Zara's POV"Slow down!" Kaya let out a panicked cry as I stepped across the river with such force that I almost lost my balance and slipped off the rocks."Why should I?" I whimpered in sorrow.I could not stop thinking about Nic's insensitive comments. It hurt. I should have known that the offer was too good to be true. I should have never fallen for his charms!"He still considers me to be a child!" I responded with a deep, hearty growl. "Why is the pain so great?""Zara, listen to me," Kaya cried out in concern. "You must slow down right now!""How come?" My bottom lip quivered as I asked stubbornly."Because you are going in the wrong direction!" She yelled, fighting for control."What do you mean we are going in the wrong direction?" I stopped and started sobbing.I knew how to get back home from the hotel. All I had to do was sprint through the forest to reach the lake beyond. A few miles further
Zara's POV "Oh, that's nice," Luna Mary sneered when she saw me coming down the hallway with Luke. She is Luke and his brothers' mother, as well as Alpha Jack's mate.Luke's expression twisted with rage; he froze in place, not exactly thrilled to see her."You are being rude, mom," he said, before she could continue and say anything more.I have never received much affection from Luna Mary, and when she found out that Luke and I had dated for a while, her demeanor only became more icy."I am not being impolite," Luna Mary became enraged and threw her long blond hair over her shoulder, her eyes turning emerald green. "A she-wolf should not come around at this hour, especially if they are—""What time is it?" I interrupted her by asking."After 2 am," Derek answered."Gosh," I muttered. No wonder Luna Mary appeared annoyed that I was here at this hour. "My apologies, Luna; I have lost track of time.""Looks like you have lost more than just your sense of time," she barked. "Look at you
Zara's POV "I am sorry for taking so long," Alpha Jack said, settling into his desk chair. "And for the way Luna Mary behaved."I stood up and nodded, but Luke motioned for me to remain where I was."We will be over to sit with you shortly," Alpha Jack remarked.Andrew hurried to answer a knock that was rather softly coming from the office door."Who would bother us in the middle of the night?" With a growl, Luke cast his gaze downward at his watch."An omega," Andrew retorted, oblivious to his sibling's rage."What does she want?" Luke growled, clenching his teeth and putting his hands across his chest."She is bringing food," Andrew replied as he pulled open the door."What for?" Luke asked."So that your precious Zara can stuff her face." Luke's eyes darted to me as Andrew sarcastically answered. "She did not eat, and her hunger sounds apparent.""When was the last time you had any food?" Luke asked."Yesterday at ten o'clock," I answered."In the evening?" he inquired."No, morni
Zara's POV"Oh my goddess, Zara, we were so worried," Levi muttered when he took me into his arms. "Are you alright?"I was at a loss for words, so I just nodded.I was slowly processing everything that Alpha Jack and Luke had told me, and I was hoping and praying that nothing was true."Come," Levi said. "Your father is in the car, waiting for you."Levi thanked Alpha Jack, steered me back toward the car, and opened the passenger door.My dad remained silent and would not even look at me."I'm-""Save it!" He snarled and glanced back in the rearview mirror. "Alpha Nicholas informed me of the incident over the phone earlier.""Your father is not upset with you," Levi mindlinked. "He is just mad that Nic will not have your father sign the treaty; he only wants your signature on the paperwork.""That doesn't make things much easier," I sobbed."Nic called and asked to see you," Levi said.As soon as I did not respond, Levi turned to face me, and I could feel his intense gaze."What happ
Nicolas POV"I will be out in a minute, Levi-bear!" My heart skipped a beat when I heard Zara's voice coming down the hallway. Her sweet remarks about Levi made me feel envious and territorial.Levi raised his hand defensively and hastily, as if sensing my change in mood."It's not what you think," he defended. "Zara has been calling me that for as long as I remember. It is only a nickname. I swear.""A nickname?" The two words rolled tiredly from my tongue. I was physically and emotionally worn out. It was starting to wear on my body and mind because I had not slept at all for the previous two days.Nevertheless, I was compelled to come and attempt to correct things with Zara. I had to tell her I was sorry, hoping she would accept my apology."Yes," Levi replied."Have you heard me,...?" Zara called once more, a little louder this time."Yes, I did," Levi shot back at her. "I am eagerly awaiting your arrival. Our food is starting to get cold. Hurry up and get dressed! I am starving!"
