TRIGGER WARNINGS: This chapter has descriptions of attempted sexual assault and rape. Reader discretion is advised. (If you have been a victim, I am here for you. You are not alone. No one deserves anything that horrible to happen to them. Find me in my social at the author's note and we can talk.)>John stepped closer and started unbuttoning my jumpsuit."Stop!" I called out, "Help!" Of course, nobody was coming."John, please. You don't want to do this. Stop!" I begged. "I love it when you beg. Too little too late though. You are mine now. It would've been better if you came willingly. It could've been so much fun." He tried to place a kiss on my lips but I moved my face and it landed on my cheek which enraged him.He held my face roughly in his hands so that I was unable to move as kissed me forcefully. Suddenly the rope I had been working on, snapped. My eyes widened because John had not realized it. I had a brief element of surprise.I removed the rope as he was to
>It took Maisie an hour to get back and I was about to get upset at her that every minute counts. But, when she brought a bag from her car I was confused."Glad you could find time to go shopping when Zoe's life might be on the line." I commented sarcastically.She rolled her eyes, "I needed ingredients for the location spell."It took fifteen minutes for her to assemble all the ingredients which included many weird things. But witches had always been weird. "For a hybrid who keeps a part of herself secret, you sure know your stuff." I commented."I was a teen and curious. When if first got the grimoire. It was by accident. I found it in Dad's things that he had taken after my mom passed away. I never practiced magic as such. Everything I know is theoretical." She explained."Hold on. You are saying we have put all our hopes for finding Zoe on theoretical? Have you ever cast a spell? Are you even able to do magic?" I asked incredulously."I don't know?" She replied ma
>Maisie was directed by Xavier to take Zoe in her car and follow him. Xavier took John and made sure there was no chance of escape on the way. Not that John was in any shape to escape at all.Xavier had been making calls all the way to the Werewolf Council Head Quarters. The time to wait was gone and finally, the time to act had arrived. It had arrived sooner than anticipated but Xavier hoped that his men pulled through with all the pieces of evidence and John's allies to make sure he was covered from all sides for good.Maisie had called her father to inform him as well as Aunt Julie to ask her to come for Zoe's support, bring her clothes and other necessities. Zoe hadn't spoken a single word since she had been rescued. Maisie had wrapped her in a spare blanket that she used ot carry in her car. Zoe had stopped shaking but with her head on the window, she silently stared at the passing scenery. Maisie was getting worried for her friend but she had no idea how to help some
>It was early morning when Xavier's office door was knocked and Luca entered with a briefcase and a file in his hands.Lucan nodded to Jacob who nodded back briefly and resumed his work. Xavier looked at Luca expectantly and Luca immediately started talking, "Alpha, the witnesses are in separate guarded rooms. They will talk. Here is the report." He placed the file on Xavier's table and resumed debriefing as he opened the briefcase and took out various objects one by one, "This flash drive has the video proofs. This folder has the paper trails. These are the papers with ownership and contracts with John's signatures. These are the files on the witnesses." Xavier looked briefly at the objects and asked, "What about Councilor Peterson?""His son is on the way-" Luca was interrupted by Xavier controlling his rage, "I don't need his son. Get me his father!""Yes, Alpha. Alpha Peterson Junior was found calling an unknown number through an encrypted line. One of our guys is al
>"Thank you, Maisie." Xavier whispered as Maisie walked him out of the room."No need to thank me. I'll do whatever it takes to help Zoe. And about the damn time, John was held accountable for everything." Maisie spoke with conviction."Are you ready to reveal your hybrid nature?" He asked one last time."I am. Come what may. Mr. Simmons has loved me like my Dad. Zoe is my sister. And truth be told, with your ex returning, Zoe has been through a lot. You are on her side now and that is all that matters." She smiled at him.>"About that-" I started but Jacob mindlinked me and I excused myself. Someone who shouldn't have been there had come and I needed to handle the situation myself.I went to the waiting room adjacent to my office and raised an annoyed brow, "Father. What are you doing here?""I have heard about what a legend my son is with the Council cases. About time I witnessed it for myself." He had an expression full of pride. But I knew better than t
>After my conversation with Claire, I had her escorted to a room adjacent to Alyssa. By the time I entered my office, Luca was waiting for me and instantly sprung up from his seat."Alpha, news about the Councilor Peterson." "I know." I took off my coat as he asked confused, "You do?""Councilor Peterson is defending John." I told as I took my seat behind my desk."Wait, what?" He asked and I realized he had no idea about this news."What is your news?" I asked."Councilor Peterson is in the building. No idea from where he spawned overnight. No one at the borders or the building saw him come." He informed."You finally decided to come out of hiding. What are you planning?" I mused to myself before getting back to the paperwork."Alpha, shall I find out what he is planning?" Luca asked."No. He will sniff you coming for miles. And we don't have the time either. Let's focus on making sure that our witnesses stay alive. There is no limit to how low John and his allies ca
>There was blood everywhere.Pieces of werewolf flesh and fur lay scattered around me. How had things turned out so wrong?There was a stench of rotting meat in the air as I walked bare feet towards a light. My feet were so slick with blood that I nearly slipped a couple of times on top of some dead werewolf.I remembered getting everything ready for the Simmons' case at the Werewolf council but then, what happened?I showed up.Everyone showed up.John was smirking. Peterson was by his side.Despite me telling him to stay away, my father had shown up and walked straight to stand beside John.He had said something like John being a better son than I ever could be. But John was a nobody. My father hated me but why would he say that?I don't remember who started it.I remember that I finished it.I saw Zoe on the floor.I bent down. My hands were trembling as I removed a lock of hair stuck to her bloody face. No.This was not how things were supposed to turn out.I felt
>The case had started and it had been harder to deal with than I had expected it to be.I saw my Dad for the first time in months and I was horrified by what they had done to him. What his own people had done to him. They knew he was innocent and yet they made him go through so much. I was so glad to have Maisie and Aunt Julie by my side.It was the second day of the case and today was going to be about presenting proofs about every horrible thing John did related to me.There was a possibility of me being called to testify as well. Aunt Julie combed my hair as Maisie talked to someone on the phone. We were expected to be at the Council Hall in about half an hour. "Don't worry, Zo. Your dad is a tough one. And soon, he is going to be with us again." Aunt Julie was trying to reassure me. She didn't need to. I had trust in Xavier.I had been worried for a while back there when he had chosen Claire over me but having him here when it truly mattered gave me strength to kee
>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