Page 20 of Pack to the Wall

Zev turned back to Ewan. "I'll take Chrissy with me. I've got a hunch he might be near the lava tube cave. It's easier to navigate on two legs, so I'll stay in human form."

Ewan nodded, then turned and jogged back up the beach, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows.

Zev grabbed flashlights from a nearby storage shed and handed one to Chrissy. "Stay close," he repeated, his voice firm but not unkind. "The jungle can be unpredictable at night."

She nodded, gripping the flashlight tightly. "Lead the way."

They moved quickly, the jungle swallowing them whole as they left the beach behind. The air was thick with the scent of earth and foliage, the sounds of the night creatures buzzing and chirping around them. Chrissy's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to focus, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of Jonah.

Zev moved with a predator's grace, his steps sure and silent despite the uneven terrain. She could feel the tension radiating off him, his focus entirely on the task at hand. But every so often, he'd glance back at her, his eyes checking to make sure she was still there and still safe.

"You're sure he'd be near this cave?" she asked, her voice low as they pushed through a thicket of vines.

"It's a place I used to explore when I was his age," Zev said, his voice steady. "It's secluded, but it's also dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. If he's there, we'll find him."

Chrissy nodded, her mind racing. She couldn't help but admire Zev's calm under pressure, the way he took charge without hesitation. It was a stark contrast to the men she'd known in her world, who were all bluster and ego. Zev was so different. He was a leader, but he didn't need to shout to prove it.

Zev and Chrissy moved deeper into the jungle, their flashlights cutting narrow beams through the oppressive darkness. The air grew cooler, the cacophony of night creatures fading into a distant hum. Chrissy's pulse quickened, her senses on high alert. The jungle felt alive around her, its weight pressing in, but she forced herself to stay focused and keep moving forward. Zev's broad shoulders moved ahead of her, his presence a steady anchor in the shifting shadows.

They turned onto a narrow trail that led to the base of a cliffside, its jagged silhouette cutting into the starry sky. Zev stopped, his flashlight beam scanning the dense wall of vines and moss that clung to the rock face. He turned to her, his blueeyes sharp in the dim light. "The cave's just through here. The entrance is narrow so stay close to me."

Chrissy nodded, her throat suddenly dry. She stepped closer to him, her shoulder brushing his arm. A shiver ran through her, though she couldn't tell if it was from the cool air or the way his body seemed to radiate heat. Zev pushed aside the thick vines, revealing a narrow opening barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through sideways. He stepped in first, his voice echoing back to her. "Come on, I've got you."

She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding, then followed him into the cave. The interior was a tight, winding corridor of smooth black stone, the walls glistening faintly in the flashlight beams. The air was cooler inside, damp and earthy, with a faint metallic tang. The space was cramped—less than six feet tall in places, and no more than three or four feet wide—forcing her to move carefully. Her breath hitched as she navigated the uneven floor, her sandals slipping slightly on the damp stone.

"Careful," Zev's voice came from ahead, low and steady. "The floor can be slick."

"Got it," she said, her voice echoing eerily in the confined space. She glanced up, catching a glimpse of a natural chimney in the ceiling, a thin shaft of moonlight filtering down. "This place is… wild."

Zev glanced back at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I used to spend hours here as a kid. It was my escape—away from the pack and away from being the Alpha's heir. Just me and the silence."

Chrissy's chest tightened. "Sounds nice. I haven't had a place like this in… well, a very long time now. No matter where I go, someone's always watching."

Zev's gaze softened, and he slowed his pace to match hers. "Why's that?"

She shrugged, though the movement felt stiff in the confined space. "Fame, I guess. Everyone thinks they own a piece of you or knows you. No privacy and no space to just… be."

Zev stopped and turned to face her in the cramped space, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "You're safe here, Chrissy."

She swallowed hard, her eyes meeting his. Suddenly, the world outside the cave ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, surrounded by the ancient stone, the air thick with something she couldn't quite name. "I trust you," she said softly, the words slipping out.

Zev's jaw tightened, and he nodded once, a flicker of something intense in his eyes. "Good. Because I'm not letting anything happen to you."

He turned then, and they continued deeper into the cave, the walls narrowing in places making Chrissy slightly claustrophobic. Her steps faltered as the silence pressed in, broken only by the faint drip of water from the ceiling. She glanced back at the twisting path behind them, her stomach knotting with unease. "We've been walking for a while. Do you really think Jonah's in here?"

Zev stopped and turned to her again, his expression calm but resolute. "My instincts are telling me we're close. Trust them."

She hesitated, her gaze searching his. "And if we're wrong? If we're just wasting time?"

Zev stepped closer to her, his presence filling the narrow space. His voice was quiet but firm. "We're not wrong. But even if we were, I wouldn't leave this cave without knowing for sure. That's what it means to lead and protect a pack—no one gets left behind."

Chrissy's breath caught at the intensity in his voice. She could feel the weight of his words, the unshakable conviction behind them. It was so different from the calculated, self-servingmen she'd known in her human world. Zev wasn't just powerful—he was protective and loyal. And for reasons she couldn't explain, that made her chest ache for something.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice soft but steady. "I trust you completely."

Zev's lips curled up into a smile, his eyes holding hers for a moment longer than necessary. "Good. You should."

They pressed on, the cave winding deeper into the cliffside. Chrissy's flashlight beam danced over the smooth walls, catching glimpses of strange formations—ribbons of stone that looked like frozen waves, and tiny pools of water that shimmered like liquid silver. The air grew cooler yet and the silence more profound. She could hear her own heartbeat, steady but insistent, echoing in the confined space.

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