32

"Don't you dare play smart with me!" Savannah stepped closer to him. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?"

"Woah, watch your language," Zion scolded. "I don't tolerate any rough words around Darya."

"Of course you don't," she leaned back and scoffed mockingly. "For that, I award you 'Father of the Year'!" Resisting the urge to strangle him, Savannah crossed her arms and closed her fists tightly to stop the itch in her fingers.

"I thought you liked children," Zion commented blandly while adding chicken stock to the saucepan on the stove, stirring it with one hand while opening a bottle of oyster sauce with the other.

"I do! But that's not the point. You never told me you had a daughter. How is that even possible?"

"Are you seriously asking me that? Let me explain it in very simple terms," Zion laid down his cooking utensils and gave Savannah his full attention.

"Please do," she leaned against the counter with one hip, her body angled towards him as they stood facing each other, the tension building up between them thicker than fog on a cold, dewy morning.

"When a man and a woman meet and they feel an instant bond, it's very hard to stay away from one another. Sooner or later, the clothes come off and—"

"Oh my goodness, are you for real?" Savannah scrubbed her hands down her face, trying to erase the mental images Zion's words evoked. Glaring at him, she was beyond infuriated with the smirk he was now giving her. "This is no joking matter! Tell me right now how on earth you have a daughter and why in all the universe you failed to mention that to me!"

"Leila was my mate."

Savannah's heart literally stopped as his blunt admission vibrated between them like someone had struck a broken tuning fork, and the off note pierced the air with its jarring frequency.

"Excuse me?" Perhaps she'd misheard him. For all the times she'd overheard scraps of information about this mysterious Leila, not once did anyone mention the one little fact she was Zion's mate. "Is she... is she the woman in the photo you keep in your pocket?" Savannah frowned, realising she should have listened to that stab of jealousy she felt when looking at the photo. It was like her inner wolf knew something she didn't even want to contemplate as a possibility. Assuming Zion was a player with tons of girlfriends in his past was one thing, yet knowing he'd had a mate was something entirely different.

In answer for her question, Zion nodded slowly. "We met when I visited Black Halo territory, back when Regan still lived there with his family," Zion said quietly, his face barely showing any emotion. It was in complete contrast to the storm raging inside Savannah. "She decided to leave with me, and we had a child together soon after."

"So... so you lied to me!"

"When?" Zion frowned, offended. "Savannah, I have always told you the truth," he stated calmly and solemnly.

She felt like slapping him. "You lied when you said you've never slept with anyone."

He recoiled. "I never said that. What I did say was that I wasn't the promiscuous mutt you assumed me to be. I've only ever slept with one woman— my mate, after we marked each other. Is that morally decent enough for you? Or does that still make me a dirty scoundrel in your perfectly righteous opinion?" he drilled her with a hard look.

Sputtering, Savannah didn't know what to say. Of course, she had no objections to that. But he'd certainly implied otherwise, and that is what hurt.

She stepped closer to him, her hands tentatively reaching out to push aside the collar of his shirt. There, partially obscured by the leather strap around his neck, was a small scar. Faint, but undeniably a claiming mark. A riot of emotions tumbled through her like pounding surf against a rugged coastline. Jealousy rose above the others, but how could she be angry with Zion and his mate? They'd done nothing wrong. It wasn't their fault they'd met and bonded long before Savannah even knew of their existence. Eventually, she asked in a quiet voice, "Why keep this from me?"

His jaw clenched, a flicker of something dashing across his eyes before it scurried behind his stoic expression. "There's a lot I've kept from you," was his flat reply, the gold flecks in his eyes looking more like metallic chips of ice, sharpened and weaponised to cause as much destruction as possible.

"Clearly!" Savannah tugged on her hair, her furious strength threatening to tear it out. "And I hate it! I hate being in the dark! I hate not knowing about you, and always second-guessing your mysterious backstory. Why couldn't you just be honest with me?" She hated the pleading in her voice, but it was legitimate. What she hated more was being treated like a child and left out in the dark of such serious matters. Why didn't anyone take her seriously?

