TONIGHT, I'LL BE YOUR PILLOW

ZARA

As I got to know Anders and realized we were more alike than I thought, I felt as though I'd known him forever. I was burning for him and I knew he could smell my arousal just as I could smell his but somehow, he restrained himself. The fact that he was holding himself back and controlling such strong emotions told me one thing, he respected me. How could I not get more crazy about this lycan?

I had never felt this level of longing for anyone in my life. However, when he proposed that we become friends as a solution to our predicament, I jumped at the idea. I was fine with it as long as it meant I was going to see more of him.

I didn't believe the plan would be successful though, not with our charged-up hormones or my body yearning for his touch. I was willing to give it a try but then he came up with the perfect plan and our future didn't seem so bleak anymore.

I didn't realize how fast the time had run. I didn't want to leave him but I knew I could not give my people a chance to catch me so I forced myself to say goodnight. He seemed like he wanted me to stay but he agreed.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" He asked and I said, "yes."

I turned to leave but Viola wasn't ready to go, it was easier to blame it on her. I understood what I was feeling, it was a line that once crossed, could never be uncrossed yet, I was past all reason.

Against my better judgment, I turned and ran into his arms. He welcomed me as though he had been waiting for me to make that move.

He cupped my cheeks and looked into my eyes, there were no words between us as we could both read each other's emotions.

He clasped my hand and led me back to the foot of the hill where we had initially sat.

His hands found their way to my neck in a slow caress as he whispered, "Zara...my Zara."

I held his face with both my hands as I closed my eyes, ready to give myself to him. My heart was racing and my body shivered from the knowledge of what was about to take place.

I parted my lips in invitation and welcomed his. However, just at that moment, we heard footsteps approaching. Anders and I suddenly became alarmed, especially when we realized that they weren't coming from his pack nor were they coming from mine.

We could not tell if they were rogue werewolves or lycans so, Anders suggested that we hide first. We quickly ran deeper into the mountains and observed from a distance.

We would be able to see them from where we were but they would not be able to see us. They turned out to be about twelve males and females and they were all lycans.

Anders stared at me apologetically, "I don't think you will be able to go back home tonight."

"Why is that?" I asked.

He stared at the lycans again and sighed, "those lycans are pitching their tents here on the neutral grounds.

I don't know yet if they are rogues wanting to take refuge in my pack. If they are, they may perceive you as a threat and try to kill you and I will be forced to fight them. Now, I know you are strong and capable but I don't want you to be in danger. If I fight and any one of them escapes to my pack, our relationship might be exposed.

We need to lie low for now. I know they won't be here till daybreak because even they must be afraid that rogue werewolves might attack at any time."

I kept staring at him as he explained and tried to convince me about all the reasons why I needed to stay back. He noticed I was smiling and asked, "have I said something funny."

"I don't have a problem with staying," I chortled. "So you can stop trying so hard to convince me. Yes, my dad will be worried if he realizes that I'm not home but I'm a warrior and he knows I can take care of myself."

He smiled at me, "you are so perfect, Zara. When I'm with you, everything seems so easy and sweet."

He stroked my hair and placed a light kiss on my lips, "tonight, I'll be your pillow, rest on me while I keep watch."

I stared at him in awe as he shifted.

"Wow!" I exclaimed. He was a big white wolf. The biggest I had ever seen. I ran my palms on his furry body and praised, "you look so beautiful, Anders."

Viola kept jumping for joy as though she was going to burst out of me. I was happy and so was she. If only our packs were not enemies, our lives would have been so complete.

Anders lay on the ground so his eyes would be on the lycans who had set up a tent a few mountains away. I snuggled beside him and rested my head on his body.

I knew I was safe, there was no question about that. I trusted Anders completely and for the first time since I met him, I was able to close my eyes and get a good night's sleep.

When I opened my eyes, Anders had changed back to his human form and was staring at me. "Did you get any sleep at all?" I asked him.

He laughed, "sleep? And throw away the one chance I've gotten so far to stare at you up close?"

I opened my eyes in surprise, "were you staring at me all through the night?"

"Once the lycans slept, yes." He replied. "And for the records, you look even more beautiful in your sleep. I wanted to let you know that the lycans had already left. As I predicted, they woke up while it was still dark and began their journey to my pack."

