Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1360 - 115 : Surrounded in Isolation
*Zara*
The journey back to my home of Crowstar Pack was a long one. I attempted to take my infant daughter’s lead and sleep on the way there, but it became clear rather quickly it was going to be an impossibility.
Nausea threatened to overtake me as I remembered the way Noah looked at me as we drove off. I told myself not to look back, knowing that it would just make leaving that much harder, but I had to glance at him one last time. I didn’t know if this would be the last time.
I instantly regretted it when I saw the worry in his blue eyes, even with the several feet and the tinted window separating us. He looked so strong and confident when he carefully helped me into the car and gave me one last kiss.
When I looked back at him again, there was clear concern swimming in his orbs. I told myself that he was just worried about Briella and me since he would be separated from us. I tried not to think that he might have been worried about himself, wondering if he would return from battle like he promised he would.
I spent the rest of the ride praying to the Moon Goddess, asking the benevolent protector to watch over Noah and to bring him back safely so that I wouldn’t lose a mate and Briella wouldn’t have to grow up without a father.
When the familiar iron gate of Crowstar came into view, I couldn’t help but notice how small the community looked compared to Drogomor. The population of Crowstar had to be a mere tenth of what Drogomor’s was.
My mother and father were right inside the gate. I hopped out of the car with baby Briella cradled in my arms.
“We’re so happy you made it,” Mother said, hugging me fiercely and kissing Briella’s forehead.
“We were so worried when we got the news,” Father added, hugging me as well. He dropped a kiss on Briella’s chubby cheek. He put an arm around my shoulder. “Alpha gave us permission to put you up in his safe house. We’ll lead you there.”
Father gestured for our drivers to follow him before leading me over to their silver car. It was still the same car from my childhood. I got a strange sense of nostalgia climbing into the musty thing.
The Alpha’s safe house was in a beautiful and remote Sanctuary of the pack lands, just inside the southern border of Crowstar land. The rolling hills and wildflowers that suddenly surrounded us did nothing to cheer me. The beautiful sight just made me miss Noah even more.
I was barely paying attention as Mother and Father led the huge group of us into the safe house. It was large and set up like a villa with multiple rooms and a shared living room and kitchen area. Noah’s aunts thanked my parents profusely as the bags were brought in by our drivers.
I carried Briella into the room that we would be staying in. I shook my head hard. After placing my daughter into a little bassinet that we were provided with, I started to unpack our things. It was hard to say how long we would be there. Hopefully, the battle would end swiftly and in our favor.
My parents were kind enough to have a huge feast made for all of us the night of our arrival. I was grateful that even if I had to be sent away from Noah, at least it was with my family. I did miss my parents and made sure to talk to them a lot during dinner.
“We’re all really grateful to be here,” I told Mother.
“We’re so happy you’re here, sweetheart,” she told me, putting a hand over mine. “I know it might seem nearly impossible to do so but try not to worry yourself to the point of illness. Your mate is a strong one, I can tell. He’s going to be alright.”
Tears burned my eyes, but I choked them back and nodded, giving my mom a grateful smile. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of hiding my fear, but my mom was able to see through any brave facade of mine.
I looked around the table, at Noah’s aunts and Lorelei, who despite everything happening back home, were deep in conversation about the trip that they were planning through the Light Realm. Gray was sitting next to her having a light conversation with Caleb, who was also assigned as one of our protectors during our stay in Crowstar.
I felt my heart rate start to even out as I looked at my friends and family. I was safe. I kept reminding myself of that fact. Everything was going to be fine. Noah was strong, and our warriors were as well. They would protect him.
I sent another prayer to the Moon Goddess, probably my hundredth of the day.
“This Alpha Daven is apparently extremely vicious and without mercy,” I said to my parents in a low voice. “I can’t help but worry about Noah.”
My parents shared a sympathetic look before attempting to console me.
“Your mate is even more fierce,” my father said, putting an arm around my shoulders.
“He’s going to be alright,” Mother added.
I knew they were mainly trying to comfort me, but I couldn’t help but be terrified knowing that Draven was extremely brutal and likely was able to gather powerful forces to stand with him. I just had to hope that our allies were even stronger.
My heart ached to be by Noah’s side supporting him rather than hiding away helplessly.
