Zara's POV"Cover your eyes," Nic said, handing me a black blindfold.He had been acting a little strangely for the last twenty minutes, and I could not figure out what was bothering him.I looked down at the blindfold he was holding, then looked up to meet his eyes.I was uneasy about his request.Ronan suddenly slowed the car, adding more tension to the request.I kept staring at Nicolas and twitching my eyebrows while he laughed, clearly amused by my reply.As he shifted in his seat to face me, his expression went back to being serious. "What is the issue?""I am not a big fan," I said, pointing to the blindfold."Zara, I promise not to do anything to hurt you," he said, taking my hand and dropping the blindfold inside. "I swear to you. It is just to amp up the excitement surrounding... uhm... the meeting."Kaya cocked her head to the side and looked at Nic. "He is trying very hard to make his surprise as memorable as possible for you," she said.As soon as Nic got into the car, Ka
Nicolas POVI was experiencing such an emotional overload that I was unsure of how to act, which made me feel both nervous and excited at the same time.I was afraid Zara might not appreciate my surprise as much as I was hoping she would.Goddess, what is wrong with me?Never before have I felt so insecure!"Get a hold of yourself!" Ray growled inside my head. "You are going to give away the surprise!"I gave Zara a sidelong glance and forcefully swallowed. She appeared incredibly perplexed, possibly even nervous about the blindfold I had given her."Leave her to me," Ray said, turning to leave. "You just carried out our initial plan. Do not let anything slip! Do you hear me?"I glanced back at Zara, her eyes pleading. My heart is breaking. Goddess, that look in her eyes! I can't do it!"Don't you dare!" Ray warned, observing the pleading look in Zara's eyes. "She will be alright!""Don't you think it's too much?" I tried to reason with Ray. "Levi did express...""What? The blindfold?
Zara's POVThe lights around me came alive, and I stood there in amazement. I never imagined Nic would take me somewhere like this."Wow!" I whispered to myself. "It is incredible!""Do you like it?" My ears chimed with Nic's voice. I was so engrossed in memorizing the stunning display before me that I forgot he was standing beside me."No," I said, and Nic looked down, disappointed. "I adore it! It is truly amazing! Why did you choose to bring me here?"Nic grinned and appeared incredibly relaxed, as though his anxiety had vanished.We were at the carnival grounds, and seeing all the rides come to life was breathtaking."I would like to show you around," he said, drawing my arm in with his. "And I will fill you in on everything."With a proud stance, Nic began walking in the direction of the merry-go-round, clearly pleased with himself.After pulling the gate open at the merry-go-round, Nic led the way onto the platform, and I followed him."They remain just as remarkable as I recall
Nicolas POVZara quickly tucked into the hotdogs I had ordered for us. She appeared comfortable and to be enjoying the simple meal. I guess Ronan made his special chili sauce and tossed it over the hotdogs."I know that look," Zara said as she noticed my gaze. "Do not worry, I will not become ill while riding the rides.""I hope not," I said, laughing. Zara had already had two hotdogs. "Doing so would ruin the rest of the evening."Zara rolled her eyes and placed the hotdog onto the plate."I am capable of managing myself. I am a big girl," she said.I burst out laughing at that. She could be so witty at times."So, tell me," Zara said, her silver eyes glimmering with delight as her tone returned a bit serious. "What rides are you adding this year?"A grin appeared in the corner of my mouth. Right now, I was not prepared to reveal all of my cards just yet. It was still early in the evening, and I wanted to spend more time with Zara before I showed her this year's brand-new attraction.
