CHAPTER THREE
ZOEY
I groaned as I felt a sharp pain in my head, and my body ached with tiredness. I forced my eyes open, and I blinked at the unfamiliar room that looked like a kind of prison cell. Fear filled my heart and I sat up. Where am I?
Before I could make sense of anything, I was suddenly pushed back on the bed and a strong hand wrapped around my throat, cutting off my air. I gasped in panic as I struggled to free myself but I couldn’t.
“W-Who… are you?” I choked out in a very low voice.
My eyes met his and for a second, I noticed how beautiful his eyes were but that didn’t matter, not when they were filled with anger and not when he was squeezing the life out of me.
I could feel that he could end me in a second if he really wanted to and yet, for some reason, he hadn’t.
Was he playing with me?
“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you now?” He asked smoothly, “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t end your life, you disgusting vampire.”
Vampire?
What was he talking about? My head spun as I tried to understand what he was talking about.
“I’m not a vampire,” I tried to sound calm, even though he was still squeezing the life out of me, making my lungs burn.
“Don’t you dare lie to me when you’re showing me your nasty fangs,” he frowned and tightened his grip on my neck, making me gasp.
Fangs? I didn’t have fangs. I’m a wolf, that I was sure. To clarify my doubts, I called on Frankie in my head.
“Frankie, what is he talking about? Why do I have fangs?” I asked her, and I could hear how loud my heart was pounding. I waited for Frankie’s response but I didn’t hear from her. Where was she when I needed her the most?
“I’m not a vampire. Let me go and I’ll show you. I promise I’m a wolf like you. I’m from m…,” I stopped myself before I could tell him about my pack because I didn’t want him to go asking about me and I definitely didn’t want Kelvin to know of my whereabouts.
He narrowed his eyes and released his grip just a little bit, “Give me a chance to show you, I’m a wolf.” I tried to convince him.
He finally let go and moved back to give me space. I muttered a thank you and scrambled up to my feet. I wasn’t used to having a wolf and I didn’t know how to shift but I tried to do it. Surprisingly, it didn’t work.
I tried again but nothing was working. What was going on?
“Are you playing with me?” He asked, looking like he was about to lash out at me.
“N..no, I promise, I’m telling the truth. I’m a wolf.” I pleaded with him.
“Then show me!” He yelled and my whole body trembled in response to his anger.
I closed my eyes and tried again. “Frankie please. Please come out,” I pleaded with my wolf but she was as silent as dead.
“How dare you toy with me?!” He growled and he grabbed me by my throat and squeezed hard. “Do you think you can fool me into believing that you’re a wolf? What do you take me for?!”
I could feel the anger radiate through him and his eyes blazed with fury. I swallowed hard as I thought about what he was going to do to me. I couldn’t understand why my wolf refused to show up.
“Please..” I pleaded as tears rolled down my cheeks.
My tears seemed to annoy him as his eyes darkened and it frightened me, and I closed my eyes, expecting my death but after a moment, I felt nothing and when I opened my eyes, I saw him staring at me.
Before I could get the chance to think about it, I heard the door open. “Alpha,”
Alpha?
He’s an Alpha?
If I was right, he’s Alpha Graham of Silvercrest pack! What was I doing here? How did I get in his pack?
“What do you want, Beta Ronald?” The man, whom I now knew to be Alpha Graham, asked, and there was irritation evident in his voice but fortunately, he had released his hold just enough for me to breathe.
“We’ve discovered four bodies. The vampires killed four of our pack members and I think they did that to send a message,” Beta Ronald explained and I swallowed in fear as I felt my heart racing.
Alpha Graham turned to me and tightened his grip on my neck as if he was pouring his anger on me.
“I have a feeling that we have something that belongs to them and they want it by all means. I wonder what it is.” Beta Ronald continued.
“It’s her.” Alpha Graham said in a low voice that sent chills down my spine. “She’s an important vampire to the vampire lord and he wants her badly.”
