The Alpha's Rogue ??

57 | Take That Back

At his words, she nodded mutely, her eyes far away as she absorbed his meaning, his presence, his touch and his promise to be with her. When she turned her eyes to his, Savannah looked away and tugged on Zion's hand for him to follow her. She would give the couple their privacy as they met for the first time, and processed how their mate bond now impacted on their lives. The Alpha smiled to herself as she remembered all the times Cale showed his fascination with the Princess he hadn't yet seen. Persia was almost as elusive as the Silver Rogue himself; she was a mystery that had stalked them from the shadows and appeared at the most unexpected moments.

"Talk to me," she whispered to Zion as he trudged silently beside her. They made their way behind the town hall, and stood in the shade of the liquidambars that grew there in a small grove.

Zion's lower jaw shook as he held back, and the veins on his neck pulsed thickly. Savannah watched as the muscles in his shoulders tensed with a barely controlled capacity for violence. This Alpha male may have decided to join her pack and place himself under her accountability and discipline, but a beast still lurked beneath his skin, ready to pounce and unleash its full strength if the right reason arose.

He eventually relented when she placed her hand over his heart, her touch calming the furious storm that raged inside his chest. "He didn't deserve such an easy death."

She released a heavy sigh, and nodded her head in agreement. "I know."

"He needed to suffer for what he did to...to Leila, and to you. To all of us. He tore my family apart, and doesn't even have to face justice in his own territory? We let him walk away, just so he could end it because he was too cowardly to own up to his sins."

"Zion, vengeance is not up to us. I know it hurts that we had to let him go, and it now seems he's got off easy. But we have to trust that God will deal with him later. Parthia will face judgement for his crimes eventually. But it's not up to you. What you did was the right thing, and now you won't have any regrets."

"You mean except regret for not killing him?" Zion stepped back and raked an agitated hand through his hair.

"You don't mean that."

He stared into the distance for a long moment before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. When he faced her again, a calmness had entered his expression, but it was rooted in sadness. "You're right. I don't. I just..." he paused, struggling for words.

"I know. I feel your pain, remember? Right here," she placed her hand over her own heart and mirrored the agony in his eyes.

"But I don't want you to feel my pain, Savannah."

She laughed sadly, torn by the concern in his eyes and the ache in her own heart. "I do. I want to feel every time you're hurting, and every time you're happy. I want to help carry your burdens. Like Cale said, we're with each other in grief, and in the good times too. We're stronger together. I'm your mate, and I love you so much." So, so much. "That's why I'll never let you go through this alone." Taking both his hands, she squeezed them tightly to impart as much meaning behind her words. Through the bond she felt him relaxing, letting go of his anguish, and grasping onto the comfort she gave him.

He leaned in until his forehead rested against hers. Closing his eyes, he inhaled her scent before wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her neck. She held him for a long time, rubbed soothing circles on his back, and prayed for the strength to face his demons every time they reared their ugly heads. The pain and trauma he'd suffered wouldn't go away overnight, and she didn't expect to always understand what he was going through. But God knew how much love she had for him and, given time, she'd help him to embrace that love, and heal from the tragedies in his past.