>The next few hours were rough.Spike got Claire talking against her will. The method was painful enough for a werewolf of Claire's strength to pass out twice. By the second time, I overtook from Spike. Despite everything, I didn't want her to die.And anyway, it had been confirmed that she didn't know much either.She had no idea about the coordinates to the exact location of the Base she was working at. She knew no real names of any of her superiors or colleagues. Everyone had nicknames. All we got from her was that her immediate boss called herself Peach, who often talked about her boss as Olive. She worked with two guys who responded to Kiwi and Tan, short for Tangerine. Claire's nickname was Cherry.The more stuff she said, the more we realized the gravity of the situation. Someone had gone to great lengths to keep the information about this research hidden. We knew nothing could be done without the King's approval but there was no loose thread to connect the King
>I don't know what I was expecting when the Alpha went to talk to my superior but in a few minutes, it was decided that work was done for the day and we were all going to have dinner together.Misha told me later that the Alpha and Rory, the lead event manager were old friends. But it was clear from her demeanor that she fancied him. I could bet more than half of the men and women who met him did. He had that charm that pulled everyone to him without even trying. I could bet that most of the time he didn't even notice the effect he had on the people around him.We went to a sophisticated establishment and were led to a private dining area. Rory, Laura, Misha, Alpha, Angelina, and I ordered our meals and got into light chit-chat.Misha and Laura were in an animated conversation about something. Alpha and Rory were reminiscing about the things they had in common, though it was more Rory talking and casually touching his shoulder or arm now and then. At the same time, he kep
>Maisie!I woke up with a start. I placed a hand on my head to stop the world from swirling around me.My head was pounding. Why was the light so bright? Where the hell was the damn noise coming from?'You are hungover, dumbass.' Spike howled loudly in my head, 'And I am talking normally. You are being sensitive.' I could hear the sarcasm in his tone."Ugh." I saw the empty bottles from last night roll away from me where I had passed out on the floor, "Fuck!" I exclaimed but regretted it instantly and clutched my head, trying to get up without tripping.'Should've stuck to human beer if you can't handle adult beverages, boy.' Spike was taunting me and I was neither in the mood nor condition to engage with him.I stumbled into the shower.Why was Maisie's name ringing in my head? Did I do something when I was drunk last night? No, I wouldn't jeopardize myself even if I was drunk. Then, why did I think of Maisie among all the looming issues around me? I needed to freshe
>"If you really want to thank me, come to my sister's wedding guest reception as my plus one." Alpha Richard had proposed so suddenly that I almost missed what he said."Sorry?" I had asked, hoping bewildered that I had heard him wrong."I know this is hardly an ideal way to ask, but I will be leaving for work and won't return until the event. So, I needed to seize this opportunity before someone else did." He had explained sweetly but when he had noticed my expression of disbelief he hurried to say, "Of course, you don't have to answer right away. And, it is fine if you wouldn't want to do this, but I will feel honored if you do. Think about it?"I had nodded again, not trusting my mouth. I was unsure if I was even able to form coherent speech after such a proposal. "Good night, Zoe. Whatever's left of it. See you at the reception." He had smiled."Good night." I had managed to say as he drove away, leaving me confused, and with so many conflicting thoughts.I kept repl
>"Save my life from what?" She asked, getting into defensive position. Luca kicked himself mentally. He had planned the whole thing and skipped the part where he had never met the girl and she was probably not going to trust a random stranger."We don't have time for introductions. Just trust me." He raised his hands in surrender while glancing outside. He didn't have much time before the guard realized something was wrong or if the real guys who were coming to get her got to her."Like hell!" She exclaimed. She was trying not to give in to her witch side but it seemed equally hard to defend herself by transforming in a closed space."You are a very mistrusting person and I respect that. But please." He sighed and then said, "Alpha Shaw sent me. I am his Beta. Now, let's go!""Why did Xavier send you? What is going on?" She asked worried while Luca seemed busy pressing random parts of the room wall around the hanging lamp."I really don't have the time to explain to you.