I sighed sadly because I knew what that meant. I needed to go back so Anders would also return. Parting was always hard but the knowledge that I would see him again improved my mood.

"I won't be at the boundary, today." He said to me. "let's meet here at noon and who knows, we can pick up from where we left off last night."

I smiled shyly since I understood what he was talking about. My hormones were supercharged last night but I seemed to have gotten better in the morning. Perhaps as he said, we would pick up when we met later.

I got up just as he did and we held each other's hands as we walked until it was time to part ways. He cupped my cheeks and kissed me goodbye but before I left he said, "I love you, Zara."

My heart skipped two beats and I stared at him with a smile plastered on my face as he turned and sped away. I already knew he loved me, and the mate bond made sure of it but hearing him say it made me feel on top of the world.

I began the trip back to my pack, once again running as fast as my feet could carry me. When I got to my pack's gate, I saw Brandon outside it. I had no idea what he was doing there since it wasn't dawn yet. I hoped he wasn't looking for me.

"Lately you've been spending the most part of your nights outside the pack, " he said to me. "Is everything alright?"

I smiled and tried to pretend that I wasn't irritated by his unsolicited concern for me, "Brandon, I am just training more so that when I become the alpha, I will be able to protect my pack better."

He nodded while I walked past him and headed straight to my house. I was surprised that my dad was awake and seemed to be waiting for me.

I thought he would complain about the fact that he did not find me at home when he woke up. I was already prepared to give my apologies when he asked, "I trust you got enough rest?"

"Good morning, Dad," I replied. "Of course I did but why are you awake at this time? It's unlike you."

He smiled, "sit down my dear, I want to speak to you."

I easily took a seat beside him and waited until he began, "you are aware that I have chosen Brandon, the most capable male in this pack to be your husband. Last night, he spoke to me about it and I was speechless because you are yet to give me your reply.

Brandon is my choice for you and you know I always want the best for you. However, I want you to be happy, this is why I am asking for your consent."

I held his right hand with both hands and kissed it, "I know how much you love and respect me, dad and I thank you so much for it. However, you will have to tell Brandon that I said no, I don't want to marry him."

My dad stared at me in surprise, "but why? He will be your greatest support when you become an alpha."

I sighed, "I don't want him, dad. I might meet my mate any time soon. What will happen if I'm already married to Brandon then?"

"But what if you don't get a mate?" my dad asked. "Not everyone is fortunate to have one and you have already clocked eighteen. If you were going to get a mate, you would have had one already. Okay, if you later have a mate and he is not worthy of you, what would you do?"

I smiled and tried to pretend that my heart was not beating very fast, "stop worrying about things like that dad. Brandon may be good and all but he is not for me. If he meets you again, please tell him I am not interested so he can back off and stop being an unnecessary bother."

When I noticed that my dad was done speaking, I got up and excused myself. I needed to get some rest and prepare so I will meet Anders at noon. As I lay on my bed, I thought back to how I had spent the night with Anders and rolled happily. I just could not get enough of his company.

A few hours later, I got ready and left my dad's house. It was two hours to noon and I did not want to keep Anders waiting. When I got closer to the gate, Avery, Brandon's rejected mate, ran after me and stopped me.

I didn't want to be late and felt like she was wasting my time but when I saw the tears in her eyes, I softened and listened to her.

"I just want to plead with you not to get married to Brandon," she said to me. "I learned he met your dad yesterday to talk about his marriage to you. Zara, you know how much I love Brandon, he means the world to me. Please, don't marry him."

I shook my head, "I have no such intention, Avery. You have my word that no matter what happens, I will never get married to Brandon."

She wiped the tears from her eyes and thanked me before running off. I could not understand why she kept clinging to him. I imagined how I would feel if I loved Anders that much but he did not want me. Perhaps I may not even be able to manage a smile like Avery.

I hurried to the neutral grounds and got there at noon but there was no sign of Anders. I decided to wait for a while but almost one hour later, I still did not see him.

I suddenly became afraid and my heart began to palpitate. Had Anders decided to give up on us? The thought of the possibility put my heart in so much pain and for the first time in so many years, I began to cry.