-Tavyra's POV- 

I watched Zan head out of the gates of the royal burial site, he seemed to be headed to the main gate. It was only the two of us as everybody else were still buzzing about the Alpha's news. I ran up to him and made him look at me. I didn't want him to go. The fact that there was a less possibility of him coming back scared me even more. 

He turned and looked at me with a straight, indifferent face. My vision was becoming blurry at the tears forming in my eyes, "What the hell was that?" My voice broke in the middle of my sentence. I didn't even know I was about to cry until just now. 

I watched his eyes switch back and forth from mine, the beautiful emerald color has never been so cold and ruthless before. He wasn't gonna answer me. He wasn't even gonna talk to me. It broke my heart. I slapped him. 

As his head turned, I saw the red print of my hand on his non-bruised cheek, I could feel the sting of my own hand, but it didn't exactly hurt me. The tears fell down my face as I choked on sobs, "You're just gonna get yourself killed!" I yelled at him. "You're gonna leave me!" My shoulders fell as reality hit me. I was soon gonna have to bury him besides his father. I wasn't even officially apart of this pack yet. They wouldn't hand all control over me. They wouldn't. 

Zan hugged him in his strong arms as I cried in to his suit. I felt engulfed in his warmth and comfort, the smell of his cologne made the tears go away, but the dull pain in my heart was still there. We stood there for a few minutes, hugging and listening to each other's breaths when Zan said to me, "I'm sorry." 

I've never realized how much two words could mean so much. The words almost felt heavy, carrying so much weight for me to hear them. Everything simply made sense in that very moment. "I'm coming with." 

He pulled back, looking down at me with a stern look, "No." Was his only response. 

I protested. "If you're gonna go out and get yourself killed, I'm coming too. I'm not gonna be without a mate." Zan had to understand my reasoning for that as he didn't say anything afterwards. He opened his mouth, but couldn't come up with a rebuttal. I smiled, knowing I'd won the argument because he knew I was right. I hugged him once again, "So when do we depart, General." I joked. 

The other two funerals went off as planned along with the couple of volunteers coming up to Zannic to attain more information. I guess this mission really was happening. I don't know if I was excited or scared. 

Zannic and I had left them rather early to spend some time together. Since I hadn't seen him all day and he wouldn't speak a word to me when his father passed. We were already back in the pack house, it was quiet as everybody were still at the funerals. I figured this would be a bad time to have sex...considering the situation. He led me into his father's office. 

There was a hole in the wall, there was a dent in the desk, multiple things were broken and on the floor. A broken picture of Zan and his father when he was little lay on the ground. I had to admit, this place looked horrible. 

-Zannic's POV- 

This placed looked amazing. No one had cleaned it up yet and I don't think I could've been happier to be in the place where my father kicked my ass. I could feel the bruises as I stepped farther into my father's old office. I didn't want to say this was the last thing I had of him, but...

I turned to Tavyra, her face was horrified of the damage that happened here. Although she was worried and scared, I wasn't. I was almost at peace. "Guess this is mine now." I lightheartedly joked. 

I went to go sit and my father's old--my chair. It creaked as I put my weight on it, almost threatening to fall or break. But it didn't. I was thankful for that. Tavyra came towards me and sat on the desk top that wasn't caved in. She smiled slightly as she watched me and I watched her. It was almost as if we were communicating through our thoughts. "You might want to clean this place up a bit, though." She looked around again.

I don't think we saw the same things. She saw a broken office room. I saw my father. I don't think I want anything fixed. Not yet anyway. 

"You're gonna have to clean it up eventually." She said. I looked at her. Did I say that out loud? I must've. Or she simply concluded it herself.

I simply let it go, "Yeah..." 

We sat there, looking at the broken furniture and I told her stories about my father. Me and my father never played catch, we played tag. We'd run around in our wolves, trying to catch one another through the forests. We stopped playing that after Mom's ambush. I realized telling this story to her no longer bothered me as much as it used it, it did however bother her. 

As I stopped talking about it, there was a knock on the door. I didn't even have a chance to say come in, before Rufus barged through the door. He did not seem happy. More confused and frustrated. 

He looked around the for only a brief moment before he started to tear into me, "Zannic, as your top adviser, I advise you to drop the militia mission. The chance of you coming back safely and unharmed are very very very slim." 

-Tavyra's POV-

Zannic thought about it for a moment and then shook his head, "No."

Rufus glared at him. This was the first time I'd him mad. I made sure there were no plates for him to throw. "Don't be so stubborn Zan. This pack can't just lose another Alpha again. You've been in reign for only a day."

Zannic rolled his eyes, "This isn't about me, this is about the pack. I'll finish what my father started." 

Rufus sighed in defeat. "Should I prepare Beta Tyson for the swearing in of Alpha then?" 

"Oh, he's coming with me." He said nonchalantly. 

Rufus sighed and put his head in his hands, muttering to himself, "What am I gonna do?" 

Zannic picked up his feet and started to recline in the chair, "Don't worry about it Rufus. Things are handled." 

"And what if you don't come back?" Rufus asked. 

Zannic shrugged, not seeming to be stuck on the fact that he could very possibly die on this mission. "Then you take over?" Rufus looked baffled, like he couldn't believe his ears. But Zan continued, "Or you could hold Battle of The Alpha, or you could appoint someone else. You're acting like it's hard." 

Rufus glared at Zan, clearly unhappy. "Zannic, your father would be extremely unhappy with you, giving up your position so easily." 

Zan put his feet down and looked at Rufus dead in his eyes, growling, "Listen. I am the reigning Alpha here now and I'm handling this Rouge situation. If my father's unhappy about my actions, he tell me when I stand in front of him at the pearly white gates. Now stop questioning my judgement and go prepare for departure!" His voice echoed throughout the room. It ran a chill through my spine. Either good or bad. 

Rufus left without another word, simply a glare was exchanged and the slamming of the door behind him. 

How dare he tell me how to reign.

I looked over at Zan, he was mad and it was his voice, but I don't think his lips moved. I was slightly confused but simply let it go. I understood he was frustrated. Now that I think about it, I should be worried about the danger the situation, but I don't think I am. Zan smiled at me and put his hand on mine. 

I felt tingles go through my body as he touched me, I felt happy, calm and content, like I didn't want his touch to go away. He got up from his chair and helped me off the table, holding me in his embrace as we stared in each others eyes. His eyes have never been more beautiful than right now. I don't know what it was, to be completely honest. 

His lips gracefully and delicately touched mine, almost like they were feathers. My stomach began to get butterflies as we kissed. I felt my head was swimming in an ocean. I took in every touch, every moment and second of that kiss. He pulled away and I missed his lips instantly. He was smiling back down at me, I hoped he felt the same way I felt about him. Wait, how do I feel about him? Is this love? Not wanting to leave his side? Willing to die with him so I wouldn't be without him? Wanting him to be happy every second of the day? Wanting his beautiful lips back on mine? 

He led me out of the office and up to our room, "Com'on. We gotta go get ready for the mission." 

I smiled, walking after him. I'd follow him anywhere.