ZARAMANNI (BOOK ONE)

It was as though stones had been fixed into the soles of her feet. Zara’s eyes felt itchy in the worst way. Her throat became dry, and she found it hard to let something soothe the feeling. And, her heart hitched for a second, only to thud mercilessly after.

Zaramanni then closed her eyes.

Before she opened them, she prayed, with all her might, that the woman covered in blood, that the woman close to death’s doorstep, was not Clarissa.

But when she opened her eyes, her knees kissed the ground. Zara became numb and the noise around her became faint mumbles.

As the feeling of lifelessness rested on her soul, Zaramanni placed her sight on Clarissa. That was all she could see anyway. The terrible state of the she-wolf’s body was in focus and Zara could not stop releasing thick, short breaths as she tried to fully process the moment.

But it soon occurred to her that she would never be able to process it. The fact that Clarissa, who she was speaking to minutes ago, was maliciously sprawled on the ground, was something Zara would never be able to process.

Since that was the case, Zaramanni wanted to rush toward the she-wolf, but it was useless.

The woman was almost gone. The many pieces of glass that pierced Clarissa’s body didn’t spare her after the terrible fall.

So, instead of rushing in a way that could make the woman’s pain worse, while disregarding the firm hands that were trying to pick her up from the floor, Zaramanni stretched her right hand at Clarissa, the hope that the she-wolf would accept that invitation dancing in her soul.

She did.

Clarissa, who also kept her bloodied eyes on Zara, slowly blinked twice with intent, and Zaramanni, while pushing back her tears, crawled toward Clarissa.

She didn’t mind that something repeatedly pierced and scratched her skin as she moved. She just wanted to hold Clarissa one more time. She wanted to hear her sweet, sweet voice scolding her one more time.

When Zaramanni got to the she-wolf, she knelt and with great caution, she placed Clarissa’s head on her lap.

“Cla- Clarissa,” Zara called, her voice hardly audible and greatly feverish. After a shuddering sigh, Zara placed her trembling hand on the woman’s face, her thumb smearing the lines of bloodstains. “Clarissa…” she called again and the she-wolf blinked in a way that allowed another streak of blood to flow down her face.

With great difficulty, Clarissa tried lifting her right hand. Zaramanni hastily reached for that hand. When she felt the she-wolf’s faint squeeze, Zaramanni darted her sight toward their joined hands.

And, the tears arrived.

Lips quivering, chin bloated, Zaramanni tried to push back the tears at first, but the sorrow in her heart was bigger than her senses.

The more she stared at their joined hands, the more Zaramnani’s tears grew.

They were silent sobs, the kind that made the ache in one’s heart ten times worse, the kind that greatly shook her body and soul.

Clarissa gave her another squeeze. But this one was lighter, it made it more evident that the woman was closer to death’s entrance.

While Zaramanni’s body jolted at intervals, her tears took a pause and the half-fairy darted her foggy gaze toward Clarissa’s face.

But the bloody sight made Zara feel more constriction in her chest.

Gripping Clarissa’s hand, Zaramanni realized there were things she wanted to say. So, she uttered the she-wolf’s name once again, her voice a sorrowful whisper.

Zaramanni wished to assure the woman that things would be fine, that her approaching demise from the realm would not be in vain.

Zara wanted the woman to know that she cherished their moments together, no matter how short it was.

But she could not bring herself to say those things.

The sight of the lines of thick blood that rushed down Clarissa’s face was enough to drop more heaviness on Zara’s heart.

So, instead of saying those words, all she could do was cry.

And, Zara hated herself for that. She didn’t want to spend those last moments crying, she wanted that moment to be about soothing Clarissa’s soul.

So, even though words failed to come out, Zaramanni gently tugged their hands and placed them on Clarissa’s chin.

Like a mother would admire her child, Zaramanni lovingly grazed the she-wolf’s face.

And, she recalled the first time they met.

Zaramanni was enthralled by Clarissa that day. Zara was almost jealous that she exuded grace and beauty in the best way possible.

Then, with a sad smile pulling her shaky lips, Zara recalled their conversation in the were-mobile en route to the palace. The things Clarissa said rang in her mind. The appreciation she showed began to sound like a death will and Zaramanni’s heart broke some more.

With her face wearing streaks of tears, and her cheeks looking reddish because of the great anguish in her soul, Zaramanni decided to send Clarissa off the best way she could.

So, with their hands still cupping Clarissa’s beautiful face, Zaramanni began to hum a tune.

It was a tune that helped her whenever the torture in high school became terrible.

It was slow and melodious.

Whenever she played the song, a great deal of her pain disappeared. On such days, instead of focusing on her pain, Zaramanni became more observant of the nature around her.

