>Xavier’s way of helping me was different. I can’t deny that I loved every second of it.The way he worked my body made me forget everything around us and lose track of time. Every second made me feel like we belonged together and this is how it is meant to be. It was a strange emotion. I felt like I had known him for a lifetime when we had barely met a couple of month ago. So much had happened since then.I had been so busy I had not gone to meet Dad. He must’ve been so lonely and sad. I know I would not be as courageous as he was. In the evening, I woke up and found that Xavier was gone again. Another note awaited me on the bedside tablelamp. It read, ‘Gone to Office, there is an emergency. You can borrow my clothes. Don’t wait for me.’The last part meant that he was not going to be back anytime soon. I went to the bathroom and was relieved to see that the bloody uniform was gone. Xavier must’ve made sure that I did not come across it again.I showered and borrowed h
> I walked in and saw the same receptionist. I walked straight to the elevator without giving her a chance to stop me or ask anything. “Where are you going? You cannot just-” She called behind me but I was already inside the elevator as someone had just left and it was closing. I had been to Xavier’s office before and knew of his floor number. I pressed the button and watched with satisfaction as the elevator doors closed in her face. I was sure she was going to call security and I wanted to see her face when she would be told that I was Xavier’s paying client. I walked into the office and found Xavier sitting in his rotating chair waiting for me. “Welcome.” He said with a smirk, one foot placed on the knee of the other leg. I plopped my handbag onto a couch and spoke, hoping to convey my frustration, “I get it.”“What do you get?” He raised a brow. This man was testing my patience. “I get that this is unlike your usual high-profile cases and I’m paying in installme
>Jacob brought the files that I had asked and the three of us had been creating a strategy for a while now.Zoe had been sharing some stuff that she thought could help us with the case. Everything had to be perfect for us to be able to hit John without him having any chance to escape.The more I found out about him the more suspicious I got of how he got to be the new Beta of the pack. Men like him don’t just get promoted, especially when there is so little merit to him.I still don’t know what my sister saw in him. It had become personal to me now. Not just my mate but my sister’s life was also on the line. I had to expose John’s real face to her without making things rough between us. I knew I was all she had after our mom. Father had been more of a mentor to me and left her to the nanny.“You are not listening. I’ll make some coffee, we are starting to get distracted.” Zoe stood up and I looked at them. She was right, I had started to zone again. Coffee would do m
>After dinner, we had smoothly transitioned back to work. Zoe proved to be a great work partner.She was just as focused and refused to lie down or rest for even an hour despite my insisting she do so. I understood how personal it was, and I admired her resilience. She was ready to go to any lengths to save her father. She had taken on Jacob’s role in his absence and it made work go on quite fast despite the fact that there was a lot of data to sort through and I preferred doing everything manually in hardware.Due to personal experiences, I had learned that big heavy files were harder to steal than a tiny USB with terabytes of classified data. Also, paper was unhackable and once burnt could never be retrieved thus, saving it from ever being recovered by the wrong people.Either she would read out some stuff and I would note down whatever I believed to be useful or I would read and dictate to her what to note down for me. We had been so busy sifting through piles of d
>While Jacob excused himself to take care of an appointment on behalf of the Alpha Councilor and Xavier left for his business. I chose to go to Xavier’s place to rest for a while.I knew my father’s case was sensitive and I wanted to be close enough to reach the office within a few minutes instead of a couple of hours’ drive from my pack.After having slept a while, I decided to explore the territory of Blood Crescent, Xavier’s pack. Before I had never had the chance to travel much. But now that I was here and feeling restless because I had nothing to do as I waited for Xavier to finish his business and return home or office.I drove around for a while, going out of the elite areas where Xavier’s office and the building housing his loft were. I moved towards the middle class and poorer neighborhoods and was surprised to find the difference from my own pack’s such neighborhoods.There were no beggars or homeless as far as I had seen. So consumed by my adventure I forgot to
> Xavier did not get to say anything on the topic because as soon as we started chopping onions, we were surrounded by people who were also chopping vegetables for ‘the stew’ and I was shocked to find Xavier actually smiling like this was his home and not the loft. He joked with the people around him and popped some cut carrots in his mouth now and then. There were no traces of the scary Alpha Councilor that the rest of the world knew. “Alpha, it’s time.” A huge man came from behind Xavier and nodded from where he had come. Xavier quickly dropped the knife and dried his hands on a white scarf with a golden print that he had dangling from his belt. I had seen this scarf in his loft a few times, too. “Time for what?” I asked. “To set up the outdoor oven.” Eva, a woman sitting beside me, answered on his behalf, as he had already gone after the man. “Outdoor oven?” I asked, intrigued. “There are too many of us to cook in the regular ovens inside. So, Alpha helps make a h
>“Don’t worry. I won’t tell him.” I assured her as she hugged me again and with a final goodbye left.I stood with more questions than before but I did not want to let it ruin my wonderful evening. Xavier walked towards me and I spoke as soon as he was close enough, “I would drop you home but my car still doesn’t have the fuel.” “We’ll manage.” He replied, the easy smile had not left him yet, which I was grateful for.“Say cheese!” Someone yelled from behind us as a group of teenagers from before suddenly lunged at us from all sides.Xavier’s arm was suddenly around my waist as he pulled me towards him and many pairs of hands went around our necks as someone took a flash photograph. I blinked surprised at the laughter that ensued.“You children, leave them alone!” Eva yelled from under the shed where everything was being kept for the night.“It’s fine, Eva!” Xavier called back as he smiled and she shook her head.One of the teens handed me something as they all rushed ba
>It had been an eventful couple of days. I was getting closer and closer to digging enough dirt on John to make sure I could save my little sister from making the worst mistake of her life by choosing that scumbag as her life partner and chosen mate.Jacob had been going on various assignments underground and hiring anonymous people to make sure nobody knew that I was looking for something. That is how I have always worked. In silence, until it was time to reveal what I had been working on. It always helped to catch everyone off-guard.John was going to be no exception.I had a feeling there was more to him than he let on for Zoe’s case. He had ruined her life and family. But I remembered him contacting her during his engagement afterparty. And he had something to Zoe at the parking lot after our lunch together. Yes, he was her ex but my gut was telling me that there was something else brewing. Something that I would not like at all. I could not ask Zoe, I had a feel
>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