“The best thing to do is to send her back inorder to protect the members of this pack. We can’t risk starting a war.” Ronald tried to reason with Alpha Graham, and I hoped that he’d send me away but he was as adamant as ever.
“I will do no such thing,” he spat, “if they want her, then they should come and get her. I’m not scared of war.” He declared and it sounded like he was ready for anything.
My heart raced as I watched him. I didn’t know what was going on in his head and I could only hope that it’d be to my favour. “Keep her locked up in this cell, then we’ll wait for their attack.” He said, released me from his hold and walked away.
I scrambled away from him until my back hit the wall and then I gasped for breath. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew that I didn’t want to get involved with the vampires as they were dangerous.
CHAPTER FOURZOEYJust as Alpha Graham had instructed, I was locked up in the cell-like room and they had guards standing outside to make sure that I didn’t escape. I was lost in thoughts and then I suddenly something familiar rise inside me.“Zoey.” Frankie, my wolf, suddenly said in my head.“Frankie!” I called out, partly relieved and partly annoyed. “What’s going on? Why couldn’t I transform?”“I can’t tell you about it now.” She replied, and then changed the topic, “But with time, you’ll know more about me!”“Are you crazy?” I snapped. “We’re in this situation because you didn’t let me transform and they all think I’m a vampire and you think hiding things from me is the best thing to do?” “Yes,” Frankie replied.“I think you’re sick!” I huffed and my nostrils flared in anger. “How do you expect me to know you when you don’t want to tell me anything?”“I’m doing it for your own good.” She said and I knew didn’t understand a thing. Frustrated, I stood up and went to the door.I g
CHAPTER FIVEZOEYI sat on the cold floor of my cell and I stared blankly at the door that Alpha Graham had just slammed close. My face still hurt from the guard’s slap, but the confusion I felt was wrose. He didn’t trust me and he never would, and matter what I said or did, they had already decided what I was a vampire, a liar, and a threat.I clenched my fists in frustration. This wasn’t fair.I had no idea why I couldn’t shift. I had no idea why my wolf, Frankie, was keeping secrets and now, I was in the middle of a fight between the wolves and vampires, and I had no idea of why I was even a part of it.I took a shaky breath and closed my eyes. “Frankie,” I called out in my mind but there was no response.I gritted my teeth. “Don’t ignore me. You owe me answers.”Still, there was nothing.I felt anger and frustration rush through me. “You told me I’d understand in time, but I don’t have time! If you don’t tell me the truth, I could die here!”For a moment, I thought she was going
CHAPTER SIXZOEY“Come with me,” He said and bound my hands with some kind of special chain, and I realized it was supposed to keep a vampire in check. But I wasn’t a vampire and I had no idea if it’d work on me.I calmly followed after the guard even though he looked like wanted nothing more than to strangle me to death but he had no choice but to act accordingly. We walked through the hallway and I could feel the eyes of the pack members on me.Some stared at me with curiosity, while others looked at me with pure hatred and I had no doubt that I didn’t belong here.We stopped in front of a door but the guard didn’t even make an attempt to knock or make his presence known.“This isn’t a good idea,” I heard a muffled voice, which I recognized to be Alpha Graham’s voice, from behind the door.“We have no choice, Alpha. The Luna is dying.” Beta Ronald replied and he sounded extremely worried. I couldn’t help but wonder what they were talking about. The luna was dying? So how does that
CHAPTER SEVENZOEY“Her complexion looks better,” I heard beta Ronald say and I had to admit, it was true although I still had no idea why and how my presence helped her.“That’s enough for now,” Alpha Graham suddenly said, with his usual frown on his face, “Send her back!”Almost immediately, the guard rushed to me and yanked me up, and began to drag me out. “This isn’t fair,” I said out loud before I could stop myself, “You promised me freedom in exchange for helping your mother.”Alpha Graham turned to look at me and the guard stopped, “What makes you think that I’ll allow you to walk freely in my pack?”“Alpha..” Beta Ronald chimed in and tried to talk to him but he refused to listen.“You can keep dreaming about your freedom. It’s never going to happen,” he said, and I frowned.The guard tried to drag me but I struggled with him, “let me go!” I said, as I suddenly became courageous, “You’re an Alpha, you should uphold your words.” I said seriously.“Are you questioning my decisio