Zaramanni wasn’t certain Clarissa would feel the same way about the tune at that point.

But, she continued humming and caressed Clarissa’s face.

And, her entire focus was on Clarissa.

Whatever was going on behind them was of no concern to Zaramanni.

As she resisted the urge to break into more tears, Zaramanni kept humming that tune and all she continued to see was Clarissa.

So, when Clarissa’s eyes ceased to give weak flutters, Zara noticed.

She noticed that Clarissa’s skin felt less warm and her hurt body failed to give faint jolts.

She was gone.

Clarissa was dead.

For the first few seconds, Zaramanni was in slight denial.

She wanted to tap the woman’s face and squeeze her hand several times. She wanted to do anything to bring the woman back, but reality soon slapped the girl and she fully realized that Clarissa was gone.

Her soul drowned in more sorrow, and her chest bulged with immense distress. Her throat felt scratchy, and the sides of her eyes felt hot.

The slightly cold feeling coming from her contact with Clarissa’s hand drew Zara’s attention. By the time their contact got disentangled, Clarissa’s hand easily fell off.

And, Zaramanni’s tears came back.

This time, louder.

“Clarissa!” she groaned, her eyes lifted toward the ceiling, her hands swiftly pulling the woman closer to her chest. “Clarissa!” This time, her tear-ridden voice screamed and her sobs turned into wails.

Then, the voices behind her became audible again.

She became aware of Zoey’s voice which was begging her to get off the floor.

Before Zaramanni could face her mate and show him the great pain she was feeling, she felt someone trying to pry Clarissa off her hands.

“No,” she sharply retorted. She pushed the man away and guarded Clarissa, her gown making a great bed for the woman she wished to have another conversation with. Her voice coarse and somewhat deadly, Zara warned, “Don’t touch her.”

The man attempted to approach her once more and she headbutted him, causing his feet some instability.

Zaramanni didn’t want anyone to touch Clarissa.

The way she died was enough proof that someone wanted her dead on purpose. It would be foolish to trust anyone in that room.

But when she felt Zoey’s warmth hug her from behind, Zaramanni became less aggressive with her thoughts and she was reminded once again of the ache in her heart. Still holding Clarissa, Zaramanni leaned into Zoey’s chest.

While their contact made Zara feel less constricted, the fact that Clarissa would never get to hug her loved ones hit Zara once again and she felt sorry.

Zaramanni was about to say something when Clarissa was lifted from her arms. And, this time, she didn’t fight the man.

With Beta Zoey’s hands still wrapped around her, she broke down some more.

Through her incessant tears, Zaramanni got to know that Clarissa meant more to her than she thought.

Zara was aware that she had never cried that much in her lifetime, so the fact that Clarissa’s death hit her so much spoke volumes.

Clarissa was indeed a friend. A great friend she greatly admired.

Zaramanni wrapped her hands around Zoey’s arms and when she recalled that Isaac was still in custody, she became worried. She had no idea how to break the news to the young one who purposely came to the manor to search for Clarissa.

“Z-Zoey?” her voice carried her pain.

“Yes, Zaramanni.” Zoey sounded weird and she wondered if the pain she was feeling had found its way to his soul.

“I… I have to meet Isaac.”

“Of course. We will leave for the manor after…”

“Now,” she ordered.

“What?”

“Let’s leave now.” Zaramanni wasted no time in getting up. “I need to speak to Isaac. Someone has to tell him about this…” Zara who was wiping her tears away felt a great shudder that caused her soul certain chaos.

“Zaramanni?” Zoey called.

“Let us go.” She began to advance toward the exit, greatly unbothered by the many eyes that were watching.

“Zaramanni, you are bleeding. You can’t leave like this. We-”

She sharply turned.

“Clarissa is dead, Zoey,” Zara dropped. “She is dead. Who cares if I am bleeding? Huh?” Her brows twitched. “Who fucking cares?!” Her voice went up a notch and Zoey’s distress grew. “She is dead, Zoey. Someone fucking killed her. ’Cause, why? How?”

“Zaramanni…”

She could feel fury crawling into her being and Zara didn’t want that to happen. If she was going to get angry, she wanted it to happen after meeting Isaac.

So, after a few seconds of closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she faced the exit. She was about to advance her steps when Alpha Darren stopped her.

Having no time to deal with his presence, Zara said, “Move.”

“Beta Zoey,” the Alpha called, his eyes not tearing off Zaramanni, “we need to have a meeting.”

“Right now?” Zoey asked.

“Something terrible has happened. We need to meet with other Betas and discuss what to do before-”

“I will be taking my leave,” Zara announced and Zoey ran after her, his huge body blocking hers. Getting sick of the many obstacles, Zara threw a glare in his direction. “You can have your meeting, Zoey. I just need to get back to the manor.”

