15
The sky rumbled with distant thunder, but it was a whisper compared to the growl in Zion's chest.
He glared at his little mate, making her squirm while the other rogues snickered at their interaction.
Savannah pretended to ignore him and instead cast her eyes to the eastern horizon where a haze of grey was slowly ascending.
"Okay, people. Get into position," Chayton called out and the wolves arranged themselves on the half court. Tall wired fences ringed the court, ensuring the ball wouldn't bounce to the nearby streets or suburban backyards.
The ball was thrown upwards, and Zion and Niko both leapt for it. Zion was faster, and knocked the ball towards Savannah with lightning dexterity. She caught it, zig zagged her way through the wolves defending the basket, and managed to position herself close enough to make a clean shot. Talei leapt in her way, but was too slow and groaned with failure when the ball cleared her outstretched arms and dropped through the net.
Zion sent Savannah a wink, causing her face to flush with pride and her insides to quiver like jelly.
"We were going easy," Niko chuckled.
"Just warming up, weren't we?" Talei threw to the others as they all kept changing places around Savannah. They swarmed like excited pups, never staying in one place, making her dizzy just by their erratic movements.
When the ball was tossed, she leapt for it but Willow was already there. Taller than the Alpha and boasting larger muscle mass, the rogue wouldn't let her have it this time. She tossed the ball to Niko who spun around Zion, cackling with energy before passing it to Cale. For a moment, the Gamma was unsure, hesitating as he worked to play on the same side as rogues. In that moment, Zion leapt with agility that surprised even the Alpha and slapped it from his hands.
But Phoenix was right there, having played with Zion countless times and knowing his moves better than anyone. He anticipated Zion's duck and weave, instead angling his body in Zion's path and blocking his forward movement.
What he hadn't counted on was Savannah being right behind him. Zion tracked her position, and passed the ball on the right when Phoenix feinted left. Savannah caught the ball and quickly spun away from Chayton who leapt for her. Crouching, she used her smaller size to her advantage and evaded all their attempts at knocking the ball from her. With razor sharp claws, she kept a hold on it until Niko, Chayton, and Willow got in her face and barricaded her miles away from the basket.
But she knew Zion was in position. The awareness of her mate was unceasing, his scent the strongest of anyone's on the court, the bond that was barely formed vibrating between them and giving her a sense of him at all times. She threw the ball despite her line of sight being blocked, and knew he would catch it. As lightning streaked the eastern sky, she watched over Niko's height as her mate leapt up and snatched the ball from the air, landing heavily. But not before he'd used his upwards motion to continue propelling the ball towards the basket.
It sunk with a snapping of the net, thunder crashing closer and echoing her cheer as her mate turned and gave her a pleased smile that creased his handsome face. His teeth were bright in the darkening light, the shadows casting his face in sharp relief and highlighting the strong cut of his jaw and smooth cheek bones.
He laughed at something Phoenix said, and casually raked his fringe back with his hand. The movement was innocent enough, but it caught Savannah's breath in her throat as she watched the flexing of his biceps, the supple grace of his strong hands, the silken curling of his hair as it slipped through his fingers. His golden skin glistened with sweat, showing the contours of his rock hard muscles that wrapped his body in dominant strength.
A sudden shove on her shoulder snapped her from the desire that flared inside her body, and she swallowed hard to fight the blush rising on her face.
"Come on, guys, we can do this!" Niko growled out encouragement, but no matter how hard they tried, none could seem to get points against Savannah and Zion. The mates worked together fluidly, each keeping perfect track of the other no matter where they were on the court. Despite not knowing each other long or having a mind link established, their awareness was razor sharp, their coordination unrivalled. Once the score was twelve to none, and heavy rain drops started pattering around them, Cale called time out.
"What is it, guys? You all napping or something?" he dared to glare at his teammates.
Phoenix huffed, Talei scowled and punched her brother, while Willow just looked at Savannah curiously. "It feels to me like we're just seven lowly omegas against two Alphas. A little unfair, don't you think?"
"Two Alphas?" Savannah's mouth dropped open as her eyes collided with Zion's. The hazel depths sparkled with flecks of gold even as the evening fell around them. Street lights flickered on, but the heavy clouds omitted any moon or starlight to permeate the atmosphere. Still, in the darkness she observed her mate in a new light. Alpha....
