The Beast's Possession

**Bane

pov**

The fear that surged through me wasn't any regular fear. No, this one was feral, raw and deep. So powerful, it reached for my heart though my chest, grabbed a hold of it and squeezed the fucking muscle until it could beat no more. I couldn't suck in a single breath, couldn't move a muscle and even blink. The only thing I could do was stand there like an idiot and look at the empty cell.

For the first time in what felt forever, my body was mine, not the monster's to keep. I could move the muscles and limbs how I wanted to, now how he demanded them to move.

Without thinking, I called out for the guards. "Guys! Come here, quick!"

I didn't recognize my voice anymore, I wasn't sure it was still mine. Even as the guards ran towards me and the sound of their heavy footsteps echoed against the halls, I feared they wouldn't recognize me as me.

"Alpha, what happened?" One of them shouted from afar and for that brief moment, a wave of relief washed over me. For a split second, I truly believed he was talking to me, not the imposter who had robbed me of my free will and body. "Zion isn't in his cell," I shouted, my words breaking as I tried to remain strong.

I had no idea how long it would take for the monster to take it all back, to force me back down into the endless pit of my mind, but I needed this moment, I had to hold onto it. I needed this more than ever.

"Where the hell is Zion? Did any of you see him leave? I need to know where my best friend is. Please, for the love of the Goddess almighty, don't tell me he was taken out of here because of the reasons I assume. Please, I beg you, tell me that my best friend is still alive and you mean it. I beg you. I can't live without him around, not like this, not ever."

Maybe I was being too dramatic and emotional, but I couldn't help it. Zion stood by my side even when someone else took over and he had to endure endless torture. Even when that fuckface made his life a living hell, Zion just gave in and never fought against him just to ensure he still remained close to me.

"Oh God, Alpha, it's you, you're back," a younger guard cried out and probably in the heat of the moment, he ran up to me to pull me into a tight, painful hug.

I patted his back simply because I knew the young boy needed some support. Lately, we all needed it more than ever.

"I don't know for how long and how I got the control, but before he returns, I need my questions answered, guys. Where is your Beta? Is he okay?" I asked again, fighting to sound calm, not desperate.

Truth be told, I knew I was desperate and I knew I sounded like that too. But didn't I have a right to be?

Wasn't it justified that I would feel completely broken and lost without the one person who had always been there for me?

"Wait, what are you on about?" The guard released me and stepped away to look over my shoulder.

Once he noticed the empty cell behind me, his eyes visibly widened and his demeanor changed completely - from calm and happy to terrified.

"No," he whispered. "No, it can't be. Alpha, I know we can't tell you things like these but we were helping, I promise we were. We did our best to ensure Beta Zion would live and heal as fast as possible, I don't get it," he trailed off. The rest of the guards slowly stepped closer, each of them becoming paler than the previous one as the realization dawned on them all. "I don't get it," one of them whispered the same words.

I scanned their faces for any lies, any act they might be putting on and still nothing. This realization hit me hard, like a fucking knife straight through the heart. They hadn't known Zion was missing, they had no fucking idea he wasn't here. Wait, did it mean I still had a chance to find my best friend? If the guards didn't let him out, didn't take him to the hospital or drag the lifeless body out of this damned place - did that mean Zion was alive?

"Did any of you take Zion out of this cell, dead or alive?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear that kept rooting itself deeper within my being. That tiny glimmer of hope was still important, yet it wasn't nearly as powerful as the dread. All of the guards shook their heads, eyes wide and mouths slightly open.

Closing my eyes, I tossed my head back and kept begging the Goddess not to let the demon within me awake again while I was discussing this with my men.

"Okay, did someone enter the cells? Someone who wasn't supposed to be here? Think, it could be anyone, most likely a witch powerful enough to disguise herself and get Zion out of here. Whatever you know helps. I need to make sure he's okay," the last sentence sounded strained, but at this point, I didn't care anymore.

The only thing that worried me right this moment was Zion. I needed him to be alive and well. If he was, I knew I could get through this nightmare and eventually, find my Aife too. Fuck, how I missed her.

"No. The cells are closed for anyone but the guards. Everyone who's on the rotation is known and can't even bring a friend, even if the said friend is one of the pack members. We have been told off on everything, so not a soul could get past us unless we wanted to end up in a ditch," the youngest of the guards explained.

His words brought me such a sense of relief that I wanted to shout and scream in happiness like kids sometimes do.

If Zion got out on his own, he would make it. I knew he was a fighter, and had a feeling he was planning something, but now, despite the initial fear, I was overjoyed to know my best friend made it. Zion fucking made it!

As the thought crossed my mind, I could feel the familiar, sickly sensation in my chest. The asshole himself was about to surface, so I didn't have much time to waste, let alone disclose serious information.

Turning my focus on the youngest of the guards I forced a smile and whispered, "in no time, I once again, will be no longer myself. Any question has to be answered with the Beta died and was burned per my command. Tell him I couldn't see my best friend so I needed to get rid of the body. Got it?"