The Beast's Possession
43: I’m with you, my love.

**Zion

pov**

The guards thought they were smart, they thought that by withholding any and every information from me they were doing me a favor.

Fuck, how wrong were they.

I needed to know everything that was happening around the pack, even if I didn't like what they had to say.

Perhaps that's why I thought it was rather positive to hear them whisper among themselves, thinking I was asleep, completely out cold and couldn't listen in on their conversations. Well, sucked to be those fuckers then.

As I sat in the forsaken cell, counting the minutes that were left for me to live in agony, I knew two things.

One - the monstrous Bane was on his way here to hand me my own ass.

Two - the pack members talked and they did that loud enough for everyone to hear. That fucker was planning to hurt my Kala.

Over my goddamn dead body would he ever touch a hair on that woman's head. She was my mate, the mother of my child and I knew I would rather die a slow, painful death in the pits of hell than allow him anywhere near her. "No, that wouldn't happen. Ever. I just found her, barely found out we're expecting, he won't take that away from me," I muttered under my breath.

While I wasn't the loudest of the bunch, I needed to hear those words to convince myself that I could do this.

The plan had been in the making for a while and finally, I had to act on it and do what had to be done ages ago.

I wanted to stay around, I wanted to be there for my best friend and find a way to save him, but if I had to choose between someone who refused to fight for himself and someone I loved more than my own life, I would always choose Kala. She was my future. She was my "it."

While the guards were too busy chatting, I forced myself to my feet, biting the inside of my cheek until it bled - all to keep any sound from escaping me.

I had been planning a way out for a while, but the chance presented itself fairly recently, and that was why I decided to take it now. Countless prayers to the moon Goddess later and she finally answered one.

It turned out that there was a secret door in the floor of my cell, perfectly hidden under all that filth and blood that covered the floor.

I checked if the guards were paying attention only one more time and slowly leaned down to grab the handle.

My body ached and an accidental "fuck" escaped my lips, but that too was ignored by the guards who were too engrossed in their conversation.

Somehow, I managed to make no sound as I opened the door to the dark tunnel, lowered myself in and closed the door behind me.

When my feet hit the damp ground, I nearly collapsed, but I had to force myself to move even if I felt like I balanced on the brink of death like this. The place reeked of shit and mold, yet even if this was some massive pipe, leading to the pack's many bathrooms, I didn't care.

I didn't mind swimming in shit if that meant I could get to my mate and protect her from any harm.

Clutching my right side, I started walking forward without any sense of direction.

Sure, I didn't have any idea where I was headed, but at least I was out of those cells and on my way to her.

Fuck, I couldn't remember the last time I saw a genuine smile on her lips, and I was excited to see that now. That thought was what kept me going, what made me push myself even more.

After the Goddess knew how long I spent walking, a sudden sense of relief washed over me. At first, I wasn't sure why that happened all of a sudden, but a moment later, I caught what I could describe as the most enchanting, mouth watering scent I've even smelled.

It was her. Kala. She was here, wandering the same tunnels as I was and soon enough, I could catch up with her.

That realization sent my mind into a frenzy and my body started moving as if it had a mind of his own.

Despite the multiple injustices all over my body, somehow I managed to keep bumping against every ducking thing in my way. This tunnel was like some hoarder's dream, packed with useless shit.

What worried me the most was how loud I was being. Kala had no idea I was following, I might scare my little mate to death if I wasn't more careful.

Aaaand, fuck being more careful or careful at all because I was pretty damn sure I caught a whiff of blood.

Panic surged through me, blinding my senses and ability to think about anything but what might have happened. I knew it was the scent of her blood, I knew it.

The closer I got, the wilder my heart beat in my chest and the louder those thumps sounded in my ears. I struggled to breathe and still kept pushing forward.

When I was so close the scent was overwhelming me, I soon noticed what was happening. A woman was attacking my Kala, aiming a knife at her heart, ready to kill the love of my life right before my eyes.

"Not fucking happening," I growled and charged at her, ignoring the pain and fear that tried to paralyze me.

It all happened in a blur. One moment I stood aside and watched, the next moment I was shredding a woman to pieces, ripping her limbs off her body, and then, I was embraced by the warmest arms that have ever touched me.

Kala held me close and cried, the sound of her pain echoing against the walls and soon after, I started crying too. Like an overgrown child, unapologetically, I cried in both fear and overwhelming happiness.

I found her, she was safe, our baby was safe, and now, we would move forward together with no danger in sight. "Zion, you're here. My life, you're here," she kept repeating as her hands slid up to my face and held it. Kala took her time watching me, like she needed time to convince herself I was really there, alive.

I turned my head to kiss her palm and forced a smile. "I'm here, I'm finally with you, my love."

Those words worked like a wake up call to my beautiful mate. The look of desperation was replaced by one of determination as she pulled me closer and started barking out quiet commands, "I don't know if that mad friend of yours is following me, but I think he might be on my heels, so we need to start moving. We have to find an exit and leave this place."

Usually, I liked teasing her a little and disagreeing just for the fun of that, but this time, I let her lead. I let her make decisions for both of us. No, all three of us.

My mate had proved over and over again how strong and faithful she was, the least I could do was show her I trusted her judgment.

"Yeah, let's get out of here before anyone else tries to attack you. I'm not in the best shape these days."