It made sense. The way these rogues all looked to him as their leader. The natural strength and dominance he held over them. The cunning and determination in his eyes that was normally reserved for elite ranks.
He was an Alpha in his own right, but Savannah had been too full of herself to notice it.
"I say, Savannah versus Zion," Willow said suggestively.
"One on one."
"Alpha against Rogue."
They all got behind the idea, leaving Savannah looking at them incredulously.
"Do you think you have what it takes, little Alpha?" Chayton crossed his arms over his broad chest and looked down his nose at her, a smug grin on his rough face. He knew the power of Zion, and couldn't wait to see Savannah's fiery spirit tackle his stoic strength head on.
She tossed her short ponytail back from her face, the wind that picked up blowing it in her eyes and irritating her. "Of course," she snapped. "I'm totally game. What about you, Zion? Think you can handle me?" she threw the challenge at him. It was probably a foolish move, one she might regret later, but she was buzzed and couldn't hold it in.
Adrenaline was rushing through her veins, making her wolf want to dance and jump about. She wanted to prove to this magnificent male that she was strong, smart, and talented—and of course, glamorous at the same time. Lifting her face to the falling sky, she let the cool rain ease the heat and sweat on her skin. It felt calming to have the storm rumble about them, yet no one was bothered. It was refreshing after the hard workout of play.
A low chuckle greeted her, and when she opened her eyes again, she was staring up at Zion only a foot away. He was studying her intently, a playful smile on his lips. "Do you really think you can take me on?"
"I am an Alpha, aren't I?" she retorted, popping her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes at his cocky attitude.
"Always so confident," he smirked. Then, with a distinct nod to Phoenix, they stepped in the middle of the court and hunkered down, ready to spring for the ball.
Phoenix threw it up, and Savannah didn't stand a chance against Zion's height and muscular body. He easily grabbed the ball and dribbled it to the net, tossing a clean shot.
The next play was much the same, her giant of a mate giving her no opportunity to get the ball and shoot.
Not giving up, Savannah changed tactics from aggression to diversion. She got in his face. She tripped up his legs. She spun around him so fast he grew dizzy from her antics. She pushed him so far back from the net, that he grew restless with frustration.
Staring him down, she wouldn't let him pass. They faced each other, at an impasse as their wills clashed with their abilities.
She held his eyes, his own locked on her, pausing to catch their breath as each studied the others' next move. The ball bounced between his large and capable hands, never losing traction despite the rain pelting down around them and water splashing with every bounce of the ball.
Her attention was all on him, watching every flicker of muscle in his face, around his eyes, calculating his next move, left or right, forwards or back. The ball weaved between his legs, his lips curling in a small grin as she analysed his intentions. Then his eyes dropped to her lips, a strange mix of desire and curiosity burning in his hazel orbs.
A flare of excitement stirred inside her, and her awareness of him grew in intensity. Their bond seemed to crackle with electricity, fueled by the lightning storm around them, and she could practically feel tendrils of desire pulsing between them. Currents of attraction shuddered through her, and she nearly leapt forwards to satisfy the sudden craving for her mate.
Zion lurched to the right, snapping her from her revery. With sudden clarity, she realised his crafty tactic for distracting her. The Alpha snarled, her face heating up at her weakness against his charms. Thinking she'd outsmart him, she mimicked his action and reached in the other direction. But instead of faking his motion forward to the net, Zion leapt up and shot the ball from behind the seven metre line. She spun to watch the ball sail through the air, and heaved a sigh of defeat when it dropped straight through the net.
The rogues on the sidelines erupted in a cheer for their leader. Cale was the sole one groaning along with her.
"Give her another chance!" Talei's voice eventually rose above the rest, and Savannah felt like hugging her. There was no way she would settle with a loss to Zion.
"Yeah, let's go again," she whined, pouting to Zion who was smirking at her failure.
"If you insist," he winked, and tossed her the ball.
Immediately, she ducked and spun around him, but he blocked her progress. The little Alpha hurried across the court at high speed, but her mate was equally fast, twice her size, and stood in the way every time she tried to shoot a point. With growing irritation, she realised he was employing her same tactics and pushing her further away from the net.
