The Wannabe Warrior
Chapter 166

Zane POV

Back in my room, I packed a small bag, and changed into clothes for a run.

Then I went to see Gerome.

He was working away as usual. I can’t remember the last time he was not working, his fingers flying over the keyboard with precision.

‘What can I do for you, Zane?’ Gerome asked when I reached him hunched over his computer, not looking up from his task before him. He always seemed to be working on his computer as if everything was an emergency and I wondered if it was for him.

‘Need a communicator, I am headed to go get my mate, I have had enough of waiting around.’ I replied as I reached for one.

‘Hey, wait a sec, I got to code in the wave length first, sit and talk to me while I code it in.’ Gerome saved and closed the work he was doing and opened the app I recognised as the one to do with the communicators.

‘Has Madison said anything about how she is doing?’ I asked curiously.

‘Madison has her mic on all the time, we can hear what is happening over there.’ He answered carefully, flicking his eyes at me before going back to coding the communicator.

‘Can you play some for me?’ I needed to hear her voice while I waited.

Gerome turned up the volume and I was saddened at what I heard coming over the speakers.

A man’s voice was heard, he was asking her to put on a dress she was apparently holding, and then complimented her, and demanded she sit before him and he brush her hair. What a creep, my poor mate is having to do his bidding. No wonder she blocked me out of his.

‘Sweetheart, I love you.’ I mind-linked her.

‘Zane, I love you too.’ She replied and I knew what was happening and she was trying to talk to me as if nothing was happening.

‘I am here with Gerome, how are you holding up?’ I asked as Gerome handed me the communicator.

‘You heard?’ she asked sadly.

‘Yeah, guess you are not in the cells.’ and I felt Madison growl in my mind.

‘Think I would have preferred the cells. This room is covered in wolfbane, the windows are locked as well as the door, and I think they are putting something in the milk. I haven’t used any, and I am worried they will put whatever it is in some other food. The only good thing is they can’t shift or mind-link when in this room and we maybe able to used that when you get here, I have looked at the hole, and I am sure I can climb through it, just don’t know where it goes, so when you are here and ready, let me know, I will get in the cavity and find out where it goes, before you come storming in, maybe I can find a place to get out of here and safer for you, they have four guards at my door, at all times, so coming in that way is out of the question.’

‘When I get closer to you, I will let you know, it will take me a few days to reach you. I can’t use the roads. The word is they have that watched, so need to go across country, there are a few places that is hard to cross. But one way or another, I will reach you and take you home.’ I said this with conviction, I would reach her and hold her and never let her go into such danger again.

Well, that is what I want, but I know deep down, she won’t let me keep her confined for long.

‘Be safe, my love, I will be waiting for you, and if I have to, I will get into that cavity earlier and try to find a way out. This Guy Jacob is starting to creep me out.’

I understood what she meant, while talking to me, he was murmuring sweet talk to her, and sniffing her hair, and I could feel her revulsion at his attempt at seduction. She might kill him before we get there and I know that would not go down well with Gladys.

Once Gerome was happy with my communicator and could hear me loud and clear, he wished me luck and to bring back Madison.

Dad found me as I was headed to the kitchens to get some of Madison’s snack bars she loved to make.

‘Son, can we talk about this please?’ He pleaded with me.

‘Dad, I got to go, I can’t sit by any longer.’ I didn’t stop walking to the kitchens.

‘Zeek has agreed to let you and twenty Blue River warriors through the tunnels.’ He growled out and I stopped in my tracks. That got my attention with that, though I still did not like going through the tunnels. I felt I was invading someone’s home now, and that was not a good feeling.

‘What changed his mind?’ I asked as I placed half a dozen bars in my bag and grabbed a couple of bottles of water.

‘He could not apologise enough once he knew who we were going to rescue.’ dad said, as if that made any difference to me.

‘It should not matter who we are going to rescue,’ I argued back. The pack members are all valuable, each one deserves to be rescued.

‘I hear you, son, but, I understand his argument too.’ dad counted back.

‘When I get closer to you, I will let you know, it will take me a few days to reach you. I can’t use the roads. The word is they have that watched, so need to go across country, there are a few places that is hard to cross. But one way or another, I will reach you and take you home.’ I said this with conviction, I would reach her and hold her and never let her go into such danger again.

‘Look, dad, I understand, I am going to be running through their homes, I am not insensitive.’ I stopped and turned around and stared at my dad, then added.

‘They have something going on that we don’t know about. Alex had always been open and co-operative, but the other two had been crazy and avoided letting us in. Although Alex has made it all look good in his pack, and maybe his pack is an exception to the rule. I had thought that if they had packs near each of the ones we needed to replace the alpha’s in, that maybe they would have some that could take over, and then they would have more safety in knowing they managed the area around their cave mouths. But if they are going to be against us, how can we trust them and offer such a thing.’ I gave the thoughts that had been circulating around in my head and dad nodded at me, as if he had similar thoughts.

‘Agreed, I was thinking the same, that they should rule the area around their caves. But would any of the Deep Earth people want to live above ground after spending all their lives underground, or do you think that maybe getting overcrowded? and can’t dig tunnels fast enough to cover the expanding pack, and what about integration? Do they let each unmated group meet up so they can find their mates? There are so many things we don’t understand. Once this is done, we need to find out where they stand and if we can help or if they even want help.’ Dad was as full of unanswered questions as me and for some reason that made me feel a little better, I had been feeling so helpless without my wolf and second guessed my judgement, without the nagging voice giving me his opinions.

And here is dad, having the same questions as me.

I have been so selfish, dad must be feeling pretty bad, with all the traitors and now his own sister. All of our little inner circle must be struggling one way or another, with all that has happened in such a short time. The years of building up behind our backs to take over the throne, and we are still finding more traitors.

I stepped forward and pulled dad into a hug, which, at first, surprised him, and after the smallest of hesitations, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest and patted my back. Together we were consoling each other, and it did not matter who was witness to our discussion or our embrace.