Chapter 94: Departure

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Departure Lily was shaking. She couldn’t even meet Zayn’s eyes. She stood rooted to the ground, unable to move even an inch. Zayn clenched his jaw, annoyed by her clear defiance. He grabbed her roughly, squeezing tightly around her wrist. The pressure sent pain up her arm. She bit her lip to keep her tears from rolling down her cheek. “This isn’t a request,” Zayn growled, his face inches from hers. His breath was hot against her skin, making her tremble even more. “It’s an order, understood?” Lily nodded shakily, not daring to resist. She could feel all eyes were on them. All pack members looked and gossiped about their Alpha and Luna’s interaction. From the corner of her eye, Lily spotted Martha. Her maid was ready to intervene. To protect her. Panic flashed across Lily’s face. Not wanting to incur Zayn’s wrath any further, she quickly shook her head, silently begging Martha to stay quiet. The last thing she needed was Martha getting herself in trouble for defending her. Martha stopped, her mouth closing into a tight line of disapproval. But she respected Lily’s wishes and remained silent. Ezra cleared his throat loudly, drawing attention away from the tense scene. “Alright, everyone, get back to work! Those boxes aren’t going to move themselves!” he barked, authority ringing in his voice. “Check all supplies are packed, secure the valuables, and make sure every wolf knows their position for travel!” The pack members scattered, returning to their assigned tasks. Zayn released Lily’s wrist and pulled Ezra aside, speaking in a hushed voice. “Find out what happened with those horses,” he muttered. Ezra nodded. “I’ll look into it personally.” Lily rubbed her wrist, watching nervously as preparations continued around her. She found a spot to stand, careful not to get in anyone else’s way. She watched as some of the wolves exchanged excited glances and whispers. Former Obsidian Moon wolves were excited to leave this place of painful memories behind. The move was a fresh start for most of them. Finally, they could put the past behind them and work towards a brighter future. Looking around, Lily could not help but wonder if this would also be a new start for her. Or would it be just another hell for her to suffer in? “Everything is ready for departure, Alpha Zayn!” Ezra reported back to him sometime later. Zayn nodded. He approached Lily. Lily gulped. She had not moved from the spot, worried that something might happen. Zayn removed his shirt and shifted into his massive black wolf form. The shift was fluid and powerful—bones cracking and reforming, fur sprouting across his skin until a wolf twice the size of a normal one stood before her. His dark eyes, still recognizably Zayn’s, were fixed on her. He signalled her to climb on. Lily hesitated, her hands trembling slightly. “Come on,” Ezra urged, “We don’t have all day, and you can’t possibly walk the whole way. You’ll just delay everyone.” Reluctant but with no other option, Lily stepped forward. She gently placed her hand on Zayn’s back. His fur was surprisingly soft beneath her palm. She carefully climbed onto his back, settling herself awkwardly, trying to maintain as little contact as possible. Zayn turned to look back at her with irritation. “Hold on properly,” He said to her, “Unless you want to fall off.” Hesitantly, she leaned forward, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck, her hands sunk into his thick fur. Instead of feeling fear, Lily felt strangely comfortable. His body was warm beneath hers. His scent surrounded her, wrapping her in a warm, comforting hug. For the first time in a long while, Lily felt safe. Ezra did the final counting, making sure everything was in order before giving the next order. “Let’s go! We have lots of ground to cover. Everyone, stay close within the formation!” Zayn set off at a steady pace, leading the procession of wolves and wagons. His rhythmic movements were oddly therapeutic, bringing Lily a sense of comfort she had not felt before. Exhaustion finally claimed her as her eyelids grew heavy. She found herself leaning more heavily against him, her grip on his fur tightening to keep from slipping. The warmth of his body, combined with the gentle swaying motion and her fatigue, gradually lulled her into a state of drowsiness. Without meaning to, her eyes fluttered closed, her cheek pressed against his