Chapitre 21

"Linur!"

His arms were stick-thin and he trembled under my fingers.

"Brr, ww-why is ee-it sso kk-cold in here?" Linur asked, his teeth chattering between the letters. White clouds escaped his mouth.

"It's winter," I said, trying to suppress my own goosebumps. I felt someone standing over us. I looked up at Zelos with a thick cloak in my hand.

"Here."

"Thank you," I said, smiling, and took the fur from his hands. It was soft and must have been brown in the sunlight. It was almost gray here in the dark. I put the cloak around Linur, who pulled him gratefully.

"It wasn't intended that way," Zelos replied. "Wait here."

He turned to Davin and walked past him. Beside the wolf crouched the three-headed dog, which regarded Linur with six skeptical eyes. The cold began to itch my finger bones. I rubbed them together.

The longer we sat out here, the more people came out of the hole. They all trembled in the face of the winter night. Zelos came back with another cloak, probably from a lamb. I straightened up.

Before I could take the fur from his hand, he wrapped it around my shoulders.

"This is for you," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"What about the other people? They all need something warm to wear," I replied, pointing at the shaky figures, who were little more than skeletons. They were probably just used to the heat of this hellhole.

"That won't be a problem," said Alpha Lenkin, turning away from the hole from which more and more people were being dug up. "We have enough pelts from the hunt. I've already sent wolves to get them and shut to distribute."

I nodded.

Linur meanwhile had concentrated on the snow in which he had landed.

"Ww-what is that?" he asked, taking a handful. The wind blew away part of the flakes while the other part began to melt. The filthy face was totally focused on the white powder.

"It's snow," I answered. Linur looked at me questioningly. "Actually, it's just water. Look."

I pointed to his skinny fingers, which were dripping onto the floor.

"Oh," Linur replied and continued to watch the snow, fascinated, as it slowly dissolved and disappeared further and further. "We've only ever turned steam into water."

Linur looked up. The soot made it difficult to decipher his facial expressions. He looked around and his eyes widened. I followed his gaze.

"Lyza!"

She stood at the entrance of the pack house with a derailed expression. He jumped out of the snow and stumbled with the coat, which was much too big for him. Lyza took a step toward him, two, then sprinted toward Linur. Her eyes gleamed in the last light of the sun.

They met in the middle and a laugh sang through the gathering night.

"I missed you so much!" Linur exclaimed, and a pang shot through my heart. For the first time, I saw a real smile on Lyza's lips. They must be siblings.

Was Tommy okay at home?

Hopefully he could sleep that night.

Suddenly, warm hands gripped my hips. Zelo's scent surrounded me as he nestled me against his body. I leaned against him to get closer to the heat.

"Don't be sad," he murmured. I put my hands over his and Zelos tensed. He took my fingers and tucked them into the pockets of the coat. "Your hands are cold as icicles."

"Yes, and yours nice and warm as a fireplace," I replied, snuggling closer to him. We watched the family gatherings, the tears of joy and relieved faces.

A man joined the siblings before squeezing Lyza into a tight hug. He still carried his pickaxe on his back and his body was shaking like a leaf.

That had to be her father.

"Wait a minute," I murmured and broke away from Zelos. I walked over to the pile of furs that the wolves had meanwhile brought outside and took one. I returned to Linur and Lyza and handed the fur to the man.

He looked at me, his features similar to Linur's and just as dirty. He stared at the coat before taking it from my hand.

"Thanks," he said, covering the goosebumps on his arms. "What's going on here? Why did they pull us out? Where's Alpha Richard?"

"Alpha Richard is dead and a few days ago his Luna was banished," I said. Inwardly, I shuddered at the thought of Mayra. "Alpha Lenkin took the helm."

Lyza looked away and I could see the hint of blush on her cheeks.

"Listen!" Lenkin thundered over the mountain. The voices died around us and the focus was on the alpha of the pack. "We're going to get any humans still down there out of the mountain tonight!"

