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Chapter 59
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2022-03-03 00:49:26Zara’s POV
In the morning, Amy comes into my room with apple juice and smooths down my hair to wake me up. My eyes feel puffy and Lavender is trying to take away a headache.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. Keller had to take care of some work things, so you and I will get to spend the day together.” Her voice is soft as looks at me with worry. “We need to go shopping for you today. Why don’t you get freshened up? I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
“Okay,” I take her hand in mine and bow my head to her, “Amy, thank you for staying last night. I-it means a lot to me.”
“Zara, I know you feel very alone, but I assure you, you’re not. Keller is here for you and so are Phil and I.” She pauses and scratches her head. “Jensen and Skylar will come around. I wouldn’t hold out a lot of hope for their mates.”
“Did Keller tell you what happened when I saw my mom?” I swallow my tears back.
“He did, and if I’m going to be very honest, it was
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The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 60
Amy takes me to a large department store where several pleasant saleswomen help me find clothes. I try to look at the tags to see how much everything costs, but they won’t let me. I try on outfit after outfit, coming out of the dressing room each time. Amy gives a yes or no to each one. The sales woman pick out a navy blue dress for my trial and a white sweater with a light blue skirt to wear for Keller’s. Amy looks more somber when she sees them but approves of both. They find blush colored ballet flats that don’t look like they’re from the children’s department, which Amy agrees will have to do for now. After a couple hours of shopping, I have more than enough clothing to last me for the next six months. Amy picks up a new winter coat for Keller. When we finish shopping, we go to a small cafe for lunch. I order a cup of tomato soup. Amy nudges my arm and adds a grilled cheese for me. I scrunch up my nose, but my mom would have done the same thing. When the food act
Last Updated : 2022-03-04The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 61
Keller’s POV “I-I can stay with her, Mom.” I watch Zara while she grimaces and talks in her sleep. Mom and I have both tried to wake her up, but it was a useless effort. She woke up for a moment and said something about finding a solution and fell back asleep. Whatever she’s dreaming about, it’s upsetting her and it’s painful to watch. “I don’t want to leave her.” “Keller, if I can feel your anxiety, imagine what she is going through right now!” Mom’s tone changes as she becomes protective of Zara. “Go take a walk.” “Mom-“ I stand up and feel myself take a step back. After twenty-two years, I know what comes next. ‘Take a walk’ is Mom’s warning that Lily isn’t happy. In a flash, Lily comes to the surface, throwing an arm across Zara’s body. Her eyes turn black, and she snarls at me with long fangs. “Get. Back.” “Okay, okay! I get it, Lily!” I raise my hands up and back out of the room, closing the door behind me.
Last Updated : 2022-03-04The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 62
The next morning, they deliver the whiteboards. Zara is so over the moon excited, she stays out of the way, but doesn’t hide from the delivery man. As soon as he’s gone, she immediately puts them to use. I bring out a step stool for her so she can reach the top parts. She works furiously until it’s time to go to the lawyer’s office. She worries over her outfit to wear out for the day and changes three times, even though I tell her she looks fine. She video calls Mom to get her opinion. Then she goes back to the bathroom to adjust her hair. I’m not stupid. This is sigma fight mode. “Pocket, come on. You can fix your hair in the car.” I stand in the doorway to her bathroom with my arms crossed over my chest. “I, uh, I just need another couple more minutes.” She looks in the mirror nervously. Her cheeks are flush while she messes with the ends of her hair. “Zara, look at me.” I step forward and lean against the counter. She holds her brush wi
