Page 10 of Elusive Mate

“I swear to god, I’m going to put a collar and leash on her when I catch up to her.”

“Understandable, but I don’t like your odds on getting that done without injury. One of the things we’ve been able to find out is that she managed to sneak in some self-defense classes while she was away. Apparently, she is now a black belt in krav maga.”

For the first time in more than a week, Lucian chuckled. “So, I should take some comfort in that she can most likely defend herself, but also have a care that she can kill me with her bare hands.” He sat back down shaking his head. “It occurs to me that she’d been planning this for years.”

Zaiden nodded as he sat. “That would be my guess. She managed to fool us and those who watched her. My sister is not only intelligent, but beautiful and cunning as well.”

“That she is, which is why she is my fated mate and why I will never give up on finding her.”

“I may have an idea about how to do that.”

Lucian looked up. “Tell me.”

“What alpha do we know that is pretty much openly in league with the Shadow Sisters?”

“Reynolds. But you said our people in Mystic River do not believe she is there.”

“I don’t think Zenya would agree to come back to Alaska. She may not be at Windsong, and he may not know where she is, but I would be willing to bet he could find her.”

“And why would he do that? Reynolds and I are not exactly good friends.”

“No, but you are alpha to a clan he wants desperately to bring into the fold.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“What if you agreed to commit the Baihu Clan to the Resistance in exchange for information that gets Zenya returned to you? Don’t snarl at me. I know for a fact you’re already leaning towards the Resistance, so why not use it to get what you want and get Zenya home safe? Hell, you could even present it as a way to ensure Zenya is safe and not out on the fringes of god knows where.”

Lucian smiled. “It would seem a devious nature runs in your family’s DNA.”

CHAPTER 5

ZENYA

It had taken her the better part of four days to reach Pigeon Forge. Once there, she’d been directed to a Shadow Sisters’ safe house where she was given a makeover. Her once pale blonde hair had been dyed to a strawberry blonde color. Her blue eyes had been changed with the help of contact lenses to hazel. They had left her length, at Zenya’s insistence, but added in layers and a soft perm that gave her soft, beachy waves. The effect when she turned around was positively startling, and she was pleasantly surprised.

“I love it. I look like a beach bunny. Is it going to be hard to maintain?”

“Not really,” said Darcie, the stylist. “We have several women coming in to get a makeover. I don’t live far from you. We can probably arrange for me to maintain it every six weeks or so.”

“That would be great. That’s one thing off my list to figure out. So, you know where I’m going?”

“Not exactly. They leave that up to the individuals involved. I’m in Wilmington, so I suspect somewhere in North or South Carolina.”

Zenya nodded, once again reminded that she was not alone. Darcie put her hand on Zenya’s shoulder and looked her in the eye in the mirror. “You are not alone. You may have left your clan, but you have a sisterhood that has embraced you.”

Zenya laid her hand over Darcie’s. “Thank you. I’m Zenya, by the way. Zenya Harrison. I know that, and I was feeling really strong until this morning. The last leg from the West Coast was tough.”

“It’ll get easier. I promise. You’ll build a new life and in time, you’ll realize you’re safe. Do they have you set up with a profession? I’d never done hair before in my life, but I love it, and I’m happy I can help others the way I was helped.”

“I want to do that as well. As soon as I’m able, I want to give back. And I’m a vet. Apparently, I have a new job waiting for me in a small clinic.”

When Zenya stood up, Darcie gave her a hug. “You’re going to do great. I just know it. I’ll let them know they can add my number to the ones they program into your phone.”

“Thanks, Darcie. I’ll see you soon.”

Zenya left the makeover room and headed into the next room where Caye was waiting. It was good to see a familiar face.

“Wow! I like that look on you,” Caye exclaimed.

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