HERO POV"Maya and I..." I started, my voice trailing off. Alvira had asked a direct question, but the words felt stuck in my throat. I wanted to explain, to tell her everything without making Zara uncomfortable, but it was like trying to untangle a knot I had no right to untangle.Before I could find the right words, Zara stepped in. "Hero hasn't been himself," she said softly, her gaze meeting Alvira's. "Not since he learned you both were alive. It's…it's wonderful to finally meet you. And if you'd like more time with him, I'm happy to give you space.”"No," Kira said, her hand tightening on Zara's. "You're going to be family. I want to know you. Alvira and I have been living here, and there's plenty of room. I can talk to Mascold, get him to build you two a house right next to ours. We can be together.""You want us to stay in the pack?" Zara asked, turning to me. "And you... you're staying at the mountain?”"Of course," Kira replied, her eyes widening in surprise. "And Hero's stay
ZARA POV"Oh my goodness... oh my goodness..." I whispered, my breath hitching in my throat. It felt like my rib cage was tightened tightly, and my heart was a frantic bird trying to escape it cage. My hands shook so violently, I could barely clench them. Panic attack. Here we go. A full-blown, rip-roaring, terror-inducing panic attack.I’d bolted from that conference room like a startled rabbit. I didn’t even think, I just ran. I had to get away, put as much distance as humanly possible between myself and... everything that had just happened in there. Every step was a desperate attempt to outrun the feeling of being trapped, suffocated.My lungs burned, my legs ached, but I didn't dare stop. Finally, when I felt like I was about to collapse, I did. And that’s when I realized someone was behind me.I spun around, chest heaving, to see Kristina. She stopped a few feet away, her brow furrowed. Meanwhile, I was gasping like a fish out of water, practically ready to drop to my knees. And
ZARA POVMy breath hitched, a ragged, uneven sound. I felt like my lungs were shrinking, like I couldn't pull in enough air. Kristina’s hand, warm and steady, patted my hair. It was a simple gesture, but it felt like the only thing keeping me grounded."Zara, honey, breathe," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Just... in and out. Slow. You're going to make yourself pass out."I tried, I really did. But my heart was hammering, a thumping beat against my ribs. "I... I can't," I gasped, my words coming out in shaky bursts. "I need to tell you… I need to tell you this right now.”Her eyes widened, a flicker of surprise, then softened with concern. "Okay, okay, are you sure you can speak right now?.... we can deal with that later. We will. Just breathe first. What else is going on with you? You're hyperventilating, Zara. You're clearly terrified and you need to stop because you are pregnant.""It's... it's about Hero," I said, my voice trembling. "And... and my father.""Your father? What
ZARA POVMy breath hitched as his hand, rough and calloused, finally left my arm. It felt like a brand, a mark I couldn't scrub away. He just stood there, staring at me, a weird, triumphant glint in his eyes. Like he'd just hit the jackpot, won some impossible prize. My own hands, meanwhile, were shaking so badly I could barely keep them still."I knew that little bitch, Sonja, was useless and dumb," he said, his voice thick with a nasty kind of satisfaction. "And you, princess, you couldn't hide forever, could you?”My head was spinning. Everything was blurry, like I was looking through a dirty window. He was here. He was really here. And I was completely, utterly trapped. He started pulling me, dragging me out of the jeep, and I stumbled, my legs feeling like they were made of jelly.I tried to focus, to make him disappear, but he just kept pulling, his grip like iron. "This must be a dream... you can't be here, you are not real. I must be hallucinating." I breathed out.He snorted,
HERO POV"Mascold was kind to us, sure," Kira began, her voice gentle, a small smile touching her lips. "But honestly, our housemates? They were the ones who really made a difference. You have to meet Mitchell and Dennis."She paused, a flicker of something like embarrassment crossing her face. "See, when we first got here, we were... Well, we were scared. We didn't know who to trust. We couldn't give them our real names, and we couldn't even come up with fake ones we felt safe with. So, they just started calling us Scarlet and Mona. I think they still think Alvira and I are sisters, you know, blood sisters.”Kira's smile faded slightly. "Hero, I just... I need you to know, I never forgot about you. About any of you. Being here, surviving... it doesn't mean I pushed you out of my mind.""Kira," I interrupted, my voice a little rough. "You don't need to explain. Not one bit. You don't have to apologize for surviving. I'm just... I'm just glad you did." I took a deep breath. "I would li
HERO POV“She's gone," I muttered, the words thick with disbelief. "Just... gone?"Kristina was already moving, her eyes scanning the room, then the surroundings of the entire room. "Maybe she shifted? Trying to find a hidden spot to crumble in, right?"I watched her, a knot of dread tightening in my stomach. Zara wouldn't just leave, would she? Not without a word. Not after everything.Kristina returned, her brow furrowed, but she held something out to me. A folded piece of paper. "She left this," Kristina said softly. "For you.”My hands trembled as I took it. It felt light, almost weightless, yet it carried the weight of everything I feared. I unfolded the paper, my eyes scanning the delicate handwriting."What does it say?" Kristina asked, her voice gentle.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and read aloud.(To HERO)*I know I've caused you nothing but pain, and for that, I'm truly sorry. If you're reading this, it means you found my note. And Kristina probably told yo
