Isabel’s POV
I paced around the room, biting at my nails. The soft carpet beneath my feet barely made a sound as I walked in circles, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. Zane wanted me gone.
Sure, he was never thrilled to see me—he never really showed much emotion when I came around. But today? Today, something was off. He wasn’t even pretending to be happy to see me. That’s when I realized. He didn’t want me here anymore. Not even the slightest sign of affection.
I ran a hand through my hair and grabbed my phone, dialing the one person I knew could give me some guidance.
"Hi, pumpkin!" My father’s voice rang in my ear, a little too chipper for my liking.
"Daddy," I whined, my voice barely above a whisper, "Something’s wrong."
"What happened?" His tone shifted, concern creeping in.
"Zane told me to leave." My chest felt tight as the words left my mouth.
<Mabel’s POV“You like it when I move like this, kitten?” Zane’s voice scraped low against my ear.I gasped and held on tighter, nails pressing into his back as his hips surged forward again. My eyes clamped shut, the world spinning, but I nodded anyway.“Say it,” he demanded, lifting his head so I couldn’t hide. His icy gaze locked on mine, sharp and blazing. “I need to hear you. Do you like this?”“Yes…” The word left me in a breath I barely owned.His lips curved. The sound that followed was a rough chuckle, deep and dangerous, and it dragged me straight back into him.I blinked up at him, dazed. His hair fell into his face, black strands catching the light. His mouth hovered over mine, swollen and tempting, his blue eyes burning. Everything about him felt sinful.He kissed me hard. His tongue moved with the rhythm of his hips, and I lost mysel
Mabel’s POV"Where’s the TV?" I asked, scanning Zane’s room.He set down a plate of chocolate cake on the low table, then walked over to the wall beside the fireplace. His palm pressed a wooden panel, and it slid open with a soft glide. A flat screen filled the space.My jaw dropped. "You’ve been hiding that here?""Only from you," he teased, handing me the remote. "And stop saying mine and yours. You’re sleeping here, kitten. This is our room."The word “our” froze me. The remote nearly slipped from my hand. Our room. Not his, not mine. Ours.I tried to steady my voice. "Then how is it our room if my clothes are still across the hall?"He grinned like he had already won. "Simple. We move them here."I opened my mouth to argue but shut it again. Pointless. With Zane, I never won.He dimmed the lights, grabbed two drinks from the minibar, and dropped onto the sofa
Mabel’s POV“Say yes, kitten.”My throat tightened. His breath brushed my cheek, sweet and warm like melted chocolate. My lips parted without thinking.“Yes.” The word slipped out before I could second-guess it.His mouth was on mine in an instant, hard and demanding, and the world went quiet.The rest of the afternoon slowed into something almost normal. Zane worked behind his desk, head bent over papers, while I curled on the couch with the book Dr. Trav had given me. I jotted notes in the margins, marking spots I would later look up or ask about.Every time I looked up, he was already watching me. He didn’t hide it. His eyes carried a kind of calm pride, like he had solved some impossible puzzle just by keeping me near him.When the sun dipped lower, he leaned back in his chair. “Almost dinner. Want to go out? A restaurant?”“Tonight?” I blinked at
Mabel’s POV“Is everything okay?” I asked, watching Zane’s frown deepen.He blinked, like he had forgotten I was here. “Can I ask you something?”“Sure.” I closed the book in my lap. The words had been swimming anyway.He crossed the room slowly and sat beside me. His weight sank the sofa cushion, pulling me closer. My stomach twisted.“Someone close to me betrayed my trust,” he said. His voice was calm, but I felt the tight edge in it. “I don’t know what the right punishment is.”I froze. Betrayal? Punishment? My eyes darted to the door Tyler had just walked through. Was Zane talking about him?“You can’t just… forgive and move on?” I asked carefully.“That’s what a kind Luna would do.” His gaze flicked to mine. “But an Alpha who forgives looks weak. People would test him.”
Mabel’s POV"Miss Mabel, can I talk to you for a second?" Sullivan’s voice came from the hall.I froze mid-step. Tyler and Vivian were close enough to hear but kept their eyes forward, acting like the wallpaper."Sure," I said, turning toward Sullivan. "Do you want to talk here, or… somewhere private?"I prayed he’d say here. Zane had a habit of storming in whenever he found me talking to another Alpha. Or anyone, really. He always said it was about my safety, but I knew better."Here is fine," Sullivan said with a small smile. "I just wanted to remind you of my offer. Anytime you need something, call me. And I hope you’ll visit the Midnight Guardians pack soon."Warmth spread in my chest. Adrian and Navy had just invited me to their pack, and now Sullivan too. Maybe Alphas weren’t all arrogant like the ones I’d seen back in Silverwood. Adrian was kind. Sullivan thoughtful. And Zane
Mabel’s POV“You really think Zane will just let this slide?”Alpha Gregory’s voice cut through the silence, his tone both sharp and careful.I kept my smile steady, though my chest felt tight. “I don’t mind going earlier, Daddy, but what’s the point? A few days won’t change anything. If we push him, he might see it as pressure, and that’s the last thing we want. Better to let him believe he has the upper hand.”His eyes narrowed, weighing my words.I pressed on. “If you want to remind him of last night’s scandal, that’s fair. Tell him to keep it quiet so he doesn’t humiliate me again. That will work better than barging in.”A pause stretched. Then he nodded. Relief washed through me, though I kept my face composed.I wanted Paris. I wanted to breathe without everyone’s schemes in my ear. But that door had shut long ago. My