Zara's POV
I 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?"
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 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.
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 POV"Wow!" Levi gasped beside me and pointed to the door where one of the pack Alphas had just entered. "That one seems even more appetizing than the one before him!"Two beautiful she-wolves, who looked like twin sisters, flanked the Alpha, and his Beta and Delta followed closely behind."Yes, Levi," I said, raising my glass to my lips and taking a sip. "He certainly does."Levi is my best friend. We grew up together, and we were inseparable from the age of four. He towered over my small 5'2 frame at 6'3. He had an impressive physique, featuring massive biceps, a six-pack to die for, and a firm yet powerful body. He had the most beautiful golden locks that stood proudly in every direction, giving him the iconic appearance of having just rolled out of bed. To top it all off, he had the most beautiful deep blue eyes I had ever laid eyes on.Levi was flawless in every way, and even though he drew attention wherever we went, he had one little secret: he was gay.A breath escaped m
Zara's POV"Over my dead body," I spat. "You had your chance!""Zara!" Noah grabbed my arm, and anger flared up inside me, making Kaya release a warning growl. Nevertheless, Noah disregarded the warning, tightly gripping my arm to keep me in place."I think you should let go of my arm before my wolf rearranges your pretty face," I growled. "She will not hesitate to strike and kill you; she is very protective of me."Noah winced, but he held onto my arm."You believe I have a pretty face?" Noah taunted, a grin on his lips. "I feel flattered.""Let go!" I hissed. "Before-""Come one, Zara," Noah said, lowering his head down to my ear. "Do you really think that your wolf would hurt her fated mate?""Do you want to put that theory to the test?" I roared, moving nearer and cocking my head to meet his gaze.Noah and I started staring at each other as our tension increased.I refuse to back down. He had better step down before I let Kaya have him."Luna Zara, Alpha Noah," the hosting Alpha c
Zara's POV"Levi, get up!" I yelled, snatching the blanket away from him."No! Leave me alone!" With a cry, he took the blanket from me and covered his head. "Let me sulk in peace!" He mumbled from under the blanket."No!" I snarled. "It has been three freaking days. You can't stay in bed. We have training to go to. You cannot miss one more day!""Who cares! My mate certainly doesn't!" he yelled.I took a deep breath. I was going to snap, yank Levi by the collar, and drag him down to training because I had reached my breaking point."Levi," I said as I sat down on his bed beside him. "You are now taking this rejection way too far. Other wolves accepted it and moved on.""Name one?" He growled, moving the blanket from his face.Oh no. I was not prepared to break the news of my rejection to Levi."You know, other wolves," I said, getting to my feet.With a roll of his eyes, Levi covered his head with the blanket."I saw that!" I growled. "Now, get up and go get ready for training. That'
Zara's POV "What the heck was that about?" I asked when we entered the hallway, heading toward the offices.Levi appeared even more withdrawn and melancholy after talking to his father."It's nothing," he said."Do not lie to me, Levi," I growled. "I am just as familiar with your father as you are. What was it that the two of you were fighting over?""Damit, Zara!" His hands clenched into fists as he snapped. "Leave it alone. I am capable of handling it on my own."I wanted to say something, but the sound of laughter erupted from my father's office, cutting me off."It seems like someone is with him," Kaya remarked, causing a shiver to run down my spine."Is it someone we know?" I asked.Kaya took a whiff, her eyes narrowing."I am not sure," she uttered. "Yet there is a familiar scent lingering in the air, and it is coming from your father's office."The door to my father's office screamed on its hinges less than a second later, and when it opened, I saw the enormous wolf I called f
Zara's POV "I cannot believe you are doing this to me," Levi groaned, which seemed to be the hundredth time in this hour. He had been complaining about our mating arrangement, and the subject was now officially getting on my last nerve. Was it even possible for him to simply comply with my request and follow along without all the extra drama? The mating ceremony wasn't such a big deal. We were just claiming to be chosen mates until we found a more suitable mate, or maybe our second chance mate—that's if such mates still exist. I sighed, closing my eyes, as I counted to ten. I didn't want to lose my cool composure; it was moments before the mating ceremony, and my father would notice if something was wrong. "Come one, Levi," I said, taking his hands in mine. I was about to beg. This was important to me. He must help me, or else I will be forced to mate with Alpha Noah, and that thought revolts me. "The concept is not all that bad. At least you are aware of the kind of mate yo
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