HERO POVWe'd been tracking Zara for what felt like forever. My wolf inside me was going nuts, like a caged animal. I could feel his panic growing with every step. Then, I smelled it. Smoke. Thick, choking smoke. I knew right then, something was seriously wrong.We rounded a bend, and I saw it. A crowd of wolves, all looking grim. They were working hard, but the air was heavy with tension. And then I saw the fire. A truck, smashed into a tree, burning like a giant torch.Jeremy barely stopped the car before I was out. My heart was pounding so hard, I thought it would burst. The truck... It was a wreck."Is that your truck?" a wolf yelled at me, his face red with anger when he noticed the similarity with our truck and the burning one. "What the hell happened? You could have burned the whole mountain down!"A woman nearby, I could tell she was a witch, was using her magic to blast water onto the flames. She was trying to stop it from spreading.I couldn't even focus on the angry wolf. M
ZARA POV"Water!" I gasped. My chest felt like it was on fire, and my throat was so dry it hurt to swallow. But I couldn't stop. Not now. If I even dared to look back, I knew Paul would be there. And Paul... he was strong. So strong, he could've led his own pack if he wanted.I had no idea how long I'd been running. It felt like forever. All that mattered was getting away. I knew my legs were about to give out. And if Paul caught me... well, I wouldn't stand a chance.Finally! A stream. It wasn't deep, only up to my knees, but it was perfect. I stumbled in the cool water, a welcome relief. "Okay," I whispered to myself, "think." I turned and started walking upstream. The water would help hide my scent. That was good."I need to shift," I mumbled. In my wolf form, I'd have a much better chance against Paul. But shifting took time. If he caught me halfway through... that would be the end of me.I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts because I knew I had messed up. "No use blaming
ZARA POVThe heavy iron door of the dungeon slammed shut behind us, the echoing clang a strained silence that had filled the room moments before. Paul was still down there, chained to the cold stone wall, his words hanging in the air like a thick, suffocating fog. My arms throbbed, a constant reminder of the price I'd paid for those words. He'd fought hard, and I'd pushed harder, until finally, the truth had spilled out, a dark, ugly secret that had sent a wave of raw fury through Hero.Hero was on a coiled spring right now, his every muscle tight with barely contained rage. He’d torn apart the interrogation equipment, the tracking machine found on Paul especially, with a violence that made my breath catch in my throat. It was like watching a storm unleash its fury, a terrifying display of power.He stopped abruptly, letting out a guttural groan that vibrated through the stone floor. "Ughhhhhh!" he roared, the sound echoing down the hallway. His body was rigid, every line of him screa
ZARA POVHero gently shifted me, and I couldn't help but whimper. A strange, intense itch pulsed where he'd just marked me. It was a burning, tingling sensation, like a thousand tiny needles. But then, just as suddenly as it had come, the itch subsided. I cautiously reached back, my fingers tracing the area. It felt smooth, almost healed, but there was a distinct ridge, a permanent mark. A teeth mark. My mark. A symbol that I belonged to him.Hero, with a tender touch, cleaned me up, his movements careful and soothing. He then pulled me close, holding me securely against his chest. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, and I gratefully closed my eyes, the warmth of his embrace a comforting blanket."I thought I'd be trapped on this mountain forever," Hero murmured, his lips brushing against my forehead. "But then I found you, my mate, and... my sister.”His sister. Kira. My eyes snapped open, a jolt of alarm running through me. "Oh my goodness, Hero! Your sister! We need to talk about
ZARA POVA low groan escaped Hero’s lips, a sound that vibrated against my skin. “Fuckkk,” he breathed, his voice thick with desire. “I want you to know that you have gotten very good at this… incredibly good. I crave more, and more, Zara. So much more.”I couldn’t help the smirk that spread across my face. Leaning forward, I met his gaze, my own pleasure building with a surprising, almost overwhelming intensity. “I had a good teacher all along,” I whispered, my voice a little breathless.His eyes darkened, a wicked grin spreading across his features. “Oh, darling, I haven’t taught you nearly enough yet,” he said, his voice laced with a promise that sent a shiver down my spine. “Not even close.”The playful banter faded as he began to move, a slow, deliberate thrust that sent a wave of heat through me. He pumped upward into me, his movements growing stronger, more insistent, bucking me like a wild stallion. I cried out, a sound that was half shock, half pure, unadulterated delight. Th
