2. Above All Else

~ ZION ~

“Zion, is it true you changed Tiana’s birthday location?” 

I look up as my twin sister enters, concern in her large grey eyes. I turn my attention back to my computer screen and continue working. “If it wasn’t true, Sia, you wouldn’t have been informed.” 

She sighs. “Fair point. Is Roman around? He said you had some jobs for him.” 

I cock a brow and sit back in my seat. “Your mate will be there. I may be a workaholic, Sia, but I wouldn’t keep him from his daughter’s birthday.”

“Hey, I know that, I was just asking. I do hope you will be there too. She’s turning 5, that’s a big number.”

“I will be,” I promise, glancing up at her. She sighs and nods. 

“Good. You work too hard, Zion.”

“There’s a lot to do, you know how things are getting worse for our kind. Bullying at schools, workplaces, and more.” My mood darkens and I frown slightly. 

“I know that face. Zion…”

“Don’t worry about me Sia, focus on yourself.”

“In other words, don’t butt into your business? Zion, you have made enemies, a lot of enemies. Even Mom is worried about you.”

I cock a brow. “She always will worry, she’s a mother.”

“Yes, so think of her before you take part in deadly situations.”

The same lecture again and again. It gets tiring. I look up at her. “What I do, Sia, is no one’s concern. What I do is what anyone who represents the supernatural world would do.” My voice is firm, signalling the end of the conversation.

She sighs softly. “It’s ok to live, Zion. To have a life.” 

I clench my jaw, irritation flitting through me. I know what she’s insinuating. After what happened seven years ago, I haven’t bothered to focus on things such as petty, worthless relationships. Bitterness burns through me, and I clench my jaw.

I did everything…

“Zion-”

“Sia. You may be my sister, but you are also the Beta Female, remember who you are speaking to. Now you may leave. I have work to do.” 

This time she doesn’t argue, nodding before she turns and leaves. 

I sit back in my leather chair, resting my elbows on the armrests as I swivel in my chair and stare out of the large windows of the King Mansion.

This world isn’t the same as it once was when we began to work together and it looked like things were getting better. They were better for over a decade and a half. But it’s not only the humans. There are werewolves who think we are the alpha race, the ones that should be in charge, the one’s able to commit crimes and not get caught.  We are the link that holds both sides together, trying to create a balance to stop everything from breaking apart - but there is far too much hatred and discord.

Then there’s the Arkan…

I stand up and close the button on my suit jacket. I changed the location of the birthday party from the Opal Palace because every building surrounding it didn’t meet the security checks I had ordered to be carried out. There were rooms and apartments in one of those buildings that were not accounted for, and I will never risk anything happening to my family.

~~~

The party is in full swing, the chattering becoming an incessant buzz in my ears, but I don’t drown it out, I prefer to pay attention to every little thing that is going on around me.

I see Dad approaching with his mostly grey hair brushed back, his sharp eyes trained on me -  a man on a mission. I cock a brow when he stops in front of me, he stands a few inches shorter than me, and I know he hates that.

“Dad.”

“Zion, I was beginning to forget what you looked like,” he says in an unimpressed tone.

“Take a picture, Father, stick it on your bedroom wall. Or if your memory is really failing you, save it as your phone wallpaper.”

“Very funny,” he replies sarcastically, a frown creasing his brow.

“I'm glad you think so, I'm planning on taking up the role of jester soon,” I reply with equal sarcasm.

‘The change of location has caused people to talk. Was there a threat you are hiding from us?’ he asks, switching to the mind-link.

‘No. I just didn’t think it was secure enough.’

‘Yet this place was reserved…’

‘I always have backup, always,’ I say, then speak out loud. “Where’s Mom?”

“Around. Visit her more often, Zion.”

“We live in the same house,” I point out.

“Really? Doesn’t seem like it.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I'm twenty-nine, not nine.

“Excuse me, I need to go wish the birthday girl a happy birthday.” I give him a nod before walking away.

~~~

“Come on, Zion, there’s so many women to pick from, go dance. You don’t want to be like Dad, right? Old before you get a woman?” Xander says, slinging an arm around my shoulders. 

“You enjoy them.” I shrug him off.

“Oh, that I do, brother. That I do.”

He’s twenty-six and still hasn’t met his mate, but maybe that’s a blessing in itself.

‘Alpha, they have all arrived,’ one of my men says through the mind-link.

‘Make sure they have a drink. I’m on my way,’ I reply before looking at Xander, who is already eyeing up a woman or two on the dance floor. “Just remember this is your niece’s party.” 

“Don’t worry, I’ll take it elsewhere. She’ll never know.” He smirks.

I simply raise an eyebrow before heading towards the exit. The night is over for most, but it’s just beginning for me. 

I walk down the hall before stopping outside a door where two of my men stand guard. They lower their heads to me before one of them opens it and I step into the room where a few men are seated around on the leather sofas. The smell of cigarettes is strong in the air.

One armchair remains empty and I walk over, unbuttoning my suit jacket before I sit down in it.

“Swift acting, Alpha Zion, but don’t you think you just forced their hand to act more carefully?” 

“I agree, Alpha Dimitri, especially since they may think you’re onto them.”

I take a cigarette that one of the others is offering me and lean over, allowing him to light it for me. Only after taking a drag on it do I sit back and look at the two men who had spoken, cocking a brow.

“And what? Did you expect me to put my family at risk? I’ve already made it crystal clear. That the one thing I will never risk is my loved ones, regardless of the consequences.” My voice is level, but my warning is clear, and tension settles upon the room like a gloved hand ready to suffocate its victims if they dare utter even a word to defy me.

When it comes to my family, I don’t play.