CHAPTER EIGHTZOEYThe vampire slammed into him and buried his fangs in Gregory’s neck. Gregory thrashed on the ground and struggled to free himself but it was of no use. An Alpha was strong but he couldn’t withstand the effect of a vampire’s venom, especially as he was distracted and taken by surprise.In that moment, fear filled my body and I panicked. “What are you doing?!” I yelled and for some reason, it seemed like the vampire had heard me as he raised his head for Gregory’s neck and smiled at me.His teeth was coated with Gregory’s blood and his smile sent shivers down. I took a step back as I was scared that he’d attack me, but to my surprise, he dashed off.“Come back!” I yelled but he continued running away. I looked at the vampire and back at Gregory who was writhing on the floor in pain, and I became confused as I didn’t know what to do.Gregory growled loudly and blood poured out of his wound. At first I was confused, and I thought about shifting back to my human form to
CHAPTER NINEZOEY“She bit the Alpha!” The guard yelled, “She tried to kill him!”“N..no,” I stuttered and quickly rose to my feet, “I didn’t do it, I swear. I didn’t try to kill him.”My heart pounded in my ears as they all surrounded me and they each had a dark expression on their faces like they didn’t believe any word I said.“Then how do you explain the blood on your face, and the blood on his neck?” The guard asked and the question threw me off guard.Oh shit! I had forgotten to clean the blood from my face after I had sucked out the vampire’s venom from his neck, and now, it has put me into trouble.“I..It’s not what you think, I swear. I didn’t try to kill him,” I tried to calmly explain to them but the fear and panic wouldn’t let me. “She’s lying!” The guard screamed and then turned to beta Ronald, “Beta, don’t let her go freely. She’s a secret spy, sent to kill the Alpha!”“N..no, please don’t.” I pleaded, tears rolled down my cheeks and I swallowed hard, “I really didn’t
CHAPTER TENZOEY“A..are you the vampire lord’s chosen bride?” He asked, and he finally came to view and I could see how wide his eyes were in shock and unbelieve. He was an old, shriveled man who could barely stand up straight.What the hell was he talking about? I didn’t know any vampire and I certainly didn’t agree to be anyone’s bride, so that was definitely bullshit.“What nonsense are you talking about?” I knew I was being rude but I didn’t mind. One way or the other, I had to make someone understand that I had no idea who the vampire lord was and I was definitely not interested in him.“It’s not nonsense dear, it’s the truth,” he said as he came to stand beside me. “This has to be some kind of misunderstanding.” I said, shaking my head, “You know, I have a mate,” I explained to him even though I didn’t want to think about Kelvin, but this situation called for it.Whether I liked it or not, Kelvin and I were still mates because he didn’t reject me, he only banished me, and I st
CHAPTER ELEVENGRAHAMMy head ached and my entire body felt sore as I tried to pry my eyes open but the harsh light made me groan and squint. I had to blink a few times to adjust to the light.Where was I?Despite my confusion, I couldn’t brush off the feeling that I was missing something, but I couldn’t place my fingers on it. I tried to sit up but it felt like my whole body had been run over by a truck countless times, leaving me in the situation. I had to lie down and wait for help, even though I absolutely hated doing that.“He’s awake!” I heard someone yell and before I could sit up to see who it was, the person rushed out, probably to inform the others.The next moment, the pack’s doctor and my beta rushed in. “Graham, you’re up!” Ronald said, and though he looked exhausted, I could see the relief on his face. “I am,” I said in a hoarse voice, but I managed to smile because I didn’t want to worry him. “Haven’t I told you before that it’s impossible to take me out?” I said and