“I can’t let you leave like this, Zara.”

“I will be fine.”

Zoey must have read the determination she wore on the sleeve of her heart. He did not push his words any further. After a quick nod, he snapped his fingers, and the man that helped her and Clarissa in the dressing room appeared.

“He will drive you to the manor. Take care of her,” Zoey beseeched the man and that one gave a curt nod in response.

“I will be fine, Zoey,” Zara repeated, this time her tone was softer. And, after her mate gave her a quick embrace, she walked out of the room.

And, for a second, Zaramanni shoved her sorrow behind her, she wanted to act like she was fine.

But her attempt failed.

Because she had barely walked into the second party room when her eyes began to roll out tears.

~

“I hope you know that this is ridiculous,” Beta Zoey said when he faced Alpha Darren whose face he preferred not to see at that point. “I should be with Zaramanni right now.”

Alpha Darren said nothing. He just kept his gaze pinned on the stony wall ahead.

“Your Majesty,” Sham called, his buttocks settling on the chair adjacent to the Alpha. “What do you want us to do? This is the second time.”

“Second time?” Zoey walked away from the window side, his hands tucked into his pockets. “What do you mean by this is the second time?”

Gamma Sham sighed, his head slightly ducked, his cheeks a little bloated as he filled them with air. “A few weeks ago, before the Overlord arrived, an omega wolf was brutally murdered in the palace pantry.”

“Wait? Do you think it is linked to Clarissa’s death?”

“It is likely.”

“Why am I just hearing this now?”

“It wasn’t supposed to be known.”

Zoey scoffed. “So, when was it supposed to be known? When every omega in the kingdom gets mysteriously murdered?”

“Beta Zoey, we…”

“Do you even know the implication of what happened today?”

“I know that it means that our security is threatened and-”

“Zaramanni plans to make the person responsible for this pay! She could fall into danger if she decides to avenge Clarissa’s death. How do you intend to solve that? If you had told other Betas about the death in the palace, we would have helped with the investigations. Or wait…” His frown deepened as much as his chest heaved with vexation. “... have you found the murderous wolf already? Are you trying to protect its owner?”

“That’s not the case, Beta Zoey.” Sham sighed. “We have not gotten a lead. Our hands are tied.”

“Then find a way to loosen those fucking hands of yours! Listen and listen well,” Zoey made sure his glares reached both men, “if anything happens to Zaramanni and the wolves of the Crown-Blood Pack, I will not take it easy on either of you. Alpha Darren, mark my words.”

“You are threatening the Alpha King, Beta Zoey,” Sham warned and he got up to properly show how disapproving he was of the Beta’s words. “You should not do that.”

“If anyone that resides in the Crown-Blood Pack meets an untimely and gruesome death, I won’t take it easy on you.” After dropping that stern warning, Beta Zoey walked out of the large room, his footsteps showing how angered he was.

But his anger was not something he focused on. The ache in his heart was not the type to be ignored. He could still feel Zaramanni’s pain and that was more reason for him to rush toward the manor.

After a quick agreement with his wolf, while he walked down the noisy corridors, his clothes began to shred, his limbs contorted and soon, his bothered wolf was racing at full speed toward the exit of the hall.

~

Walking into the manor without hearing a lively greeting made Zaramanni recall the look of approaching death on Clarissa’s face.

But before she could drown in great sorrow again, Zara admonished herself to stay as calm as possible. She didn’t want to break down in front of Isaac.

Currently, she was walking behind the tall man that drove her to the manor. They were on their way to the dungeon where Isaac was held captive.

As their steps advanced into corridors that were darker than the preceding ones, Zara wondered what Isaac exactly did to deserve being trapped in such a lonely and gloomy place.

It was already sad enough that he was blind.

Was it necessary to plunge the young one into more darkness?

Her pondering got interrupted by a quick drag of some iron doors.

Then, after walking past some armed men, Zaramanni and the man entered the dungeon- a much gloomier place that was mostly rocks and loose sand.

They had barely taken four steps when a voice demanded that they stopped walking.

“Who are you here for?” The voice came from the right. And, the he-wolf that spoke had a few guards behind him.

“We are here to meet Isaac,” answered the man beside Zaramanni.

“Isaac…” After that quick mumble, in a way that roused Zaramanni’s curiosity, the men behind the heavily armoured guard got rid of the closeness they had with each other. They parted with precision in their steps and at the end of the vertical gap they created, was a large heap covered with straws.

“What is going on?” asked Zara’s companion.

The head guard pointed at the heap. “That is Isacc. He died this morning.”

Zaramanni fell to the ground instantly.