Last Updated : 2022-03-05The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 63
Even though we had talked about her going to bed early, she was on a roll in the living room, so I didn’t bother her. It was close to midnight when I find her asleep on the sofa in front of her laptop. I crouch down in front of her and slide the computer off her lap. I take a moment to cherish her delicate features before I lean forward and caress my fingers across her cheek. How is it possible for her to become more beautiful every day? “Time for bed, Pocket.” I use a quiet tone so I won’t startle her. Part of me doesn’t want to wake her up. I would rather move her papers out of the way and snuggle up on the sofa with her. She opens her sleepy eyes for a moment and hums when she closes them again. “Is it morning?” “Not yet, but it’s pretty late.” I tilt my head and watch her try to wake up enough to go to her room. “Mmm, okay.” She opens her eyes again and smiles at me. “I stayed up too late. There’s still more to do.” I chuckle and take her
Last Updated : 2022-03-06The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 64
When she clears her throat and brushes a stray hair behind her ear, I’m finally able to form words again. She lets me help her onto a stool and waits for me to finish cooking. I serve her breakfast, then sit next to her, letting my knee brush against hers. I resist the urge to place my hand on her thigh. “What do you say we go into the forest today? Let Lavender and Rocky play for a bit. Or did you already have plans?” “I was just going to work on the solution in the living room,” she shrugs and takes another sip of coffee. “But it’s your birthday. If you want to go to the forest, I would be happy to join you. Lavender says she would love to go for a run, too. Do you know somewhere safe for us to go?” “Cool. We can go once you’re ready. I have a place I like to go where I let Rocky out to blow off steam. It’s pretty isolated. We won’t get interrupted.” I can’t help but grin and lean my elbow on the counter so I can put my chin in my hand. “I’m going to dinner
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Zara lets me buckle her in after I help her into the car, but takes she my hand before I’m finished. “What changed your mind?” Her question catches me off guard. I look up at her and think of the best way to answer. She looks so tired. I wish I could give her my energy. Hopefully, after I accept her, she will start feeling better. If not, I’ll search the world for a doctor that can help her. “I think it’s more that I stopped changing my mind. I stopped trying to convince myself that I'm not good enough for you or that the differences between us are reasons to not be with you. Thinking about you leaving, not being able to talk to you or spend time with you, no more notes on the kitchen counter, spending my nights watching cartoons, or making sure I stock the fridge with apple juice instead of beer.” I shake my head resolutely and kiss her hand between my words. “I would be stupid to miss out on sharing my life with you, Zara. The more I get to know you, the more I see
Last Updated : 2022-03-08The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 66
****TRIGGER WARNING****The next four chapters depict ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, DRUG OVERDOSE, and STALKING.*****************************“Keller. Wake up. Blood. Our mate is hurt,” Rocky rouses me out of a deep sleep. I open my eyes groggily and look at the clock. Four seventeen a.m. It feels like a hammer is pounding on my head when I sit up.“Holy shit.” I try to open my eyes wider, but I can’t manage it. “What happened Rocky?”“Jensen drugged you. I don’t remember after that.” His voice sounds agitated. “It doesn’t matter. Our mate needs us.”“What are you talking about?” I yawn, but when I inhale, the distinct metallic scent wakes me up immediately. I look around at the three women passed out in the bed with me.
