28

She'd never felt so peaceful.

A warmth surrounded her, numbing the dull pain that nudged at the back of her mind. Her body was weary. An ache in her bones prodded, poking her like a tiresome stone in her shoe, yet miniscule enough to be eclipsed by a calm that soothed and comforted like a fluffy cardigan and hot chocolate on a cool autumn evening.

Curling tighter into the source of that warmth, Savannah sighed contentedly.

Sparks tingled across her face as hair was brushed away from her eyes.

"You feeling alright, little Alpha?" A warm kiss was pressed to her forehead, the softness of it causing her heart to flutter.

It didn't take much effort to open her eyes at the sound of that rich, husky voice. Golden light streamed all around them, alighting her mate's face in warm tones that enriched the tanned hue of his skin. Hazel eyes watched her intently, a lazy smile lifting the corners of soft lips and creasing a chin dusted with dark stubble.

She shifted slightly, pulling back to get a better look at her stunning mate, only to realise his arms had her caged against him. A low growl emanated from his chest when she tried to move too far away for his liking. Feeling no inclination to leave the strong security he offered, she snuggled closer and turned to examine her surroundings.

Her last memories were of deadly growls and tortured screams, biting smoke and crackling fire, then falling into a raging river. Zion had been keeping her safe as they fled from the war zone, and she didn't worry about what had happened in the time since she blacked out.

Sunlight spilled into the large bedroom through wafer thin curtains that billowed with a gentle breeze. Beyond the gauze material, a balcony extended from the open doorway and overlooked rolling green hills. The twitter of birds and subtle buzzing of insects played on her senses, soothing the harsh memories of last night.

A sense of peace pervaded her as she surveyed the creamy stucco walls, buttery yellow cornices, ornate wall lamps, and gilded antique dressers, wall desks and furniture that furnished the large suite-style room. It had a Greek villa feel to it, and Savannah smiled in the softness of silk sheets and pure country air that surrounded her.

"Where are we?" she asked quietly, her hushed voice a whisper so as not to disturb the tranquility of the morning.

"Tori's estate," came her mate's equally soft reply, a quiet rumble against her back that vibrated through her body.

She stiffened at the name of the brash and outgoing shewolf who clearly had history with Zion.

He continued, his fingertips lightly brushing her shoulder in soothing circles. "She owns a hacienda on the edge of the forest. It's well hidden, so we always come here to recuperate after the night of games."

She could only nod, suddenly hating the place that had been so welcoming before. "Is she okay?" she managed to push past the dryness in her throat. She knew Tori had been roughened up in the fight, and deserved thanks for the hospitality she now extended.

"Sure. She always is," Zion replied mildly. "But you didn't answer my question." Reaching his hand up, he tipped her chin back and twisted her head to face him.

His eyes were filled with warmth and concern, so different to the cold hatred that radiated from them whilst ripping Regan's heart out. Savannah fought the urge to shiver, and instead moved closer to the source of heat that thawed her heart despite her misgivings towards him.

Reaching up, she cupped his face and pulled his lips to hers. She wanted to communicate how good she was feeling through action, not just words. Things might still be messy between them, but one thing would never change. Zion was her mate, and she would always love kissing him.

His arms circled her, pulling her impossibly closer. Sparks tingled all over her body, his skin against hers so warm, and heat began to build inside her as he kissed her thoroughly and passionately.

A question niggled in the back of her mind, and it only grew as his legs tangled with hers, the roughness contrasting against her smooth skin. Savannah pulled back and gasped for air. As she dragged her fingers through his hair and ran them lovingly down his face, she bit her lip and tried not to lose herself in his heated gaze.

Tearing her eyes from his, she blinked and looked down at her body. Her skin was mottled and bruised in many places, red from scratches and bites, and pasty in the pale light.

But what appalled her the most was her lack of clothes. In only the clean underwear she'd packed in her bag of spare clothes, her body was pressed against Zion's own powerful body, covered in short black boxers.

