The Beast's Possession
71: Those girls were saved.

**Aife

pov**

For once, Bane didn't lie. He claimed Zion would join me shortly, and he did.

As soon as Beta burst through the door, he ran to me, grabbed my shoulders and pulled me into a tight, bone-crushing hug. "You're okay, oh, Goddess, you're okay," he muttered over and over again.

When I managed to get out of his grip, I finally felt like I could breathe. "What the hell was that? What just happened?" I muttered to myself.

Zion took the questions as something I was asking him. Slowly, he raised an eyebrow and stared at me as if I was growing another head. "What are you talking about? The Alpha command? Bane hates using it, but sometimes he does if there's no other option, don't sweat it."

As he shrugged his shoulders, I tried to decide if it would be for the best if I told Zion what actually bothered me.

Everyone in this pack was pretty much used to Bane's multiple personalities, but it was something new for me, so I still struggled to understand him.

For some reason, my hand shot up to my lips and my fingertips gently brushed them. My mind instantly went back to the moment when Bane kissed me.

Now, I realized how many emotions the beast forced in that kiss. It felt so desperate, so all-consuming, it nearly didn't make sense. In a way, it really didn't.

"Holy hell, don't tell me that he-" Zion cut himself off with a loud gasp. "He did!" Following the statement, Zion started jumping around, looking like his butt was on fire.

"Calm down, stop trying to attract unnecessary attention and explain what is happening. Zion, I'm so lost... I- I just want to understand him and his intentions. All he does is confuse me."

Zion finally stopped, took my hand and led me closer to the bed to sit down. He didn't let go of his hold on my hand as we sat in silence. "I will need a little more information. What is it that confuses you the most?" "Bane," I answered in a du-uh tone.

He rolled his eyes at me. "Well, yeah, that much is clear for any fool. I mean what exactly confuses you about the things he does. Give me details, be more specific, please."

Sucking in a deep breath, I tried to ground myself and set my thoughts in order. Lasing out wouldn't bring any good, especially because Zion wasn't to be blamed for anything.

All he did was try to be a good friend.

"Hot and cold, for example? Just look back at everything that has happened. And actually, come to think of it, Bane isn't the only problem. I've noticed how differently I'm being treated compared to others. The batch of new girls that arrived not long ago, for example. Remember them? Yeah, none looked like their packs had been slaughtered moments ago, and all of them wore fancy dresses. It wasn't the same case with me."

Zion let go of my hand and ran his fingers through his hair, groaning as he did. The next moment, he shot up to his feet and started pacing the small room.

"It isn't my place to tell you all the details about some stuff that is happening around the pack, but I can explain about the girls. Only if you promise you will settle for what information I'm willing to share for now. You will find out more when the time is right but as soon as I tell you what I can, we're changing the topic. Deal?"

Since he sounded so worried, and even afraid, I instantly agreed with him. Knowing something was way better than not knowing anything at all.

"Deal," I muttered when his gaze focused on me.

"Okay, good," Zion muttered and kept pacing. "The last girls that arrived, they weren't stolen or anything. Some things about our pack seem surprising for outsiders, but Bane does many things because he has to. Let's say some packs sure do deserve what's coming their way. However, those girls were saved. They came willingly."

As I tried to piece the bigger picture together, it didn't make sense. I had heard about plenty of awful packs where women were mistreated and beaten to death on most occasions, so I wouldn't argue that some deserved the worst. But in this case, what were they saving the girls from? An abusive pack? Even the worst abusers could be one's family and for the most part, unfortunately, we are wired to love even those who hurt us.

"They came from a trafficking pack. Don't tell Bane I told you, I've already said too much." Zion added more clarity to his words.

"Trafficking pack?" I whispered, hoping he could toss another bone my way.

He was extremely fast on his feet as Zion appeared right next to me again and leaned closer to whisper, "they were taken from different packs when they were very young. Literally infants and toddlers. The rogues who stole them from different packs sold them off to the biggest bidder. In this case, a pack that was famous for trafficking young women. They bought them, trained and beat them into perfect, submissive women and then, once they reach the age, the pack sells them off making massive profit."

"So, it's like a brothel but way worse?" I whispered.

"Yeah," Zion agreed. "Now, this topic is off the table and I forget I ever told you anything. Don't tell Bane you know why those girls arrived, he prefers to act like a villain when it comes to the new chicks."

"But why, though? Why must he paint himself as the bad guy?" I kept prying.

Any information about Bane would help me understand him better. In turn, I could get closer to him and see if I would ever get out of here.

Reality was that I could try to figure out how to let Killian know where I was. The problem with that was that I didn't want to leave with Killian either.

My father claimed he wasn't a bad man, very noble and wealthy, but I had eavesdropped on their meetings after I first found out that dad wanted to marry me off to that man and something about his was off.

Bane was awful, inside and out, but at least he didn't hide his true nature. Killian was the opposite outside he looked calm and handsome, but inside, he was rotten.

If I had to choose, I would rather remain around someone who was their true self, as monstrous as they could be, than stand next to someone who hid how monstrous they could be.

"Past. Traumas. Experiences? You name it. Bane has a reason for everything he does. Sometimes, even I get confused with shit he can pull off, but for the most part... Yeah, let's stick to the fact that there is a reason why I remain at his side." Zion muttered as his eyes focused on the wall opposite of us.

"He's your best friend, it makes sense that you want to remain at his side. I would do the same if I had a best friend," I tried to add a little positivity to this conversation.

Zion slapped a hand over his heart and looked at me in disbelief. "Wow, so I'm not your friend? Like not a friend at all? And here I was, thinking we had something good going. You wound me, Aife, you hurt me so bad."

We both burst out in laughter the moment the last words left his lips. This was one of the easiest and most enjoyable moments I had during the last few days, despite the serious conversation.

When we managed to calm down, Zion pulled me to my feet and announced that we were going out. Judging by his logic, now that Bane had left me solely as Zion's responsibility and wouldn't mend in our business anymore, Zion had the right to take me out and show me more of the nearby town.

I couldn't help but grin like a child, about to visit the candy store. I had lost a lot, in fact, everything, because of Bane, but on the bright side, I had Zion now. I wasn't as alone as I thought after all.