Chapter 13

Zane’s POV

After dinner, the group moved to the living room, where the soft glow of the lamps contrasted with the crisp night air that slipped in through the open windows. The sweet aroma of desserts and drinks filled the space, but all I could think about was the pressure building inside me.

Tyler and Vivian, on the other hand, had a different plan. They grabbed their drinks and slipped out into the garden, clearly on a mission. I could almost hear them whispering about some secret they were plotting.

I was supposed to relax, but my wolf... my wolf was a different story. He kept tugging, pulling, urging me to follow the scent. That damn freesia scent. It burned through my senses every time the wind shifted, and despite my best efforts to ignore it, I couldn’t.

I had to focus. I had a responsibility. I couldn't lose control—not now.

After what felt like hours, I stood abruptly, excusing myself. “I’m turning in for the night,” I muttered, not waiting for anyone’s reaction. They all stared at me, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. My mind was already somewhere else.

I turned to Alpha Gregory. “I hope we can continue our discussion in the morning. After breakfast?”

He nodded, but I wasn’t looking for his approval. I wasn’t looking for anything, really. I just needed to be alone.

I made my way to my room, closing the door behind me and stepping toward the window.

The cool night air felt like a slap in the face. I stood there, trying to clear my head.

‘Damn it. What’s wrong with me?’ I muttered to myself.

‘You know exactly what’s wrong,’ my wolf growled in the back of my mind. ‘And you know you can’t keep fighting it. You’re going to lose.’

I gritted my teeth. ‘Not tonight. Not ever.’

My wolf sighed, the low sound vibrating in my chest. ‘You think you can win against me, but you can’t. We both know what needs to happen. Why fight it?’

I clenched my jaw. The last thing I wanted was to follow this... this urge toward the girl with the coppery hair.

I couldn't—I wouldn’t let her drag me into this.

“May I come in?”

I froze. The soft knock on the door caught me off guard. Lydia’s voice was low, but I could hear the intention behind it.

I spun around to face the door, my mind barely registering the intrusion. Had she even knocked? I couldn’t remember.

What the hell was happening to me?

I couldn’t let myself be this distracted. If I had, I would have noticed the danger creeping in.

"Why are you here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though the irritation seeped through.

Lydia’s steps were deliberate, confident, as she walked into the room, closing the door softly behind her. She paused in front of me, her fingers lightly grazing my chest.

"You look tense..." she murmured, her voice a honeyed whisper. "I can help you relax."

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "And how exactly would you do that?"

Her eyes flickered with something... different. Something that made me want to do anything but ignore her. "We're engaged, technically," she said with a breathy laugh, her hand lingering on my chest. "I think we can take this further."

I could feel my control slipping. She wasn’t wrong, but she wasn’t right either.

I noticed the ring on her finger—an oval ruby surrounded by diamonds. A family heirloom, no doubt, and it seemed to match the pretentiousness that clung to her.

The scent of her perfume mixed with the cool air, making it harder to think straight.

‘Don’t do it,’ my wolf snarled. ‘You’re going to regret this.’

‘Shut up,’ I snapped, my fists clenching at my sides.

Lydia inched closer, her lips curling into a smile. "I can—"

I didn’t wait for her to finish. Before I knew it, my hand was at the back of her head, pulling her into a kiss that was all teeth and frustration.

I kissed her hard, trying to push the swirling thoughts out of my mind, but it only made it worse.

She responded, kissing me back with equal force. Her hands roamed over my chest, and I could feel the pressure building.

But then something clicked. Lydia was hesitant. Her hands faltered as she pulled away slightly, breathing hard.

“Not before…” she murmured, her voice wavering.

I scowled, pulling back. “What happened to 'we're technically engaged'? You suddenly have rules?"

Lydia flushed, clearly flustered. “Not rules… I just need to know where we’re going. I’m okay with... other things. But not that.”

My mind snapped into focus. I couldn't deal with this. Not now. Not like this.

"Get out," I said, my voice cold, my patience gone.

Lydia hesitated, but the command in my voice was too much. I saw the fear flash in her eyes before she scrambled off the bed and rushed out of the room.

I exhaled sharply and turned back to the window. The moonlight reflected off the glass, casting an eerie glow over the night.

“Is this what you wanted for me?” I whispered, but of course, there was no answer.

I didn’t believe in the Moon Goddess’s plan for me. Not anymore. There was too much pain, too much uncertainty. My role as Alpha was a cage, and I couldn’t escape.

But no matter how much I wanted to, I never could.