Zoe's POVAfter hearing Maisie's story, I felt so bad for her. We stayed a bit longer but eventually, we had to leave.We promised to keep in touch and direct her father to her so that he wouldn't go insane while searching for his only daughter. Maisie couldn't go anywhere but Xavier and I needed to talk.We said our goodbyes and headed back to the motel.On the way, my hands kept touching the letters in my pocket. I knew I couldn't run from them forever. It was about time I read what my mother wanted to say to me. I remember the doctor saying to my father that I had been so traumatized by my mother's death that my subconscious had erased all memories of her. But I didn't want all her memories gone. I wanted to remember my mother. What kind of daughter would I be if I deleted my mother from my life?"How about we order Chinese and talk? You've had a long day." Xavier softly offered as soon as I parked the car."Good idea. You go ahead, I'll join you in a bit." I muttered with my hands
Zoe's POVI sat in the car holding the first letter. I didn't know when I started crying but the tears just won't stop. I never knew how one could miss someone whom they did not even remember. But I missed my mother. I wished she was there. I wanted to hug her and tell her that even though I did not have memories of her, I loved her.Knowing a part of my mother's story made me feel a connection with her that I hadn't had in years. Aunt Julie had tried to take care of me to the best of her abilities but no one can replace a mother. I felt a pit in my stomach at the thought that Mom knew something was going to happen to her. That is why she wrote the letter. More importantly, she knew something could happen to Dad as well. I wracked my brain for any suppressed memory that I could think of about the way Mom died. But, I couldn't retrieve anything.How can someone erase a memory so important? 'Maybe it was too traumatic for you?' Dahlia offered softly."Maybe. But I would still like to
Narrator's POVDespite everything that Zoe made herself believe, she knew she didn't truly hate Xavier. And if the last few moments were any indication, she liked him more than she would admit.Having no answer for him and being stubborn anyway, she decided to act indignant, "It's none of your business," She said, and before he had a chance to joke or try flirting with her again, she got out of her car and got to her room.Xavier was worried about her but knew that following her would not do any good. He had already crossed a boundary that Zoe had set for them lately and she had given him enough to let him know that if he stayed persistent, she would forgive him.Instead, he waited for the dinner to be delivered and took that to her room.Zoe opened the door after two knocks and tilted her head, "How hard is it to take the hint that I want to be alone right now?""Not hard, but you don't have to be hungry and alone. I brought dinner." He held up the steaming package giving the most inn
I sat there, holding the second letter in my hands. Longer than I had with the first.I wondered how much I had lost by erasing everything with my mother from my memories. I wanted to remember every single thing."Dahlia," I asked, my voice shaky. "Why didn’t it work last night? Why couldn’t you find anything?"‘Do you want the soft answer, or the raw truth?’ Dahlia’s voice was unusually soft, and it made my stomach twist.I clenched my fists. "I want the raw truth. What’s going on?"‘There’s nothing wrong, really. But…’ Dahlia hesitated."Just say it. What’s the problem?" I snapped, trying to hold it together.‘You’ve built a barrier between your subconscious and those memories. They aren’t gone. They’re just locked away.’"So they’re still there?" I asked, desperate to find something positive.‘Yes, but I can’t just force my way through. Not without your help,’ Dahlia added.I sat there, silent. I wanted those memories, but if Dahlia couldn’t reach them, how was I supposed to? I did
I felt myself starting to break. Before I could fall apart, Xavier pulled me into his arms.I let go in his hold. I needed this, wanted this, ever since my father died. I had been angry with him, but I couldn’t deny how much I craved his touch.In that moment, I stopped blaming him. I let myself cry on his chest, his arms wrapped around me as I let all my frustration out.I grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. I didn’t realize how much I needed this until I was in his arms. His scent wrapped around me like a safe cocoon. It was something I had been missing, even before my father passed away."I’m so tired," I muttered through my sobs. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. My mom, even after death, had given me a task that felt too much."I’m here. Let it out," Xavier said quietly, holding me close and stroking my hair.We stayed like that for what felt like forever. We didn’t speak. It felt like we had been apart for so long, and now we were right where we belonged. Fi
We spent the whole day driving. The road stretched on endlessly, and we only stopped for dinner when it was too late to keep going. Both of us were supernatural, but we could still get tired.Xavier pulled into a small diner and gently woke me up. I'd dozed off most of the way. We freshened up, had a quiet dinner, and then decided to take a walk.By now, I was wide awake. My mind was racing, too much was going on in there. Xavier knew I usually cleared my head by running in the woods, but this tiny town didn’t have the same effect. Still, anything was better than staying in bed alone all night.We walked in silence for a while until we came to a closed amusement park."I remember going to amusement parks at Silver Moon with my dad and Aunt Julie," I said, stopping in front of the locked gates.Xavier paused beside me. "I never got to go to any parks.""Never?" I asked, surprised. You’d think someone from an Alpha bloodline would have everything they wanted, but I guess I was wrong.Xa
"I remember stargazing with my mother," Xavier’s voice was soft, careful not to break the delicate moment we had stolen from the mess of our life."You remember your mother? Lucky you," I replied."She was kind. Kinder than most people I've met. She was like that cool breeze on a hot summer day that makes you feel like everything would be okay," Xavier reminisced.He hadn’t talked about her in a long time, but being up here, so high above the rest of the world, he felt like he could tell me anything and be understood. He had a lot to say that he had been keeping inside for too long."You miss her," I added."Since her death, Father became a much harsher man. Once the only source of empathy and kindness was gone from my life, he made sure I never talked about her. Even to myself," Xavier confessed, his gaze still fixed on the sky.Without thinking, my hand found Xavier’s. In that moment, it felt right.He looked at me, surprised at the initiative I had taken. I looked at his eyes, "You
The next morning, I felt rejuvenated. My problems were still there, but something had changed. It was unexpected, but it felt welcome.Xavier woke up with a smile on his face for the first time in a long while. Most of his problems were still there, but there was one issue that had been weighing on his heart the most, and it was resolved last night. He understood that we still had a long way to go, and things might take a while before going the way he wanted them to, but he was glad for the great start.We had a light breakfast, and I took the steering wheel, deciding not to comment on his driving the previous day or what had happened between us the night before.Halfway through, I turned on the radio, surprising Xavier even more. By the time we crossed the Silver Moon border, Xavier and I were singing along to the songs, like we were returning from the best trip of our lives. Werewolves need a special kind of alcohol to get drunk because of their higher metabolism, but neither of us
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