Chapter 56

Zora

"Where are you going?" I questioned Dash's wolf.

It was infuriating because we couldn't communicate like this.

I got up from the little hole he dumped me in but the wolf growled.

"Do you want me to hide?"

He nodded.

"Dash, I can't stay here while you fight Gabriel."

He sniffled as if to ask me if I had better suggestions.

"We can keep running until we're far apart. Please."

He sniffled again and it seemed like the wolf rolled his eyes. Well, Alpha Wolves were rude.

He pushed me back down into the murky mud. He kicked up mud into the hole partly covering me in dirt. He looked at me firmly before he ran off. I made myself small and listened as two Alpha males battled it out in the dark forest.

I was thrilled Dash found me but I was scared he would get hurt. After several minutes of intense silence, I crawled out of my hiding spot. My pounding heart filled the quietness.

"Dash?" I whispered.

He couldn't hear me that way even with his heightened hearing.

I was filthy and my ankles were sore however I pushed on in the dense and dark forest. This is when being a werewolf would come in handy even if I had a small wolf. She would have helped me navigate the darkness and alert me to any wild animals.

"Dash?" I called. "Please be okay."

"I told you to stay put Zora."

I turned and nearly jumped out of my skin. I yelped when Dash appeared by my side.

"Quiet down."

Blood dripped from the side of his head. He had bruises on his legs and claw marks on his chest. I jumped on him and squeezed his neck.

"Ouch, ouch, easy," he winced.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I can't believe you did that!"

"What else did you want me to do? I regret not killing him," he grumbled.

I swallowed. "So, Gabriel's alive?"

"So that's his name."

"Stop it. Can we get out of here?" I asked, rubbing my arms.

He nodded. "You'll have to get on my back again."

I couldn't argue with him. I was relieved to be free and desperate to be somewhere familiar.

***

Dash took me back to his house. He wanted to tell our friends he found me but I asked him not to. I wasn't ready for all the attention. It was late anyway we would speak to them in the morning.

I discarded the dress Gabriel gave me and dressed in Dash's gym shirt. Dash stocked up a fire so we could curl up in front of it. He hadn't pressed me for details. I was nervous to tell him a lot of things especially the intimate moment Gabriel and I had. The mate bond was so strong I couldn't explain it.

Dash rubbed my feet and my aching ankles as we watched the flames in the fireplace dance.

"You need first aid, Dash," I said, breaking the silence.

"I'm healing don't worry about it."

I bit the inside of my cheek. "I'd be more comfortable if you let me help you."

"I'd be more comfortable if Gabriel was dead."

I stared at my hands. "He's been watching me. It's only a matter of time before he figures out I'm here."

"I'll be waiting for him. I dare him to set foot on my land."

"Dash- he's my fated mate. He's the reason you can't mark me."

"That's another reason for me to kill him."

"Can you not talk about murder for a minute?" I sighed.

He sat up and our eyes met for the first time during the conversation. It was painful to look into his eyes.

"I felt it when you two were together-"

"It wasn't like that! We didn't have sex- not really," I cut him off. "I don't want him and you know it."

He took my cheeks in his hands. "He may be your real fated mate but you and I have a bond too. You're my mate. I think I managed to mark you a little bit. It doesn't make sense right now but my wolf is bonded to you and there's nothing anyone can do about that."

I leaned into his touch. "So you're not running out on me again?"

"Of course not."

A lightbulb went off in my head and I frowned.

"Is the bond the reason you found me?" I asked.

"No, uh, Rachel called me. She told me where you were. I almost didn't go because her previous information proved useless. I have to thank her."

"Thank her?" I exclaimed. "I don't want you calling her again!"

He chuckled. "You have no reason to be jealous."

"It's not jealousy. She's Gabriel's lover. She was so jealous she foiled her boyfriend's kidnapping scheme."

Dash frowned. "Rachel's involved with Gabriel? What the hell?"

"Ugh, I knew I didn't like her."

"She's been a spy all this time. She's been feeding me false information."

Or just enough of the truth to keep you interested. Gabriel did kill my parents but what if he killed your Dad because he knew a lot about the Pandora? That could be the reason he separated us. I don't know Dash, maybe I do know something about this object but I don't remember! I don't want to remember that object is better off lost and forgotten."

Dash raked a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I never suspected that. My Father was shady though."

"It's messed up I don't want anything to do with him. Can't he be arrested or something?"

"Of course, he can but I doubt that will do much to help."

"What do I do Dash?" I frowned.

"You can reject him. I don't know what complications you'll suffer after the rejection but it looks like a good option."

"That means I have to face him again."

"I'll be with you. If he's always watching you then he'll know when you set foot on your property tomorrow morning."

"Dash are you sure?"

"Positive. Trust me, babe."

I trusted him but I knew what Gabriel was capable of and how desperately he wanted to find the Pandora.