"Would it have changed anything, if you knew?" Zion gave her an accusing look, his eyes narrowed while frown lines creased his forehead.

Was he insinuating she might have never given him a second look if she knew he'd had a mate and daughter? The accusation stung. She wasn't that heartless. "I... no, I don't... that's not the point! This is not just something you keep from me, as your mate!" Savannah repeated, stamping her foot to release some of the wild energy coursing through her like a category five cyclone. What she really wanted to do was scream her lungs out and pound her fists against a solid brick wall until she no longer wanted to cry. Until she no longer felt anything.

Zion stepped closer, his eyes flashing. "It is when I'm a rogue, and you're an Alpha. We come from completely different worlds. I already told you I didn't fully trust you, so what did you expect I'd do about someone I cared most about in the world, someone I wanted to keep safe with every breath within me?"

The intent of his words cut her deep. "I would never hurt that little girl! Do you really not trust me enough to think I would?"

"That's a very loaded question," he leaned back and crossed his arms, looking very powerful through just the rigid posture of his body.

"Well, good thing I want a very simple answer," she mimicked his stance, widening her feet and projecting all her Alpha dominance over him. The fact he remained the most dominant wolf in the room irritated her, grating on her nerves like jagged rocks against bare flesh.

"It's not just you I don't trust. It's everything you represent. You embody the very idealism, the very social constructs that got Darya's mother killed. My mate..." Zion's voice broke. Clenching his jaw, he started again in a low, rough tone. "My mate would still be alive if it weren't for a silver bullet shot by Alpha Bastien. He took a little girl's mother away from her. He took half my damn soul away from me. So forgive me for not trusting you with the ability to rip apart my world even more."

Savannah couldn't breathe. She watched as Zion's eyes glowed with a deadly light, his muscles tense and the veins in his neck thundering slowly as a predator's do before moving in for the kill.

So much made sense now... His hatred of Alphas. His thirst for revenge against Bastien and whoever set him up to take Zion down. His animosity towards her and her pack way of life. His unwillingness to open up and let her in to even a fraction of his heart. For a man who seemed to take pleasure in ripping out hearts, it was a shock to learn he'd had his own torn out and crushed.

Sympathy constricted her throat, but she sensed that wasn't what he ever wanted from her. "I would never hurt you, Zion. You have to believe that. I've said that from the very beginning—"

"You may believe that, Savannah," he cut her off abruptly with a simple wave of his hand. "But are you so foolish to honestly think you have all authority in the matter? Your entire world is so far removed from mine. You have Alphas as parents. You have the council breathing down your neck. You've already placed me in a very dangerous position, multiple times. Of course I did what I had to, to protect myself and my family. Don't you dare accuse me of being a liar when you would have done the same. You've killed to protect your family, so why can't I do the same and have my secrets?"

"So you honestly don't trust me. That's it? After all I've done to protect you instead of handing you over when I had the chance—"

"What chance?" Zion scoffed, confident in the knowledge of his own strength and the fact she never really did have the upper hand over him.

She ignored that side issue and continued ranting, "You couldn't even have the decency to tell me you had a mate! Here I was feeling all possessive that you're my mate, and the whole time you knew. You knew I'm just your second chance!"

The emotive words spilled out of her, heedless of the cold look that seeped from Zion's pupils and darkened his eyes. She kept going, barreling on without thought to the carnage she might leave in her wake. "Am I not even special enough to be someone's first? How could you keep that from me? You're such a lying jerk. Gahh, I could strangle you right now! But it wouldn't even hurt you, would it? You're so damn impervious!"

She stomped her foot again and shook a fist in his face, frustrated he couldn't even show an ounce of emotion at her scathing words. "And you're so high and mighty about it. Man, I should have handed you over to the council as soon as I met you!" she snarled, not even bothering to keep her voice down.

Zion waved his hand towards the front door. "Go ahead. Do it. After all, you're an Alpha." The way he said the word, with so much disgust, made it sound like the worst thing imaginable, so dirty and abominable, like he couldn't stand to be in the presence of such a lowlife as an Alpha for a moment longer.

