110
NIRVANA I woke up gasping. It seemed that I was having a dream, but I couldn’t remember what it was, and I had no recollection of how I came to be in this unfamiliar room or this bed. I was not in our bed nor at the pack house.
Then I remembered we were in the office talking about Cadogan, and Victor called until we argued about turning myself into the council.
Zarah.
“Oh, my God.” I got up from bed and went to the door. Thankfully, it was unlocked, or it left it that way.
As I looked around, the house interior appeared suburban, and then the strong scents of cinnamon, musk, and herbs hit my nostrils- I could be a home spray, reeds, or a diffuser.
I stepped out, barefooted, tiptoeing to find the exit.
“Good. You’re awake.”
I jumped at the voice behind me. My hand flattened on my chest as I turned around, trying to calm my heartbeat.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Zarah asked flatly.
“What did you do to me? Why am I here in your house?”
“Follow me.” She gestured. She must have come from the kitchen where the smell of herbs came from.
“What am I doing here, Zarah? I need to go back to the vineyards.” I followed her despite my mind protesting. “Let me guess, we’re not in California anymore.”
“Yes. We’re at the most secure place for you. The Fort Knox for magic. I know you have a lot of questions, but we can talk while we’re eating. Have a seat.”
She seemed domesticated for a powerful witch. I couldn’t imagine her cooking in her contemporary country kitchen. Despite being worried about the vineyards, I took a seat on her stool. Two plates of cinnamon pie slices were on the table.
“Why did you bring me here when they’re all in danger without me?”
“After we left, the people from the council arrived. They have written order to capture you-”
“Like a warrant of arrest?” My eyes widened.
“Yes. It came from Eloh. He’s now running the Werewolf Council. He’s brutal, with no conscience. Imagine what he does to you if you turn yourself to them. You’re good as dead, and our plan of defeating Cyrius is over.” She sliced her pie and ate calmly.
“Then I am also useless hiding myself in your house.”
“Let the dust settle, and then you can return to the vineyards.”
I desperately sighed as I took a bite of a small piece of the pie. It was good. “I just left the vineyards unprotected for Cyrius to be taken over. My pack is good as dead, Zarah. Do you know what damages you just did?”
She rested her elbows on the counter and smiled. “You’re really falling for your pack. You remind me of Shadow. She’s selfless like you, but that makes you also vulnerable.”
“And that makes me human. I have emotions. I can feel pain, love, and everything. What’s your point, Zarah? I just left my pack to get slaughtered.”
“They’re going to be fine,” she said dismissively, seemingly enjoying her baking more.
“I can’t even see you here being domesticated,” I said sarcastically, and maybe she would send me back when I became stubborn. “You said it yourself. Cyrius is after that place.”
“This is also a center of source of energy. That’s why I couldn’t sell or abandon this place even if I mostly stay in Italy.”
“Oh.”
“The moment they couldn’t find you in the vineyards, Knight and your pack were being questioned.”
“How did they get into the vineyards?”
“They were welcomed inside. At this moment, only unwanted visitors could not enter, and I took the shield down so they would not question me.”
“You mean saved your butt. But you can still send me back once this is over, right?”
“Why? You already missed your mate?” She stared at me with intensity.
“It’s not like that.” I shrugged, but I also missed Knight. “They are dealing with Cadogan’s men. One of them who shot Kailin.”
“Kailin’s mate will deal with it. It’s not your problem anymore, Nirvana. You can’t solve every problem around you. That’s why there’s an alpha, the beta, delta, enforcers, and elders. They have their own roles. Your duty is as luna of the pack.”
“So there’s no way I can go back?” I still insisted, even if I already knew the answer.
“No. Right now, I can’t portal you back. They monitor anyone who has contact with the vineyards. You can’t call Knight or anyone, or you will put their lives in danger. Do you understand me? This a serious matter, Nirvana. You are wanted by the new council. And I don’t think he will go easy on you. They just contacted Margaret, the high priestess of my coven. So, I’m also under surveillance, but I’m risking my safety and my life for you.”
