*Noah*
The following morning, we sat eating breakfast together at Zara’s house, having returned roughly an hour ago. What an amazing night that had been.
As I glanced over to Zara, I felt a surge of emotion rush over . I was falling for her. I could feel it.
That was a big problem, though.
Zara would know if I was her mate by now. I couldn’t stand in the way of her finding her true mate, even if mine was likely not out there.
We didn’t speak about our fling by the fire. Rather, it was all business now.
“No more attacks have been reported by my guards, but eyes have definitely been on the crew,” I told her.
Zara frowned with worry, thinking this over. “It won’t stop this project, but I hope we can figure out the problem soon.”
“We will.” Confidence dripped from my tone. “Whatever the reason, it won’t get in the way of your career.”
“I hope not. It seems like whenever we may be one step forward, we’re dragged back.”
“Well, we did just find the perfect cave. It was beautiful.” I resisted the urge to say, ‘like you.’ “I’d say that’s way more than just one step forward.”
Zara smiled, looking at with her gorgeous green eyes. I felt myself grow lost in them for a mont but cursed myself inwardly for it.
Once again, I reminded myself she had her true mate to look for, and shoving my way into her business would be selfish.
“You make a good point, Noah,” Zara said. “You’re no longer as hopeless, I see. I think my stubbornness got through to you.”
I chuckled. “Your confidence did, not your stubbornness... but we can now put all our focus on getting to the bottom of this.”
She nodded, her expression turning intensive. “You’re right. Dwelling on the negativity won’t help us. Let’s figure out what the hell is going on.”
With that, we began offering suggestions on how to gather more information, going back and forth on our ideas.
“Being Alpha Heir of Drogomor, I have many connections,” I said. “I can reach out to them and see if they have any information regarding these rogues. Maybe soone from Windy Clouds like Marcus will know.”
“Great idea. I can ask Alpha Ezekiel if he has information. I can ask around to other packs, too.”
“Excellent. In the anti, we can research that general area and search through local traditions. Maybe the flowers were significant to it.”
“That would make sense,” Zara said, then she frowned. “But I was very careful when harvesting the flowers.” She winced. “If this is solved by paying off so loss, then—”
“I can take care of it.”
“Noah, you’ve done so much already.”
“I know,” I said with a grin, but I let that fade into a serious expression. “And I plan to do more. Look, we got this far. It would be a waste letting it all go down now. Hopefully we can negotiate sothing reasonable with them. Besides, money would be the easiest solution.”
“If you’re sure,” she said with a skeptical tone.
“I am.”
Plan A comnced. I sent out a ssage to Marcus, which included a point on a map where we’d gathered the lilies, and a half hour later, he replied.
“One of my pack mates knows a bit about the Dark Realm. Rumor has it there is a lot of activity in the area where you got the lilies. The locals are reported to be unfriendly.”
I thanked him for this information and dove deeper into that with my own research.
Zara spoke up as I did so. “Alpha Ezekiel says a lot of herbs and resources in that area are important to the people there, which may include the rogues. The lilies may have been included in that.”
“Hopefully, there will be a chance to negotiate. With any luck, this information will lead us to a leader who can be spoken with,” I replied.
A few hours later, we concluded that the rogues were from a pack in the Dark Realm near the ho of the Luna Lilies.
“The Shadow Fields pack,” I said, finally discerning the na of this mysterious pack. “Getting a na is half the battle. Getting the reason for their ire is the tough part.”
“Maybe they are upset that we intruded on their territory? But why would they not want us to cultivate the lilies, rather than just pay for them?”
“Good question. I can get in touch with the palace in Egoren. They have Dark Realm jurisdiction. That way, we’ll be a step closer to solving this, and you can cultivate them in peace.”
Zara nodded, shooting a thankful smile. “I appreciate all of your help with this, Noah,” she said softly. She shuddered. “Without it, I may be worse off or... dead.”
“Let’s not think about the what ifs,” I said quickly, not wanting to dwell on what would have happened if I hadn’t been there during the rogue attack.
She nodded in agreent, and I began the process of contacting the palace. Before I could get very far, I got a ssage on my phone.
It was from Caleb, and read, ‘Noah, rida has returned to Drogomor.’
What....
Before I had ti to process the words, my phone rang.
I saw it was Caleb calling.
"Caleb, is it true?"
