Chapter 32

Mabel’s POV

“Are you sure this is necessary?” I whispered, tugging the bathrobe tighter around me as Zane’s breath ghosted across my shoulder.

“You’ve got some deep bruises,” he murmured, so close I could feel the warmth of his lips near my skin. “Another layer of cream might help.”

I jerked away before I could stop myself. My cheeks burned hot, and I cursed silently. Why did I even let him get this close?

“This is enough,” I muttered, trying to sound firm even though my voice cracked.

His hand froze mid-air, then dropped. For a second, disappointment flickered across his face, but he didn’t press further. Zane straightened, his jaw tightening like he was scolding himself.

What am I doing? His eyes said it before he turned away.

He moved across the room, grabbed a plain t-shirt and a pair of shorts from his bag, and tossed them on the bed. “Wear these.”

I stared at the clothes, my heart thudding. His clothes.

Without another word, he left the room, shutting the door harder than he probably meant to.

Silence pressed against me. I sat on the edge of the bed, my robe clutched like a shield, the t-shirt and shorts lying there like a dare.

One moment he was hovering too close, tending to me as if I mattered. The next, he stormed off as if I’d done something wrong. Did I?

I wrapped my arms around myself. Zane was terrifying and unpredictable. Yet—when he touched me, when he looked at me—something inside me softened. It scared me more than his temper.

No. I couldn’t let myself think like that.

What I needed was survival. A corner of the Stonebrook’ pack house where I could sleep, eat, and maybe fade into the background. A bed, food, a task or two—nothing more. Friends, if I was lucky. Freedom, if I was braver.

But Zane? He wasn’t safe ground.

I reminded myself of what he said earlier: once I joined a pack, the Alpha could track me anywhere. That meant if I let him bind me to the Stonebrook, there would be no escape. Not unless I chose it.

And I wasn’t ready to choose. Not yet.

I made a mental note: don’t officially join unless survival demands it.

A knock at the door startled me.

“Who is it?” My voice came out small.

“It’s Vivian. May I come in?”

Relief washed over me when I opened the door. Vivian stepped inside, eyes sharp but kind, scanning me quickly.

“You look fine,” she said, though her gaze lingered on the untouched t-shirt and shorts.

“I… I wasn’t sure.” My words tangled together.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but instead of asking, she smiled. “I’m Vivian.”

“Mabel,” I replied, shaking her hand.

She gave my fingers a gentle squeeze before letting go. “Alpha Zane asked me to check on you. We’re leaving soon, so you should get dressed.”

My stomach twisted at the thought of wearing Zane’s clothes. The shorts were loose and thin, and without underclothes, I’d feel half-naked.

I lowered my voice. “Could you… maybe get my things from the car? They’re in the trunk. Wrapped in a bedsheet.”

Vivian hesitated, a knowing look flickering across her face. She had seen that bundle—my old, threadbare clothes. I wanted to shrink under her gaze, but she didn’t pity me aloud.

“Wait here,” she said softly.

Minutes later, she returned with jeans, a clean t-shirt, underwear, a sports bra, and even shiny flip-flops. She thrust them into my hands with a quick grin. “They might be a little big, but I’ve got a belt. Better than nothing. Now hurry, Alpha doesn’t like waiting.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, clutching the clothes like a lifeline.

She herded me into the bathroom before I could say more. I changed quickly, grateful for the sports bra’s support and the fact that the jeans—though loose—felt decent with the belt cinched tight. The shirt smelled faintly of fabric softener. Clean. Safe.

When I peeked out, Vivian was already waiting with a brush in her hand.

“Good,” she said approvingly. “Come, sit. Let me fix your hair.”

I sat obediently, letting her tug the brush gently through the tangles. It felt strange—comforting, almost motherly.

“Are you excited to see the Stonebrook’ pack?” she asked lightly.

“I don’t know what to expect.” That was the truth.

“It’s busy and alive,” Vivian said with a smile. “Alpha Zane makes sure everything runs smoothly. He’s fair, though strict. People respect him.”

“You speak highly of him,” I said quietly.

Her smile softened. “I joined when I met Tyler, but I’ve heard the stories. Zane lost his parents young. Took over the pack before he was even twenty. He’s fought battles most of us can’t imagine. He kept the Stonebrook from falling apart when others would’ve ripped it to pieces.”

I listened, my chest tightening. For a moment, the terrifying Alpha in my mind became something else: a boy forced to carry a world too heavy. I knew what it meant to lose parents, to live with loneliness like a shadow. But unlike me, he had no attic to hide in—only enemies watching, waiting.

“He sounds… good,” I admitted softly.

“The best,” Vivian said firmly. “As long as you’re loyal to him and to the pack, you’ll be safe. He protects his own.”

I nodded, though unease pricked at me. Safe sounded too simple. Zane’s gaze burned too hot, his moods swung too wide. Could a man like that ever be safe?

Still, Vivian’s words left me unsettled in another way—hope.

“Come on,” she said, giving my hair one last pat. “We’ve kept him waiting long enough.”

I stood, smoothing the borrowed jeans, still unsure of where I belonged.

“Do I look… alright?” The question slipped out before I could stop it.

Vivian studied me with a smile. “More than alright. Trust me, Mabel. You’ll turn heads.”