Zara's POVA warm smile was forming on the corners of my lips as I lay in bed, stretching myself languidly between the sheets.One of the most unforgettable evenings of my life was last night. The fact that it ended so quickly and early disappointed me a little because I had so much fun.I let out a sigh as I turned to face my bedroom window; it was still dark outside and far too early to get up."I thought I heard you," Levi said in a whisper as he looked into my room while holding two cups of coffee."Good morning!" I gave him a warm response and motioned for him to approach. I pushed myself to a sitting position so he could sit down. "You are up early.""I could not sleep," he said, passing the coffee to me."What time is it?" I asked, knowing that Levi did not like getting up early."3:45 am," he said, getting on the bed. "That is way too early even for you," I said, sipping my coffee.Last night at around nine, Nic had an urgent matter to attend to, so Ronan took me home. I went
Zara's POVLevi shuddered and turned green; he appeared on the verge of becoming sick."I am mated to his son, Kyle," Levi declared as he stood up and paced my room. "He is my second chance mate.""Alpha Wesley has a son?" I gasped in surprise. I cannot recall ever hearing of or meeting Kyle.Did he attend the mating ritual?"Yes, he does! How could you possibly believe that I was mated with that old fart?" Levi asked, his voice tinged with disappointment and rage."Because you have been acting suspiciously, and I was unaware of Kyle's existence until now," I answered. "When did the White Moon Pack accept a new Alpha? No announcement was made to the packs.""Technically, they haven't accepted Kyle as the new Alpha yet," Levi answered."Oh? How come?"Levi sighed and shot me an annoyed glance."Kyle has spent the past few years living and studying medicine overseas," Levi said, a dreamy smile forming on the corner of his lips. He seemed proud and in love with his mate. "His father made
Zara's POV"I am just playing with you!" Levi said abruptly and started laughing. "I understand that you are just making fun of me."With a sigh of relief, I shut off the shower and stepped outside."You are an asshole!" I snarled and attempted to strike Levi's arm, but he grabbed my hand and gave me a wink. "You have got me worried!""What were you worried about? Hmm?" His eyes were full of mischief as he asked. "That both of us understand that when our mates spend time with other attractive people, we will feel jealous and..."Levi's eyes gazed over, interrupting his thoughts.That was unexpected and rude!"What kind of person would mind-link at this hour?" I hissed in frustration.I let out a sigh as I noticed Levi standing motionless. It looked like a very serious conversation. In an instant, his face hardened, and his jaw muscles began to tense up. He did not like whatever they were talking about.After waiting patiently for him to finish the conversation, I finally gave up.I sh
Zara's POVIt was still fairly quiet in the packhouse when Levi and I went downstairs to my parents' quarters.My father wanted us to meet in his chambers for privacy's sake."What is the reason behind your father's intense desire to see us?" Levi asked. "It is not even quite dawn yet.""Your guess is as good as mine," I said, as my heart began to race.Has he found out I have not mated with Levi?Does he know about my relationship with Nic?Has anyone told him about Levi and Kyle?"You are making assumptions too quickly," Kaya said. "Slow down.""Something feels a bit off," Levi said as we arrived at the hallway leading to my father's room."Off how?" I asked, turning to face him."I do not know," he answered. "It feels like the wind is changing.""From here, it is impossible to smell or feel the wind," I said, rolling my eyes. "We are not outside, Levi.""That is not what I mean," Levi stated. "I feel a little nervous about this sudden meeting this morning.""Why?" I paused in my tr
Nicolas POV"This is absolutely absurd! How do you expect us to just hand over our Luna?" Ronan asked angrily. "He injected her with wolfsbane, leaving her in excruciating pain. What kind of animal would do that to another being? And he claims to be her mate? He would hurt her more if we gave her to him!"Noah decided it was safer for him to leave Zara there in the hallway of the restaurant. There were too many humans around to put up a proper fight. He left through the back door of the kitchen, followed by Levi, who vanished as quickly as he had appeared.Zara was completely unconscious when I attended to her. Her reaction to the wolfsbane was normal and not too critical to handle.The local police insisted on taking Zara to the hospital when they arrived.I tried to assure them that everything was fine and that the drug Noah gave her would wear off soon; however, they refused to listen.Kyle quickly got on the pho
Zara's POVI woke up with the sound of birds chirping close by, and I moaned under my breath. I had this annoying pounding feeling at the back of my skull.I dragged my heavy, swollen eyelids open and blinked a couple of times against the blinding light before I could manage to make out anything in the room.I struggled for a moment to make sense of what I was seeing.This wasn't my room at all. I wasn't at home.My heart started to pound inside my chest as my gaze traveled over the room. Yet I couldn't find anything out of place. It was very stylish, yet so simple.I was lying in a comfortable king-size bed, the bedding white and soft.Only a single black-and-white painting adorned the tall white walls, but thick, expensive curtains covered the broad windows.My attention moved to the huge double glass doors. The late afternoon breeze lazily tugged on the thin sheer curtains covering them. They were left open.
Zara's POVMy legs gave way under me as the wolfsbane poison spread through the rest of my body, leaving me in excruciating pain."Why are you doing this to me?" I managed to push the words over my lips. My tongue has already swollen in response to the wolfsbane. "I'm mated... and... marked. I... don't... belong... to you..."My voice sounded strained and foreign to my ears.A sinister smile appeared on his lips; he knew it wouldn't be long until I lost consciousness.My head suddenly felt heavy, dropping to the side, while my eyes rolled back in their sockets. I was fighting with everything inside me to stay conscious—my mind threatening to give in and drift off to the darkness.Noah grabbed my chin between his fingers, forcing me to look at him."I am your rightful mate," he hissed. "The Goddess chose you for me, and we will honor her decision! You will soon belong to me!"Noah moved my shirt f
Zara's POVI could feel Nicolas's eyes on me as I made my way between the tables toward the hallway.There was a long hallway at the exit that led down to the ladies' restroom, and I followed behind Levi in silence. He seemed occupied by his own thoughts and didn't say a single word to me.I wasn't sure if he was angry at me or if something else was bothering him.He appeared more like a guard standing by my side than my closest companion escorting me to the restroom.Whatever the situation was, it made me uncomfortable. Levi's behavior wasn't familiar to me.Levi came to a stop, abruptly held out my handbag to me, pushed open the bathroom door for me, and gestured for me to go inside.His eyes were unreadable, and his body language was stiff and cold.Did something happen while I was in the boutique with Nic? Or was he upset because he could detect Nic's scent on me?"What has gotten into him?"
