Chapter Fifty-five

I didn't get upset often. In fact, I never got upset. I couldn't remember the last time I cried, but I was crying. Right now. I wiped a tear from my cheek. Another fight with mom. She was wearing me down. I wanted nothing more than to just run away and leave all my problems behind.

Zane.

Mom.

The pack.

School.

All gone.

Then my thoughts turned to a subject that always upset me.

Dad.

How could he just leave me like that? How could he just leave his only daughter with a woman obsessed with the cult we lived in?

My bedroom felt smaller than usual. I had to get out of here. I needed air. Screw that, I needed a drink - something strong. I needed to escape.

My mind drifted back to Blake approaching me this morning about wanting to have sex just to get his frustration out about Ebony. Well, at least I knew why he wanted to have sex with me. He wanted revenge and he wanted to hurt Ebony so I talked him out of it.

I slipped on my high heels, changed from a t-shirt and shorts into a t-shirt dress, and grabbed my phone and purse.

Mom was asleep. It was after one in the morning on a Friday night, so really it was early Saturday morning. Pack meetings always go forever, and we only got back an hour ago.

I took the keys off the hook and headed outside. The night air was warm and welcoming on my skin. I could bathe in this.

I unlocked the car and started it up.

So, where to first, a club or a bar? Either way, I was going to forget about my troubles for one night. Just one night. I was going to let myself have fun or, at the very least, escape.

***

ZANE

What the hell was she doing? My fingers were pressed against my temple. The pain was killing me, but it was nothing compared to what my mind was doing. Running wild with what she was doing.

Her thoughts were jumbled. She wasn't making sense. All I knew was she was in pain, which brought me to this moment of time, me banging on dad's door.

"Son, what are you doing?" Dad was half asleep when he opened his bedroom door. "You woke your mother."

"It's Allie."

"What about her?"

"Something’s wrong and I can't…" Ok, I hadn't admitted to dad I had a connection with Allie.

"You can't what?"

I gritted my teeth. Do I admit it? Do I say it out loud? I had formed a connection with my mate which meant there was no turning back. Allie was going to be my partner, but that didn't mean I was ready to face it.

"I can't reach out to her," I finally said.

Dad's eyes widened. "Please tell me, son, you didn't do what I think you did…"

"Yes, we bonded."

"Christ sake, son! What were you thinking? We discussed this. Keep a distance from her. She can't lead beside you. The pack will NEVER look up to her, not with her history. We spoke about this, Zane. You were to keep your distance, not bond with the woman!"

I knew all of this. I knew more than anyone being with Allie was wrong. I knew she wasn't right to be a pack leader. I knew all this! Still, the only thought on my mind was Allie. What was wrong with her, and, more importantly, I needed to see she was ok.

My brain was saying one thing.

But my heart was pumping another.

Wasn't this the whole point of having a mate? Things didn't make sense when it came to your mate. That you doubted every move.

"Dad, I'm telling you something is wrong with her so can you spare me the lecture and help…"

"Hold on a minute, my phone is ringing." Dad stopped me mid-sentence.

I couldn't stop the glare from forming on my face. Couldn't he just once, just once, put me first, instead of the pack?

He said an ok, followed by an I'm on my way.

Then he looked at me with disappointment and disapproval.

"You were right. She is in trouble." His voice was sharp, and he grabbed a shirt from the floor. "That was her mother. She's been in a car accident. They are taking her to the hospital. Her mother said she took the car without permission. Looks like she was driving home after a night out."

"How bad was the accident?" A tight knot formed in my stomach and it twisted and turned. So, my fears were confirmed. She was in trouble. She was hurt. The headache I had got worse, and I knew it wasn't my pain, it was hers.

"Just stay here." Dad closed the bedroom door, walking out into the hallway.

"Like hell, I will!" I shouted, not even caring about everyone sleeping since it was after five in the morning.

"You seeing her will just…"

"I don't care. I'm coming. I don't need your permission to see my mate." Did I just say that? My mate. Was this me accepting what was happening between Allie and me? That there was something between us. That we were connected, and I couldn't fight it or deny it.

"Fine, but don't get upset."

"Why would I get upset?"

"She had been drinking, but it seems the driver of the other car went through a stop sign."

Went. Through. A. Stop. Sign. It was an automatic reaction, my teeth clamped shut, my fingers curled into tight fists, and my jaw clenched.

I don't know what had her out drinking at this time of night, but I would bet everything on it that it had something to do with me. I hated myself at that moment for that, but, right now, I just needed to know she was ok, especially because this 'headache' was getting worse.

She was hurt, and I needed to see her. Now.