[TRIGGER WARNING = This Chapter has a mention of miscarried pregnancy.]Zoe's POVFrom the moment I had been dropped at my house. My thoughts and feelings were at odds. I was confused, upset, and weirdly calm.Instead of walking inside, I had waited for Xavier to leave and then I had rushed to the woods. The only place where there were no threats, or exes, or love, or frauds, or odd jobs that made me feel like a nobody.I ran and it helped me calm my nerves. I didn't want to think about what was next but I had no choice. Maisie had tried her best to get me a job at that catering company and it had turned out to be more problems. Now, I had no idea if I was even going to get paid at all. And I definitely wasn't going to keep the job. The manager was already breathing down my neck and the rest of the staff members hated that I was not from their pack.I returned home breathless and greeted Aunt Julie, who was overjoyed to see me back. She instantly got worried because I hadn't told he
Zoe's POV"Girl, I'm still not sure about this. Like, at all." Maisie had been driving me to the Blood Cresent and she hadn't stopped about what a wrong decision it was to accept Claire's invite, since the moment I had told her a few days ago."You think I do? MJ, I know what a wrong decision it is. But, as I have said it a million times now, the lesser of the two evils.-""-Lesser of the two evils. I know." She mimicked me."Exactly. Would you rather she show up with all her drama to Silver Moon and paint a bigger target on my back? So that I lose any minuscule chance that I might still have to pay Xavier's f*e? I would think not." I gave the same argument."So, we are clear. We know it is a trap. Right?" She glanced at me momentarily before keeping her focus on the road."Of course. Whichever world would Claire Devereux apologize to me, this is not it." I sighed. I knew my luck and it was sure not overturned in one night."I just wish we had any idea of what we are walking into. I me
Zoe's POVClaire was expecting tears. I believe wanted to crush any hope that any woman would ever have for snatching her man.So, when I simply accepted the fake apology and turned, Claire felt like she was the one who had gotten played despite it being her plan. She was about to go off on me when Xavier entered.Apparently, he hadn't been at the party and had just arrived.He stopped in his tracks when he saw both of us in the living room."I invited Zoe." Claire perked up immediately and walked over to her man, hooking her arm with his, she pulled him away.I stared at them for a moment, before trying to pull myself together. I walked outside to find Maisie. It was time to leave.Before I could find her, one of Claire's friends found me, "Is it true? That you couldn't afford a branded bikini and had to wear these rags?" She looked me up and down.Another of her friends joined and started, "How about you get me a margarita? You are a waitress after all, no?"Oh, how I wished to punc
Zoe's POVMy lungs burned as I tried to breathe.I coughed and it hurt. There was a distant sound of someone calling my name. Was someone holding me?I tried to open my eyes and get some oxygen in my lungs. What happened?I looked up and saw Xavier's steel greys looking into mine. He looked worried. Where did he come from? Why was he worried? I tried to look around and noticed Maisie was sitting next to me."It's okay. You are okay. Alpha Shaw saved you." Maisie was saying.Save me from what?And then I realized how dripping wet I was. Xavier's hair still had droplets dripping as well. My jumpsuit felt restrictive to move or breathe in as it clung to my body. Thankfully, it was not see-through."Oh, Goddess! Zoe, you slipped and fell into the pool. So lucky that my Xavier was here to save you." I heard Claire as she came into view. She had discarded the satin cardigan that she had been wearing to cover up her revealing bikini. Her face did not betray a single emotion that she had expr
Zoe's POVI knew going to Claire's was going to blow up in my face. But I had no idea how bad things would go and how quickly out of hand too.Now, Maisie was gone. Xavier had taken Claire to hospital and despite everything, I was praying, hoping, that she was okay. Jacob had gone with them. I was alone in Claire's home, surrounded by all the pool party/engagement party guests of Blood Cresent. Everyone who thought I was a slut and a gold digger."I know you did this." The dark-skinned girl from earlier raised her accusing finger at me as she walked inside and saw me still there.I knew replying would make it worse and there was no way I could protect myself from so many wolves who loved Claire. So, I stayed silent."I saw Claire drinking from the glass that you planted on the table for her." She was glaring at me as more people joined her."Say something, Slut." One of them shouted, "No apology or regret?""So, apart from being a whore by trade, and a gold-digger, you are also a murde
Zoe's POVI felt numb throughout my ride home.It felt like I had lost something very precious. Like I had lost a part of myself. The scene of Xavier's arms carrying Claire as she smirked at me was haunting me. But I did not feel like crying.What was the point of crying? It wouldn't bring back what Xavier and I had shared. I wondered if any of it was real. Or did he really just use me?The cab dropped me near my house as evening enveloped the pack, but I didn't want to go inside yet. Aunt Julie had been so worried about me lately. I couldn't let her see me like that. I had to get a grip on myself. I had to run.I needed to run.I rushed into the darkening woods.I took off my shoes and allowed nature to lead me. I focused on the sounds and smells around me and hoped that, like always, I would be able to run from my thoughts. I never realized when the casual fun runs through the woods as a kid turned into me running from my present.I stopped when I absolutely needed air. I bent on my
Xavier's POVMy phone rang as I entered Silver Moon borders. I chose to ignore it the first few times. I did not need any distractions. Zoe was the only one that mattered and I could not afford to be late. I did not want to imagine that scenario.But when the caller was persistent, I had to attend it and put it on speaker,"This better be good!" I growled."I'm afraid, Alpha, it's not. It is, in fact, quite bad." It was Luca and he sounded worried."Make it quick, Luke." I ordered."Alpha. The detailed report will be ready by-" He started but I interrupted impatiently, "Get to the damn point.""Yes, Alpha. A couple of hours ago, John slipped his tail. His last known location is the woodlands near the ex-beta Simmons' house at the edge of the Silver Moon territory." He told and I suddenly things clicked."Shit!" I banged the steering wheel but refocused. A road accident was not going to help anyone."What are my orders?" He asked."Get that damned report ready. Find that bastard's last
TRIGGER WARNINGS: This chapter has descriptions of attempted sexual assault and rape. Reader discretion is advised. Zoe's POVJohn 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 too busy kissing me forcefully and then kneed him where the sun didn't shine. He doubled over in surprise.I had two choices. Either to hit him harder and keep him down or just rush out an
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