Zoe's POVI had talked to Maisie and Aunt Julie when I returned home. I had told them everything and we had reached the conclusion that it was not right to keep working in the restaurant. I was technically Xavier’s client and even though I was sleeping with him, only we knew that fact and it was better to stay that way. So, I was going to have to let go of that job, even though it had a great pay package, and look for somewhere else. Luckily I didn’t have to look very hard. I had gone to meet Angelina and her friend to further discuss the details of the event and somehow the topic of me looking for odd jobs was brought up. Angelina had excitedly offered, “My brother has a partner here who owns a massive boutique. I can drop by with you and introduce you to the manager. She is very sweet and knows me. I can’t promise a job but we can try. I’m sure the package would be nice.” I had to agree even though I was not sure if I should be taking any favors from people I didn’t even kno
Zoe's POVCould my day get any worse? I should not have asked that. I had just helped Miss Alyssa Shaw get dressed into a possible wedding dress for her wedding with my cheating ex-boyfriend. “Why do you hate me so much?” She suddenly asked, still looking at herself in the full-length mirror. “I don’t-” I started, but she interrupted me. She turned to face me and said seriously, “Just because I may act like I only think and care about myself doesn’t mean that it is the only truth. I have noticed the way you glare at me often, each time we meet anywhere. Your animosity is not as well-hidden as you would like it.” “Miss Shaw, I-” “Just call me Alyssa and be truthful. What have I done to offend you so much?” She was genuinely curious, and for a moment, I contemplated telling her and reminding her of our real first meeting in the parking lot of her hotel. Before I could answer there were screams from downstairs. She looked at me alarmed and I told her trying to stay calm, “Ma’am,
Zoe’s POVI had been working on my ropes for a while now and they had come a bit loose but enough to pull out a hand yet. Alyssa had been crying on and off. I was never great at dealing with emotional stuff. After being taught to ‘suck it up’ for the most part of my life so far. I had no idea what to do or say when a person was crying for such a valid reason as being kidnapped by rogues.Our kidnappers had been gone for a few hours and I only needed around half an hour hopefully to get my hands free. It was going to be easy after that.But lady luck was not on my side. The boss returned with a triumphant grin on his face and I had to slow down and pretend to be crying and hopeless to stall for enough time to take him by surprise. That was the only ball in my court.“I must say I had half expected your guy to not come at all. He has always been a greedy bastard like that.” He told Alyssa and I felt a pain in my chest at the thought that John spent years with me and still left me and w
Xavier’s POVIt had been a slow at work. Jacob had informed me that Zoe had resigned from her job at the restaurant. Despite her financial issues, which I was sure about now, she chose dignity and earned the respect of everyone who knew what had happened. Myself included. Jacob had been gone for most of the day, collecting every possible information about Mister Simmons, Zoe’s father, and John. I had wanted to get deep work done on him since Alyssa had returned from her first trip to the horse races and wouldn’t stop talking about this great guy from the neighboring pack. Her trust in me had stopped me from doing it before. Zoe’s case had given me the perfect opportunity to do so without making Alyssa upset. If John was clean, my subconscious would be able to rest and be truly happy for my sister. And if he had any dirt or skeletons in his closet, It is better that everything comes to light before the wedding and not after. Alyssa was too special for me to allow her to get hurt in
Xavier’s POVThe moment I placed my hand on her shoulder she collapsed. It must be the nerves taking a toll on her. I caught her before she could fall to the ground and carried her fragile body in my arms, hugging her close. Spike had been ready to come out and tear everyone in the cabin who even thought anything wrong about her. Nobody threatened our mate and lived to tell the tale. I drove home in a frenzy. I thought about driving her to her home but I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep all night not knowing if she was fine or not. Despite the looks from the staff in the lobby of my building, I went straight to my loft and placed her on the bed. She was still wearing that boutique uniform which in other circumstances would have been great for roleplay but she needed to change. I checked her vitals and made sure she was fine, just blacked-out under stress. I removed the torn uniform from her body as gently as I could, finding it hard to focus on the task at hand when her silky sk