For the next few days, I made calls to the border patrol, begging them for any information regarding the battle going on against Drogomor and Draven.
“Please,” I begged into the phone. I was currently on a call with the head guard of Crowstar. “There has to be some word today.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Zara,” the guard said patiently. “I’m afraid that with the battle raging on, it appears that contact outside is strictly limited for security reasons. I was able to send a couple of guards to investigate as you requested, but I’m sure you understand very well why I can’t allow them to get too close.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, my shoulders sagging with resignation. Since we were being held at the safe house, we were protected carefully. Plus, sending out Crowstar guards could result in my home pack being seen as a threat or spy for Drogomor.
I couldn’t allow my parents’ pack to be sucked into the war unnecessarily.
The isolation that we were in only served to heighten my restless anxiety. We had comfortable accommodations in Crowstar with cozy rooms and even an outside deck where we could have barbecues and commune, but I found that I couldn’t enjoy any of it.
I forced myself to focus on caring for Briella, which was easy to do since she was such a ray of sunshine during these troubling times. Many hours were spent in the living area, surrounded by all the women who were sent away with me. We sat in front of the fireplace and told stories while Noah’s aunts and Lorelei gushed over how adorable Briella was. I cherished those moments by the fire despite everything that was happening back home. It brought me great joy to watch my daughter comfort our loved ones. My parents visited the safe house often to see little Briella as well.
The one who doted on Briella the most was Angelica. Although the girl was shy, she was coming out of her shell when it came to my daughter. She doted on Briella at every opportunity.
“Do you think she’d like this book read to her?” the girl asked, showing me a colorful picture book.
I giggled lightly. “She probably won’t really understand it yet, but you can read it to her anyway,” I said. “Briella does love it when people talk to her, even though she doesn’t really understand yet.”
Angelica was taking her role of aunt quite seriously. She was such a ball of energy despite her shyness, and I was doing my best to humor her whenever she wanted to display her role of aunt to Briella.
One night, after I had just tucked Briella in for bedtime, a timid knock sounded on our guest room door. Lorelei poked her head in and bit her bottom lip.
I smiled warmly at her. “Come in, Lorelei,” I invited. I sat on the bed and patted the spot beside me, sensing that the girl wanted to talk about something pressing.
“I just don’t know what to do about Aaron and Gray,” the girl began once she was sitting comfortably beside me. “I think I do have feelings for Aaron, especially after our intimate dream encounter, but after seeing Gray again after all this time, I find that my heart beats widely around him as well. He really does seem to have changed, but I just don’t know how I truly feel.”
I listened carefully, noting the confusion and heartache in the girl’s eyes. “They’re both good guys,” I said after a moment. “So I think it’s natural that you’ve started to harbor affection for both of them. I urge you not to rush your feelings. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself the time to search your heart.”
Lorelei bit her lip again. “I just don’t want to leave either of them hanging.”
I gave her a sympathetic look. “I understand that,” I told her. “But you need to also allow yourself the time to look inside. Maybe after this immediate danger passes and we all return home, your true path will reveal itself.”
Lorelei looked down at her folded hands for a moment. “Thank you, Zara,” she said. “I really appreciate all the guidance you’ve given me during our friendship.”
I wrapped my arms around her, touched by her genuine gratitude. “Wherever your path may lead you, I just pray that you have faith in your own self-worth and inner wisdom to decide for yourself.”
After Lorelei left my room and I was in bed for the night, I couldn’t help but feel a sisterly affection toward all the women I was currently housed with. There was something truly special about each of them, and I felt like we were bonding in irreplaceable ways. I did not doubt that when we returned home, we would continue to feel this new sister bond.
Although I was surrounded by so many women who loved and cared for Briella and me, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming loneliness due to my separation from Noah. Noah and I were officially bonded now, yet I couldn’t help but feel more disconnected from him than ever isolated in this secret safe haven.
I clutched the blankets, tears filling my eyes as I realized that the large bed I was in felt empty and cold without a strong form to snuggle against. While we were apart, I could do nothing but hope and pray that this awful war ended swiftly and that Daven would be defeated once and for all.
Only then would I be able to again find peace and be safe in Noah’s arms.
