Back in the Alpha's room.Trent gazed down at Zora's sleeping form, his heart doing strange things in his chest. Her hazel eyes were closed, dark lashes resting against her cheeks. In sleep, she looked younger, more peaceful than he'd ever seen her. Beautiful didn't begin to cover it.He traced the curve of her face with his eyes, memorizing every detail. The way her lips were slightly parted, the soft sound of her breathing, the way she unconsciously pressed closer to his warmth. How had he gotten so lucky?Zora stirred slightly, and Trent quickly closed his eyes, letting his head fall back against the pillow. He evened out his breathing, trying to fake sleep. He wasn't ready for this moment to end, wasn't ready to face the world outside this room.Unknown to him, Zora had been awake since the moment Brandon had entered. She had felt the Beta's presence. The great Alpha Trent, pretending to be asleep? It was adorable.A smile tugged at her lips as she allowed herself to really look a
The kiss deepened, and Zora felt something shift inside her not just her wolf, but emotion and desire. A recognition that went beyond memory, beyond the scars of the past. This was what she had been searching for without even knowing it. She had never felt like this in her life, even with years of being married to Alpha Dane.Trent broke away first, his breathing ragged. His forehead remained pressed against hers, his hands still cradling her face like she was made of moonlight."Zora," he whispered, and her name on his lips sounded like a prayer—a plea from a god who had finally found something he could not control. "I need you to know, this isn't just about the curse. This isn't about what I need from you. This is about what I feel for you. What I've always felt."She could see the truth in his eyes, the vulnerability he'd never shown anyone else. The great alpha who commanded respect and fear was laid bare before her, trembling with emotion."I know," she said softly.A growl rumbl
Gratitude and determination flickered across her face. Something about the way he said condition made the air around her charged. Alpha Trent couldn't never help with getting things in return. But then Zora stiffened. Her voice was firm, though her eyes held hesitation."Condition," she said quietly.Trent raised his brows. "Condition?""Yes. I'm sorry… I don't want to seem selfish. But I need clarity. I need to know what is mine. I'm not asking you to agree out of pity or pressure. You don't have to say yes." He swallowed hard. "Even if you say no, I'll still help you get revenge."Trent stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His voice dropped, rich with emotion."Zora, I can't help how vulnerable I feel around you. Be mine, and let me be yours. This isn't a negotiation. If you don't want me, push me away now. But I love you. I want you, not through a contract, not by force. I want you for real."Zora's lips parted, breath caught in her throat. He wasn't just claiming he
The room fell into a heavy silence after Zora's whispered confession. Trent's arms tightened around her as her body continued to tremble against his chest."Your uncle," he said quietly, his voice carefully controlled. "Tell me everything."Zora's breathing gradually steadied, but fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as the memories crashed over her like waves. She pulled back slightly to look at him, her eyes haunted but more focused than before."Uncle Zeta," she whispered, and her voice cracked on the name. "He was Father's beta. His most trusted friend. I called him Uncle Z when I was little." Her face crumpled. "He used to bring me flowers from the meadow."She broke free from his embrace and sat up slowly, wiping her face with shaking hands. "The night they attacked, I was supposed to be asleep. But I heard shouting and crept to the top of the stairs." Her voice grew stronger, though pain laced every word. "At first, we thought it was a rogue attack. I mindlinked my uncle for hel
Trent stood by the bed, eyes on Zora's trembling form. She hadn't moved since he laid her down, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, as if trying to hold something inside.His heart pounded as the door creaked open.Timika stepped in, her face pale."You called for me?" she asked, voice low.Trent turned sharply. "Look at her," he said, barely keeping his voice steady. "What the hell happened to her, Timika?"Timika stepped closer, her gaze softening as it fell on Zora."I warned you," she murmured. "Whatever she was going to see… I said I might not be able to hold it.""I thought she was just going to see flashes or fragments," Trent said. "She came out of it like she'd been through a war.""She wasn't hurt," she said carefully. "Physically, she's fine. No spirits attacked."Trent's brows furrowed. "Then why is she like this?"Timika looked him in the eye. "Because sometimes… memory is more devastating than we can imagine."She walked to the bedside and crouched beside Zora. "She
Zora thrashed wildly on the floor, eyes shut tight, her body convulsing with a strength that didn’t feel like hers. Her scream echoed through the stone walls, shaking the room like thunder.Timika chanted louder, sweat dripping down her temples as she fought to keep Zora still but the girl was slipping through her grasp.Trent burst into the room. His heart stopped at the sight.“Zora!”“Don’t!” Timika shouted, throwing up a hand. “The circle is active! Break it, and you might lose her forever!”He froze just outside the glowing chalk line, fists clenched. Every instinct screamed at him to reach for her—to pull her into his arms, to make it stop.“Tell me what to do,” he growled, voice low and desperate. “Now.”Timika’s voice wavered. “She’s not alone in the vision anymore. Something found her… or something happened.”His breath hitched. “What do you mean?”“She’s going through the past. The sweetness, the pain, everything that led to her being torn from her family. I think she’s seei