His curls blew in the wind as he looked around. His eyes lingered on Lyza for a moment too long before moving on.

"But this pack will only survive the night if everyone, whether wolf or human, helps! Silverblood knocks on our walls a second time! They're trying to dig a tunnel in the mountain and want to slaughter us from below, whether wolf or human!"

Linur clutched his father's coat with his fingers, fear showing beneath the soot. Zelos had joined me again and offered security.

"They don't know we saw them! So we want to lure them into the mountain and block their own tunnel and all other exits! We won't let ourselves be run over again!"

The wolves agreed with him. The people looked at each other with hesitation.

"We want to start a new age in Silvercrown. I apologize for the actions of my predecessors. They have wronged you all," said Lenkin, bowing his head. "The mountain would never have existed without the humans who inhabit it. But this is only the first step. In order for the whole pack to survive, we must work together now. "

He looked at Zelos, who was standing directly behind me. Countless looks were directed at us. Zelos sucked in his breath right behind me before taking a step forward. The snow crunched under his boots.

Even under the soot and dirt, I could see the fear with which they looked at him and the red eyes.

"I know what it's like to be locked up. A hunter did the same to me many years ago. Every day I hoped to get out. But the day was different from what I had hoped for. I stumbled into the middle of a war and there was no time for joy. I had to make a decision immediately", said Zelos and looked at me for a second. A warm feeling spread under my coat.

Zelos turned back to the other people.

"You now have a choice. Help this pack survive or turn your back on them. But if you don't stick together, Silverblood will come for you, one by one. Alone you are weak."

"Who promises us that we won't be forced back into the mountain afterwards?"

The hoarse voice echoed across the square and a hushed approval floated in the night air. Linur's father stood proudly with the pickaxe on his back and looked at Zelos with his chin raised. He wasn't afraid of the Lycan.

"I won't lie to you, but there is no promise," said Zelos. "You have to trust that Alpha Lenkin keeps his word. And everyone here has to trust in you that you can enclose the enemy warriors in the mountain if they try to attack.

Linur's father eyed him sincerely and the wind howled around us.

"Then I will help you," he said and stretched out his hand to Zelos. The Lycan didn't need a second before he clasped the skinny fingers with his and returned the human gesture.

The men shared a firm handshake.

"What's your plan?" Zelos asked and radiant white teeth appeared under the soot.

"You can dig a tunnel. We'll just blow it up again," Linur's father replied. "But we have to go back into the mountain for that."

He pointed to the black hole in the ground that had swallowed enough life.

"Then I will accompany you," Zelos said and my heart skipped a beat.

I beg your pardon?

Silence enveloped the room.

The chart table was deserted. The coat lay forgotten by the door and I leaned my forehead against the ice-cold pane of glass. Below me the slope stretched out to Riverclaw in the darkness of night. The snow-covered trees clothed the valley.

Somewhere down there, Silverblood was about to dig a tunnel into the mountain. I stared at my boots. And somewhere down there Zelos was with Linur's father and prepared the trap.

Zealous.

He had simply descended into the hole, leaving me afraid that he would never come out again.

"Don't worry, Betty. You know him," Davin said.

I turned away from the glass and towards the guard who hadn't left my side. Kerberos sat in front of me and nudged me with one of the heads.

"I won't be able to sleep until he's back on the surface," I replied, looking out the window again. I rubbed my neck and the mark absently.

I had been able to occupy myself with the people all evening; that everyone got a room in the pack house and dried meat to eat. But now most of them were asleep.

But I couldn't.

"You know he wouldn't want you not sleeping," Davin said. "And he certainly wouldn't have wanted you to give up your room."

"At least Linur can sleep in a bed like this. I don't need it tonight," I replied. The stars in the sky twinkled down on the landscape that lay dead still out there.

David sighed.

"Whatever you say, Betty. But it could still be hours before they come back. No one knows exactly how far Silverblood is with the tunnel. You really should get some sleep while you still can."

I turned back to him.

"Forgiveness?"