Nicolas POV"I know what you are going to say," Kyle said, as I pulled a chair back to take a seat at the table.I stopped what I was doing and stared at him in shock. He was no mind reader.My gaze swept over the familiar face, taking in the changes that had occurred. I haven't seen Kyle for more than five years. He looked a bit older than the last time I saw him, and his body and face had changed a bit.Kyle had always been on the thin side, but now he was massive and masculine.My gaze swept over his face. Isabella's illness had etched deep worry lines under his eyes, now replaced by lines of laughter. His face had become more full and less sunken. He looked much healthier, and he had definitely gained some healthy body weight.My gaze swept over his medium brown hair; it was now longer, curling around his ears. Yet, even after all the changes, his green-blue eyes were still the same, clear but sad."Ronan had alre
Nicolas POV"Mrs. Zara," Jenn, the saleslady, called us as we exited the private room. Despite the strange expression on her face, she maintained an even tone. She must have heard us having sex in the dressing room."Yes," Zara answered, her attention shifting toward her."Your husband asked me to hand you this," she said, handing her an envelope."Thank you so much," Zara replied, opening the envelope.I patiently waited for Zara to read through the contents. I already knew what Levi was planning; he had informed me when I arrived."Levi says he has another surprise for me," Zara said, seemingly a bit worried about it."Oh? That sounds promising," I replied. "Where to?""He says we should meet up at Martino's," she sighed."Then that is where we'll go," I replied, taking her hand and heading to the door.Martino's was a small Italian restaurant, just around the corner from the boutique.
Zara's POV"Nic?" I gasped, startled. "What are you doing here?"My eyes darted around the room, taking note of the fact that Jenn and her assistant were no longer there."Beta Levi called me," he proclaimed as he inched closer. "He told me you needed some assistance in picking the perfect dress for the ball."Finally, Nic paused and leaned close to my ear, saying, "But now it seems like this was a setup."I shivered, closing my eyes as his warm breath brushed over my skin."You seem capable of picking your own dress," he continued, his voice betraying his need.My flushed cheeks compelled me to bite my lip. I was already overwhelmed with desire, especially with Nicolas by my side.Did Levi intend for this to happen?"Let me help you out of that dress," Nicolas said, smirking as he pulled away. "It might be pretty, but it certainly doesn't betray your beauty."A small moan escaped my lips as I bec
Zara's POV"Oh my," I exclaimed in shock as Levi dragged me inside a posh boutique in the city. "This is a bit unexpected."I didn't anticipate him taking me here."Well, what kind of mate would I be if I couldn't get you a decent dress for the ball?" Smirking, Levi said."You are the greatest!" I shouted with delight as I reached up to kiss his cheek.Smiling, Levi gestured for the salesgirl to come closer."Good morning, Zara," a friendly and elderly woman with short, light-blond hair greets us. She was a human named Jenn. The last time I was at the dress boutique for an event similar to this one, I ran into her."It is great to see you," she went on to say. "I understand you and your husband will be attending a grand ball this Saturday?" she asked. "Is that right?"With a smile on my face, I nodded. Levi must have notified her about the ball."Great, let's get started. Follow me, please." She gestured
Nicolas POVI had my fists firmly clamped around my father's neck, choking him. He was crushed against the wall. Ray's power was more than I had expected."Alpha," Ronan's startled cry resounded across the room. Nor has he ever seen me allow Ray to maintain control, nor has he ever seen Ray lose his fury like that. "I think you should sit your father down before you kill him."My father's face flushed, and his eyes popped out of their sockets as he struggled against Ray's grip. However, I became even more enraged as I relived the memories of what he had done to me."Why should I?" My grip on my father's neck grew tighter as Ray let out a howl. "He erased all traces of your Alpha's past... We thought we were cursed."Ronan turned his gaze away from me, a hidden emotion visible in his eyes as if he had anticipated Ray's words.Was my dad truly so corrupt? Did Ronan realize it? His silence baffled me."Your fath