Mated to the Warrior Beast

247 Stay with Me – Part ~ ZEV ~

Zev slid to Sasha’s side the moment he was certain the enemy was finished—dead, or dying, all of them. And he was glad.

But Sasha… his dear Sasha… his beautiful mate. She’d been silent in his head since the night before. As he rushed to her, tearing at the bonds that kept her upright, tied to the tree, he cursed, growling as if the leather straps were enemies of their own.

When he finally freed her, she slumped forward, but he leaped to catch her and pull her head up, cradling her upper body.

“Sasha, Sasha… babe… wake up.” He patted her cheek and ran his hand through her hair, checked her breathing and her pulse. Both seemed normal. She was a little pale, but completely unresponsive.

Drugged.

He shoved his face into hers, inhaling her breath. He didn’t know what he was smelling, but it was something with a bite. Something… not normal.

‘Sasha, please… please… come back to me, babe. I’m here. I’m here. Zan is safe and I came for you. Please…’

Her head lolled against his arm, and his vision blurred.

.....

How could he have cut her off like that last night? What if the last word he spoke to her was in anger—what if her last memory of him was him cold and unwilling to listen. Unforgiving?

What if she thought he wouldn’t forgive her?

Regret, thick and sticky as tar, coated his throat, his chest, his lungs.

He was sitting in the dirt with his mate in his arms—his mate who was only taken because she was so desperately searching for him, believing him to have run with their son and…

God, he’d been such a fool. Why hadn’t he been able to see it? Why had he been so blind.

“I get it, now, Sasha. I promise. I see it. I talked… I talked to Elreth. Twice. And we… we found what we have in common. I… I forgave her. I was always going to. I mean, not always—but I saw it last night when you said that. I did. I just… I needed some time to accept it. I promise, babe… please… please hear me. Please wake up. Please.”

He continued, whispering to her, explaining everything that had happened. All the ways he’d been afraid. All the ways he’d felt like if anyone touched him—even her—he might explode. All the ways he’d been protecting his heart and mind… and all the ways he’d been blind.

“We did this together. We beat them, Sash. You’re going to be so proud when you see it.”

A young male trotted up to him then and for a moment Zev didn’t recognize him. He held Sasha to his chest more tightly, growling at the unexpected approach.

But the male—an owl, Zev remembered—just lifted his hands to show him a small leather satchel in them. “This was sent by the healers. Just in case. Things to help. If there’s any wounds or… There’s smelling salts in there. You could try them. We’re flying the healers up now. They’ll be here in a few minutes.”

Then he backed off, leaving the satchel on the dirt in reach for Zev, who reached for it with his free arm, digging through it until he found the smelling salts and popped the cap off the little glass bottle, waving it under her nose.

Sasha twitched and murmured his name—which made his heart squeeze—but she didn’t open her eyes. And the moment he removed the terrible smell, she relaxed in his arms again.

Drugged.

She was drugged. She couldn’t wake up.

Then the wolves started howling. For Sasha or Harth—or both—he didn’t know. But his heart rose with their mournful cries. Tears blurred his vision, but he just sat there, holding her, shaking his head and reaching for her through the link.

‘Please, Sasha. Please… Stay with me.’

As the howls rose in the cool air, he was taken back, through everything they’d endured. Through her fear and weakness… through her strength. Through the smiles, the love, the unwavering loyalty. All the ways she’d chosen him again and again… and all the ways she’d chosen his people.

His people who now chose her.

Then he lifted his chin and howled with them, honoring his Alpha, praying that she was only resting, not taken from them.

And when, a few minutes later, the healers arrived, one rushing to Harth, another to Sasha, and a third flitting through the ranks to see any injuries, he could breathe a little easier.

The healer had him lay Sasha on her side on the ground, then checked all her vitals.

“She’s asleep. Drugged. I haven’t found any injuries yet. Did you?”

Zev shook his head, still stroking Sasha’s hair as he hovered over her, unwilling to be parted.

The healer did as he’d done and leaned in to smell her breath, then sat back, frowning.

“Do you know what it is?”

The male nodded. “What I’m not certain about is the antidote.”

Then he got to his feet and clapped his hands at the gathered wolves. “Search the tents. Bring me any bottled liquids or herbs you find. Now.”

A dozen wolves rushed away to search the tents and campsites and Zev prayed.

He prayed harder than he ever had before.