Her clothes were soaked, her shoes squelched with water under her soles, and rivulets of rain ran in streams from her hair and down her forehead, getting in her eyes and blurring her vision. Wiping her face hastily, she dribbled the ball and stood facing her mate once again. Her chest rose and fell as she took deep breaths, and his did the same.
His eyes tracked her subtle movements, never leaving her face. He didn't lunge for the ball as she expected, instead he watched her keenly. There was only one way she was going to score, and that was the same way he had. Breaking eye contact, she trailed her eyes down over his powerful physique that was accentuated under his wet shirt. She could practically feel his body shivering from her perusal, as her gaze memorised every ridged muscle of his chest and abdomen. Then, with his breath stuck in his throat, Savannah smiled wide and leapt up.
She managed to throw the ball over his head while his concentration was diverted, but instead of the perfect aim he had, the ball fell dismally short and bounced off the backboard.
Zion was quick to snatch it up, and while he bounced it back behind the line, Savannah concluded there was only one way to get a point. Things would have to get physical.
As Zion approached the net again, Savannah made a show of blocking him. He spun to get past, evading her with agility and grace that his muscled body belied with its masculine magnitude.
Savannah ran after him, leaped onto his back, and climbed him like a tree. Once she was on his shoulders and he had lifted the ball to throw it, she reached out and snatched it from his grasp. Zion had carried her right up to the net and she made the most of it.
Before he could react and shake her off, she leaned forward and dropped it straight into the basket.
The spectators erupted in cheers and hoots, laughing at the ingenuity of the feisty Alpha, and Savannah couldn't help the grin at finally winning a point.
"I call that a foul!" Zion hollered, and wrapped his large hands around her thighs. Before she could react, he swung her off his shoulders.
"I disagree!" she cried as she fell, only to be caught by Zion's strong arms. He held her bridal style for a heartstopping moment, their eyes colliding, their breaths mingling as they both panted after the play, and her ear only centimetres from his thundering heart. After he placed her down, she took a step back to put some much-needed distance between them.
"You grabbed onto him, for goodness sake!" Willow called out, her eyes flashing in defence of her leader.
"I didn't impede his movement in any way," Savannah retorted, then she gave them all a saucy grin. "And besides, you said no kissing or killing, but if you'd rather I'd used those strategies..."
"Okay, we get the idea!" Talei clapped her hands over her eyes. "That is something I don't want to see!"
They all laughed, some slapping her on the shoulder for a good score, the rest teasing Zion about having to watch his back next time.
Darkness had completely consumed the sky once they reached the house, and the resident rogues began arguing about who was going to shower first and who was going to make dinner. Savannah left the squabbling behind and instead snuck out to the balcony off Zion's room.
The storm was in full swing by now, heavy rain pouring down and lightning sporadically igniting the sky. Thunder crashed in time with her pounding heart, and she just wanted to enjoy the calm that encapsulated her during a storm.
She loved storms, loved the way nature lashed out in unrestrained fury that they could do nothing about. Sure, some storms and periods of heavy rainfall were dangerous and caused damage to land and homes. But storms like this - just moderate rain and wind, and ecstatic lightning - were like wolves without teeth. All bark and no bite. She always sensed a peace wash through her when the rain brushed her face, the wind cold against her skin, and the thunder reverberating in her chest with excitement. The earthy smell of ozone was fresh in her nose, bringing the promise of nutrients for the plants and trees to grow strong. Yet here, in the city, the scents of motor oil and wet bitumen also greeted her and stifled the freshness of nature. Despite this, she curled her legs under herself on the small bench, and closed her eyes to enjoy the moment.
Then an entirely different scent smacked her in the face, the notes of earthy cypress and mix of sweet and spiciness that immediately had her sitting up straighter, attentive and excited.
"Aren't you cold out here?"
Her head turned to see Zion stepping out onto the balcony. His silhouette was dark against the flashes of lightning as he leaned on the railing. Savannah studied his profile, never ceasing to wonder at the sharp perfection of his facial structure. "I never get very cold."
"Is that another perk of being an Alpha?" he turned and tilted his head, studying her in the dark.
Shadows played on his face, hiding his eyes from her. "Something like that," she shrugged.
"So you deliberately tricked me into lending you my jacket, all so you could get your paws on the elizenthium key."
