Prologue

Zoe’s POV

16 Years Old

My brother was driving me crazy! As my guardian, I knew he just wanted to keep me safe. But I was sixteen years old! When was he going to realize I didn’t need a babysitter? 

This year’s masquerade ball was being held in our territory and I wanted so badly to watch everyone arriving, to see all the fancy costumes. I knew I couldn’t actually attend since I wasn’t eighteen yet. But what would it hurt to watch from a distance? 

My brother, Zayne, was acting as if we were expecting a pack of wild rogues to attack, not holding a party for our trusted allies with top-notch security in place. What did he think could possibly happen to me, observing from afar and scrutinizing the fashion choices? Eye strain? Besides, I may not have my wolf yet but I could take care of myself.

My sixteenth birthday was last week and I still hadn’t shifted, which wasn’t unusual. But it could happen anytime so Zayne wouldn’t let me out of his sight. And when he had to, he refused to let me go anywhere, least of all near a party with a crowd full of strangers. New wolves could be unstable so he was probably afraid if I shifted and he wasn’t there, I’d accidentally maul someone to death. 

“Fine! I’m going to hang out with Julia since I’m sure her brother is being just as unreasonable as you are.” I snapped at Zayne when he insisted, yet again, that I not go anywhere near the party.

“That sounds like a fantastic idea!” Zayne eagerly agreed with my fake plan. “Dillon is attending the ball so I’m sure Julia will appreciate the company.”

“Dillon’s going?” I asked offhandedly, trying not to sound overly interested. “I thought as Gamma he was responsible for security.”

Dillon was Julia’s older brother and our new Gamma. They had joined our pack a year ago and he had just recently accepted the leadership role. While Julia had quickly become my best friend, Dillon had thoroughly and completely captured my heart. The thought of him flirting and dancing with any girls who weren’t me made me sick to my stomach. 

“You don’t have to worry about security, jelly bean. Dillon’s good at his job. No one will get past his team.” He rushed to assure me.

“First of all, I’m not worried. I was just curious. And second, I’m too old for you to still call me jelly bean!” I protested, rolling my eyes at the childhood nickname.

“As long as you’re not too old to steal all the jelly beans from the candy drawer, you’re not too old for the nickname.” He countered. “I gotta go. I’m already late. Love you, little sis!”

“Love you too! Have fun! And good luck! I hope you find your mate tonight!” I called after him as he dashed out the door. 

Zayne was twenty-two years old, the same age as Dillon, and he was desperate to find his mate. I didn’t understand it but if it was that important to him, I hoped it would happen soon. I wouldn’t be able to find my own mate for another two years but I didn’t care. All I wanted was Dillon Kane, no mate bond required. 

I was well aware I wasn’t the only girl who felt that way. I wanted to claw their eyes out every time I caught a girl mentally undressing him, but I really couldn’t blame them. He was gorgeous! With silky, dark brown hair, chocolate eyes with mesmerizing gold flecks and a panty-dropping smile that would make any girl swoon. 

Not to mention, he had muscles for days and a charming southern drawl that could make you weak in the knees when he turned it on you. Whenever he called me darlin’, It took every ounce of effort I possessed not to let him see my knees wobbling. Logically, I knew I wasn’t the only girl he used the pet name with, but my heart never doubted it meant something more when he said it to me. 

Now that I knew Dillon would be there, I was more determined than ever to spy on the festivities. I lived for any chance to see him, but seeing him in formalwear was special. I could pretend he was dressed up just for me and fantasize about what it would feel like for him to hold me in his arms while we danced together. 

With that thought in mind, I stuffed my long, blonde hair into my hoodie and pulled the hood down over my forehead as I snuck down the hall. The packhouse was virtually empty since everyone had left for the ball already. I ducked out the front door and took the long way around to the backyard.

The party was being held on the terrace behind the house so my plan was to wind my way through the gardens and hide among the rose bushes. I was silently slinking my way along the side of the house when a voice calling my name scared the shit out of me.

“Zoe? Is that you? What are you doing out here?” Julia asked, continuing to walk in my direction.

“Sneaking out to watch the party.” I told her the truth, knowing without a doubt I could trust my best friend not to out me. “What are you doing?”

“Same, but my brother already caught me and sent me back to my room like a misbehaving toddler.” She pouted and I could totally relate to her frustration.

“Oh shit! I hope he doesn’t mention that to Zayne! I’m supposed to be hanging out in your room with you.” I said, and we both laughed at our predicament. 

“I’m sure he won’t. He has other things on his mind from what I could see.” She said cryptically. I wanted to ask her what she meant by that but she just kept talking. “Hopefully you’ll have better luck than I did. Try not to get caught so you can share all the juicy details with me later.”

She waved as she slipped away and left me to my mission. I managed to find a perfect spot in the garden, hidden by some climbing roses with a gap just big enough to peer through and see all the comings and goings. I doubted anyone would wander by my hiding spot but if they did, I was close enough to the garden maze to dart inside before I got caught.