Zara's POVI heard Nic's voice down the hallway, and I silently crept closer, my heart pounding in my ears.How could Levi allow him inside? Does he not realize that I am not interested in seeing him?"Well, technically, you did not tell him why you were not interested in seeing Nicholas," Kaya said, startling me. "It appears that he intervened on his own to encourage communication between the two of you.""That does not mean that he can make decisions about things that are personal for me in secret," I snapped.I moved to get a better look by moving toward the end of the hallway.Unaware of my presence, Nic was facing away from the hallway. His hair was neatly combed back and tied up, and he wore black pants and a white formal shirt."Stop being upset with Levi," Kaya said. "You refused to say anything more when you got home, and he seemed concerned about your emotional state. He cares about you. Levi must have been so distraught that he called Nicholas.""Nevertheless!" I clenched m
Nicolas POVI have spent the last thirty minutes standing at Zara's bedroom door, apologizing.Still, she had not even attempted to unlock the door.Will her heart ever soften enough to forgive me?Will I ever get an opportunity to present my case to her?My phone started ringing in my pocket, and I hesitated to answer. At that point, I was not ready to give up. I pressed the side button on my phone, and it went silent."Zara," I called out. "I am sure you can hear me. I apologize for saying those things, but you only heard one side of the conversation. Please accept my apology.""That would not exactly improve the situation," said Ray.I continued hammering on the door and calling her, ignoring Ray.I was aware that Zara was still in her room. Her rich, euphoric wildflower scent was still lingering in the surrounding air.I called out to Levi and moved away from the door."Yes, Alpha," he replied, looking from the door to me."Have you tried linking Zara?" I asked, desperate to find
Zara's POVI didn't even grab anything to eat. I simply bolted from our quarters, shifted as soon as I was outside the packhouse, and ran as fast as I possibly could.I did not care that I had just destroyed my favorite training outfit or that I had an appointment with my father later that day.All I wanted was to be by myself.I simply needed to get my thoughts straight and see things from a different perspective.I was aware that things were slowly eating me alive from the inside out, messing with my head and making me feel lost.Maybe Nicholas was right after all since I am still a kid at heart."You are not a kid at all!" Kaya growled. "You are just a young adult, that all!""What separates the two from one another?" I lost my temper.Kaya said nothing after that. She knew that nothing she said to me at this point would be helpful. I refused to hear it.Though I had no idea where I was heading, I knew that Kaya would not allow me to go past the pack boundary. Given my current stat
Nicolas POVI returned to my pack at the break of dawn. Ronan waited for me in the cave with a set of new clothes."Your father is angry," he said as we entered the SUV."Let him be," I casually replied, gesturing for him to drive. "There isn't much my father could do to me at this moment."Fury at what he had done to me coursed through my body, and I tightened my fists in response. I had discovered the truth."Are you going to take him on about it?" Ray listened in on my thoughts. "Or could I do the honors?""When the time is right," I responded. "I will see that he suffers the consequences for his actions."After a brief ride, we returned to the pack, and I barely noticed when we came to a halt.I dropped my duffel bag on my office floor, walked straight to the alcohol cabinet, and poured myself a drink.Ronan silently observed me."You have changed," he stated, taking a seat at my desk
Zara's POVA border patrol officer hurried over to where Levi had pulled over his truck. His chocolate-colored hair was streaked with silver, and he appeared to be an older man, perhaps in his forties."Morning, Beta," the guard greeted him, his brown eyes friendly, as Levi opened the window. "It's wonderful to see you. Your father has informed me of your departure. Could you kindly turn over your departure paperwork to me?"
Zara's POV"Get dressed," Levi demanded, and then he handed me a pair of shoes.As I peered at my shoes in his hands, I narrowed my eyes in confusion at him. I had no intention of leaving the house. I was still quite angry with my dad."Why?" I folded my arms across my chest and mumbled.
Zara's POV"Where the hell have you been?!" The office windows shook and rattled as my dad yelled. His wrath appeared to have grown since we last saw him."I haven't been gone that long." I calmly countered, looking to Beta John for support.Beta John, on the other hand, remained silent while maintaining his trademark grin. He probably wants to see how I react in
Zara's POV"Bloody hell, Zara!" Upon seeing me seated on the couch in the living room, Levi let out a sigh of relief. He swooped down on me like a hawk, drew me to my feet, and embraced me tightly in his renowned bear hug."Hi to you too," I gently said, as I stroked his back.I got back home just a few minutes ago.
Zara's POVNic's warmth and scent instantly brought me peace. Despite feeling a little self-conscious, being so close to Nic made me happy.Tiny electric sparks were moving between us. I had to bite my lip trying to control the urge to jump Nic's bones there and then.Nic carried me down the narrow path to the cabin and hurried up the few stairs leading to the por
Nicolas POV"Zara!" I tapped the side of her cheek and shouted out in fright. "Zara, wake up!"I was freaking out. Seconds ago, I had pulled Zara from the water and brought her to shore. She had swallowed a lot of water and wasn't breathing. I attempted to administer drowning CPR to her, but it appeared to be ineffective."Come on, Zara!" I let out a scream as tea
Zara's POV"Kaya, help me!" Sucking down water, I let out a scream. "I don't want to die like this!"When my heat hit, Kaya had already curled up into a ball, so I was all by myself to endure the agony."Mate, he is close by. He will save us!" In an effort to raise her head, she moaned. She seemed to be experiencing intense pain as well.
Nicolas POVI was both endearing and saddened by Zara's trust issues; her expressions of confusion were priceless."Take our mate's hand," Ray ordered. "And do it together. Keep your promise.""Fine," I gave in.The idea that Zara would feel awkward around me was unsettling. My purpose in being here was to fortify the connection and foster trust, not to fracture it."We will do it together," I said, taking her hand in mine, and I curled my fingers around her and the door handle.As she turned to face me again, Zara cocked her head back. The palpable tension in her body told me that she was anxious.Goddess, I hope that whatever is behind that door is as beneficial as what Beta John had promised."Ready?" I asked.I kissed the side of Zara's cheek as she nodded. I pushed the door open after mentally counting to three with my eyes closed.There was a brief hush as our hearts raced in our ch