Zoe's POVI don’t know what came over me when I requested to be painted but I had not expected Xavier to agree as readily as he did. “Kitten, I’m waiting.” I snapped out of my thoughts as I heard Xavier place his hands on my hips from behind and whisper in my ear, “I volunteer to undress you if you need help.” I felt tingles run down my spine as I nodded silently. If this were how it was about to go down, I’d rather have the full experience, right? At least, that’s what I told myself when Xavier started to remove all the fabric covering my body gently. He had agreed to paint me but on the condition that he would paint me naked. He reasoned that I was a masterpiece that did not need covering. I was skeptical but the way he was looking at me, he could’ve asked anything and I would’ve given it to him. As the snow fell silently outside, I stood naked surrounded by the heat from the fireplace and Xavier’s scent that had overpowered everything in the cabin. “Lay down, get comfortable.”
Xavier’s POVI sat on the stool and picked up the brush. I glanced at my gorgeous mate lying in the hammock without a single piece of fabric covering her and wanted to paint her instead of the canvas. But my brush refused to touch the paint. I was agitated. How dare John play with my sister’s emotions and then blackmail my mate to cheat with him? I was upset for Alyssa. But more importantly, I was furious for Zoe. Why had she let her ex push her around like this? How long had she suffered like this? Clearly, nothing had happened between them or he wouldn’t be blackmailing like he was. But then what leverage did he have on her? “Xavier?” I jerked to reality when she called my name. “You’ve been staring at the blank canvas for five minutes now.” She softly reminded me, and my heart ached for some reason. Was it the effect of mate bond? But I hadn’t even accepted her as mine yet. I still had hope for Claire to someday return to me from wherever she had gone for whatever reasons. “
Zoe’s POVIt was a simple question. It took him a while to answer it.“My Grams.” He spoke deep in thought as his brush moved across the canvas. I stayed silent allowing him to say more if he intended to. He took a deep breath, glancing at me once in a while.“After my mother died. My Father entrusted me to my trainer. I trained during weekdays. And on weekends, I went to my grandmother’s home.” His voice was full of nostalgia.“Your mother’s mom?” I asked, curiously. He nodded in response.“She was so kind. Sometimes I felt like Mom hadn’t truly left me. During one of those weekends Grams said to me that I needed more hobbies than my Alpha training, school, and politics.” He stopped to pick up a new bottle of color and then resumed, as I listened reverently, “She took me to her art room. I had never felt more at home in a place before that. The colors, the patterns, everything called to me. I had to have a paintbrush in my hands or I would dip my fingers in the paint. She saw that.”
Xavier’s POVI stirred in my sleep and found the hammock empty. My eyes snapped wide open. I was sure I had Zoe’s warm little form snuggled up in my side when I fell asleep. Where was she now? I cranked my neck to check if there was a light coming from the bathroom. Nope! I sat up and checked the time on my phone. It was around dawn. It was too early for anything. Especially considering how late we had fallen asleep. I felt a sudden tightening in my chest. ‘She left us.’ Spike whispered in despair and I scolded him, ‘Why would she do that?’ She wouldn’t do that to me. I thought to myself. I had given her no reason to abandon me in the middle of the night like a thief. ‘Then where is she?’ Spike asked sarcastically. ‘How would I know? I woke up with you.’ I retorted, getting up and finding my slippers. ‘She is so far from her home.’ Spike mused sadly. ‘You were the one gushing about how she is our mate.’ I rolled my eyes, looking for signs of her presence or absence. ‘So?”
