal loyalty to Alpha Blake. Frustrated Xander finally lost all hope, and killed Mom right in front of Dad. He ripped her heart out of her chest as payback for defying him.”

Emmaline staggered back in shock. Palming her mouth, she looked at Zion who was staring at the floor blankly.

But unlike her, Zion didn’t express any emotion and continued speaking in his deep baritone, “That day Dad sold me to Xander to end the rivalry, once and for all. And surprisingly Xander agreed because he just wanted someone who had Dad’s blood running in his arms. He was obsessed with Dad in a very dangerous way but had great respect and admiration for him.”

“Zion, I am sorry,” Emmaline wobbled and grabbed his shirt. Her nose was tinted red her cheeks were soaked with tears. Zion didn’t say anything and kept his eyes on the floor. They both stood in silence and the only sound that could be heard was her sobs.

Emmaline was startled when suddenly his body shook with a violent tremor. She quickly tried to retreat but Zion didn’t give her a chance as he suddenly pounced on her. Her heart lurched to her throat when her blue ones collided with deranged green hues that were looking at her with pure rage.

“But what he didn’t know is that Dad sold me to him not to accept his slavery but with a motive, to end that monster’s life and avenge my mother.”

*****