Her throat was suddenly even drier than before. "What--" she gasped, then rolled away from Zion. Sitting up, she studied her arm that was wrapped in a bandage, and other places on her body taped with plaster.

"Your arm was broken. Compound fracture of the humerus. I had to set it and bandage it before you bled out from the punctured brachial artery."

"And you had to strip me down without my knowledge or consent? Again?" she exasperated.

Zion pushed up on his elbows and looked at her, clearly frustrated. "Should I have just left you to die?"

"What? No! Maybe... I mean.. You couldn't have just taken me to a hospital or something?" A blush crept up her neck as she grew flustered.

"And let complete strangers cut you out of your clothes and stare at your naked body? I will never allow that to happen," Zion leaned closer, a growl emanating from his chest.

"So you'll do that instead? Just ogle me while I'm blacked out, unconscious?" she placed a palm on his chest and pushed him away, trying desperately to ignore the way his muscles rippled under her touch.

Zion leaned back on the bed and shrugged, "I can kill someone in ten different ways with my bare hands and eyes closed. I can easily dress you in the same way."

Savannah stared at him astounded, and tried to read the smug expression in his sparkling eyes. "Is that what you did? Keep your eyes closed the whole time while fixing me up?" she motioned to the bandages and plasters all over her body. She suddenly felt self-conscious under his intense gaze, the knowledge heavy on her mind that he had seen her so bare and vulnerable. Placing a hand on her stomach, she suddenly wished she'd done more sit ups and planks during the last few weeks. She wasn't as toned and trim as she'd hoped to be when stripping down for her mate.

Zion just shrugged, his eyes unreadable as they remained locked on hers.

Glaring at him, Savannah clutched the sheet to herself between clenched fists. "Pervert."

"If the roles were reversed, would you?" he asked with a sly smile.

She immediately studied his broad chest and thick arms, his toned abdomen that rippled with tight muscles, slim waist and boxers that only partially covered powerful thighs. Just the thought of being intimately close to all his gorgeous body had her heart racing and stomach swirling with desire. Dragging her eyes back up, they noticed a few white scars marring his skin, then snagged on bluish smudges dusting his ribs.

"Goodness, your ribs! Are you okay?" She reached out and lightly touched the bruised skin, skimming over the reminders of the heavy compressions she'd applied to push the toxic dust from his lungs.

"I'm perfectly alright," Zion replied, amusement dancing in his eyes as he watched her fingers tracing the muscles that banded his upper body. "You're going to have to try harder next time if you want to kill me."

She gasped, slapping him on the arm. "I did not try to kill you! I saved your life, thank you very much."

He lifted his eyebrows and shrugged. "Then I guess we're even," he commented, chuckling.

As his words sunk in, she sobered. "It's becoming a habit, isn't it?"

"What? Saving each other?"

She nodded, recalling the number of times he'd been there for her, and despite him being practically impervious, she'd been there for him too, when it counted.

"I guess that's what mates do," Zion tilted his head and regarded her seriously.

His tone of voice made her stomach flip. Yes, that's what mates do, she echoed in her mind, afraid if she asked what he meant by it, that he'd retract the statement. Did he really want to be her mate for real? Was he ready to make things official? To move back with her to ForgedHearts territory?

"What's this?" Clearing her throat, she broke the electrically-charged silence, fingering the pendant that hung from a thin leather strap around his neck. "I've been meaning to ask about it for ages now, but haven't had the chance to." She lifted the coin-like disk, turning it over and examining both sides. The metallic shine was golden, etched with a lion on one side and a fox on the other.

"It's from one of my ancestors. She was a rogue, and passed down the coin to her son, and he passed it on to his. It's been in our family for generations, each one a rogue."

She tried to ignore the constriction of her heart at the way he spoke of rogues, as if he was proud of his lawless family history. "What's it mean?" she tapped the coin.

"According to my dad, it's a unique medallion that Vixen, our ancestor, had forged after her mate was killed. It's the insignia from his pack, but no matter how much I research the crest, I can't find anything about it. It's like the pack was erased from history."