Zoe’s POVWhen the sudden sound came, I instinctively clutched at Xavier. Somehow he had made his place in my subconscious as my safe space and when in need, my body reacted without my permission. We turned to see it was only a huge bird that had perched itself on one of the snow-covered branches around us. We shared a glance and almost laughed at our over-dramatic reactions. But he was looking at me with so much intensity. One look in his stormy grey eyes at such closeness always had this effect on me. I couldn’t keep the contact and looked away. Neither of us stepped away from each other. “It is so beautiful here. Like a winter wonderland.” I whispered. The moment felt too delicate. “It is even better in the Summer. I’ll show you when the lake unfreezes.” He offered. “I’d love that.” I smiled up at him. “The water is so clear, you can see the lake bed. It is a lot deeper than it looks. That’s when the swans migrate here from the Northern winter.” He told softly as if reminisci
Zoe’s POVI coughed and went straight to pour myself some water. I gasped at the cough, gulped the glass down, and then breathed heavily, trying to catch my breath. I felt eyes on me and looked at Claire who was staring strangely at me. Feeling uncomfortable due to her gaze, I looked around and saw that the kitchen was in disarray. Several pots and pans littered the whole place. Many vegetables and different types of meat were spread. “So, how did you say, you know Xavier?” Claire asked, walking around the kitchen table. Only then, did I realize the apron tied neatly around her thin waist. She was the one cooking. “Xavier is working on a case for me.” I decided to tell it like that. “Oh, so, you are his client?” She asked. “You can say that.” I did not like to be only his client but that kind of was the reality of us. I felt a pang in my heart and the green goblin of jealousy nudged at me. Why would I be jealous? Xavier had not promised me anything. “Are you looking for som
Zoe’s POV“Oh my God, Zoe, what happened?!” Maisie was so concerned as she picked up the call. I couldn’t stop crying, and I didn’t even know why I was so upset. I couldn’t speak. “Please say something.” She urged, “Did something happen to Mr. Simmons?!” She exclaimed worried. “No, I.” I swallowed. I couldn’t form words due to sniffing. “Are you at home? I’m coming over!” She said decisively. I nodded before realizing she couldn’t see me and mustered, “Yes.” That was all I could manage. “Stay with me, okay? I’m getting in my car.” She said. I could hear her breathlessly opening and closing doors. I was sorry that I had made her worry. But she was the only one I had closest to a sister. “Zoe, sweetie, are you alright?” Aunt Julie knocked on the door. She must’ve heard me rush in and lock myself in my room. I sniffled harder, and she got worried, “Baby, what happened? You said you were going to stay at a friend’s. Who was it? What did they do?” She hit the nail on the head, maki
Zoe’a POVMaisie hugged me as I emptied my eyes.“You wanna talk about it?” She asked as she rubbed my back.I blew my nose in a tissue and shook my head. I knew I looked pathetic. I didn’t care.I had spent an hour crying over a guy who had reunited with his ex like she was his oxygen and he had been suffocating before.The worst feeling was due to the fact that Xavier and I were not exclusive. Technically, he wasn’t mine. He wasn’t cheating on me. He hadn’t betrayed me because he hadn’t promised me anything. I felt miserable for expecting too much.Maisie must’ve felt what was going on in my head because she proposed, “Alright, we are done mopping around for a guy. Let’s go out.”“MJ!” I exclaimed in disbelief. I just had my heart broken by a man who had no idea that he had broken it and here my best friend wanted us to go party.“Don’t look at me like that!” She replied, “If you stay in this room, you are going to keep crying and that will swell your eyes and give you bags under th
Zoe's POV"This is good," I complimented, taking another bite of the lobster sandwich."Mr. Malarkey is among the best chefs in this hemisphere. He comes from a long line of chefs loyal to Blood Crescent for generations." The way Xavier spoke about the chef made me feel like he was the kind of Alpha
Zoe's POVXavier and I spent the rest of the day packing up and getting ready to leave the cabin. We took a quick lunch break and then loaded up Xavier's car.The hours we spent on the road going to the pack center where the Shaw Mansion stood in all its glory, felt nostalgic. It hadn't been very lo
Zoe's POVXavier was looking at me expectantly. He was waiting for an answer. And at that moment, I loved him so much that I would follow him anywhere if he held my hands the way he was holding them. He had so many problems and wasn't afraid to make me his knowing how many problems were on my tail.
Xavier's POVI knew I should've told Zone about not keeping Claire in the dungeons. It had been a momentary decision because she was still dear to me and I was so shocked at her betrayal. And then, everything else happened and I couldn't move her or expose her yet. It was not like I was hiding the
Zoe's POVBy the time we reached the cabin, a light sprinkle had started. I liked this light summer rain. It made everything look cleaner and fresher as if breathing new life into nature. I loved the smell of wet soil. I also liked how pleasant the weather became after the rain. It was the thunders
Zoe's POVAfter yesterday's activities, Xavier and I slept in each other's arms. For the first time in a long time, I didn't have any nightmares. I slept like a log and woke up with a smile on my face. And it was all thanks to my mate, my Alpha. Xavier's face was tranquil. I had missed seeing this
Xavier's POVI have no idea how I survived without Zoe's touch for as long as did. Was it possible to die due to starvation of mate's touch? I didn't know and I wasn't going to test it either because I had no intention of ever letting her go.It didn't matter how much I tried to worship her body. It
Zoe's POVNow that it was just me and Xavier in the cabin, neither of us knew what to say. I kept thinking of how to start the conversation. We had a lot to talk about, but where to begin?"How have you been?" Xavier asked, tentatively stepping forward.After being with him for months, I wanted to t
Zoe's POVThe more Xavier talked the more I tried not to panic. I knew things were bad, I hadn't realized they were this bad. A part of me felt guilty because all of it could've been avoided if Xavier hadn't left to support me. As much as I appreciated his presence after Dad's death, I never wanted