Remembering their time together on the bridge at dawn, she suddenly laughed, finding his conclusion rather funny. "No. I was honestly cold that morning. Don't forget I'd been caught in the rain the night before, and my clothes were still damp. The wind chilled me, is all. I'm not immune to every climate just because I have Alpha DNA."
"Too bad. Here I thought you were Wonder Woman."
"I totally lost in our little basketball match. Nothing wonderful about that," she sighed, content to admit her defeat against him.
"You got one point, at least," he drawled, and she didn't miss the amusement in his tone of voice.
"Yep. I used your strength and height against you. I know I'm not stronger than you, and never will be. But there's many clever ways to win against a larger opponent."
"Is that something your father taught you?"
"My mother, actually. She would often beat her male warriors and even Beta in training fights, just by being smart."
"Are you telling me all your trade secrets, little Alpha? I rather like the fact I have an insider into how the minds of Alphas work," he chuckled and sank onto the bench beside her.
She immediately closed her lips, and smirked at him. The warmth of his body reached out and surrounded her, and she couldn't fight off the involuntary shiver that coursed through her.
"Unless, of course, you're a liar. Then all my intel will be compromised," he said grimly, reaching out and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Her protests were cut short when he gently pulled her to himself, and she fell against his hard chest. Contrary to her mind, her body reacted positively, her wolf purring in delight, and she found she couldn't pull away from the security and comfort that being this close to him brought.
"Tell me about yourself," she said calmly, praying for her heart to stop galloping wildly as tingles ran over her skin from the contact between her and Zion.
"I'm tall, good looking, have gorgeous hair—"
"Stop it!" she jabbed him in the ribs. "You're so full of yourself."
His chuckle warmed her insides even more, and she melted into him despite her irritation.
"Tell me something no one else knows," she persisted. "Or something like your favourite colour? Where were you born? What was your favourite subject in school?"
"Hmm, blue, no idea, and definitely sport. Particularly basketball. I won every time."
"I don't doubt it. So what kind of blue?"
"Sky blue. The kind of sky you see over a wild forest on a clear day. No smog. No pollution. Just pure, clear, blue sky."
"I love that, too. Wait... what do you mean you have no idea where you were born? You never asked your parents?" she pulled away and looked up at him sharply. How could someone not know where they were born?
A sudden dark look crossed his face, darker than the clouds that covered the starry sky, and his smile slipped. He was silent for a moment, before clearing his throat and looking out at the glistening city. "My dad never talked about it."
She hated to push, but the need to know drove her. "And your mum?"
Hearing his heart skip a few beats, Savannah nearly regretted asking. Nearly, but not quite.
"I never met her, and my father never wanted to speak of her."
"I'm so sorry, Zion. I had no idea. I can't imagine what it must have been like to grow up without both parents. I never even considered what your childhood was like..."
"It's okay. It doesn't matter anymore. It's in the past," he brushed it off, and she could tell he was deflecting, perhaps to cover some pain he undoubtedly felt.
"But it matters to me. I want to know everything about you. All the good and bad that made you who you are today."
"You mean, you want to analyse all the terrible things that turned me into a rogue, and perhaps justify my behaviour by blaming it on my parents?" he looked down at Savannah with narrowed eyes and accusation simmering in them.
His touch suddenly felt cold.
"I wouldn't blame your parents, I just want to understand you," she hurried to explain. "We all make decisions that shape us, but sometimes we are also affected by things outside of our control. It would help me know where you're coming from, by what you've been through."
Zion released a heavy sigh and settled back into the chair. "I don't want your pity. But why do you care anyway? You've made it clear you hate rogues and everything about us. What else is there to know?"
She swallowed hard before responding. "I don't hate you. I thought I'd made that pretty clear by now. You're my mate, and I'm trying to make this work. But I can still hate some of the things you do. I won't accept everything about you just because you're my mate."
He grunted in acknowledgement, but in the shadows of night, it was still hard to read what he was thinking under that dark expression of his.
"So did your mum... was she killed?" Savannah slowly asked, hoping he was ready for more questions.
"She's alive, I think." His voice caught, and Savannah's heart suddenly ached for him. "She never wanted me, so my dad kept me. I never asked why. I doubt he knows her reason, anyway. They weren't close."