"Interesting. Maybe I can look it up on our Alpha database," Savannah mused, missing the way Zion's ears pricked at the mention of the exclusive database. "We have records of every pack that ever existed. But this does look unique. Why the fox?" She leaned closer, oblivious of the way her warm breath tickled Zion's bare chest and made his skin shiver with goosebumps.

"Honestly, I have no idea," Zion replied, his voice low and raspy as he stared at Savannah's curious expression. The way her brows furrowed, her bottom lip dragging between her teeth as she tilted her head and pondered the meaning of the coin, was adorable.

When her eyes lifted and collided with his, he jumped.

"Let's see how your arm is," he broke eye contact first, reaching for her arm and beginning to unwrap the bandage. His touch only hurt a little, and she bit back a whimper.

Her arm had been completely mauled last she saw it. Now, as the bandage peeled back layer by layer, she saw only slightly scarred flesh, faint white lines traversing her tanned skin. Mottled bruising tarnished the usually even complexion, but otherwise, she was astounded by how much it had healed. Her bicep was whole and strong as she flexed it, the tendons all working smoothly.

"Physical contact accelerates healing. That's another reason why I held you close all night," he commented softly, sensing she needed further explanation to allay her uneasiness at their intimate position. His touch was light as he turned her arm over and examined it from all angles.

His fingers were warm, nearly making her come undone with the gentleness of his ministrations. She'd seen those very same hands rip apart a chest and tear out someone's life force. It was amazing how carefully he always treated her. "Thank you," the words slipped out on a breathy sigh.

His eyes lifted to hers, his lips twitching with a small smile as he acknowledged the depth of feelings in her gaze alone. Then he looked away again, and peeled off the plasters from the rest of her body. "How'd you do it, anyway? Save me, I mean," he asked, clearing his throat roughly.

Savannah watched him closely, at the way he swallowed hard, his fingers reverently trailing a faint scar on her thigh where a deep gash had only recently been.

"Vinn assassins are renowned for never leaving a job unfinished," he elaborated, seeming very interested in a spot on her knee while avoiding her probing gaze.

"It was nothing. I am an Alpha, after all. Besides, she didn't want to kill you. Just kidnap. I guess I bought you some time with my fantastic negotiation skills," she laughed, hoping to play it off. Now I just owe Persia a big favour, she didn't add, but felt the truth twist her insides regardless. "You can kill her next time she comes after you."

He made a harsh sound in the back of his throat, a cross between a laugh and snort. "You'd be okay with that?" Lifting a brow in question, he reminded her of all the times she'd berated him for his merciless killing.

"Anyone who tries to take you away from me deserves a little painful justice," she replied, vehement and unashamed of how possessive that sounded.

"Good to know," Zion pressed his lips against a smile, and reached over to the nightstand, retrieving a gadget Savannah didn't recognise. It was a few inches long, with a display screen attached to a handle. Zion flipped a few buttons, then held it up to her arm. It scanned and issued a beeping noise for a couple of seconds before the screen lit up.

"What is that?"

"A density reader. It uses sonar to measure the amount of blood, muscle, and bones, and their relative location. See?" he held up the device, showing her a grey image with dark outlines of her arm, the skeleton showing up very clearly. The bone was smooth with only a faint line where it must have cracked completely through.

"Like an x-ray."

"But much safer. I designed this myself."

"I don't doubt it," she nodded in amazement, never ceasing to be impressed with his ingenuity.

Zion flicked it off and packed it away. Turning back to her arm, he nodded in satisfaction of his handiwork. "Perfect."

She couldn't help smiling "So doc, will I live?"

He mirrored her grin. "That depends," he tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"On what?" Her heart sped up, as she remembered saying these very same words not long ago when he saved her from a silver bullet.

"On how close you stay by my side." Sliding his arm around her, he tugged her closer so she fell against his body. "I won't let anything happen to you, Savannah. You know that, right?"

Looking up into his eyes, there was no mistaking the sincerity in them. She pressed her lips to his in answer, showing just how much she believed him. After last night, there was no doubt in her mind that she meant something to him, and that he would walk through fire for her. He literally had, coming out the other side without burns or scars.