The music wafted to where I stood and I swayed on the spot, watching the dancers, the brilliant colors of the she-wolves’ gowns blurring together like watercolor. I was entranced until I caught the sound of footsteps headed my direction. I turned towards the noise and my breath caught in my throat at the person I saw walking towards me. Dillon was heading right towards me and he looked delicious.

I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t notice me spying, though it looked like he was staring right at me. Licking my lips, I couldn’t help but drool at his disheveled appearance. His bowtie was untied, hanging loose around his neck, and the top few buttons of his tuxedo shirt were undone, showing off his tan skin that I knew led down to a very muscular chest. The thought made me want to rip his shirt open the rest of the way.   

Just when I thought he had discovered me and was coming to send me home, he ducked into the maze instead. I knew I shouldn’t follow him but I couldn’t help myself. I felt drawn to him like a moth to a flame so I let my feet lead me where I knew I shouldn’t go. Maybe he wasn’t enjoying the party. Maybe he needed someone to talk to and would be happy to see me. A girl could dream. 

“Are you hidin’ from me, darlin’?” I came to a dead stop when I heard Dillon speaking to someone. A female someone. 

“Maybe.” The mystery female answered in a breathy, seductive tone that made me want to gag.

“Such a naughty girl.” Dillon flirted back.

“Are you going to spank me, Gamma?” She asked in that same sultry voice.

“Oh, I’m definitely going to punish you. And you’re going to love every fuckin’ minute of it, sweetheart.”

Please Goddess, no! I begged her not to let this happen to me but she didn’t listen. The next thing I heard was their sensual moans, followed by the sound of fabric tearing and the metal of a belt buckle clinking. I may have been sheltered and inexperienced but I wasn’t stupid. I knew exactly what they were doing.

I felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest and stomped on but I still had a warped need to see them, to confirm with my eyes what my mind already knew. I crept forward silently and peered around the rose bushes blocking them from my sight. I thought I was prepared for what I would find but instead, what I saw crushed my soul.

The girl had her head thrown back in ecstasy as Dillon feasted on her breasts, her torn dress falling away from her chest. He held her hips with his large hands and shoved into her hard and fast. His back was to me but I could see his pants were down around his ankles and his perfect ass tightened with every thrust. The sight devastated me but I was frozen, unable to look away.

I was just standing there watching them when suddenly, the girl looked over his shoulder, locking eyes with me. I thought she would shriek, try to cover herself, push Dillon away in embarrassment. But she did none of those things. Instead, she smirked at me. It was a mocking look, one that said “I know you want him but I have him. Too bad for you.” 

It was the motivation I needed to get my feet to move. I slapped my hand over my mouth to stifle my cries as I turned and ran. My only goal was to get as far away from them as possible, but before I even made it out of the garden a searing pain ripped through my chest and abdomen, knocking me to the ground. I fell onto my hands and knees, panting through the pain.

Sweat poured from my forehead and ran down between my breasts as I pushed to my feet again. I was barely upright when my spine cracked and twisted, feeling like it was shattering into a million pieces and knocking me down again. Oh Goddess No! Please, not now! Not here! I was shifting and there was no way I could make it into the woods on my own. 

Lava coursed through my veins, burning me from the inside out while my body writhed and contorted on the ground. My own shrill screams rang in my ears, drowning out the sound of my pounding heartbeat, thumping so hard I thought for sure it would explode. Then suddenly, someone’s hands were on me, their touch cooling, soothing to my burning flesh.

“Zoe? Zoe, are you okay?” Dillon’s southern twang even more pronounced with the anxiety in his voice. 

I wanted to scream at him to get away from me, to not touch me with his tainted hands, but I couldn’t form words. All I could do was scream some more as fur pushed through my skin then retracted again. 

“Fuck! She’s shifting! Go on back to the party. I’ll link her brother to meet me in the woods for her first shift.” He told someone I could only assume was the slut he’d just been fucking. 

I heard her retreating footsteps above my pitiful whimpers, then Dillon lifted me up in his arms and carried me into the woods.

“It’s okay, Zo. I got you, sweetheart.” Dillon purred to me, brushing my sweaty hair off my face. 

“Zayne?” I croaked out, only able to manage the one word. 

“His mind is shut off, but I’ll keep trying. I won’t leave you though, I promise.” He pledged.

And he didn’t. He sat with me for hours, coaching me and comforting me, until I was finally standing on four legs in the form of my wolf, Cinna. 

“Beautiful!” He whispered, petting my fur. 

But despite the reverence in his voice, despite all the patience and kindness he’d shown me, I couldn’t find it in me to be grateful for it. Because my heart was irretrievably broken and it was all his fault. So instead of relishing the feel of his fingers weaving through Cinna’s coat, I turned and snarled at him. And then I ran. 

And as I ran, I made a vow to myself and my wolf. I would get over the stupid crush I’d held onto for so long, all for a man who wasn’t who I thought he was. He would never know what I had felt for him and there was no way in hell I’d ever give Dillon Kane the chance to hurt me again!