>It was saturday. The wedding guest reception that we had been working to organize meticulously was just a day away. The team had recieved a day off to cool down so we made sure everything went perfectly as planned.I didn't tell Dad about Richard's proposal. I wasn't planning on going as a guest when I was on the organizing team. And I honestly didn't want to be in spotlight either. In this new pack, no body new who I was or where I was from and I wanted it to stay that way. Past was not a pretty place to visit.I had decided to spend the day with Dad, cooking our favortite meals. Just like we used to do on Dad's day off when I was little. Those were the best days. Dad was washing vegies as I was taking out pans that we needed when my phone dinged with a message.I glanced at it to see an unknown number and my heart sank. So far, everytime I had been contacted via unknown numbers it had always been bad news. I ignored the message without opening it and got to cooking w
>I had no idea if Luca had succeeded in rescuing Maisie in time or not. There was no way to contact him. He was too far for mid-link. I kept waiting for him to contact me for days. The HQ had kept everything hudh hush. If it hadn't been my guy in the center of it all, I would never have known that Maisie probably was about to be worse than a lab rat.After days of not knowing what to do next and spending my days in the office to make sure John wasn't sapred any punishment. I walked exhausted into the loft.I hadn't been there in a while.The place was just as I had left it, except I didn't want to turn on the lights and see how truly empty it was without the one person whom I forced away from me. There were some envelopes in the mail that I just placed on the kitchen island without looking.I walked into the shower and turned it on. I let the cold water wash over me even though it could never wash the pain of betrayal and regret that was eating me up from the inside.I
>On the morning of the event, I was called by Laura to clock in early. A lot of parts that were left to be done fresh on the day of the event needed to get done in time.The event was in the evening, but we were informed that most of VIP guests had already arrived in the pack and were staying in various hotels. Laura had Misha and I run errands till noon. She was too tense because of the pressure from Rory. Everyone was nervous because this was the first project of the company on such a large scale and if everything went well, it could be the very thing that launches the company to national level."My feet are killing me and it's only mid-day." Misha complained dramatically as he sipped his boba tea."Maybe next time when it is such an important day at work, you'd refrain from heeled boots?" I teased and he frowned playfully."But seriously though, I am starving. Like I had my breakfast and its only noon. How am I starving?" He rolled his eyes dramatically and sipped his
>It took an hour and a lot of emotional blackmail on behalf of Aunt Julie to convince Zoe to let Xavier go with her to Kansas City. And that too only on the condition that nothing would be expected of her and it was only a test for Xavier to see if he can keep to his word.After a lot of persuasion and tales of mates, second chances, belief in the Moon Goddess, and the fact that technically Xavier was the only one left in the world who was hers and on her side for good, Aunt Julie smiled and patted Zoe's back, "I'll go up and tell him that you need to talk. Be nice, okay?"Zoe didn't dare roll her eyes at Aunt Julie, she respected her way too much for that. But she did shake her head slightly knowing how Aunt Julie managed to convince her but she let her do it. If anyone had any right to Zoe, it was Aunt Julie after everything she had done for the Simmons family and how she had been so much more than just a distinct cousin of her Dad and their housekeeper. She was family a
>Zoe climbed up the stairs decisively while Xavier stayed in the garage trying to calm down and make peace with the fact that his forgiveness was going to take some time. He was hopeful that it would come eventually, just a bit late.He wanted to tell Zoe about Claire so she would stop worrying about him going back to her. But, Zoe already had so much on her plate, that she didn't need to be pulled into everything Claire was a part of. Xavier felt like it was pointless to make his worries hers when she hadn't even forgiven him yet.The more important thing was staying by her side. Which meant, he had to persuade her to let him come with her. The world was a much darker place than she knew and he wanted to protect her from it even though physically she didn't need protecting.Plus, he had no idea how idea what awaited them at those coordinates. Since it had been more than a decade since those numbers had been put down on that letter, there was a possibility that they would f
>"Zoe, I cannot relate to your pain or anything you are going through. So, I will not even try to say that I understand. I don't. And I know how many times I have let you down," He started the speech he had been working for hours as they drove to Silver Moon two days ago."Don't, please," Zoe tried to turn away. She wanted the apology. She had spent nights dreaming of the moment Xavier realized what a huge mistake he had made to let her go. But, that was not the moment for it. She was already an emotional mess."Let me, please. You need to hear this and I need to say this." He cautiously stepped closer and held her arms gently to ensure she didn't leave without hearing but could if she wanted to."Why? You didn't care about saying or being heard a few months ago." Zoe looked up at him bitterly, his touch igniting sensations stronger than she had ever felt because of her heightened senses."Believe me or not but I really thought that letting you go to have a new life was th
