His exiled assassin mate

The rescue of Mr Bunny

*Zay*

I can't remember the first time we met, but we can’t have been more than a couple of years old. Raya lived three houses down from the big pack house, in one of the small houses belonging to lower pack members.

Despite me being two years her senior and a future alpha we soon became best friends, spending almost every day together.

My first distinct memory of our friendship is the day Raya had lost her rabbit. I must have been about six at that time. That little grey stuffed bunny was her entire life.

"I can't sleep without Mr Bunny. I'm never gonna sleep again". She tells me as we are sitting in her back garden on a warm afternoon in late spring.

I take her little hand, smiling at her. "I am sure Mr Bunny is going to come back. Your parents will surely find him for you".

"No, I lost him at the mall and mommy says he is gone forever. I should have held him better". She has tears in her pretty eyes. And I understand her, I would be devastated if I lost my teddy.

I don’t like that she is crying and I suddenly get an idea. I get up, sending her a big smile. "I am going to the mall and find Mr Bunny for you".

"Zay, you not go to the mall alone. You get trouble". She looked at me with big eyes.

“I am the future Alpha, I can do what I want”. I just shake my head. "And I will be back before they find out".

But of course it did not go like that. I actually made it to the mall, which was almost two miles from the pack grounds, without getting myself run over or eaten by rogues.

Once there I started looking for Mr Bunny. And that was where my mom found me two hours later. Believe me I got an earful for just walking away like that.

I told my mother that Raya had lost her Mr Bunny and that I wanted to be a good Alpha and give it back to her. My mother took me to the mall office and there was Mr Bunny. Someone had found him and turned him in and I brought him back with me like a precious treasure.

I knocked on Raya's door and her mother opened. "Hi Zay, what are you doing out this late ? Raya has just been put to bed sweetie".

"I just had something very important to give her". I hold up my trophy and her mother gasps slightly as she puts her hands over her mouth.

I smile. "I am practising being an Alpha, so I went and found it at the mall for her".

"You better go give it to her". She tells me with a smile and pads my head.

I hurry down to Raya's room and when I hear her cry softly through the door, it makes my stomach react all weirdly.

She looks up as I walk in. I am hiding the bunny on my back and she says. "I am sorry I told your mother that you went to the mall, but she was scared… and she is my Luna".

"That is okay. But see what I found". I hold out the bunny.

She squeals with joy and jumps out of bed, grabbing the stuffed animal. "You found him, you found Mr Bunny. You are the best Zay… and you will be the best Alpha ever".

I was so proud, having found her bunny and making Raya smile again. And I remember her mother telling me I would grow up to be a good man and a great Alpha if I carried on like that. And my own mother hugged me extra tight that evening.

The next thing I remember clearly is my mother telling me that I was going to boarding school for future alphas. I had just turned 8 years old and I was kicking and screaming. I didn't want to go there. I actually told my mother that I was going to run away with Raya and live as rogues.

But of course I couldn’t really do that and I had to go tell Raya that I was going away for a couple of years. I remember her looking at me with tears in her eyes. "Then I lose you. Can't I switch and lose Mr Bunny again and keep you ?"

"You won't lose me. I'll be right here, in your heart". I put my hand on her heart. I had seen it in a movie and it seemed like the right thing to do.

She put her small hand on top of mine and said very seriously. "You will always be my best friend, Zay. If you can't come back soon enough, I will come to you".

"Forever best friends". I told her and smiled. I knew we would always be best friends, nothing, not even great distance, could come between us.

I remember packing up my clothes and my mother being proud and excited about me going there. And I remember sitting in the car and how Raya was standing with her parents ready to wave us off.

Suddenly Raya ripped away from her mom's hands and ran to the car, I rolled down the window and she handed me Mr Bunny. "Take him with you, then you won’t be alone in the evenings. And you will remember me".

"Are you sure ? You love Mr Bunny". I asked, looking at the grey stuffed bunny in my hand.

She nodded solemnly. "Yes. Because I love you more".

I was hugging that bunny all the way to the School and it slept in my arms every night after that, even if the other teased me. I wouldn't have forgotten her without the bunny, but it helped me remember my best friend Raya and my home.