This chapter is a recap of all the major events that happened in the book so far. This is where the story of the wolfless Zoe ends and the story of the Hybrid Zoe with her special animal Dahlia begins. Many new problems await Zoe and her fated mate, Xavier. Many new secrets await to be revealed. Many friends old and new, many foes, old and new. And many new hurdles in the long journey.RECAP:Zoe is a wolfless girl, the daughter of an ex-beta of the Silver Moon Pack in North America. Her boyfriend, John, the new beta cheated on her with a new girl, Alyssa, who is of Alpha bloodline of an ally pack. He embezzled the pack's finances of a huge amount, framed her father, and blackmailed her to be his mistress for him to spare her father.At his engagement party, she met a stranger, Xavier Shaw, who happened to be a member of the werewolf council who could help her unveil John's schemes. She asked for his help and he agreed to help her solve her crisis for a price.Five years ago, he had a
>Zoe felt a new strength surging through her veins. Every sound, smell, and sensation felt a thousandfold.She glanced around. The first rays of dawn were illuminating the compound. She heard a swift pitter-patter and turned in the direction before her eyes focused on a cockroach in a corner on the other side of the compound scurrying around. She had never seen or heard anything this distinctly before.A breeze flew in from one of the broken windows, and Zoe felt like it breached her skin and chilled her to her core.The colors around her were more vibrant than she had ever seen them. But it was not a pleasant sight. The only color other than the cement-grey of the compound was red. Blood and organs red. A random shoe or piece of fabric could be noticed drenched in thicker blood that was coagulating and drying quickly.She swallowed thickly and took a deep breath to prevent herself from hyperventilating. Wrong move. She only managed to inhale the vomit-inducing scent of
>I drove the van as Dahlia instructed me.This newfound strength and these heightened senses were hard to work with. By the time Dahlia told me to stop at a clearing, the steering wheel of the van was bent and barely working.I knew Xavier had hitchhiked the ride but I was in no mental state to converse. Even if Dad were alive, I would've hated Xavier for abandoning me and choosing another over me.I stepped out and for a second just let the sounds and smells of woods envelope me. I always loved nature. It had helped me calm down back home. But I had never felt nature the way it felt now. It was like seeing the world for the first time. Like I had been wearing a dark curtain over my senses and it had finally lifted allowing me to see the true magic of the world.But I had a loved one to bury.That thought weighed on me so much that it numbed my senses again. I couldn't celebrate my first transformation or ponder on its possibility because I was too busy mourning my only r
>Once Zoe's father was no more than ashes, she left it there and numbly walked back to the van.Xavier didn't follow her this time. She half expected him to but didn't wait for him.Xavier knew that the disappearance of Alpha Peterson would have been noticed by this time. This meant that even if his team had arrived after Zoe and Xavier left and cleaned the crime scene. Peterson's people were going to eventually get worried and start connecting the dots. Which meant that Zoe was not safe anymore.He wanted to be with her, to be there when she broke apart in her grief. But he knew that she needed some space as well. Also, he wasn't sure how she would react to his help. So far, she had been ignoring him and keeping her distance without a word.He knew she now knew that they were mates and he had told Spike not to tell her animal that they had known all along but Spike had been overjoyed to meet her animal that he answered her every question truthfully. Zoe drove the van to
>Xavier took his time cleaning her. She allowed him to rinse every inch of her naked skin. He pooled water from the shower in his hands and let it drip down from her neck to her breasts and down through her belly button. It pained him to see her so unresponsive. But he hoped that she knew that he was not going anywhere now. That he had decided to stay for as long as she needed him to. Everything else and everyone else ceased to matter to him. He was done putting others over her. He was finally going to set his priorities straight and his mate came on top.When he was finally done, he grabbed a towel and wrapped her, gently walking her to the bed. He pulled a simple tee and jeans for her from her wardrobe and she did not resist. She just sat there silently staring into the void. It was a heartbreaking sight. It was like she had lost her fight. She had gone to many lengths for her father. She had faced everyone alone and now she probably felt like the sole reason for her
>Xavier and Zoe were not in a condition to explain themselves to the newcomer but the inquisitive and confused eyes needed answers."Zoe? What happened here?" Angelina looked worriedly around the nearly torn-apart apartment. Angelina stepped closer to Zoe but stopped when she saw Xavier crouching in a corner. She didn't seem to have noticed him earlier and was shocked to find him there."Zoe?" Her voice held a tone of alarm.Xavier slowly stood up. Zoe didn't seem in the right state of mind."Angelina, I am Xavier. There is nothing to worry about." Xavier started but Angelina's alarm and suspicions heightened as she narrowed her eyes, "It doesn't look fine. And, how do you know my name?"She instinctively stepped between Zoe and Xavier. Xavier raised his hands in front of him to show he meant no harm to either of the girls.Angelina noticed Xavier's Blood Crescent cufflinks and narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "If you don't tell me who you are right now, I'll call the cop
>Xavier needed Zoe out of Golden Eclipse borders but Angelina was not going to let him even try to convince Zoe to come with him.So, he made a decision. He looked at Angelina and told the truth, "Zoe's father is dead."Angelina's face changed so fast. She whirled to face Zoe who had sucked a breath at the mention of her father and was looking at the messed-up floor."Goddess, Zoe, I am so sorry. What happened? How?" Angelina asked the questions to Xavier."Long story." He said with urgency, "Please convince her to come with me. I promise you, there is nowhere safer for her than my side.""Why is her life in danger? What is going on?" Angelina asked getting more worried."Because she," Xavier contemplated the truth. He had no idea if Zoe remembered what Dahlia did. Usually during the first transformations, the animals took full control and the human parts had no memory. But Zoe was not a normal werewolf and he was desperate."Her beast killed the guy who killed her father.
>Xavier drove for hours before Zoe stirred in the back seat. She had been whispering in her sleep, calling to her Dad, no doubt dreaming of him. It saddened him that she was hurting and he was the reason. He wanted to help but didn't know how. She groggily opened her eyes and looked around to take in her surroundings. She was confused for a second before she recognized Xavier driving and no one else was in the car besides the two of them.She sat straighter. Mixed feelings rose in her. She was confused about their destination. She was obviously still in pain, the tragedy of her father was still too fresh. But at that moment her biggest concern was Xavier."Stop the car." She said. He knew she was awake and was waiting for her to say something but that was not what he was expecting."We are in the middle of nowhere." He told her as calmly as he could muster. He wanted to ask how she was feeling but he felt like she was not going to be in a talkative mood."I said, stop the