Over the next thirty minutes, as Tarkyn and Harth were flown away by the owls—the female still in her wolf form, oddly—wolf after wolf trotted up to lay a bottle or bag at the feet of the healer, who was sorting through them, uncorking bottles, sniffing them, and grimacing, or dipping a finger into the liquid—or ground herbs.

Finally he turned. “I think this is it. And if I’m right… she will come awake naturally, but it could take some time. I don’t have to give her this. We could wait to see… just in case.”

“What’s the risk?” he asked, his voice so flat it was almost dead.

The healer looked at the bottle. “It’s unlikely to be dangerous… but there is some risk they’ve used a compound I’m not familiar with, and this could… interact.”

Zev knew that word. It was something the humans used to use during their experiments. Medications. Sometimes they were harmless alone, but toxic together.

“And if we don’t use it?” he asked.

“I believe she’ll wake up in a couple of hours. If she’s been given what this would be the antidote for, she’d sleep for twelve hours or more, then wake slowly. She won’t be herself for several hours.”

Zev bit his lip, but he knew. He knew it wasn’t worth the risk. “You’re sure she isn’t harmed?”

“Her signs are all good—heart, pulse, her skin, her nails aren’t pale… I really do think she’s just asleep, not harmed. But… I mean, I can’t be certain. I can say that I could continue to watch her and warn you if there are any… bad signs.”

Zev sighed heavily, then looked down at his mate, clawing a hand through his hair. “Let’s transport her asleep. Can you stay with us though? Please. If she starts to wake up, or there’s any problems, I want to know the second you do.”

The healer nodded and smiled, then clapped Zev on the back. “Absolutely.”

It wasn’t comforting, but Zev understood that it was well-intended.

So he prayed… As they bundled her up in a canvas sling so the owls could transport her down to the Tree City where it had been determined they would take the hurt, because the healing center there had so much more available.

There was a tense moment when Zev thought they were going to make him travel on foot—which meant she’d be without him for hours. But in the end, there were enough owls to transport them both.

Zev only had to endure thirty minutes of flying without being right alongside her—only two could fit in the sling, so the healer had to go with her to make certain she wasn’t in danger.

When they landed, Zev stumbled out of his sling and straight to hers, where the healer was just getting to his feet, smiling.

“Her eyelids fluttered while we were landing. It could be another hour or two, but I think she’ll come out of it soon.”

Zev groaned with relief and gathered her up into his arms, insisting on carrying her himself.

And as she slumped, her face against his shoulder, her legs dangling over his arm, he held her so tightly… so tightly as he walked her through the trees and down the trail towards the healing center, where he was assured Zan was already safely ensconced.

Two hours later, when Sasha finally opened her eyes and was able to focus, it was both Zev and Zan who greeted her.

She blinked as if she wasn’t quite sure why she was smiling.

“Sash?” Zev whispered hopefully. “Can you hear me?”

“Yes, I…” she looked confused and turned her head, then frowned. “Where am I?”

“We’re at the healing center. The Tree City,” he said quietly.

She turned back, still blinking and squinting against the light, to eye him. Then she saw Zan in his arms, and she smiled. “Hello, baby.”

Zan was still sleeping, but Zev pulled his swaddle back so his chubby face was visible, then laid him in the crook of her arm.

Sasha sighed and rolled onto her side, looking down at her son, then up at Zev, then back at Zan.

“Are you…?” she asked, but trailed off, as if she wasn’t sure what she was asking.

“I forgave her and she forgave me,” Zev said, his voice choked and breathless.

Sasha’s eyes went wide and snapped up to meet his.

“And Sasha… please… Can you… Can you forgive me too?”

“I… what?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I pulled away. I’m sorry I stayed in that place and didn’t listen and… all of it. I’m sorry I made it worse instead of better. Please… forgive me?”

“Zev!” she cried, reaching for him.

He leaned over, burying his face in her neck, holding both her and Zan together, inhaling her scent and thanking God for her as she sobbed in his ear.

“Of course,” she whispered, stroking his hair and kissing his cheek. “I love you, Zev. I love you. I’m so sorry this has been so hard.”

He broke then. She was well. She was awake. And she was immediately thinking of him.

He didn’t deserve it. But… God, he loved her so much.

She gave a little sob of her own, and her arm tightened around him. But then Zan, smothered by his parents’ hugs, gave a little squawk of indignation, and they both eased back a little to quiet him.

When he was settling back into sleep, Zev stroked her hair and held her eyes, and thanked God that she was still there. “Sasha… I love you, Sash. I love you more than my life.”

When she spoke, it was with a small huff of laughter. “I know, Zev. I know. I love you, too.”

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