Davin looked at the chart table.

"Well, once the warriors are trapped down here and all the exits are sealed, then we'll move to Riverclaw. It's our only chance of a win without big losses," he said.

Kerberos huffed and two of the heads yelped for attention. I knelt down and petted the hellhound who was purring like a cat.

"First Zelos has to come back to the surface," I said. They wanted to blast the tunnel behind the warriors. How were they going to do this without getting caught.

"Have more faith in him. If he knows one thing, it's how to get himself out of trouble, Betty."

I nodded.

Zelos was a survivor and yet I preferred it if he didn't need this ability.

"I'd better go get us something to eat if you don't want to sleep, alright?" Davin asked.

I nodded and focused on Kerberos' shiny fur. The dog squirmed its heads around and kept closing its yellow pairs of eyes. My stomach couldn't eat anything, not as long as Zelos was here again.

The door slammed behind Davin and silence enveloped me again. My eyes burned with fatigue, but concern for my mate kept me awake. I was supposed to be down there with him, but Davin had held me back on his orders.

I rubbed my cheek.

He had only given me a quick kiss before disappearing into the darkness of the mine. My chest tightened. If Zelos came back, he could get ready for something-

Kerberos raised a head.

A clap of thunder rumbled right under my feet as if the whole mountain were about to explode. The panes of glass shook, as did my heart.

A crushing silence followed.

As if the bang never happened.

A sinking feeling burned into my stomach. The mark on my neck tightened as did all my ribs around the heart.

The trap had been triggered.

And Zelos wasn't back yet.

I jumped to my feet.

“Zelos?!"

I slammed the door open and flew down the steps. Kerberos followed me everywhere. The voices around me were just cotton in my ears. Shadows gave way when they saw me coming.

The gates were wide open.

Icy air hit me, but I fought my way through. A few figures had already gathered in front of the hole and were staring down.

"Zelos?!", I called and didn't care about the looks.

I stared into the entrance to the mine, which lay dark in front of me. The last steps of a homemade ladder peeped out. Short clouds escaped my lips and I had to suppress the trembling.

I stared at Alpha Lenkin.

"Are you back?" I asked, crossing my arms in front of me.

He shook his head.

The sinking feeling in my stomach grew and infected my legs. The whisperfire around us receded into the background.

"What just happened?" I asked.

"An explosion," answered Alpha Lenkin. "The warriors are now locked down here. If Zelos and the old man don't come up soon..."

He lowered his gaze again to the hole with the ladder.

He wanted to lock the entrance.

No .

"You can't lock them up down there! They're saving the pack!" I yelled.

"And it would all be for naught if Silverblood got out of here again, wouldn't it?" asked Lenkin and his normally soft eyes hardened.

A lump grew in my throat.

"Please, we'll have to wait," I whispered, my voice breaking in half.

"We wait until the first warriors are up the ladder. Then we will pull them up and close the hole," said Lenkin.

I tried to swallow the rush of emotions, but part got stuck in my throat. I knelt by the hole, but no matter how deep I stared, it just stared back at the darkness and laughed at me.

The wind howled in the mountains.

Suddenly the darkness brightened.

A bang shook the ground beneath my knees. The earth crumbled and heat shot out at me like a geyser. A force pulled me backwards through the snow. Two of Kerberos jaws had bitten into my dress, pulling me away from the deathtrap. He stood over me and released me a few meters away.

The ice around the opening had melted and mixed with the earth to form mud.

"Zelos?" I asked in a shaky voice and the cloud that escaped my mouth died right in front of my eyes. I crawled back onto it carefully. I didn't care about Kerberos' growl.

"Zelos?" I called down and my voice echoed back to me in the depths. Tears filled my vision.

Two red dots illuminated the darkness.

Two ruby eyes.

This was joined by moonlight silver hair and lips twisted into a signature smirk.

“Zelos!"

My heart pounded against my chest with joy and I took a deep breath. He was alive. I wiped the tears from my eyes. He was fine. His face was adorned with some soot, as was the shirt he was wearing. He climbed the ladder and with each step he came back into the light.

