The Beast's Possession

**Aife pov**

It literally felt like seconds from when Bane left the room and Zion barged back inside. Maybe I was too out of it to follow time in this state, but it really felt as if none had passed. "You're leaving?" Zion panted, still standing by the door.

Slowly, I shook my head. "I don't think I'm in the right state to leave. I mean, I could if he really wants me gone, but I doubt my ability to fight if I happen to run into rogues or any other danger that roams the forests."

Our world was a dangerous place. No one could be fully safe even living among the packs, let alone walking around alone without being a part of a bigger group.

The statement about living in the pack was too true for me.

"Thank fuck," Zion sighed and pressed his back against the door. I watched him slowly slide down against the door until his butt hit the floor.

His knees were nearly touching his chest as Zion held the sides of his head, clearly distressed.

"You can't leave. This will sound stupid, but I think you are the key," he muttered.

My eyebrow shot almost as high as my hairline. What was the nonsense he was spewing now? Why, all of a sudden, I was an object?

In a way, for a while, Bane had treated me as nothing but an object, but he never called me a key. Funny, I couldn't open a locked door even if I tried, so I definitely couldn't be a key to anything.

"And I think you are slowly losing your mind. Listen, I don't know how it feels to have a real sibling, but I look up at you like a big brother. That means a lot, doesn't it? So, as someone who views you as the older sibling, I'm obligated to tell you something... Zion, don't panic, but I think you are losing your mind. Perhaps it's about time you check into a mental facility? I'm no mental health expert, but I believe that running around and calling people keys isn't healthy." Where was this confidence coming from? First, I started talking back to Bane, as rarely as I did, I still did it, and now, I was giving Zion an actual lecture.

To be fair, I had no idea how much time had passed since Bane took me here, but maybe I was so close to my birthday that it was my wolf, slowly surfacing and giving me the push I needed?

"You're funny," Zion huffed.

"And being dead serious," I quickly added as I lifted my hand enough to poke a finger at my temple. "You need to get checked up here. Something's definitely wrong there."

Zion rolled his eyes and laughed at me. Once the laughter died, he turned so serious, it was a little scary. He glared at me as if he was a man on a mission.

"Nothing's wrong up there, I see a therapist weekly, all my issues are resolved. As for what I just told you, I can't tell you more unless Bane specifically tells me to. To avoid too many details, he has some secrets, some very dark and dangerous secrets. You might think he's acting like a lunatic because he's a dick, which for the record he sure is, but that's not the reason. It's-"

Zion's eyes widened as he barely caught himself before he could spill the said secrets. It was so disappointing. I was literally holding my breath, waiting for any information and hints he could give me.

He shook his head. “All I can say is that you're needed here. I understand that must sound stupid, outrageous even given how you were dragged here against your wishes, but if you meant what you said about looking up at me as your big brother, just try to trust me this once."

"I can trust you with my life, but that wouldn't change anything. Bane doesn't want me here, so I think I will take him up on his offer and leave once I get better."

"Bane doesn't know what he wants," Zion argued. "I sent him to get a damn nap. At this point, I'm treating my Alpha like I would a toddler. He's tired..."

Those two last words were oddly heavy. Unlike everything else Zion had said, those words echoed against the walls and hit me with such strength, all I knew was that the words meant a lot to him.

But why? I understood that being an Alpha had to be hard, but that wasn't what Zion meant. His words held a hidden meaning, one I probably couldn't figure out on my own.

What irritated me the most was the secrecy. I disliked Bane for the things he had done and while I knew it had to be a result of going insane, I kind of, maybe, liked him a little too. But just only a little. Sometimes, my delusional mind made me think he liked me too. But if that were to be true, wouldn't he come clean with me and let me choose if I wanted to stay or not?

What Zion didn't understand was that I most likely was of no use for Bane, hence why he didn't want me to stay around for any longer.

"Aife, he needs you here. I need you here. We all do."

"Why?" I snapped back at him, a little more aggressively than I intended.noveldrama

Zion averted his gaze and whispered, "I can't tell. Please, understand that I can't."

I shook my head. "I can't stay around people who keep lying to me. How do you suppose I can live in peace, knowing there are so many secrets kept from me? What if you're right, huh? What if those secrets he has are so dark, twisted and dangerous that I end up being hurt? How can I escape or fight something I don't see or know anything about?"

"You're right," Zion sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sure he will tell you once he knows he can trust you. It's a big thing, you know. Even most of the pack members are in the dark about it. Very few people know his secret."

I wanted to act like a brat and stand my ground, but once again, I was hit with an overwhelming sense of guilt. It only grew stronger when Zion added, "you saved him, you know? The weirdest thing is that you saved him after he tried to save you from himself."

Now, I was speechless. Any idea about Bane and his character I had before disappeared the very instant Zion's eyes met mine. He looked like he was in so much pain, I couldn't describe it.

"All I'm asking from you is to stay with us for a little longer. If you choose to leave, so be it, just don't do it out of spite. Give him a chance." Zion muttered as he slowly raised to his feet and stepped closer to the bed.

"I understand you believe he doesn't deserve the chance he never gave you, but if I really mean anything to you, I beg you to do this for me. Not for him, not for you, but for me. Bane is trying so hard not to love and feel, I believe you are the only person who could show him how truly wrong he is. He deserves happiness, but so do you. Call me mental, but I believe that's exactly what you can give to each other - happiness."