ZARA POVHero pulled back from the hug, but he didn't go far. His eyes were bright golden, like they had little lights inside them. He reached up, and his hands moved gently through my hair, like he was trying to smooth out any tangles. Then, his hands settled around my neck, soft and warm. He pulled me closer.His lips moved down to my neck and placed soft kisses, and his other hands touched my waist. My body felt like it was waking up, like a little fire was starting inside me. I arched my back, waiting for what would happen next. It felt good, even just the way he touched me.He whispered, his voice low and a little rough, "Seeing you like this... pregnant... It makes me want you so much. You don't seem to be in a position for me to mark you but…" He ran his fingers along my sides, and I shivered. It felt so good, like little sparks were going off all over my skin. "I don't think I can hold back."He looked at me, his eyes asking a question."Shhhhhhhh...You make me feel better, He
ZARA POVI kept my eyes closed, not wanting to see the emotions swirling in his. I could feel him shifting, moving closer, and the warmth of his presence was a strange comfort amidst the turmoil."You know," he started again, his voice softer now, "it's funny how rumors spread. Like wildfire. One minute, you're living your life, and the next, everyone thinks they know your story better than you do."He paused, a sigh escaping his lips. "Baxter... he had pieces of the puzzle about I and Alvira, but he got the picture all wrong. There was a time, a long time ago, when everyone in our pack thought Alvira would end up with either Nathan or me. We were kids, you know? Playing games, imagining futures that never came to be.”I could almost see the memories playing out in his mind, like old, faded photographs. "Alvira... She was brought to our pack by old Martha, the kitchen woman. Martha found her in the woods, all alone. Said she was just a little thing, lost and scared. Nathan and I, we w
ZARA POVPaul was locked away in the dungeon. Finally, We had a real chance to take down my father. I was so relieved my baby was safe. Everything had gone wrong, like a really, really big mess, but at least this part was right.But, when I looked at Hero, my heart sank. He looked...broken. Like he was trying to say something, but the words were stuck.I gently tried to sit properly on the bed before I spoke up. "Hey," I said softly. "You don't have to say anything. Really."He just looked at me, his eyes filled with...something I couldn't quite name."It's okay," I continued. "I know Alvira is your mate. I get it. I've accepted it, and I won't get in your way. You don't need to feel bad. We can still make this a little better. We have a child together, and that's important but I promise you that I won't use that to bother you. Lots of wolves have kids without being fated mates. We can figure it out.”I paused, then added, "And...if you can't look at me without seeing my father, witho
HERO POV The drive to Mascold's pack felt like forever. Zara was so still in the back of the car. I kept glancing at her, worried. By the time we pulled up to the main house, she was barely still awake. I carried her inside, and Mascold was already there, waiting. He'd thought of everything."Healer's ready," Mascold said, pointing towards a room. "Get her settled.”I laid Zara gently on the bed. She looked a little pale. The healer, a kind-looking woman with gentleness in her treatment, started checking her over. Zara stirred a little, but didn't really wake up."Just exhaustion and dehydration," the healer said after a while. "And a bit of blood loss. But both she and the baby are strong."Relief washed over me. I could finally breathe. They cleaned and bandaged the cuts on Zara's legs. I stayed close, watching everything they did, just in case."She needs rest," the healer said. "And plenty of water and food when she wakes."I nodded. "Thank you."While they were taking care of Za
HERO POV The trees finally ended. I saw Zara. She was on the ground. A wolf, covered in blood, jumped at her. My heart froze. I ran. I moved faster than I thought. I hit the wolf before it reached her. We rolled away from Zara. I landed on my paws. The wolf rolled further.A knife stuck out from the wolf's side. It shone in the light. Zara had hurt him. Good, that's my girl. I wanted to look back, but I did not. I needed to believe she was alive.The wolf, I now recognized as Paul, tried to run. He was a coward. He would not escape. Then, he stopped. He looked at me. He charged.He was hurt. He was tired. This fight would have been fun if he was strong. Now, it was easy. I pushed him to the ground. I was about to rip out his throat."Don't kill him," Zara said. Her voice was soft, and low.I pressed Paul down hard, my hands gripping his shoulders. A low growl rumbled in my chest as I glared at him. What did Zara mean? 'Don't kill him?' Why would she even say that? I wanted to end thi
ZARA POVFear made me tremble. I held onto the thick tree branch, my knuckles white. I pulled my knife from my pocket. Carefully, I placed the knife between my teeth. I needed both hands free. Slowly, I moved along the branch. I watched the ground below. I had to find the perfect spot to jump. I had to be smart. No mistakes.Paul's wolf growled. He paced below me, sniffing the ground. I saw blood on his fur. Good. I had hurt him. He was not bleeding himself, but I had made him bleed. That was a start. I didn't have my wolf with me. I would have to use my knife. I would need to cut him again and again. First, I would try to stop him from moving. Then, I would cut his throat. After that, I would stab him in the heart. This time, I had to make sure he could not heal.The air around me was thick and heavy. I clung to the rough bark of the tree, my heart hammering. If I moved too slow, it was over. He would find me, and my son, and end us. There was no escape. He would track me here, to th