"What a nice greeting," he said as he climbed the last step and pulled himself back to the surface of the earth. Only now did I see the old man on his back, who had attached himself to Zelos like a burr.

As soon as he saw the ground, he let go and landed on his stick-thin legs.

Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around Zelos and hugged him with all my strength. All the tension that had accumulated over the last few hours erupted and a sob erupted between my lips and seeped into his shirt.

Zelos put his strong arms around me and gently stroked my head.

"Shh, I'm here," he whispered in my ear, pushing a strand of hair to the side.

"You could have died," I said, gasping for air. His scent filled me and made me feel serene.

"It's good that I can't be killed that easily," Zelos replied and broke away from me. "You won't get rid of me that easily."

The corners of my mouth turned up against my will.

How could everything be funny for him?

"Lycan Zelos, how nice to have you back," said Alpha Lenkin, lowering his head with its curls. I had to suppress a snort of disdain.

He would have let him die down there.

Along with Lyza's father.

"We won't stay here much longer," Zelos answered and pushed me to his side. "The warriors are locked up down there. Now is our chance."

He turned his gaze to me.

The ruby eyes took in all my features before he parted his lips.

"We will move on to Riverclaw."

***

"Is everything packed?" Zelos asked.

"There wasn't really anything to pack," I replied.

Luna Mayra's clothes could stay here. I sat on the mattress and watched him. The soot was still clinging to his shirt and the fire still stung his eyes.

He stopped and stared down at my small form.

"What's going on?" he asked.

I crossed my arms.

"Nothing."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing... If there's one thing I've learned in my decades on Earth, it's that when a woman says Nothing , she means the exact opposite."

I chose to remain silent and instead surveyed the carpet where Kerberos was sprawled, napping.

"Up to you..."

Zelo's eyes lit up and he took three steps towards me. A hunter's lust shimmered in them. My eyes widened and my mark pinched with excitement.

"Zelos," I said warningly, backing up on the bed. "Ah!"

He grabbed my ankle and pulled me right under him. His smell surrounded me like a cloud of perfume. He climbed onto the bed and I sucked him in. Zelo's hands rested beside my head while the silvery white hair hung in my direction. I reached up and gently tucked one of the strands of hair behind his ear.

He didn't fight back.

His warmth pressed into every part of my body, being careful not to crush me under his weight.

"So, nothing is the matter?" Zelos asked and a corner of his mouth lifted when I nodded. "If that's the case..."

He bowed his head towards me.

I wanted to give in.

But I was still mad at him.

I turned my head to the side so his lips met my cheek. A giggle escaped from my lips at his amazement. A hand grabbed my waist possessively, turning the laughter into a groan.

Zelos grinned against my cheek and his teeth brushed my skin like a warning. It followed the path further down my ear to my neck.

Nerves clenched with joy and I clawed my fingers into his strong back. A hum was my answer, vibrating against my skin and stealing the air from my lungs.

“Zelos..."

All the tension of the previous night was forgotten. He pushed my knees further apart and positioned himself right between them. My heartbeat cheered him on. I was hungry and only he could satisfy the longing that was eating me from the inside out.

It was just us here.

I pushed my hips against his and fireworks erupted between us. I pushed my head into the pillows and closed my eyes. Suddenly his lips parted and a snarl escaped mine.

I widened my eyes and stared at Zelos, panting.

His typical grin was on his lips, like a hunter who wanted to play with his prey a bit before killing it. I squirmed beneath him, but he wouldn't budge.

"So why are you annoyed?" he asked, controlling his breathing himself.

"Zelos," I mumbled.

This was hardly the right time to discuss something like this. He ran a hand over the mark, sending a storm of sparks through my body.

"Eyes on me," he whispered. "The faster you tell me the truth, the faster we can..."

I pressed my hips against his again under his touch and the feeling silenced all thoughts and words. Zelos threw his head back and narrowed his eyes. A mischievous grin filled my lips.

