Xavier’s POVWhen I had asked Zoe to join me for a formal lunch, I had promised myself that I would keep my personal and work life separate. But then she had showed up looking so formal and gorgeous. I was amazed at her dressing sense, she always looked like she had a professional designer and stylist dress her up. She loved showing off her undercut and always had her hair on the opposite side, accentuating the haircut. She was different, she knew it and made sure that no one forgot it. Not that anyone who had met her even once could easily forget someone like her. I kept blaming Spike for everything I did that I had not done for any woman except Claire, my only true love. So, stubbornly I kept believing that it was Spike that made me want to get up to greet her or pull her chair or flirt with her. I had started to imagine a lot of different ways this lunch could go but not the one that actually happened. Alyssa had called out with John on her arm and as much as I loved my sister,
Zoe’s POVOnce dessert was finished, I quickly said my goodbyes, eager to leave. Xavier offered to drive me home since he had some business in my pack. I nodded, not wanting to argue, and we walked toward his car. Just as we were about to get in, he patted his pockets and frowned."I think I left my phone on the table. I’ll be right back," he said before turning back toward the restaurant.I stood beside the car, watching the snowfall gently coat the ground. The scenery was beautiful, yet something about the lunch left a bad taste in my mouth. I felt uneasy."Well done. I’m honestly amazed."A familiar, condescending voice made me whirl around. John approached, his expression a mask of sarcasm, but his voice was tight with fury.I tensed, glancing around for Xavier. Nowhere in sight."Looking for Xavier?" John sneered. "Stay away from him!" He grabbed my arm roughly, yanking me toward him. I gasped, struggling against his grip."Let me go!" I glared up at him, my voice shaking with ang
The next morning I woke up fresh and early, ready to visit a few places where I had seen signs about hiring new people. I went from place to place, all day. I was overqualified for some and underqualified for others. I needed more experience for some jobs and some were just not going to pay enough for me to save any worthwhile money. Overall, it was not going as well as I had hoped it would. By the time evening rolled in, I was feeling quite hopeless. I walked into what looked like my final stop for the day. It was a huge hotel and restaurant in need of more serving staff. It was fairly new and was still short on staff. At this point, even a bartending job wouldn’t be bad. I smiled at the receptionist and before he could judge me, immediately said, “Hi, I saw the ad for hiring serving staff. I hope you guys are still hiring.” He looked me up and down and nodded before picking up the landline and calling someone. I waited as he talked and placed the phone back before finally addr
Zoe’s POVMy new client, Angelina, was an adorable girl of seventeen from another pack. She was in our territory with her friend, whose elder sister was pregnant. Angelina and I decided to meet at a small cafe to discuss the details of the event. Her friend was also there to make sure that her sister’s surprise baby shower was perfect. As it turned out Angelina’s friend belonged to an elder’s family and was willing to pay a lot for the event to be memorable in a good way. I thanked Maisie in my heart and promised myself to treat her with her favorite foods when I got paid. The meeting had gone smoothly. Thankfully, the young girl from my pack did not keep up with the news and either had no idea about my Dad’s scandal or didn’t care. I still decided to stay away from their home and elder’s eyes as much as I can. I needed this commission and I didn’t want anyone to take it from me simply because they believed in the fake embezzlement case against my Dad. We settled on an indoor eve
She said she couldn’t bear to go serve those people yet and begged for me to take over. I was not hopeful for any different results but if anything happened to me, I could go straight to the management to complain. Marianne won’t have to and hopefully, none of us will lose our jobs because of rich snobs who think they own the help. I walked over to a group of cute boys, barely out of high school. But their mannerisms instantly screamed of their playboy lifestyle because they had never had a day to worry about money or girls. I plastered a fake smile on my lips and pushed the trolley of their ordered desserts. “Your desserts, gentlemen.” I started plating when the rude comments started. They acted like I couldn’t hear them and smirked when I stiffened at their remarks. “This one is even better than the other one.” “Imma order this one for a midnight dessert.” “How about some chocolate on silky skin.” “Stop it, man. My mouth is watering already.” They laughed as I stood up asking
