Chapter 14 They are mated?

Zenab was on the verge of turning to see what had angered Sander when Dave's voice cut through the air. "Zenab, what the hell are you doing with him?"

She sighed, feeling her relaxation from the evening dissipate. Just when she thought she could enjoy herself, Dave had to show up and ruin everything, just like he had ruined her life.

"Sander?" Miles chimed in, sounding a mix of shock and fluster.

Zenab glanced at Sander and froze. The murderous intent in his eyes was palpable—he looked ready to explode. If she didn't intervene, the couple behind her would likely end up in serious trouble.

Without hesitation, she left her seat and moved to stand behind Sander. Unsure if her actions would be welcome, but knowing there was no alternative, she began to rub his shoulders, hoping to ease the tension she sensed in his body. Thankfully, they were in a private section, shielded from prying eyes.

To her surprise, instead of shrugging her off, he began to relax. Zenab felt a surge of satisfaction seeing that he harbored hatred for Dave and Miles. Until that moment, she hadn't fully realized how much Sander despised Miles.

"I asked you what you're doing, Zenab," Dave's irritating voice broke her focus.

She turned to face him, suddenly questioning her past attraction to him. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him. Sure, he was handsome and had an impressive physique, but that was all. She must have been desperate to have chosen him as her mate.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm having dinner with Sander," she retorted, sneering at him while wishing he would take his partner and leave. Their presence was draining the very life from the small space.

"I can see that, but with him? Why are you with that guy of all people?" Dave responded, his disgust evident as he ground his teeth.

Miles stood frozen, her mouth agape like a fish, darting her gaze between the three of them, as though she were merely a spectator rather than part of the unfolding drama.

"What's wrong with him? There's nothing wrong with Sander," Zenab replied defensively.

He regarded her with sheer disbelief, as if she had lost her mind and should be committed to a psychiatric hospital.

"You can't be serious. He's the guy who took Miles from me. He took my mate!" he yelled, causing Zenab to wince. Thank the goddess for soundproof walls.

Zenab crossed her arms defiantly. "And why should I care about that? In case you've forgotten, I'm no longer bound to you, which means my loyalty no longer lies with you. Sander is a decent guy, and I love him. Besides, he didn't take your mate from you. Miles is a gold-digging opportunist who left you for him because he has more power and money."

She heard Miles gasp in shock just before Dave lunged at her, but he didn't get close. Sander stood up and shoved Dave back, causing him to stumble and nearly knock Miles off her feet. It was clear he still had a sore spot when it came to Miles.

"If you ever pull that crap again with Zenab, I'll rip out your beating heart and feed it to the rogues," Sander warned, his wolf emerging in his gaze and his alpha aura radiating power. The intensity of his presence weighed heavily on everyone, even Dave, despite being an alpha himself.

Zenab fought against her instinct to submit to Sander, to kneel before him and seek his assurance. When he sensed her struggle, he withdrew his energy just enough to offer her a moment of relief.

"Did you just say you love him? Is this what you've been doing instead of answering my calls about Emerald?" Dave sneered, his tone venomous. "Were you too busy spreading your legs for him rather than taking care of your daughter?"

Sander tensed, ready to pounce, but Zenab stepped in beside him, holding him back. She felt a fierce urge to punch Dave, but she reminded herself and Blues that the retribution they had planned would hurt him far more.

"Don't you dare speak about Emerald," she shot back. "You and that witch turned her against me, you bastard." She paused for a moment before continuing, "And who I choose to sleep with is none of your business. At least with Sander, I don't have to fake my pleasure," she concluded with a cruel smile.

The sound of Sander's quiet laughter brought her a sense of satisfaction.

Zenab wrapped her arms around Sander's waist for added reassurance. He responded as expected, placing his hand over her shoulder. Miles and Dave stared at them, shock written across their faces, as if they couldn't grasp what she had just claimed. It was, of course, a lie—she had never slept with Sander, and probably never would, but they didn't need to know that.

"If you have no more insults for me, then leave. I'd like to continue this dinner date with my man, which I hope will end with us both sweaty in my bed," she declared. "You're both dismissed."

Miles seemed about to protest, but one look from Sander silenced her. Reluctantly, she grabbed Dave and tugged him away.

Once they were gone, Zenab released Sander and jumped back into her seat just as their meals arrived. They ate in silence, lost in their own thoughts. After finishing, she steeled herself to ask the question that had been troubling her—a question that could jeopardize their agreement.

"Did you know Miles had a mate when you took her as yours?"

She feared the answer but needed to know. As desperate as she was to be marked, the idea of Sander knowingly claiming another's mate unsettled her.

He sighed before responding. "No, I didn't. She told me her mate had died. I only recently discovered that she lied to me."

"What about your fated mate?"

She noticed the moment he shut down, the instant he decided he was done sharing. Zenab realized she didn't know much about him beyond what the world knew. That realization left her at a disadvantage.

Thinking back, she wondered how Sander never suspected anything, especially during alpha conventions when Dave often spent most of the time glaring at the couple.

"Didn't you ever suspect anything? I mean, Dave never concealed his hatred for you," Zenab asked, shifting the topic.

"I did, and I confronted Miles about it. As with everything else, she lied to me. She claimed that Dave was an old flame who turned bitter when she refused to be his chosen mate. I looked into her story, but the only connection I found was that they had dated in college. Dave never came to me with the truth, so I believed he was just a scorned lover. She deceived me and made a fool out of me. I can never forgive that."

Zenab nodded in understanding. Hadn't Dave done the same? He had made her believe he loved her when he didn't. Both Miles and Dave had played them for fools, and she felt a surge of satisfaction at the thought of bringing them down.

"Let's go," Sander said as he stood up, signaling that dinner was over.

As they walked out, Zenab wanted to ask him about the bill, noticing that he hadn't paid. Perhaps he had a tab or something. They climbed into the car, and unlike their earlier silence, they engaged in small talk on the way. Before long, they arrived at her cottage. Zenab stepped out of the car, and Sander walked her to the door.

"I'm sorry for what I said to Dave. I shouldn't have lied about the part concerning us," she confessed while disarming the alarm system.

"You did what you had to do," he replied, his voice deep and reassuring.

They stood there in silence, and Zenab couldn't help but wonder why it felt so awkward all of a sudden.

"Tomorrow we'll be signing the contract. Have a good night, Scarlet," he whispered before pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

Zenab heard the familiar sound of something clicking, and moments later, Sander stepped away. As she watched him get into the car, she caught sight of a man with a camera lurking nearby.

Of course Sander had kissed her knowing that the man was watching. As she entered her house and he drove off, Zenab felt a flicker of disappointment.

Why had she wanted that kiss to be genuine, rather than a mere performance for the cameras? And why did she wish it had lasted longer—or been deeper?