Last Updated : 2022-03-09The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 67
“ZARA?!” I call out, panicking and sniffing the air for her rose and chamomile scent. I follow my nose to the bathroom. “Zara?” I crack the door open and peek in. I see her curled up next to the toilet. She looks clammy and her eyes are closed, her head is resting against the toilet seat. When she opens her eyes, she tries to look at me, but the movement upsets her stomach. She turns and vomits into the bowl. Well, mostly into the bowl. The smell of apple juice and a faint familiar sweet tang mixes with the pungent bile from her stomach. Oh fuck. This can’t be happening. I look at my watch. It’s four forty-five a.m. If she’s vomiting now, that means she took the drug before she cut herself. She must have mixed in it with the juice. “No no no no no, Zara, no no no…” I run over and kneel next to her, taking her face in my hands. Her head is heavy and her eyes try to roll back, but she’s fighting to keep looking at me. I use my sleeve to wipe
Last Updated : 2022-03-09
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“Zara, first, I want you to know that your parents loved you. They had no choice when they left you and they never stopped trying to find you and get you back.” Tyree’s tone differs from what I’ve heard from him before. It’s more apologetic and compassionate, like a father trying to make his child understand another point of view. “Tyree, how could I possibly believe that?” Zara holds her hand up to stop him. “They left me on the steps of the pack house. I wasn’t even a week old. They didn’t want me.” “It’s not true, Zara. I promise you it’s not true. Your father’s name is Scott Eklund. Your mother is Sondi. They came here because the Alpha from Emerald Mountain banished them. They were seeking asylum, and it was granted.” Tyree sits back and sighs. “From what I understand, your father attacked the pack’s Beta, trying to defend Sondi. Your mother said she never had a problem with the Beta and barely knew him. Your father had issues with mental illness. He was paranoid and refused to
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“First and foremost, thank you all for being here today. I’m going to keep my portion short.” Jasper stands at the podium, now tenured in speaking in front of crowds, looking comfortable to address the room. He pulls out a notecard from his jacket pocket and glances down at it. “There is someone very special I would like to introduce you to. She’s not only the lead scientist for the Sigma Project, she is the mastermind behind the medication that has made this whole thing possible.” Jasper looks into the wings and gives Zara a thumbs up. I feel her take a deep breath under my hands. “This talented woman completed her undergraduate degree and masters in biochemistry, and she’s almost finished with her doctorate all in just over six years. On top of that, she is now the youngest Nobel Prize Laureate ever. In chemistry and in medicine. Friends, she’s the hardest worker in the room, by far the smartest person you will ever meet, an incredible mother, and one of my closest friends. Oh and
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“Hey guys, your flight was okay?” Tyree meets us at the doors of the Blood River pack house and ushers us inside. “I know the ride from the airport can be a killer.” “It was great. Thanks, Tyree.” Jasper shakes his hand. “We are all looking forward to this afternoon.” “Uncle Tyree!” Orli runs up to her favorite person and hops to be picked up. “Dillon and I went to kindergarten! I got to show the teacher that I know my alphabet.” “I heard! Did you listen to your teacher?” He holds Orli in his massive arms and gives her a kiss on the cheek. She nods with a shy smile and leans back. “Look at my dress! Daddy says today is special, so I wanted to look pretty. And tomorrow I get to wear my flower girl dress. So I got two pretty dresses to wear.” “Oh, my Goddess.” He smooths down the front of her dusty blue dress. “You are always pretty, baby girl, but this dress makes your eyes look EXTRA blue.” Orli giggles and leans her head on his shoulder, perfectly content to stay with him as lon
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The longer Zara takes the sigma serum, the more I notice differences. She isn’t taller or stronger, but some days it seems like it. She handles stress better and doesn’t shy away when she has to speak with people she’s not familiar with like she would have in the past. She almost never has a flight or fight response anymore. It’s refreshing to see her handle life with more confidence and less anxiety and fear. Katie is also doing much better with the new version of the serum than the first one. Instead of putting her on medications, they increase her therapy to once a week. Besides learning how to read with ease, Katie also observes things she never had before. Traffic patterns, the way birds fly together in the sky, the layout of the grocery store, things most people take for granted. She seems to see for the first time. As with all things, with the good comes the bad. Zara starts to have more bad days. A lot more bad days. Mom and Dad take shifts to monitor her while Estelle and
