**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
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
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
CHAPTER ONEZOEY“How did I get home?” My whole body ached as I tried to get up from bed. The last thing I could remember was partying last night with Charlie, my step sister, in the club as it was her birthday last night. I didn’t know how I got home, I had probably drank a lot and gotten so drunk that I couldn’t remember. I made a mental note to ask her later.I forced myself to get out of bed, ignoring the pain, I headed to the bathroom. I turned on the tap and washed my face, then I looked at my reflection in the mirror and that was when I noticed that I had some bruises on my neck, and when I studied it carefully, I realized that it looked like hickeys. How did it get on my skin? I didn’t get intimate with anyone so how did this happen? I shook my head to brush off the thought. I was overthinking and it was probably just a bug bite.Speaking of being intimate, I suddenly remembered my mate. Today was my one year anniversary with Kelvin!It was on this day, two years ago that we
CHAPTER TWOZOEYI ran.I pushed through the pack house doors, and it was as though luck was on my side as the pack’s gate was left open and without thinking, I ran out, ignoring the shouts from the guards trying to stop me. The wind was cold and it slapped against my face, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t afford to stop.The shouts behind me became faint but I knew that they’d soon come after me, so I continued running into the woods, ignoring the tree branches that whipped my skin. My whole body ached and every breathe I took burned by chest, but I didn’t slow down because I couldn’t let them catch me.I had nothing, no wolf, no strength, and nowhere to go but I knew that I wanted to survive. I had to!By the time I reached the pack’s border, my legs gave out on me. I fell to my knees and my entire body trembled. My skin was covered in bruises, and my dress was torn, but none of it could compare to the pain in my chest.I didn’t want to cry but I couldn’t control it as a sob burst out
CHAPTER THREEZOEYI 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 sp
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
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
CHAPTER SEVENTY NINEZOEYThe sound of rain lightly tapping against the window filled the cozy living room. I with my legs crossed on the couch, and idly played with a strand of my hair between my fingers while Lily laid beside me, flipping through a book she had no real intention of reading.Across from us, Hannah was sitting on an armchair, with her legs close to her chest and sipping from a cup of tea. She was talking about something, probably about how different life was when she lived as a human, but my mind drifted elsewhere.“…And that’s the thing about human jobs,” Hannah was saying, sounding amused. “If you hate it, you can just quit.”Lily made a funny face. “That’s ridiculous. If you don’t like something, just fight for something better.”“That’s not how it works for humans,” Hannah chuckled. “They have very strict rules that everyone must follow.”I rolled my eyes and chuckled quietly. “Rules are overrated.”Hannah smiled but she didn’t argue with me. Before she could cont
CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHTGRAHAMI sat in my office and leaned back in my chair while absentmindedly drumming my fingers against the armrest. The room was quiet, except for the sound of the clock ticking, but my mind was anything but still.I was thinking about her.She had promised me a kiss, wherever and however I wanted. And now that I had done my part, it was time for her to fulfill it.A slow smirk formed on my lips. It wasn’t like I wanted her kiss or anything. I just didn’t like people owing me. I loved it when people kept to their promise.I wondered how she’d try to get out of it. Would she play coy? Would she challenge me again? Or would she pretend like she didn’t remember? I almost hoped she would, because I had no intention of letting her forget.I could still hear her voice in my head and how she called me a good boy.My grip tightened on the armrest as I fought for control. No one had ever spoken to me like that, like I was the one being tamed, no one had ever dared to.And
CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVENGRAHAMZoey’s words echoed in my head long after she walked out of my office. “If you want a kiss, stop the rumors.”I should have been angry and annoyed, unbothered even. But instead, I was sitting there, still gripping the armrests, and staring at the door like she’d walk back in. I felt like a damn fool.She had completely thrown me off my game. No one ever had that kind of power over me. I sighed deeply, and forced myself to snap out of it. Enough of this.I was not some weak-willed man who let a woman dictate his actions. But yet, as I pushed up to my feet and walked out of my office, I already knew what I was about to do.I wasn’t doing it for her.And I definitely wasn’t doing it for a kiss that she promised to give me wherever and however I wanted. Definitely not.I was doing it because I was Alpha, and letting my own pack spread disrespectful rumors about someone under my rule, whether I liked her or not, was a sign of weakness and I was not weak.Not no
CHAPTER SEVENTY SIXGRAHAMI froze.Zoey was on my lap.I felt her soft body before I fully registered what had happened. Her warmth pressed against me, and the weight of her body settled in like she belonged there. My grip on the armrests tightened, and my knuckles turned white as I fought the instinct to grab her and to pull her closer.Instead, I forced my voice to stay calm. “Get off.” But do my disappointment, my voice came out raspy and breathless.She slightly tilted her head, and a mischievous smirk slowly made its way to her lips. “What’s wrong, Alpha?” she mused, and her tone was filled with amusement. “Are you scared?”Scared? No. I was far from scared, but I was so close to losing control.I clenched my jaw, and tried to act unaffected, but it was pointless. Zoey was toying with me, and she knew exactly what she was doing. Everything about her, the way she moved, the confidence in her eyes, and the way she slightly lifted her chin told me she had the upper hand, and I hate