"Yeah. And you're a rogue! I can't believe I was so stupid to start falling for you, a rogue," She pointed a finger at him accusingly, "For even thinking I could one day trust you with my future. How many other lies have I fallen for? I should never have expected anything better from you, a deceitful, thieving, murderer! You always were a rogue, and always will be," her finger jabbed his chest, right over the ancestral medallion that he proudly wore to symbolise his rogue heritage.

With a deadly glare that conveyed all the anger and turmoil she was feeling, she stomped from the kitchen and headed upstairs, slamming the bedroom door behind her so hard that the entire wall shuddered from the impact.

Only when she was sure Zion didn't follow did she let the tears fall.

Hot, heavy tears that sprang from the cracks in her heart. How had she been so foolish to believe he was a good guy? That there was any hope for them for the future? She'd known his horrible reputation all along, yet she'd blindly put faith in him. She'd given him her heart without even realising it. It had been far too easy to fall for his charm, his lazy smile, his promises, when all along he was probably laughing at her stupid naivety.

Forget the council and their stupid reward; she should have just killed the Silver Rogue outright and saved herself all this drama. All this pain.

Because it hurt.

Physically, her heart hurt as she thought of all the things he'd experienced in his life. He'd had a mate, the other half of his heart, his body belonging to her for however many years they'd been together. They'd loved each other, slept together every night tangled in each other's arms until morning, whispering vows and promises that belonged blissfully between the two of them. Together, they'd had a daughter. Zion had been there as his mate grew with child, the bond blossoming like nothing you could describe, strengthening as their child developed in the most wonderful miracle imaginable.

He'd had all that; belonged to another; given himself in mind, body, and soul.

All the possessiveness Savannah felt for him welled up, crushing her in ways she couldn't have ever imagined. He was meant to be hers, and hers alone.

"But you were never mine," she whispered, pressing a fist to her mouth when ugly sobs rose from her chest and threatened to spill over. "Mine, from birth. Mine, from before we even met. Mine, for eternity." The Alpha felt wave after wave of sadness and anger wash over her, as jealousy raged like a red hot branding iron against her soul. She was jealous of a woman who was no longer alive to see her pain. How could one ever compete with a dead mate? Her memory, her spirit, would linger forever in Zion's heart, making it impossible for him to give Savannah his all.

And suddenly, she felt cheated. Like she was unworthy of a real mate, having only been left with someone already given to another.

But she was an Alpha! She deserved the very best, a man all to herself!

Standing, she hastily wiped aside her tears and growled, low and deep. The deadly rumble that now escaped her chest reminded her of who she was, of her strength, lineage, and future. She was in command, she had authority, and she was determined to never let another manipulative, worthless rogue screw her over again.

Realising she had to get out of here to clear her head, Savannah grabbed her jacket and stepped out onto the balcony. It wasn't far enough away from Zion's overwhelming scent, so she leapt over the railing and landed on the ground, bending her knees to absorb the impact of a two-storey drop.

Setting her face to the darkened sky in the east, Savannah started jogging down the road, her steps soon turning into long strides as she picked up the pace and ran with fierceness. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, replacing the despair with resentment.

How dare Zion treat her like he had, being so tender and kind yet keeping such secrets from her? Did he truly not care enough to be honest with her? She had begun to think he not only liked her, but that perhaps his feelings ran deeper. The chain and pendant that now thumped lightly against her neck was testament to the hope that he'd caused to blossom in her heart.

Now that hope was dashed against the depths of her soul like unwanted cargo thrown over a ship's deck into the buffeting waves of the ocean, dragged below its inky surface.

Her mother had been right all those years ago when she believed the only person you could trust was yourself. Your own heart would never tear itself in two. It could only break if you entrusted it to someone with enough power to do damage.

And boy, had she done that—foolishly handed over the keys to her future to a man she barely knew anything about, and what she did know was terrible enough to make every sensible woman quiver with dread and run in the opposite direction.

She should have captured and killed him like every honourable Alpha was bound by duty to do.