He returned the kiss deeply, pressing her into the bed with his firm body. She began to lose all thought and reason as his touch lit her up, exciting her in ways she'd never felt before. It was a dangerous feeling, her control slipping with each kiss and touch of his hands.

Zion's lips moved to her neck, nipping and licking in a spot that had her body arching for more. Burying her face in his hair, Savannah inhaled his scent of cypress and tropical spice deeply. Trace remnants of smoke filled her nose, the charred scents causing dark memories to rush into the front of her mind.

She suddenly remembered all the reasons why she didn't trust him.

He was a thief, a law-breaker. Murderer. He was keeping so many things from her, refusing to walk on her side of the line between right and wrong. He was still so anti everything she stood for.

Zion pulled away, sensing her hesitation as she stilled beneath him. A furrow appeared between his thick brows as he watched her stricken expression.

A thousand words danced on the tip of her tongue, refusing to move past the lump in her throat. There was so much she wanted from him, yet she knew he couldn't give it on the right terms. She didn't want only half of him; take the good and leave the bad. He was a rogue, and that didn't sit well in her heart of hearts, no matter how good it felt to be with him. It physically hurt--like silver poisoning--to push him away like this, but she couldn't continue on this intimate level with such a chasm gaping between them.

Without any words, as if he understood her perfectly, he rolled off her and stood from the bed. Grabbing a shirt, he tugged it over his head before facing her again.

Her face burned, and she couldn't meet his eyes. Her breath caught when Zion leaned over her. When he pulled the sheet up over her body and tucked it around her neck, she let out a shaky breath.

"Get some more rest. I need to go check on my men. We should all be ready to leave by tomorrow, so there's plenty of time to take it easy. You can shower and come downstairs whenever you want."

With those words, spoken so flatly and without any emotion, Zion exited the room through a set of wide french doors. He didn't glance back, even though Savannah had her eyes trained on him for the slightest indication of what he was feeling.

What was he thinking? That she was weaker than she appeared, and couldn't handle being with him without the security of a committed relationship? That she was holding onto a fantasy that their bond would be forever, that he'd join her pack as a meek and mild follower? Or that she was a scaredy cat, afraid to dive head first into his world and embrace the rogue lifestyle?

All the uncertainties, all the impossibilities, were giving her a headache. Rolling over and burying her face in the pillow, she groaned. "Fuuuuudge."

Even as much stronger curse words sang through her mind, she felt herself burning up with remorse. She was so ashamed of herself, of how much the filthy rogues had rubbed off on her already. Partying, flirting with criminals, and playing dirty games was the last thing she wanted to be seen doing. She'd set out with Zion with all the right intentions: sway him, convince him to come clean and become a good pack member.

But all she'd done was enjoy herself in this crazy adventure of dark intrigue, dishonest mystery, and roguish criminal activities. When had her life veered off the rails like this?

A heavy knock on the door startled her.

"Hey, Vannah, you decent?" cale shouted from outside the room.

"Drats!" she again cursed in her head, and scrambled from the bed. It didn't take long to locate the rest of her clothes and open the door for Cale. "What's up? You okay?" she asked him. He looked good, besides a new scar right over his left eye. It appeared a wolf had swiped him clean across the face, leaving behind three deep cuts that made him look like a hardened warrior.

"Sure, don't mind me," he raked a hand nervously over his freshly-cut hair, showing more of the scars that ran over his scalp. "I'm more worried about you? How's the big ogre been treating you?" he strolled in, eyes glancing from the bed, to the window, to her disheveled hair, and back to the bed.

"I'm good. It's not what you think. Zion has been the perfect gentleman." Savannah tried to forget the feeling of his heavy body pressing on hers, his hot tongue licking that perfect spot on her neck.

"I believe you," Cale smiled smugly. "I was just concerned since the rogue hasn't let anyone tend to you besides himself. He's been guarding the door like a mama bear," Cale frowned and let out a small growl, his instincts to protect his Alpha clearly having been met with resistance.