fur as sleep overtook her. Zayn felt the moment she fell asleep. He felt and listened to her rhythmic heartbeat, felt her chest rise and fall against his back. He slowed his pace slightly, ensuring his movements wouldn’t wake her. Ezra, who’d also shifted into his wolf form, was walking alongside Zayn. “She’s fallen asleep,” Ezra observed through their mind link. “Want me to take her?” Zayn growled softly, surprising himself with his instinctive response. “No. She stays with me.” Ezra didn’t push the issue, though confusion flickered across his wolf features. Behind them, several yards back, Martha walked alongside Ragnar. Their voices were low. “Looks like she’d fallen asleep,” Martha whispered, her eyes fixed on Lily’s sleeping form on Zayn’s back. “I just don’t understand. One moment he hates her, the next he cares for her.” Ragnar grunted in agreement. “Her bruises are still fresh. Everyone saw how she flinched when she moved. I can’t imagine the amount of pain she’s in.” Martha sighed heavily. “I just don’t understand why he would do this to her? What did Lily do to deserve this horrid treatment?” “If he hurts her again—” Ragnar began, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. “Then what?” Axel’s sharp voice cut in from behind them. The young warrior stepped forward, eyes narrowed with displeasure. “What exactly do you plan to do against our Alpha?” Martha and Ragnar turned, surprised by the interruption. “We’re not talking to you, kid. Go bother someone else. What we talk about is none of your business,” Ragnar spat as he crossed his arms. Axel stepped closer, unintimidated. “It is when you’re questioning our Alpha’s right to handle his mate however he sees fit.” “Handle her?” Martha’s voice rose slightly. “She’s not a thing... or an object! She’s a living, breathing wolf, just like you and I!” “She’s our Alpha’s Luna,” Axel insisted. “He can do with her however he pleases! It’s not like someone forced her to become Luna.” “She’s a person who deserves respect,” Ragnar countered, his fists clenching. Axel scoffed. “She’s Brightpaw. Her family enslaved us for years. Whatever pain she feels now—” “It isn’t her fault,” Ryker interrupted, joining the growing confrontation. “Stay out of this, Ryker,” Axel snapped. “Both of you need to calm down,” Jett, the youngest warrior, urged. “Everyone is looking.” But Axel wasn’t letting it go. He continued, “If it were up to me, I would have chained her up and forced her to submit to me without question. Then we wouldn’t have a problem. Even better, I’ll make her a slave, an example.” Ragnar lunged at Axel, grabbing the front of his shirt. “How can you say that?! You have no idea what she’s been through!” Axel shoved him back hard. “And you forget what WE went through because of HER family!” The push sent Ragnar stumbling backward into Martha, who cried out as she nearly fell. This was enough to make Ragnar lose his temper completely. He threw himself at Axel, and both men went down in a tangle of limbs, punches flying. “Stop this!” Martha shouted while Ryker and Jett tried to pull the fighting men apart. The commotion grew as other wolves gathered around the fight, some cheering, others trying to intervene. Near the front of the procession, Victoria walked alongside Ezra, both in their wolf forms. Zayn walked further ahead. He felt Lily stirring in her sleep, as though she was about to wake up. That was when he picked up on the commotion. Zayn turned to Ezra, “What’s going on?” Ezra perked up, “Nothing serious, I’ll handle it.” Just as he turned, Victoria took a few steps forward and spoke. “It’s Ragnar and Axel, Alpha,” Victoria explained, “Fighting about Luna Lily, I believe.” Zayn’s head snapped up, a low growl rumbling from his chest. He turned, stopping the pack in their tracks as he went to diffuse the situation himself. Ezra and Victoria followed along. The sight that greeted them was pure chaos. Ragnar and Axel were rolling on the ground, landing blows on each other, while several wolves tried to separate them. Blood spotted the grass. Zayn let out a thunderous howl, silencing everyone instantly. The fighting men froze mid-struggle, looking up to see their Alpha standing over them, his massive black form radiating fury. On his back, Lily was now awake. She rubbed her eyes, adjusting slowly to her surroundings, wondering what had happened. “What,” Zayn’s voice boomed, loud enough for all to hear, “is going on here?”