Yet what had she done besides fall for his kindness, soft words, heated kisses and promises that were as fleeting as the winter snow? Zion was nothing but a master of deceit, a manipulator of emotions, and king of the underworld. He paraded around like he had all confidence and authority to do as he pleased, with the strength to fight whoever opposed him.

Well, no more. She would stand up to him and show him what it was like to feel the sharp edge of his dangerous and careless actions. He'd toyed with her for long enough, and she was finally awake to his games and ploys. If he really thought he could trick her into playing his rogue game and ignoring his sins, he would soon find out just how wrong he was.

Savannah tried formulating a plan as she looked out at the city below. Without realising it, she'd traversed half the city and now found herself at the top of the hill that overlooked the western district. Still, it wasn't far enough away from the sights and smells that reminded her of everything about Zion. Even the sound of the traffic was grating in her ears, rattling against the conundrum she was trying to solve.

Spotting a small forested area to the southwest of the city, she began running towards it. The cool air bit at her lungs, stinging in a way that alivened her senses. Her body needed this; this freedom to run and work through her frustrations.

She would have preferred to shift, but her wolf wouldn't easily pass as a regular dog in these streets. Maybe if she wasn't an Alpha or so strongly built, but her size and natural dominance would certainly draw attention even if she stuck in the shadows and only crossed empty intersections. She couldn't risk it, so instead ran as fast as she could on two legs, which was still a lot faster than the puny humans she had to be wary of.

Finally reaching the obscurity of the trees, Savannah shifted and shook out her body, relishing in the feel of the soft breeze through her fur. Stalking through the shadows, she found a comfortable spot to lay down and rest her head on her paws. The smell of earth filled her nostrils, the grass beneath her cooling her underbelly. Despite being in completely new surroundings, she felt safe. There were no rogues or strong wolves around to challenge her, no phones or technology to remind her of responsibilities back home, and most importantly, no mate who had the power to wring her heart dry of strength.

She felt weak, but safe.

Looking out through the trees, she noticed the river in the distance, spanned by a suspension bridge.

She mentally face-palmed. Out of all the places in the city, she'd managed to find a spot that overlooked the infamous bridge where she'd been shot, jumped over the edge, and shared intimate kisses with her mate. What was the coincidence?

And despite her intention to remove him from her thoughts, she decided to stay, a small part of her waiting to catch a glimpse of him at sunrise when he visited the bridge on his morning run.

He never came.

The warmth of the sun infused through the trees, illuminating her fur and casting her proud shadow onto the ground as she stood on a boulder and squinted over the miles to the bridge, but she didn't see him. Indignation stirred a strange fire in her belly. Was he so busy doting on his precious daughter that he didn't have time for his run? He'd never put aside his morning ritual for Savannah's sake, instead most mornings refusing to even let her accompany him as he religiously stuck to his own schedule.

Why was today any different?

Trying not to overthink it, Savannah shifted back to her human form and began running home, taking the quiet streets Zion had once led her down. Memories of those confusing yet exciting moments flooded her mind, making her heart ache even more. What would it be like to go back just a few short days to before she knew of Regan, Leila, and their intricate relationships with Zion?

What if she had a normal mate who wasn't wanted for multiple murders, was a mastermind thief, and who'd already had a mate ripped from him, leaving behind a vulnerable daughter and innumerable scars? Why couldn't she just fall in love with the other half of her soul without a thousand obstacles pulling them apart at every step?

She knocked on the door of Zion's house, realising she'd never been given a key and wondering if she should just climb the outside wall to crawl in through a window.

After waiting a few minutes, she tried the handle and found it unlocked, causing a weird feeling to crawl up her spine. Wandering in, she found Cale and Phoenix lounging in the living room, watching a drama on tv.

"Hey guys," she called out on her way through the kitchen, barely getting a response besides an obligatory grunt.

Needing a shower before she faced Zion again, she crept up to their room and found it empty and quiet. A sigh of relief escaped her, easing some of the nerves she hadn't realised had wound around her bones and put her whole body on edge. She got a change of clothes and was about to step into the bathroom when she paused.

