ZEKE: This isn't how it's supposed to go down. I come here, save Marelyn from these witches, and take her back home. That's it. The stakes aren't supposed to be raised to this level. I pinch my gaze at the cut on Marelyn's cheek. It's real. Isolde has the exact one, and I clench my fist at my side, needing to punch something. "I'll give this one to you. You got me, but it's not over yet," I say, shoving my other hand into a pocket hole. Isolde looks like a thick green snake in a thick green grass with that smile. I have enough vendetta against these witches to want to end it all now. I was headed there, but now I can't. Marelyn is in danger. I can't risk that. Bessie snarls. "Are you sure, Zeke?" * MARE: "You underestimate me, Diamond." He whispers vaguely and then we all see it. The rain becomes his pawn. He wields it and strikes the witches. That circle comes over us again and the rain's dropping like building blocks on their body. He protects Isolde, too, but the rest of the
Zeke stays quiet throughout the ride home. The silence eats me up from inside, and I need him to say something. Anything. I saw the way he looked at me when I tried stopping him from attacking his beta. His eyes were a forge melting me to nothing. It still causes me to shiver till now.The chauffeur is someone I've seen before, but not frequently. I know he's not here to just drive Zeke around. He's a wolf, and a trusted one to have followed the Alpha all the way to the woods. He rocks the car into the driveway, parks, and before I can even blink, Zeke climbs out of the car.I jump out, following his trail and working my mind on the right answers to his questions I know are coming. He said to save it until we were home. Well, we are, and I'm ready to defend myself. I've hated him since day one and nothing will change about how I see him because of what he did to Scarlett. Yet that doesn't mean I haven't been pointing fingers in the wrong direction.He stops, and I almost run into his b
I stutter, turning around to face him with her photo still in my hand. Zeke's on a black board short titled Native. He looks pissed, and this time, it's not a different mad. I will myself not to, but my eyes wander down his pecs, tracing that unending 'v'. I gulp when I realise I've been staring, and it's not a good time. "Are you lost?" He tilts his head, narrowing his eyes to dark slits at the picture and coming forward. I take a few steps back, feeling the furnace creep up my neck. "I...She's beautiful." Zeke snatches the photo from my hand and whispers icily up close. "Next time, mind your business, Marelyn." "I didn't mean that. I just want to talk, Zeke." "About what?" He arches a sharp brow because the last two times I felt like talking with him, they didn't end well. Zeke knows to be on guard. I fiddle with my fingernails, averting my gaze while feeling like I'm standing on hot coals. He kept saying he wasn't a monster. I still don't know what to think yet, but I know
ZEKE:I flip the last batch of pancakes over in the frying pan. They're looking good, even though it's been a while since I've tried anything in the kitchen. But I'm babysitting. Drusila is far away and no one's here to look after Marelyn except me. Over the inside burner on the cooker, all the water in the non-stick pan has simmered away and the bacon for breakfast's looking crispy and delicious.I put the extra effort into this morning's meal because I can't get her cries out of my head. When I left her bathroom yesterday, I didn't exactly leave. I sat down at a corner in her room and was there throughout, listening in on her cries. I didn't expect her to cry, but she had just lost Jai-Blynn, and as much as I hated it, he was important to her.Marelyn ate these on her first day here. She liked fruit as toppings. I stack them onto a plate, pancake first, then a crispy bacon and in that order. I finish my dish with grapes as Marelyn walks into the kitchen already dressed up. She slips
MARE:Aiden crosses his arms and stands with his feet apart. He furrows his brows in thought as he and Zeke brainstorm about my situation. Isolde got the best of me. It's only a matter of time until she uses this to her advantage and tries to harm me. I want to fear them, but I remember Zeke's words. It should be the other way around."I suspect we only have a few more days to device a concrete plan against them, Alpha Zeke.""Isolde is their leader, but I'm only familiar with Bessie. Aiden, if she's the one at the top, then expect an attack now. But I think the eldest Diamond is more rational in her dealings. She will lie low."He grinds his teeth in distaste. "And Jai-Blynn?"My hearts skips as I hear the beta's name. I shoot my eyes up from the table and watch their conversation with an interested eye. I don't even know why I do it, but Jai-Blynn still affects me, even far away.Zeke says, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "We will talk about this when I get home from the set. You can
A while later, I read the sign that says 'The Burns Cafe' and it clicks. This is as far from his house as I can get. I'm still surrounded by Moon Grove, but at least I'm in Frida's hands. That part comforts me a little.The building's a sight for sore eyes, and there are people breezing in and out by the minute. I walk in last, and Frida holds the door out for me. It's a lovely place. I can tell I'm going to love it here. Brick walls and wooden seats and floorboards. There are posters and logos on every wall. A few chalkboards with daily quotes and song lyrics. It feels like a new home.A man is behind the counter. He's making two espressos. Frida sneaks up on him and slams her palms on the marble slab, startling the elderly man and startling me as well. He spills some of the coffee and curses under his breath. She has a bright smile on her face, which contrasts with his deep frown. I can tell this is Mr. Burns. There's this thing with his eyes. Like Frida's did, it reminds me of Scarl
Frida pokes my arm, calling my attention back to the present. It still feels weird, but I shake off the ominous feeling and mutter a quick apology. She makes coffee and serves a few times as the hours go by. They are short on hands. I wonder if Scarlett worked here before tragedy befell. Will it seem like I'm becoming her replacement for everything?I smack my head mentally after that thought. It's a ridiculous thing to centre my mind on and it's not up for argument. Zeke said I should learn my way around a kitchen, so I'll start here. I sit on the counter stool and watch the magic happen up close. Sometimes it's Keith or Nancy, and most times, it's just Frida and I loitering around the counter, conversing about various topics.We eat dinner at a taco stand after her shift ends. They all agreed I'll start officially on Monday, but I can always come around with Frida before then and while away time."How's his baby doing?" She asks on the last bite of her taco salad."I hardly feel anyt
A few days turned into three and then five. Aiden showed up every evening after that day. It's something I also suspect Zeke put him up to. He comes over with takeouts for dinner most of the time, but today, I want to do something different. I've officially started my shifts at the café, and it's been good. I was worried sick about Zeke, but now I've gotten used to being home alone. Of course, there's Taz living a few metres from Zeke's, but his home will always remind me of the hell underneath it. I'd rather stay here and worry about the journals I steal—technically, borrow—from Zeke's shelf. I'm on book number four already. Jai-Blynn led me to Spotify while YouTube was a personal discovery. Well, Frida has talked about the app a lot, but I decided on weaving my way around the kitchen and making dinner today. On that boat, Drusila welcomed me with clam soup. It's significant to me and that's why it's the first thing on my mind I want to try out. Aiden's not all mean as he present