Zoe’s POVOnce in a grand office with polished woodwork, carpeted floors, and a wall-sized window with a perfect view of the territory with the skyline. He was still fuming when Miss Williamson walked in nervously and closed the door behind her, her skirt somehow higher than normal and a button undone on her neckline. “Alpha Councilor. Sir, I will personally see to it that this rude employee doesn't ever get to see another restaurant in this or any territory. She is a new hire and started yesterday. It must’ve been a case of misjudgment by the hiring crew.” She blamed me blatantly for the entire catastrophe that had happened. My jaw dropped and my eyes widened in shock. I was the victim. I was being manhandled and she dared turn it around on me? Xavier’s nose flared at her words as he looked at her sharply, scaring her speechless for a second. He leaned back at the table and crossed his arms, raising a brow, “I thought, you as a manager, were responsible for all the new hires. W
Xavier’s POVI was furious when I saw the way Zoe was getting treated. I had no idea who the kids were, but they had no right to come to my restaurant and treat my mate like that. Spike had taken over immediately and beaten those kids to a crisp. I am pretty sure I was going to kill the one who had her in her lap if she hadn’t stopped me. One look and I knew who I was going to fire for letting this happen at all. Once in my rarely used office, Williamson had started spewing nonsense oblivious to the fact that she was digging her own grave. I had let her go on and I was proud that Zoe had stood up for herself. I was not sure how long things had been this awful for the employees of my establishment but I was glad that I was not too late, Seeing Zoe in a waitress uniform had surprised me. I was under the impression that she was the ex-Beta’s daughter and an event manager. What was she doing starting a job in my restaurant? Before I could ask her anything, she had asked about my well-
She sighed, “Because that’s what I have grown up hearing from everyone. Even the kids at school and some elders in the pack prohibited their kids from interacting with me once they realized I had not gotten my wolf at eighteen.” My grip on her tightened. My hands were itching to beat the shit out of some more people now. But I needed to know one more thing, “Zoe.” “Yes?” She looked up curious at me. “What were you doing in this restaurant, wearing this waitress uniform? Not that I mind it, on the contrary, in fact.” I smirked, making her blush, before resuming, “I thought you were an event manager, no?” “I am. But to be an event manager, one needs events, doesn’t one?” She asked and then spoke, “Winter is usually a slow season, and now that Dad isn’t getting any salary. They’ve even stopped his pension. I need odd jobs to, um.” She stopped and I sat confused for a second before it dawned on me. She was doing this to pay my fee. Spike was getting upset at me for putting the fee
Zoe's POVMy head was pounding. It was like someone had cracked open my skull and was performing brain surgery without anesthesia. It was torture. I wanted to yell,' Stop it,' and I think I said something, but different words were coming out.I tried to yell. I knew Xavier was holding me, but every
Xavier's POVMy head was fuzzy. I was trying so hard to focus on the conversations around me. It was like I had been underwater and just resurfaced. The light, the sounds, the colors, everything felt weird. I blinked as I tried to focus on the fork in my hand. I whispered to Zoe, "Please get ready
Zoe's POVThat night, I stayed up and waited for Xavier. He took his time coming to the bedroom. He must've thought that I was asleep, and that's exactly what I pretended. But, I had a theory and I was about to test it out.I stayed still, kept my heartbeat calm, and eyes closed. Until Xavier went t
Zoe's POVWhen Xavier and I walked in hand in hand, every jaw in the dining hall dropped, but no one was as shocked as Blondie, who entered after us. She must've been waiting for him when he was walking me to the dining hall. She swallowed her shock and forced herself to sit on the opposite end of t
Zoe's POVFinding friendship with Alyssa was one of the strangest things that happened to me that week. Since then, I saw less and less of Xavier. He came to the room when I was already asleep and often left before I had woken up. We missed that one meal we used to share before the coronation.He sp
Zoe's POVThe conversation with Xavier was the hardest I've ever had with anyone. He was acting like I was just another wolf in his pack that he was responsible for. The only emotion I got from him was regarding the baby but even that was fleeting. I was so bewildered that I ended up asking, "Are y
Zoe's POV"What are you going to say to Alpha? I mean, I know Lady Shaw said that no matter what happens, you are our true Luna, but without your coronation," Olivia didn't complete her question, but I knew what she meant.I placed a reassuring hand over hers, "Don't worry. Xavier might be the Alpha
Xavier's POVThe ringing of the intercom woke me up. I noticed that Zoe had left without me. I felt a pang in my heart. The first obstacle since we got together and we were already fighting. I hated it. I checked the time. It was still early in the morning. Jacob was ringing the intercom. It must'v
Zoe's POVTo say that I was furious was a major understatement.I walked down the driveway and yelled at a chauffeur, "You. Get a car right now!" Usually, I always made sure to be polite to them, but if I stopped, Dahlia would take over. She had been mad at Xavier for two days now, and arresting Oli