The quietness that surrounded her was a little unsettling. Usually, at this time of morning, the rumble of rogues bickering and conversing mingled with the clang of dishes in the kitchen, appliances and other gadgets adding a hum in the background. Even the loud thumps and crashes had become commonplace as Chayton or Tas fought with Niko over whatever they disagreed about.

Yet all was still.

Savannah made her way downstairs, the halls empty and almost eerie. A sense of something missing enveloped her, the stillness resounding in her mind like a hollow space where the presence of others usually resided. "Hey Phoenix, where's Zion?" she asked as she entered the living room.

Zion's right-hand man rose from the couch, his expression unusually solemn. Raking a hand through his hair, he couldn't hide the slight twitch of his fingers. "He's gone."

"Gone...where?" Raising her eyebrows, Savannah probed, an awful sinking feeling spreading through her body. Gone to the grocery store? Gone to play in the park with Darya? Gone to visit his grandma who probably happened to live next door? Heck, maybe he'd gone to abduct a high-profile politician, and that wouldn't have surprised her.

Cale refused to meet her eyes, instead keeping his attention trained on the tv where some boring infomercial was playing on repeat.

"Well," Phoenix took an unsteady breath, his usual bravado diminished and leaving in its wake a nervousness that filled Savannah with dread. "You clearly didn't want him, so he left."

Maybe she had been too harsh to him the night before.

Maybe her tendency to spit out the first words that popped into her head had finally landed her in a situation she couldn't just undo.

Maybe her unruly emotions had plunged her into an ocean so deep, she could do nothing but regret the actions while floundering without a life preserver.

"What do you mean, he left? For how long? Where'd he go? Why didn't he tell me anything? What's up with you guys and all your stupid secrets?" Savannah shot the questions rapid-fire, not caring who answered as long as she got answers.

Cale rubbed the back of his neck and looked to Phoenix with a wry expression.

With an equally tense look, Phoenix turned his eyes back to Savannah. "We received a message from the Captain--"

"From Zion's father, you mean," she interrupted, wanting to be clear on that point. It was ridiculous the way they cloaked him in mystery to make him appear even more legendary.

"Yeah, his father. It was about the Lava Mount Ruby."

"What ruby?" Cale's brows lifted in curiosity.

"Did he find it?" Savannah's hopes rose for some inexplicable reason. Why should she be happy that Zion was one step closer to stealing an already stolen gem? She should hate the fact he was still chasing after material things while leaving her heart battered and alone in this God-forsaken city.

"They believe they have confirmed its location, and are one step away from getting their hands on it. It's going up for sale at an underground auction tomorrow at a location somewhere near the Islands."

"That's great," she commented flatly, not feeling any enthusiasm over it. "So, with Victor's network of men everywhere, why did Zion need to leave in such a hurry?" Something still didn't make sense to Savannah. Was a ruby really worth more than her?

"It's still super risky, going into this auction against arms dealers and men who have been involved with illegal trade for years. One wrong move, and it's all over. Zion is the only man for the job."

Savannah blew out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. "That's... comforting."

"He'll be okay," Phoenix felt the need to reassure her, as if he read the concern on her face that she'd failed to hide. "He's impervious, remember?"

That word tipped off something in her brain. "How... how much of our conversation did you hear last night?" she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Phoenix.

He held her gaze steadily. "Enough to know you both clearly have issues, and this disagreement has been brewing for a long time. But also enough to know you're both making a huge mistake. Is this really the way you want to han--"

"Oh, please," Savannah interrupted with a mirthless laugh. "The last thing I need is a lecture from a rogue."

"So you'd take a lecture from someone else?" Phoenix crossed his arms and stood to his full height, refusing to cower under her sardonic glare.

His attitude caught her off guard. He'd always had trouble with her authority, but it had never been as blatant as this. "I guess," she shrugged, playing it off. While wondering what he was going to say, she tried with all her strength to remain standing under the awful knowledge that Zion had left her. Sure, she'd said some pretty horrible things to him in the heat of the moment when her entire world seemed to shift on its axis. But in the morning, everything looked different and she'd hoped for at least a few minutes to further explain herself and clarify a few things.