Mabel’s POV
"I thought they grabbed the wrong person, but really, how many Talias are out there?" Navy’s voice carried across the path as she walked toward us with a grin. "I can’t believe you’re here, Mabel. What a surprise!"
"Hi, Navy!" I smiled and stepped forward. "Thanks for coming."
"Don’t thank me." She hugged me quick and tight, then pulled back with a laugh. "I should thank you. At first they stuck me in one of the side houses, but once I agreed to come here, suddenly I got moved to the main house. That’s all you, Miss Tournament MVP, Miss Alpha Zane’s assistant, Miss Alpha Zane’s date." Her laugh rang as she caught the color rising in my cheeks.
I froze. How did she know so much already?
She wasn’t wrong. Trevon had ordered the Omegas to upgrade her if she showed interest in Tanisha. Important guests were kept in the main house, and if Navy and Tanisha connected, it wo
Mabel’s POV“Is that what you really told him?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.Heather’s head snapped up. Her eyes flicked nervously toward Zane, but she forced her lips into a practiced smile. Ashley squeezed her hand like a warning.“Yes, Alpha,” Heather said sweetly. “When Lia claimed you belong to her, we had to warn her. She has no mark. She lashed out at us, insulting us in front of others. We only tried to defend your honor.”I stood frozen, listening. Zane’s expression hardened. He leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest.“That is unsettling,” Zane said evenly. “If any woman dares to stake a claim on me without right, she will face consequences.”Ashley’s grin widened, but it froze the moment Zane added, “Still, this is serious. Doctor Travis reported something different. He told me the two of you were bullying Lia.”Ashley blinked. “That’s not true. He must have misheard. She was the one bullying us. We were only standing up for ourselves. And for y
Mabel’s POV“How much work do you still have today?”Zane looks up from the menu. “If I could see the end, I would plan a vacation. Did you think about it? We can go anywhere you want.”The wing in my hand drips sauce. Sweet. Tangy. Smoke in the air. My fingers are a mess, and I try not to make it worse. He said vacation before. He is saying it again now. He means it.“A forest would be nice,” I say. “A lake too. Something private.”LucanHe pauses. His smile climbs, slow and sure. He shifts in his seat and clears his throat. “Private. I like that. Tell me more.”I try to think of more. I only know this. Time with him, away from the noise. The place does not matter. A high hotel. A plain cabin. A tent under trees. I push the words out anyway. “Let’s not go far. If there is an emergency, we can get back fast.”He studies me with that warm look that makes my chest feel light. “You think about everyone. Even when you plan a break.”We eat in a calm rhythm. Crunch, then a soft sigh. I do
Vivian’s POV“Are we having guests?” I asked from the doorway.The smell of garlic and butter filled the kitchen, sharp enough to sting my nose. Tyler stood beside me, frowning. Across the room, Tina hovered near the counter while Nelle poked halfheartedly at a pan on the stove.The sight alone told me something was wrong. Nelle had never cooked a day in her life.Tina forced a smile. “Mabel made a meal for Zane. Nelle decided to help herself, so Zane asked us to replace it before Mabel notices.”Nelle rolled her eyes. “You make it sound like I committed some crime. It was sausage and potatoes. Not exactly royal cuisine.”“Nelle,” Tina hissed, shooting her sister a glare. “I told you not to call her Omega. Show some respect.”Nelle’s lip curled. “Respect for what? You think Zane’s going to fall in love over a plate of food?”
Nelle’s POV“Are you the new girl?” I asked as soon as I heard Mabel’s voice drift in from the doorway.She turned toward me with a small smile. “I guess I am. My name’s Mabel. Tina told me about you.”“Mom told me about you too.” I leaned against the frame and watched her move around the dining table. She was laying knives, adjusting forks, sliding napkins into neat rows like she was measuring the space between each piece.“Are we having a guest for lunch?” I asked.Mabel paused, her hands hovering over the plates. “No. Why?”I shrugged. “You set another plate beside Zane’s. Looked important.”Her lips parted, but she didn’t answer. Something flickered in her eyes, and she pressed it down quickly.“Did you eat already?” she asked instead.“Not really. I don’t eat much these days.
Mabel’s POV“Your wolf healed it.” Zane’s smile spread wide as his thumb brushed the side of my neck.I froze. “You think so?”“I know so. Without her, that mark would take days to fade, and you’re spotless. She’s close, kitten. I can feel it.” His arms pulled me against his chest like it was the most natural place in the world.Part of me wanted to believe him. The other part—Doctor Trav’s words—still warned me not to. Nothing was certain. Even if there was progress, it could be temporary. I buried my face in the curve of Zane’s neck, inhaling that familiar cedar-and-smoke scent that always made me dizzy. I didn’t want to think about my wolf. Not now. Not when this moment was perfect.…Training didn’t stop, not even with Elders visiting or piles of work waiting for Zane. He insisted on it, said it was something we couldn&
Mabel’s POV"Why are you asking about Lydia like she has a claim here?" I snapped before I could stop myself.Both Elders turned toward me with stiff faces, but I didn’t let the heat in my chest die down. Zane’s hand tightened around mine as if telling me to pace myself, but I wasn’t about to let them talk about him like that. Not about us.Charlie’s brows pinched. "We only meant—""You meant what?" My voice cut through the air sharper than I expected. "That Zane owes her something? That she gets to walk in and play Luna while I sit back? Is that what you think?"I caught Zane’s quick intake of breath. His grip on me firmed, steadying me, but I saw the shadow in his eyes. He hated hearing Lydia’s name too.Samson shifted in his chair, uneasy. "Mabel, understand, we were told about promises between your Alpha and Alpha Gregory. You can’t expect us to—"I leane