GRAHAMShe told me to let her go.The words echoed through my mind like a broken record that I couldn’t fix. I stood in the empty space long after she had disappeared, the scent of her still lingering in the air and mocking me with everything I couldn’t have.Let her go?How the hell was I supposed to do that?I walked back to the packhouse in silence, not even noticing the people who passed me or the curious glances that they threw my way. I went straight to my room and locked the door behind me. The walls felt too tight, and the air felt too still. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, growling low and angry, but I couldn’t calm him. I couldn’t even calm myself.I dropped onto the edge of the bed and ran both hands through my hair in frustration and gripped it like it would bring me some kind of restraint or peace. My chest burned. My mind screamed and all I could see were her eyes, Frankie’s glowing and calm eyes as she shattered every piece of me.“It was a mistake.”She said that a
ZOEYI stormed out of the woods and into my room and I could feel my heart racing, and I clenched my fists so tightly that it felt numb. I didn’t care how calm Frankie looked or acted, all I knew was that I was done being quiet.“You had no right!” I yelled, feeling my anger boil underneath my skin. “You told him to let me go! Why would you do that? Are you okay?”I could feel Frankie standing straight, instead of backing down and explaining things to me. It felt like I was staring straight at her and she was openly challenging me. Her glowing eyes were calm, like always and it infuriated the shit out of me. “He needed to hear it.”“No, he didn’t,” I snapped. “He needed me, he needed us. And what did you do in return? you broke his heart and made me seem like the bad person. Like there’s something wrong with me!”“He was already breaking,” she said quietly. “Don’t put all the blame on me!”I paced around the room, trembling with anger. “I felt it. I felt his pain, Frankie. His anger.
GRAHAMThe fire in the fireplace had burned low, leaving the office in a soft atmosphere. I leaned back in my chair, fingers under my chin, staring at the dying fire. The taste of Zoey still lingered on my lips—sweet, warm, intoxicating. I shouldn’t have kissed her. No. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was that I wanted to do it again. A growl tore from my throat, raw and frustrated. My wolf snarled in my chest, restless, torn between two instincts—one that howled for my mate, Frankie, and another that burned for Zoey’s fire, her defiance, the way she looked at me like I was both the storm and the shelter. This is wrong. But it didn’t feel wrong. And that terrified me. I squeezed my eyes shut, dragging a hand down my face. The bond between mates was sacred. Unbreakable. So why did my pulse race for someone else? Why did my blood heat at the memory of Zoey’s fingers tangled in my shirt, pulling me closer like she never wanted to let go? A whisper of presence brush
GRAHAMThe Pack House was in its usual state of controlled chaos when we arrived. Warriors lounged in the common area, some sparring, others nursing drinks. A few pups darted between legs, yipping excitedly, while the elders watched from their usual spots near the fireplace, shaking their heads at the younger generation’s antics. And then there was Roland. Leaning against the doorway like he’d been waiting for us (which, knowing him, he had), my Beta raised a brow as Zoey stepped inside behind me. His gaze flicked to the bruise on her temple, the hospital bracelet still stubbornly clinging to her wrist. “Zoey,” he said, voice carefully neutral. “You okay?” Zoey’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, now you care?” Roland blinked. “What?” “Don’t play dumb,” she snapped, jabbing a finger at him. “You snitched.” I crossed my arms, watching the exchange with mild amusement. Roland had always been terrible at lying under pressure. “I didn’t—” “You told him,” Zoey accused, jerking a thumb
GRAHAMThe scent of pine and wildflowers still clung to the air inside my Jeep, even after she’d vanished into the trees. Frankie. My mate. My wolf had been restless for weeks, aching for even a glimpse of her, and today—today she’d been *close.* Not close enough to touch, not close enough to speak to, but close enough that my lungs burned with the memory of her. I exhaled, leaning back against the seat, my fingers tapping against the leather seat. The pack warriors were spread out nearby, waiting for my signal to move. But for now, I just wanted to savor this—the quiet, the lingering trace of her, the way my pulse had finally slowed for the first time in months. Then— Knock. Knock. Knock. I turned my head, and my breath caught. Zoey. Her hair was piled messily on top of her head, loose strands framing her face. A hospital bracelet dangled from her wrist, and there was a faint bruise blooming along her temple. She looked exhausted. She looked alive.I rolled down the window