"The door? But.. hasn't he been in here with me all night?" she questioned, confused.

"Sure. All night. But all day today, he's been insistent that no one bother you," Cale responded.

"All day? What time is it?" Savannah got a sinking feeling as she crossed to the window and stared out at the pale light that bathed the world with a golden glow.

"Almost sunset."

"I slept all day?"

"What is that smell? It's like roses...Sweet rosewater and cardamom." Cale mused, distracted. He took a deep breath, shuffling closer to Savannah and sniffing her hair curiously.

She shoved him away. "Probably just Tori's soap that's no doubt sitting pretty in the bathroom," she waved a hand towards the door that she had no desire stepping through. "But you didn't answer my question."

Cale turned back to her after further inspecting the room and shrugged. "You were injured pretty bad last night. I'm surprised you're even out of bed now. Normally, you'd take days to heal." He lifted his eyebrows in question.

"Wow," Savannah spotted the sun, low on what must be the western horizon. "Here I was thinking it was sunrise." Ignoring the fact of her quick healing that Cale had pointed out, she continued studying the beautiful landscape that surrounded them. Rolling green hills, small copses of vibrant trees in all hues of green, and lush pasture land that looked perfect for picnicking in. "I've completely lost my sense of direction."

"Well, I can tell you one good direction you wanna be going in. We're about to start a barbecue downstairs in the back garden, and the guys--"

"Wait," Savannah lifted her hand to silence him. She'd spotted Zion down in the yard, walking over to a large truck.

A woman rose from the open bonnet, her sleek black hair pulled back from her face in a messy ponytail. "There you are," she greeted Zion with a grateful smile. "Mind helping me with the alternator? It didn't survive our mad dash from the Black Woods nearly as well as you did," she eyed him up and down appreciatively.

Savannah's fists tightened, jealousy causing her vision to hone in on Tori with the focus of a predator. Knowing it was impolite to listen to their conversation, she tilted her head and tuned in to every word they said, every breath they took.

"What seems to be the problem?" Zion joined Tori at the front of the truck and peered in, his arm brushing against hers and causing Savannah's blood to simmer.

Thank goodness his leather jacket protected his arm, or else Savannah would have to scratch off Tori's skin for touching him. "Checking on his men, indeed," she muttered darkly.

"I think there's a problem with the charging circuit, and I'd know for sure if I could get it out. It's totally rusted in," Tori pointed to something in the engine, leaning close over Zion's shoulder.

"I can see," Zion mused, then held out his hand.

Tori immediately filled it with a spanner. While Zion worked at removing it, she leaned back against the bumper and tilted her face back to catch the fading rays. "So, what are you going to do with your little mate?"

Zion grunted, the only indication he gave of hearing her from deep within the engine.

"You have told her, haven't you?" Tori turned to him questioningly.

"What's there to tell?" he gave a little shrug.

Tori stamped her foot. "Zion, seriously? Let me guess, you've lied to her? What have I told you about telling the truth!"

"Hey! I've been honest with her the entire time."

"We both know being honest and giving someone the full truth are two entirely different things."

Zion shook his head, turning back to the engine and refusing to give Tori a response.

"What on earth are they talking about?" Savannah murmured to herself as she and Cale watched them from the window, her stomach beginning to tighten in knots.

"Fine. Whatever." Tori flipped her hair over her shoulder as if she couldn't care less. "Be your usual stubborn self. Just don't break her heart, okay?"

Zion's shoulders expanded as he took a deep breath. "I can't help it if she's foolish enough to give me her heart."

"That's such a roguish thing to say," Tori scoffed.

Shaking his head, he chuckled. "Last time I checked, I was a rogue."

Suddenly, Tori's expression turned serious. "You don't have to be. I know what happened to Leila cemented your belief that Alphas can't be trusted, but Savannah isn't like that. She's not like Bastien, and she certainly isn't anything like Regan."