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“You’re sure you feel okay?” Zara is already sitting on my lap, but I take her face in my hands and look her in the eye. I look her over and give her a quick peck on the cheek. “You don’t feel warm or anything?” “I feel fine, Keller. I just took the serum fifteen minutes ago.” She covers my hands with hers. “It takes a couple hours for it to get into my system. Right now I’m just exhausted. We intentionally added a light sedative to this version, and it was a later night than I was expecting. If I had known you planned to stay at a hotel instead of going home, I would have packed a bag.” “I’ll know better for next time.” I nuzzle her cheek and settle into the recliner. “You tell me if you feel weird at all. Even a little bit.” “I will, sweetheart.” She leans her head against my shoulder and places her hand on my chest. I slide my hand over hers and interlock our fingers. It makes me smile to feel the ring on her finger. I look at Jasper, who has Katie in his lap as well. He has
The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 199
“Keller, it’s safe now. It’s taken a few months, but it’s perfect. Estelle and I are sure of it.” Zara hands Orli a piece of banana while she tries to convince me it’s time for her to take what she now calls the sigma serum one point one six. “Zara, I don’t know how many times I can tell you. I’m not okay with it.” I adjust the position of Dillon’s little fork and help him scoop macaroni and cheese onto it. I look up at Zara to see if she’s paying attention. She takes a sip from her glass of juice and sets it down, then places her hands on the counter and drums her fingers impatiently. “Keller-” “Zara.” I feel my mood darken as I glare at her. “Keller, I feel like a broken record. I would be a hypocrite if I said it’s fine for other sigmas, but too dangerous for me.” She wipes Orli’s mouth with a bib and hands her a sippy cup. “We know the women who have met their mates have different body chemistry now. We’ve made adjustments to the sigma serum accordingly. It’s just another leve
The Sigma's Reluctant Mate Chapter 198
I thought it was going to be difficult to get Zara to pull out of the study, but it wasn’t. She was more worried about what could have happened to Orli and Dillon and everyone else she loves and cares about. Two days after the incident, she goes to the lab to speak to the other volunteers to let them know why she has pulled out, but promises them they will still get to see her all the time because she is going to be working directly with Estelle. Katie, on the other hand, won’t be deterred. Even after we explain that she and Zara could have died, she insists she wants to keep going. Jasper is miserable, but puts on a brave face for her. He spends lunch with her every day and comes home to mope. Zara and I try to cheer him up and even help him take care of Mister Happy and Midnight. Mom takes over nanny duty while Katie is away. “Zara, it’s only been a month. Are you sure taking all nine girls all the way to Cozy Up is a good idea?” Jasper stops her from leaving the lab to let the gi
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My body feels heavy and Zara’s weight gets pulled off of me, forcing me awake. “What happened? Is she okay?” Someone drained the water out of the tub. Mom has Zara wrapped in a towel, holding her like a baby in her arms. Estelle is next to her, checking Zara’s temperature. “It’s fine, Honey. Her temperature has been normal for an hour. We’re going to put her in bed. I brought you a change of clothes. Come out when you’re dressed.” “Ace is on his way to check on our baby girl.” Estelle lets Mom take Zara out of the room and sits on the edge of the tub. She unfolds a towel and hands it to me. “Are you okay?” “I will be once I know she is.” I wipe my face and chest. “Before she passed out, she said more carrots and less love. Lavender was relaying the message.” Estelle purses her lips and nods. “Yeah. We had talked about that before the study but went with the more potent formulation. I’m going to get a batch of the other one started as soon as I get back to the lab.” “If she’s okay
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“Keller will grab Zara. I’ll grab Katie’s top half, just grab her legs. Stop her from kicking if you can.” Les motions how Jasper should try to hold on to Katie. “We’ll take her to the nursery bathroom.” “How do we know who will come out first?” Jasper looks at me and back at Les. Les gives Jasper a sweet smile. “Oh, darling, so innocent. Wolf mentality.” “Wolf mentality?” He looks at me for help. “Wait, how do we know they didn’t turn into wolves? Shift. How do we know they haven’t shifted?” “Their wolves have an advantage to use their senses but stay in human form right now.” Les tugs at her braided ponytail. “They can open doors, push elevator buttons, call for help, things like that.” “Zara is freaking out because her pup is gone. Katie is going to protect Zara to give her a chance to find her baby.” I put my ear to the door. “Katie will make sure danger is out of the way.” “Katie sees Zara as more dominant than she is in the pecking order of your family dynamic. So yes, she