>"What are you so happy about?" I asked Aunt Julie whose excitement was confusing me.Instead of answering me straight away she sat me down on a couch with a nostalgic look and held my hands motherly before finally speaking."Did your Dad ever tell you that you have your mother's eyes?" She asked with a soft sad smile.She didn't wait for me to answer, probably because she knew the answer to her question. She resumed, "Of course not. He did his best to remove any mention of her from his life. That was his way of dealing with his grief."What about my grief? I wanted to ask but I chose to listen.She was right, no one was allowed to talk about Mom in our house. I was never allowed to ask any questions. Aunt Julie tried her best to fill that hole in my life but for a ten-year-old girl, no one could replace her mother. I barely had any memories of her either. The psychiatrist had told Dad that it was a form of PTSD. I don't remember what the trauma exactly was, but apparentl
>Zoe ran to her room and gathered the contents of the box. She got her old laptop and searched up the location. She rushed back down and went outside to the broken car.Xavier and Aunt Julie followed her as Zoe opened the backseat door."You can't go in that. I doubt it's even going to start." Xavier commented."It better. The coordinates are a two-day drive away." Zoe replied without looking at him. Then, she suddenly turned to him, "Key?" She brought her hand forward expectantly."Zoe," He started but she was getting impatient, "Key, now."He sighed, fetched the key from his pants pocket, and placed it on her open palm. She grabbed it and turned without a thank you. Aunt Julie tried to protest, "You can't let her go alone,""I'm not. Don't worry, " he said and waited for Zoe to try starting the car. He crossed his arms and waited as she turned the key in the ignition, but the car didn't start. Zoe stubbornly tried to keep trying instead of admitting that he was right. T
>"What are these?" Zoe put the envelope on the coffee table between herself and Xavier.Glad that she was finally talking to him, he leaned, his brows furrowed in confusion and concentration, "Letter to you?" He said."The number, what are those?" Zoe resisted the urge to roll her eyes or go over and kiss his confused expression. She knew he was trying not to upset her further. She didn't know why he suddenly cared but a small part of her was relieved that he hadn't mentioned his chosen mate yet or gone back to her. By the looks of it, he was only worried about Zoe. She didn't want to let him in her heart and get it broken again but she wasn't sure if he had left entirely the first time either."Looks like coordinates." He thought out loud."I knew it." Zoe snatched the envelope back, their fingers brushing for a moment and both tried to not show how the touch affected them."I can get the location checked. That is, if you want.." Xavier offered softly.Zoe didn't answer b
>"Weren't you informed not to call? The lines can be intercepted!" I whisper-yelled into the phone as soon as I was sure neither Aunt Julie nor Zoe could overhear."This one's fine, Sir. I made sure. And this is urgent." Jacob spoke in a hushed tone like he was afraid."Well?" I said expectantly, urging Jacob to resume."We were found. Some of our men work for your father and call him Alpha. I don't know how they found out." Jacob informed."Did they take Claire?" I asked expecting the worst."No. They tripped off an alarm I had planted around the area and I got a fifteen-minute headstart. I drugged Claire and took her before they could get us. They knew about the underground room." He told."Where are you now?""At the Shaw Safehouse. I cleaned up any evidence of the underground room being in use before we left. They won't know Claire was there." Jacob reassured me and then said, "But the bad news is, the cleanup team at Golden Eclipse didn't do as great of a job.""W
>The next morning, Zoe was up and out of the house just as the dawn broke through the sky.She had a restless night, the same nightmare burning her mind whenever she closed her eyes. She had waited for her wolf for so long. And then, she had taken even longer to accept that, unlike her fellows, she would never be able to transform into one because she was wolfless.Now, she had a beast. Granted it was not a regular wolf but an animal nonetheless and she wanted to transform. Her mind focused on her need to feel herself shift consciously just to be sure that it had actually happened. Also, this newfound focus helped distract her from the grief of her father.She called out to Dahlia and fell to her knees, trying to force her bones to move, for her skin to get covered with thin grey fur and for her canines to elongate and sharpen. Nothing happened.Dahlia did her best to aid her human but it proved futile as no matter how hard either of them tried, Zoe's body refused to trans
[WARNING: This chapter contains details of gore and death. Proceed with caution.]>That night Zoe slept in her old bed. Apparently, no one had known about their departure from Golden Ecplise or their arrival at the Silver Moon.Xavier chose to stay and Aunt Julie asked him to stay in Joe Simmons room but he refused knowing that when Zoe found out, she would be furious. She blamed Xavier for her father's death, and truthfully, so did he.Aunt Julie wanted to ask about Xavier about his pack but he had been so quiet that she decided otherwise.Zoe sat on her bed looking at the contents of the wooden box. She stared at the pictures. This time with more attention to detail than she had earlier in the day. She read the notes behind each. Some were normal comments about the picture while some were in the same language as the bundle of paper and needed to be decipered. It was just all too much information to be digested at once. The only good thing that came out of opening that