In the dark, Savannah reached for his hand and held it tightly. His fingers wrapped around hers and he pulled her closer to himself.
Thinking back on everything she'd learnt about the human psyche, she could only imagine the questions he'd struggled with all his life. Why wasn't he good enough for his mother? Why didn't she want him? Was he a burden in her life, one she couldn't wait to get rid of? What other things were more important than him? "She made a terrible decision. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a son," Savannah whispered, knowing he'd hear even over the loud crash of thunder.
She felt him lift a shoulder in a small shrug. "Doesn't matter. I don't care, and I'm pretty sure my dad doesn't either anymore."
Savannah frowned at this suddenly flippant way of talking about his mother, and especially his dad's feelings on the matter. How could a man not care that his mate left him, leaving her son behind as well? Unless...they never had an unbreakable bond to begin with. "Your parents weren't mates?"
Zion scoffed, making a strangled sound in the back of his throat that spoke louder than any words. "I'm pretty sure I was just the product of a one-night stand."
The Alpha's heart shuddered at this revelation. Not only was her mate a rogue, but an illegitimate mongrel with no love or commitment between his parents whatsoever. Without the good influence of loving parents in his life, what kind of expectations and ideas did he have of relationships? How could she hope for him to be faithful to her when his father had no problem picking up random women whenever his desires craved it?
Her fingers grew clammy between his, but a part of her couldn't let go. It shouldn't matter where he came from, or what circumstances surrounded his birth. He was hers, and she wouldn't reject him before knowing him inside out.
"What about your parents?" Zion suddenly asked, his voice light as he changed the subject. "I'm sure you had a perfect family and extended relatives loving you all your life. A well-adjusted Alpha deserves nothing less."
She didn't miss the derision in his tone.
"My parents are very much in love, and I couldn't ask for a better family. But we aren't without our own heartache. My grandparents and uncle are all dead, and my mum has a sister who rejected the Alpha title and left the pack years before I was ever born," she stated simply and shockingly.
Zion turned quickly to her, surprise glittering in his darkened eyes. His thigh pressed against hers, but neither made a move to put distance between them. The storm sheltered them, keeping their conversation private and intimate.
Savannah took a deep breath to explain, "When my mum, Chesca, was young, her older sister decided she didn't want to be Alpha. She rebelled against her birthright and left the pack for good. Because of that, Chesca would then have to take on the rank of Alpha when her parents were old. But when Chesca was only fifteen, her parents were murdered by rogues in an attack on their pack. She had to grow up and become Alpha overnight, and lead everyone after such devastation.
"It wasn't easy, but she and her Beta were best friends and they supported each other a lot. Then she met her mate, and found out he was the Alpha from the neighboring territory. Alpha Kaiden was on the run from his own dad, Elbert, who was really cruel and evil. Alpha Elbert wanted to control everything, and eventually tried killing Chesca. Kaiden killed his own father to protect Chesca after finding out Elbert had orchestrated the attack on her pack all those years ago."
"Damn. This all happened between pack wolves?" Zion exclaimed, his voice clearly indicating he was surprised. "And you've been saying rogues are the monsters."
Savannah sighed, looking down at their joined hands. "I guess monsters are everywhere. In packs, amongst rogues, and humans. No one is immune from the pain caused by darkness."
"But neither are we immune to goodness. You can't keep thinking the worst of everyone, Savannah," he whispered. His eyes were on her, reading her expression, causing her heart to stumble inside her chest.
"I know." She released a soft sigh. "It's just easier to live like that. Always on the alert. Not trusting anyone until I have reason to. It keeps me and my pack safe. I can't risk giving people the benefit of the doubt, which allows them to turn around and stab me in the back. You have to understand that."
"I do. Believe me, I do," he turned away to gaze out into the storm, his eyes taking on an introspective look. "And I'm sorry for your own losses. I guess I've misjudged you, too."
Savannah snapped her eyes to his. Finding him looking at her already, his hazel eyes sharp and bright even in the darkness, she felt a thrill run through her from his simple words. But they weren't so simple. They were profound, showing her that he was willing to meet her halfway and see things from her perspective. He was understanding, sensitive, and caring as he pulled her even closer against the cold wind that howled across the railings of the balcony.
She opened her mouth to respond when a shrill scream cut through the sound of thunder.