My heart hamred against my chest. I looked at Zara as Caleb confird the text.
"Yes, she just showed up at the pack mansion this morning looking for you," Caleb said, sounding as if he was having a hard ti believing it even though he was there.
I frowned. "Is she with you now?"
***
*Zara*
“What’s wrong?” I asked, noting Noah’s shocked expression. The color on his face had gone from pale to white in the pace of monts. I wondered if he’d found out sothing alarming about our situation. That would have been just our luck.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He ended the conversation and looked at as if in a daze.
“I—I need to return to Drogomor. rida is back.”
“Oh....”
I took a slow breath in and let it out again as I felt my gut squeeze in on itself.
His expression was a mixture of disbelief and confusion. I felt my heart sink at this news. It was inevitable that one or both of us would find our true mates one day. I just didn’t think it would so soon after....
My wolf whined and balked, and I felt her protest at the idea of Noah leaving. I ignored her, forcing myself to be happy for Noah.
“This is great news, Noah. She is your love, right? Maybe your true mate has returned.”
But sothing inside felt hollow when I said that. It felt wrong to say it, even, but I wasn’t sure why. It didn’t matter though, because in the end, it was better for both of us.
“Maybe she has,” Noah agreed, looking from his laptop to .
“You don’t need to focus on this when the news has broken about rida’s return.”
“I agreed to help you and want to continue doing so,” he insisted. “I will be returning to Drogomor to see what is going on, for now, though, Zara.”
“Good, you need to. Your life and happiness are important too, Noah.”
My heart was warm with how dedicated he was to help out with this. He’d already done so much, and even now, he wouldn’t just abandon , though his first love had returned.
He’d been so hung up on her, and now here she was. So many conflicting emotions swirled within , and I was annoyed with myself for having to force a smile.
“I’ll keep so Drogomor guards here for you, since I know the rogue problem still lingers,” he said. “Maybe rida can join the team and help us with this when we settle in?”
“That would be helpful of her. You don’t need to let this be a hang up for you, Noah. I can take care of it. I’m sure my mate will show up soon, and he’ll be of great help.”
I didn’t sound so convincing, and I noted a look of sadness in Noah’s eyes at my words. I wanted to reach up and comfort him, to tell him that this was better for both of us, but I resisted the urge to do so.
I reminded myself that I was pregnant. Indeed, my true mate was still out there, and I needed to find him too. Our focus on these Luna Lillies shouldn’t get in the way of either or Noah finding the one.
“At least we can remain friends,” Noah said, though his tone indicated that was more of a question than anything.
He looked relieved when I nodded.
“Of course,” I said gently.
We exchanged a hug, and he prepared to head out while I made note of the next steps regarding the lilies.
Before he left, Noah added, “I’ll miss being here, though. It is much warr here than at the mansion. Maybe because I can’t stand my parents.” He rolled his eyes.
“True,” I said. “Though they were upset with your engagent to Serena, so I think they do want you to find true love and be happy. Now you have a chance to do that.”
“Fair point.” Noah gave a smile. “Feel free to visit soti, Zara. I know so people in Drogomor would appreciate your talents, especially when the Lily issue is solved.”
I returned his smile and nodded. “I will keep that in mind.”
There seed to be nothing left to say.
With that, he was off back to his pack. My mother ca into the lounge as I was working and asked, “Noah left for his pack already? What happened?”
“Oh...well, soone he lost turned up again. She may be his true mate. Her na is rida,” I said, pushing my feelings down and looking up at her and again forcing a smile.
My mother studied my face, then walked over and took into a comforting hug. “I can see the disappointnt there, honey,” she said gently. “He was a lot of help around the house and with the Luna Lily thing.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I hope I can find my mate at so point soon too like you and Dad. I want it to be true.”
“It takes a lot of work to make that happen, dear,” she said, “not just love at first sight and a dream co true. You may find your mate in a way you don’t even expect.”
“What do you an?”
“I an, don’t close your mind to people you think are impossible. You never know. Do you need my help with anything right now?”
“No thank you, Mom. I appreciate the offer, though.”
After a bit more research, I found myself lying there on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what Mom had ant by what she said. I wasn’t sure, and I decided dwelling on it wasn’t the best idea.
I didn’t like how much I was bothered by Noah going back to see rida.
I knew I should be happier about this than I was. He’d have a chance to find his true love, and I could focus on finding mine.
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