CHAPTER FORTY NINEZOEYI stood outside Alpha Graham’s office, staring at the door like it might burn me if I knocked. My heart pounded against my ribs, and I clenched my fists before I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax.Why did he call me here?After the way he had glared at me earlier, and after the way he had been acting since yesterday, I knew this wasn’t just about me “serving” him, but I had no choice. I owed him, and I wasn’t about to run because technically, I had no where else to goTaking another deep breath, I knocked on the door.“Come in.” His firm voice came immediately like he had been expecting me.I swallowed, pushed the door open and walked inside. He was behind his desk as usual but he was leaning back in his chair, with one hand resting on the armrest while the other tapped against the desk. His sharp eyes lifted to meet mine, then he scanned me from head to toe before he looked back on my face.“Close the door.” The words were so casual but something a
CHAPTER FIFTYZOEY“Are you done?”His words hit me like a blow. I had expected him to say something else and not asking me if I was done.I blinked in disbelief, and for some reason, my breaths came out in short pants and my heart raced. After everything I just said, after telling him how frustrated he made me feel, all he could do was to ask me if I was done?A fresh bolt of anger filled my body, but beneath the anger, there was something else in my chest that made it feel tight and I couldn’t understand what it was.I clenched my fists and shot him a hard glare. “What if I’m not done?”The words came out before I could stop them. It was a challenge and a dare. I had never been the type of person to act recklessly, but Alpha Graham annoyed me so much that I didn’t care anymore. I was already in too deep.In that moment, his eyes darkened, and the air between us changed. An uncomfortable silence settled and it felt heavy with something I couldn’t explain. Everything in me screamed a
CHAPTER FIFTY ONEGRAHAMZoey practically ran out of my office and the second the door shut behind her, I exhaled sharply, lowered myself on my chair ans leaned back, staring at the closed door like it had personally offended me.What the hell just happened?I could still feel her warmth lingering in the air, and I could still hear how she sharply sucked in a breath when I leaned in. The way she parted her lips, just slightly, and closed her eyes like she was a few seconds away from closing the space between us.And I had almost let it happen. I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if I didn’t pull away.A muscle in my jaw ticked, and I felt so much frustration. I never lost control like that.Zoey was nothing more than a burden that I was forced to deal with, she was a mistake that had let into my pack and I couldn’t let her leave because of my mother’s health. I had no reason to be this close to her, and no reason to react to her the way I just did.And yet, I shoved my
CHAPTER FIFTY TWOZOEYI stormed into my room and slammed the door shut, then I pressed my back against it and I sucked in a deep, shaky breath. My hands were clenched into fists to calm myself but my heart would not stop racing.I swallowed hard, and forced myself to replay what had just happened. What the hell was that? One second, we were arguing, no, I was confronting him, standing my ground for once, and refusing to let him treat me like some pathetic servant. Then the next…My breath rose and I gasped. Then the next, he was there, right in front of me, looking at me like…“Oh my goodness,” I sucked in a sharp breath and shook my head furiously like it’d erase the thoughts or even make me go back in time to retrace my steps. I sighed and pushed myself off the door and I started pacing around the room.“No. No, no, no, that was nothing,” I muttered under my breath and ran my fingers through my hair as I turned around and paced back the other way.“That was just… That was just him
CHAPTER FIFTYGRAHAMThe council members’ voices went on, their words echoing in the packhouse’s living room, but I wasn’t listening.I just sat with my elbows resting on my thighs, my fingers entwined together, and my eyes were fixed on the floor. I should have been paying attention, I honestly should have because there were the elders of the pack, and they were the same men who had advised my father before me, and their words carried so much weight among my people.“The vampire has to leave this pack now.”“She is a threat to the pack and the people. The members of the pack are scared to go about their daily activities.”“You cannot allow a creature like that to roam freely among us. We’re sworn enemies, Graham. Do something.”They were talking about Zoey, and yet, my mind wasn’t on their warnings, neither was it on the so-called threat she posed. It was on what had nearly happened between us in my office.I could still feel the heat between us, the way I had leaned in, and the way
CHAPTER FIFTY FOURZOEYI could feel something was wrong the second the door to my room swung open with so much force.Alpha Graham stood in the doorway with his face like stone and his intimidating presence filling up my room. Ronald was right behind him, and expression just as serious. The thick silence that followed made cold shivers run down my spine.Something had happened, and whatever it was, it wasn’t good.I slowly placed the book I was pretending to read onto the window frame and fully turned around. “What’s going on?”Alpha Graham stepped inside, and though everything about him showed that he was in control, I could sense the tension radiating from him. “Viktor.”My whole body froze at the name. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs, I unconsciously clenched my fists around my dress and swallowed hard. “What about him?” I tried to control my fear but nothing was working. Was he here to get me? What do I do?Ronald sighed deeply and took a step forward inside the room.
CHAPTER FIFTY FIVEGRAHAMThe room was quiet, but my mind wasn’t. I stood by the large window in my office, staring outside, but I wasn’t seeing anything. My sight was blurry, my thoughts were too loud, and I clenched my jaw so tightly that it hurt.The bastard, Viktor, had left a dead body in my territory as a message, not just any message, it was a loud and clear warning.The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I clenched my fists so tightly that it hurt. He had come into my pack, slaughtered one of my people, and left him bleeding into the earth like his life meant nothing. That was something I couldn’t ignore. That wasn’t something I could let slide.And yet, this entire mess was about her. A silly damn vampire in my pack. An enemy that I should have thrown out the moment she stepped foot here, but for some reason, I hadn’t. It wasn’t for a reason, it was because of my mother.Now, a war was brewing, and it had nothing to do with my pack or my people. It was about her,
CHAPTER FIFTY SIXZOEYI still couldn’t stop thinking about the dead body and the note which was obviously written by Lord Viktor. It terrified me more than anything else because it was obvious that he had his eyes on me even though I was in Alpha Graham’s pack.How he managed to infiltrate the pack even with the strong security and also kill a warrior made me question just how powerful he really was.“Earth to Zoey!” I jerked backwards when I saw fingers snap in my face and I turned, only to see Lily.“Lily!” I gasped in surprise, “What are you doing here? I didn’t hear you come in”“How would you hear when you’re deep in thoughts,” she said with her hands on her waist. “I was asking you if you heard about the dead warrior with a note on his chest?” She looked both worried and curious.“Yeah,” I muttered and lowered my head. How wouldn’t I hear of it, when I was directly involved.Lily noticed my sunken mood, making her sigh and take a seat beside me on the bed, then she said in a mu
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