I couldn’t say anymore. All I did was eat her pie, and it was delicious, or I just had nothing to do than eat. “For how long?”
“Maybe a day, a week, a month, I don’t know. Until the council won’t clears the vineyards, you can’t go back. You can’t see your mate.”
“So the council can’t have me, but I am under house arrest.” I studied her for a moment. I saw nothing but her concern. “Great.”
“This is better than them torturing you and taking away your power. This is the best place for you.”
Once we were done eating, I looked through the window. She had a lot of plants and flowers in the yard and a classic iron-wrought gate like in a witch movie.
“The house is spell-protected,” she said behind me. Why was I not even surprised?
“Let me guess, there’s a spell on that gate.”
“Yes. No one can come inside uninvited, and you can’t go out without me.”
“Yes. You might as well put an ankle monitor on me.”
“Yeah. I did, but magically.” Right, my necklace.
I faced her and rolled my eyes. “You took my house arrest to a whole new level, and you’re enjoying this a lot, aren’t you?”
I wandered around her house. She had colorful couches and throw pillows. This was not what I imagined about Zarah. Considering that she was dating a lycan alpha king, how she dressed, how she carried herself, and how powerful she was, it was reasonable.
“So you can’t send a message via pigeon or something.”
“Stop. Watch some movies and read books, but no computer, internet, or phone call.”
“Yeah, I get it, Zarah.” I stayed on the couch, but my mind was still with Knight. “How do you know you can trust Victor? If I know, he planned all this so he has our sympathy, and then we tell him everything, then betray us after.”
“He was working with Eloh, finding a cure until he got a report that we were looking for a weapon. When he thought Eloh was still loyal to him, he told him what he learned from us. Eloh, on the other hand, is ambitious and arrogant and will do everything to get to the top of the game. Victor lost everything, Nirvana. He may still have allies, but he doesn’t run the council anymore, so everybody might just cut their ties with him and turn their sides to Eloh. He’s desperate, and any moment now, Eloh will call a meeting with all alphas and decide how he will handle you.”Content © provided by NôvelDrama.Org.
“Son of a bitch.”
“You think Victor putting a bounty on you was ruthless? Try Eloh. He is a hundred times worse than Victor. So if you still want to see your mate alive again, you behave and wait until we can make a concrete plan on how we can fight Cyrius and prove Eloh he’s a loser.” She stood up. “We have a visitor.”
“Who?” I stood up as well as she went to open the door, but I had a feeling it was not Knight or anyone from my pack.
Then Califf walked in wearing a perfect suit and tie. “How’s your prisoner?”
“Stubborn as always.”
He chuckled. “How are you doing, Nirvana?”
“I’ll live as long as my pack is safe.”
“For now.” He smiled sympathetically. “Just hang in there. Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I hope so because honestly, with everything’s happening around me, I’m going to be crazy without hearing anything back home. Anyway, have you heard anything from Alexander? I just want to know if my grandfather is okay.”
“Oh, they’re fine. They were in Alaska last week, hunting. This weekend, they are planning to go to Moscow.”
“That’s good to know he’s fine.” I sighed in satisfaction.
“He told you not to work hard. He called you honey?”
“Yeah. That’s sound like my grandpa.” I wiped my tears. I didn’t know they were there. “Thank you.”
I breathed deeply as he slipped his hand into his jacket pocket. “I have something for you.”
I hesitated, taking the folded paper between his fingers. “What’s this?”
“Open it, and you’ll know.”
I took it from him and smiled. “Thank you.”
My eyes widened as I opened the paper. It was a male penmanship, and it began with the word sweetheart.
Sweetheart Nirvana,
You’re probably cursing me right now, but I hope you understand why I did what I did. I can’t, for the love of Goddess, let them take you, and if I have to fight for something, it would be for our love and protect our people. Stay where you are, and remember that you are always in my mind, in my heart, and in every breath I take.
I love you, Nirvana. I’ll see you soon.
K. B