Chapter 61

Zora

The tractor ran out of gas and stopped just before hitting an oak tree. My heartbeat returned to normal because I was sure that old thing would have exploded.

A piece of glass shattered somewhere in the house.

"What was that?" Zelda asked.

Before I could respond to my sister, she ran off. I followed her to where we found busted wood.

"Where does this window lead?" Zelda asked.

"The cellar, I think."

"Gabriel," she sighed heavily. "They found him!"

"What do we do?" I asked.

"We have to block this entrance."

"They could use the front door, Zelda."

"Let's smoke them out!" Zelda gasped.

"We're not setting fire to my house. They can't come up this way, but just in case, grab that rock and seal it. I have to make sure Cassidy's okay."

Zelda nodded. "Got it."

I ran around the house. I came to a halt when I discovered two limp bodies on the ground. Cassidy was in Gunner's arms.

It would take a while until that wasn't weird. She was carrying his baby, so I'd have to get over my shock quickly.

"Where's Zelda?" Kaleb asked.

I blinked a few times. "Uh… she's in the house. Someone broke in, and I think they're trying to break Gabriel out."

"Shit!" Kaleb barked.

She ran into the house. Gunner left Cassidy and ran into the house. Dash marched up to me, panting, sweaty and naked.

"Nice distraction," he breathed out.

I slid my hands up his bare chest and scanned for any cuts, bruises or injuries.

"It's the best I could come up with. Are you okay?"

He nodded. "Of course I am."

"Did you do all the damage?"

He dragged me forward and wrapped his arms around me. Dash breathed me in and stroked my hair. "You don't have to see that. Let's go inside."

We marched into the house just as Gunner roared in frustration.

"What's wrong?" I asked. "Is Zelda okay?"

"Zelda? They took Gabriel! Darn it!" Gunner blasted.

I noticed my sister leaning against the wall. She rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

"He's such a caring Alpha," she commented.

I snickered. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, they were already gone when I got out of the cellar. You'll need to up your budget for the renovation of this place. They messed up the doors."

I sighed. "Of course."

"Come on, we've got to come up with ideas to keep the pack safe. I thought we captured all his men." Gabriel was pissed.

He marched off, and everyone followed. Max said the map on my arm was microscopic, so all we needed was the equipment, and we'd be on our way. Gabriel wasn't in control anymore. He can't get his hands on the Pandora.

"Zora, can we talk?" Cass's small voice dragged me out of my thoughts.

Everyone had followed Gunner into the living room. I could still hear him ranting.

I cleared my throat. "Sure. Why did you come, Cass? That was… scary."

"I came to talk to you! We left things off on a sour note."

"I thought we were friends."

"We are! Are you kidding me?"

"Friends aren't supposed to hold grudges. I didn't know you had feelings for Gunner. I never had!"

"He's obsessed with you. Gunner and I go way back and the only woman he gave a damn about was you. I've always been in your shadow, Zora," Cass said pitifully.

I ran a hand down my face and exhaled. "You never told me, and I told you everything. I'm not interested in Gunner. The question is what you're going to do about Lilah."

Cass bit her bottom lip and paced a little. "She's going to flip."

"She'll kill you, that's what she'll do," I mumbled.

"No, Gunner would never allow that." She rolled her shoulders back as she spoke.

"Did he say he would marry you, Cass?"

Her eyes narrowed, and her features turned dark and defensive.

"Zora!" Dash called.

"We'll talk more about this later, but Cass. I'm happy for you. I'm glad you're going to be a Mom. No matter what happens, you won't be alone."

"Zora," she whimpered and hung her head.

We joined the others in the living room. Dash watched me carefully, I could feel his anxiety. He urged me to share the plan I had with the group. When I did, everyone seemed optimistic except Zelda.

"That won't work," she said.

"And why not?" Gunner asked, frowning.

"Because Dad won't ever allow it. The reason he tattooed the map on a five-year-old's arm is that he doesn't want anyone to find it!"

"You knew?" I gasped.

I didn't mention I was five years old when Max tattooed the map on my arm.

Zelda froze for a second and then relaxed. "Yes, I knew. He told me."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, a tad betrayed.

I guess it was too much pressure to put on a less than a month's relationship. Zelda put her life in danger for me more than once.

"Kaleb told me not to," she said.

All eyes turned to Kaleb and he startled a little as if he'd just processed what Zelda said.

"Whoa, I didn't know about the tattoo. I just told her to keep her mouth shut. Nothing good happens when that thing is brought up. So what's the plan?"

"Good way to change the subject, babe," Zelda said, rolling her eyes.

"I'll get a damn microscope and we'll be able to read the map," Gunner said.

"It has to be a special microscope, obviously," Zelda added.

Gunner stood and grumbled. "It just keeps getting better and better."

"We can't stay here. We have to keep moving, come on, Zora." Dash said.

I exhaled and prepared to say goodbye to my home again. Dash's hands landed on my shoulder and squeezed.

"We can go to the Pack house," Gunner offered.

"No, Zora's coming to my house," Dash said defensively.

"Well, her Grandfather's there, and I'm sure he'd like to know she's okay."

"What?" I asked.

"Right, Mr Dean's at the Pack house. There was a mission while you were… taken."

"I would love to see him. I feel like I gave up on him for a second," I confessed.

"No, baby, you didn't," Dash said.

"I want to see him, and then we can go back to your house."

"Sounds like a plan," Dash said.

While the rest of us when to the Pack house, Gunner went in search of a special microscope that could read my tattoo.