"Sometimes you just talk too much," I gasped, running my fingertips down his back. I could feel every muscle. The fabric of the shirt was the only barrier between us.

"And sometimes you don't talk enough," Zelos replied and lust shone in his eyes. He could hardly keep it in check. He pressed my hips into the mattress beneath us.

"Enough for the essentials..." I said.

"Speaking of essential ," he murmured, leaning down toward me.

His lips came closer.

I closed my eyes.

"Ah!"

Everything happened so fast that my excited scream disappeared into the mattress. Zelos had turned me over once under him so that I was helplessly lying on my stomach. He was still sitting on me, but I could only see his movements with great difficulty.

A hand wrapped around my neck and pulled me against his chest.

"Sometimes you're a vixen. I have to hand that to you", he whispered and I could feel his pounding heart against mine. Zelos laughed. "Did you lose your tongue?"

His fingers played along my neck and the mark shot wild darts of emotion through my body. I could only moan.

"Oh Elizabeth. I can't even tell you how much joy you bring me," said Zelos. "I love you."

The last sentence froze everything around me.

My heart froze, as did his movements.

I turned into his embrace and stared into his beautiful glowing red eyes.

He had surprised himself with his words.

"Excuse me?" I asked, wanting to take the word back immediately. "You love me?"

My voice sounded vulnerable to my own ears.

"Naturally. Haven't I told you that before?" he asked, grinning his carefree grin.

My heart tingled with warmth.

He always knew how to say the wrong thing at the right time.

"I love you too."

The words tumbled freely out of me.

I loved Zelos.

With all its corners and edges. His constant smile and teasing remarks. He hid it well, but he had a good heart. He was honest and kind and loving and strong...

"How good that we agree," Zelos said and gave me another grin. A dry laugh escaped my lips.

I would never get used to that.

"I love your carefree attitude," I murmured, the grin turning to lust.

"And I love your fiery ways," he replied. "The moon goddess is really a-"

I shot my head up and pressed my lips against his. We shared a hot kiss before I broke it for a moment.

"Just sometimes you talk too much," I said, grinning.

"Like I said, sometimes you don't talk enough," he replied. "But we'll manage."

Morning had come.

Everything was ready for departure.

The wind howled between the mountains. I didn't want to stay a day longer here in Silvercrown. The cloak was wrapped tightly around my body, protecting me from the icy breeze.

"I will never forget how you fought at our side," said Alpha Lenkin, bowing to Zelos. "The whole pack will never forget you. You saved us from Silverblood several times. Any support you need, we will give you."

Zelos nodded.

“It's nice to see that the mountain has found a worthy alpha. Let's hope he can also have his true Luna by his side in the years to come," he said.

My eyes darted to Lyza, who was standing next to her father.

"There is still enough to do here," replied Lenkin. "We will wait for your messenger to free the warriors from the mountain again. Until then, the people will pursue their old crafts that benefit the pack. Silver Crown will become new invent."

The alpha gave me a nod of respect and I nodded back. After all, people would be treated a little better under him.

A small bolt of lightning darted towards me and wrapped its arms around me. I almost fell back under the boy's force.

"Do you really have to go?" Linur asked, eyeing me. I still hadn't gotten used to his clean exterior and the chubby cheeks the winter cold conjured up on his face.

He looked like a normal boy.

Tommy would eventually be that big too.

"We'll definitely meet again," I said, squeezing his shoulders.

At the latest when I could hug my own family again. The longing began to tug at my heart. Hopefully Tommy wasn't lonely without Lia and me. Who would take care not to build anything stupid?

I couldn't rely on Theo.

How big would it be when I got back from this trip?

A lump settled in my throat and I tried to swallow it.

A hand squeezed my shoulder and I looked up at Zelos. His eyes reflected the pain I felt inside me.

"Come on, we have to go," he said and I nodded.

I turned around one last time.

To Lyza and Lenkin, Linur and his father.

"Goodbye..."