Zoe's POVI woke up groggily to find myself in different yet familiar surroundings. How did I manage to get into Xavier’s bed again? I had no memory of going to his home. Wait, what was the last thing I remembered? I racked my brain and sat up straight. I was kidnapped with Alyssa. John had saved her and left me to the wolves, literally. Xavier had shown up in the nick of time and saved me. Sitting up I felt a sudden cold hit my chest and back. I shivered and looked down to find myself utterly naked. How did I get undressed? I did not feel anything between my legs, so I could assume that nothing of that sort happened. I wrapped the blanket around me and looked around the room. Where was Xavier? I saw a note stuck to the bedside table lamp. It read, ‘Gone to check on Alyssa. Will be back by lunch.’ Impulsively I kissed the paper and folded it. Feeling hungry, I got up and threaded to the kitchen to ransack his fridge. I found half a loaf of bread and some cheese. Thankfully, ne
Xavier’s POVJohn’s question ignited a fire within me. A rage that I did not want to express in front of my sister’s chosen mate. But this man was making it hard to stay in control.How dare he excuse sacrificing Zoe to the rogues? I made a fist from my hand and held it tight to make sure I kept Spike in control, “You mean to say that you understood what a dangerous situation it was and still made the choice to leave an unmated girl from your pack with the rogues?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. He opened his mouth but I interrupted him, “You are first and foremost a beta of the pack. It entails a lot of responsibility for your fellow wolves. Think carefully about what you say next.” I studied him as he nervously crossed his hands and fiddled with his thumbs. I could smell the sweat on him. He was looking for a story to cover how awful he truly was. “Of course, Alpha. I know the heavy responsibility to all my wolves. But that’s the thing,” He shifted ahead, trying to ac
Xavier POVZoe was curled up in the blanket that I draped over her when I had brought her in. She was rocking back and forth while staring at the bloody uniform that I had stupidly left on the bathroom floor instead of throwing it in the laundry like every time I did with my bloody clothes. I rushed to her side and was on my knees beside her in an instant. “Zoe?”I called but she was like in a trace. I scooped her and stood up, the clothes falling back to the bathroom floor she had picked them from. That made her look at me like she was seeing me for the first time. She seemed surprised to wike me there. Like waking up from a long slumber. “Hey there.” I looked at her, curled in my arms as I walked back inside the room and lay her on the bed. She grabbed a handful of my shirt and pulled me down with her. I did not resist. It was clear that she needed me. I moved her to my lap and settled on the bed. She placed her head on my chest without a word. I wrapped my arms around her unde
Zoe's POVI sighed and sat down on the bench beside her. I went there for a reason, I was going to see it through."You say that when you know that not only we weren't aware of the Blood Contract, we were a little busy not knowing you even existed. Excuse us for wanting to accept our fated mates and
Zoe's POVI was braiding the hair on the edge of my shaved scalp when Olivia rang the intercom. Xavier walked out of the wardrobe with a spring in his step and let Olivia in, who rolled in a trolley of steaming breakfast.It was Xavier's idea to have breakfast in the bedroom. He said he wanted to sp
Zoe's POVWhen I woke up next, my head felt like I had been hit by a truck. Xavier's arm rested on my belly as he lay deeply asleep beside me. It was strange to wake up to him after spending weeks of him coming and going while I slept. I took the time to cherish his touch and light breath. He looke
Zoe's POVMy head was pounding. It was like someone had cracked open my skull and was performing brain surgery without anesthesia. It was torture. I wanted to yell,' Stop it,' and I think I said something, but different words were coming out.I tried to yell. I knew Xavier was holding me, but every
Xavier's POVMy head was fuzzy. I was trying so hard to focus on the conversations around me. It was like I had been underwater and just resurfaced. The light, the sounds, the colors, everything felt weird. I blinked as I tried to focus on the fork in my hand. I whispered to Zoe, "Please get ready
Zoe's POVThat night, I stayed up and waited for Xavier. He took his time coming to the bedroom. He must've thought that I was asleep, and that's exactly what I pretended. But, I had a theory and I was about to test it out.I stayed still, kept my heartbeat calm, and eyes closed. Until Xavier went t
Zoe's POVWhen Xavier and I walked in hand in hand, every jaw in the dining hall dropped, but no one was as shocked as Blondie, who entered after us. She must've been waiting for him when he was walking me to the dining hall. She swallowed her shock and forced herself to sit on the opposite end of t
Zoe's POVFinding friendship with Alyssa was one of the strangest things that happened to me that week. Since then, I saw less and less of Xavier. He came to the room when I was already asleep and often left before I had woken up. We missed that one meal we used to share before the coronation.He sp
Zoe's POVThe conversation with Xavier was the hardest I've ever had with anyone. He was acting like I was just another wolf in his pack that he was responsible for. The only emotion I got from him was regarding the baby but even that was fleeting. I was so bewildered that I ended up asking, "Are y