Zion was silent, and for a moment, Savannah was afraid he wasn't going to answer. Then, he turned his head and pinned Tori with his most probing gaze, the one that usually had Savannah's stomach doing somersaults. "What about you, huh? You're still hiding out here, away from any pack. Why don't you fall in line and follow the rules? Follow Javed to Black Halo?"

"You know that's different." Tori toed the ground with her shoe.

"Really? How so? Now that Regan's dead--"

"Now that Regan's dead, maybe I can actually get on with life! Okay?" Tori threw up her arms. "Maybe things will start to change around here. I don't know. I haven't processed it all yet. Your little Alpha mate changed things for everyone, but especially for you. You've had weeks now to pull your head in and figure out a game plan. What's taking you so long? Don't you want this chance to actually make something of yourself?"

"Don't turn this back on me," Zion shot her a dark glare. "But are you seriously saying I'm nothing?"

"I'm saying... you're nothing like what you could be. Being a rogue can only get you so far. Stealing rubies and exposing government secrets won't keep you warm at night. You've been given this opportunity, and I wouldn't throw it away, if I were you."

"Well, you're not me. So just drop it."

"Fine. Don't come crawling back to me when life gives you grapefruit after you throw away the raspberries."

"I never come crawling."

"I saw you last night."

"I wasn't crawling."

"Yeah, you were definitely crawling."

"I had a hundred and fifty pounds of dead weight on my back!"

Savannah gasped. "I'm only a hundred twenty!"

"Keep telling yourself that, man," Tori lifted a knowing eyebrow. "You'd be dead ten times over if it weren't for me."

Zion finally emerged from under the bonnet and dumped the alternator at her feet with a heavy thud. A couple screws bounced loose. He pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes in frustration at the annoyed shewolf in front of him.

Tori stared at the broken alternator, kicked it once, then looked back up at Zion. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Come on, admit it. You need me."

"Do not."

"That's your way of saying you do. It's okay. I get it."

"I don't--"

"Come on. Bring it in. You need a hug," Tori opened her arms and motioned him closer.

Despite Zion's best attempts at sidestepping her, he eventually gave in and folded her in his long arms. His broad shoulders engulfed her, practically blocking her own strong frame from Savannah's view.

"I'm gonna kill her," the Alpha said between clenched teeth.

"She helped save us last night. After we dragged ourselves from that frothing river, she turned up in her truck and whisked us all to safety," Cale said, munching on a cream bun.

"Where'd she get it, anyway? Probably stole it," Savannah huffed, glaring at the six wheeler.

"I'd say it's military grade. Classic troop carrier. Look at those wheels," Cale agreed, red jam leaking from the corner of his mouth.

"I'm looking at that cream bun. Where on earth did you get it?" she eyed her Gamma with suspicion.

"My pocket."

"You've got to be kidding me."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Tori baked it this morning."

"Of course she did. Is it possible for me to hate that shewolf even more?"

Cale's eyes widened, a white mustache on his upper lip making him look comical. "But what did she ever do to you?"

"She's stealing my mate, that's what. They're down there bickering like an old married couple."

"I heard she's more like a sister to him."

Savannah snorted. "They're the ones you should be most worried about. Sister indeed," she turned back to the pair down below, seething at the way Tori had her hand on Zion's shoulder as he once more leaned over the engine. "I've seen enough."

"Where are you going?" Cale followed his Alpha out as Savannah marched from the room.

"To plan a funeral. Job number one on the list is to prepare the body for burial. The more dead, the better. Actually...Maybe a live burial would better fit the crime," she tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"But, but... Savannah, wait!" Cale tripped down the stairs in his haste to catch the angry Alpha. His cream bun went flying, landing right on Savannah's head.

A blob of jam trickled down her forehead. Swiping it from her eyes, she sniffed it suspiciously. "Is this raspberry?"

"I...I believe so," Cale stammered, alarmed to see his Alpha so angry and wondering just how he was going to stop her from doing something stupid this time.

A cold smile crept on Savannah's face. "Well, you know how much I hate raspberries."