ZOEYI stepped out of the café, the door swinging shut behind me with a satisfying click. The air outside was crisp, fresh—unlike the suffocating, latte-scented tension I’d just left behind. Charlie’s words still prickled under my skin, but for once, I didn’t care. I’d won that round. Hannah and Lily were waiting for me across the street, their faces etched with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. Why were they nervous? Hannah waved enthusiastically, nearly smacking a passerby in the face. Classic. Time to go back to the pack, I thought, grinning. Back to Graham—BAM. Something hit me. Hard. One second, I was mid-step, feeling victorious. The next, the world spun, tilted, and then— Black.--- Beep. Beep. Beep.My eyelids felt like they’d been glued shut. I groaned, trying to lift my arm, but something tugged at my hand. What the—? I forced my eyes open, blinking against the blinding white light. Sterile walls. A weird plastic tube sticking out of my arm. A machine b
**GRAHAM**He nodded sagely. "Yep. Left a while ago." My grip on the pen tightened. "And where, exactly, did they go?" Rowand shrugged. "Human world, apparently. Something about Hannah’s friend having a baby." The pen snapped in my hand. Ink splattered across the desk. Rowand blinked. "Uh. You good?" I stood up so fast my chair nearly toppled over. "They what?" Rowand leaned back, holding his hands up. "Hey, don’t shoot the messenger! I just thought you’d want to know—" "Who let them leave?" My voice was dangerously low. Rowand swallowed. "Uh. Ronald?" I stormed out of the office, Rowand scrambling after me. "Graham, wait—" I didn’t wait. The packhouse was bustling as usual—warriors chatting, kids running around, the usual chaos. But right now, all I could focus on was the fact that my mate—well, technically my mate’s human form, who I was still trying to figure out how to handle—had waltzed into the human world without so much as a by your leave. I found Ron
**GRAHAM** The pack council chamber smelled like old leather and older wolves. The elders sat around the massive oak table, their faces carved from generations of bad decisions and worse tempers. And right in the middle of it all, like a peacock in a den of wolves, stood Kelvin Walker—Alpha of Moonstone, cheater of mates, and current pain in my ass. He’d stormed in unannounced, demanded an audience after accusing me of stealing his mate, and now here we were. "Alpha Graham," Kelvin began, his voice dripping with false diplomacy, "I come before your council to address a grave injustice." I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed. "Get to the point, Kelvin. Some of us have actual work to do." His eye twitched. "You stole my mate." The room went dead silent. Then Elder Fergus, who was roughly as old as dirt and twice as dusty, coughed into his fist. "That’s a serious accusation, Alpha Kelvin. Best tread carefully." Kelvin ignored him, jabbing a finger in my direction. "Zoey
CHAPTER EIGTHYZOEYThe moment I collided with Charlie in the supermarket, my blood ran cold. Her smile was all teeth—sharp, practiced, and utterly fake. “Zoey,” she cooed, like we were long-lost sisters instead of bitter enemies. “What a surprise.” I forced my fingers to unclench from the bag of chips I was holding. “Charlie.” She tilted her head, eyes flicking over me with that familiar, calculating gleam. “You look… different.” A pause. “Alive. I honestly thought Silvercrest would’ve killed you by now.” I matched her smile, just as hollow. “Disappointed?” She laughed, light and airy, like we were sharing a joke. “Oh, Zoey. Always so dramatic.” Then, without missing a beat, she looped her arm through mine like we were best friends. “Come on. Let’s catch up. There’s a café next door.” I wanted to rip my arm away. I wanted to scream. But Hannah and Lily were already watching us with wide eyes, and the last thing I needed was a scene. So I let her drag me out of the store