Zoe’s POVWhile Jacob excused himself to take care of an appointment on behalf of the Alpha Councilor and Xavier left for his business. I chose to go to Xavier’s place to rest for a while. I knew my father’s case was sensitive and I wanted to be close enough to reach the office within a few minutes instead of a couple of hours’ drive from my pack. After having slept a while, I decided to explore the territory of Blood Crescent, Xavier’s pack. Before I had never had the chance to travel much. But now that I was here and feeling restless because I had nothing to do as I waited for Xavier to finish his business and return home or office. I drove around for a while, going out of the elite areas where Xavier’s office and the building housing his loft were. I moved towards the middle class and poorer neighborhoods and was surprised to find the difference from my own pack’s such neighborhoods. There were no beggars or homeless as far as I had seen. So consumed by my adventure I forgot to
Zoe's POVXavier did not get to say anything on the topic because as soon as we started chopping onions, we were surrounded by people who were also chopping vegetables for ‘the stew’ and I was shocked to find Xavier actually smiling like this was his home and not the loft. He joked with the people around him and popped some cut carrots in his mouth now and then. There were no traces of the scary Alpha Councilor that the rest of the world knew. “Alpha, it’s time.” A huge man came from behind Xavier and nodded from where he had come. Xavier quickly dropped the knife and dried his hands on a white scarf with a golden print that he had dangling from his belt. I had seen this scarf in his loft a few times, too. “Time for what?” I asked. “To set up the outdoor oven.” Eva, a woman sitting beside me, answered on his behalf, as he had already gone after the man. “Outdoor oven?” I asked, intrigued. “There are too many of us to cook in the regular ovens inside. So, Alpha helps make a huge o
Zoe’s POV“Don’t worry. I won’t tell him.” I assured her as she hugged me again and with a final goodbye left. I stood with more questions than before but I did not want to let it ruin my wonderful evening. Xavier walked towards me and I spoke as soon as he was close enough, “I would drop you home but my car still doesn’t have the fuel.” “We’ll manage.” He replied, the easy smile had not left him yet, which I was grateful for. “Say cheese!” Someone yelled from behind us as a group of teenagers from before suddenly lunged at us from all sides. Xavier’s arm was suddenly around my waist as he pulled me towards him and many pairs of hands went around our necks as someone took a flash photograph. I blinked surprised at the laughter that ensued. “You children, leave them alone!” Eva yelled from under the shed where everything was being kept for the night. “It’s fine, Eva!” Xavier called back as he smiled and she shook her head. One of the teens handed me something as they all rushed
Xavier’s POVIt had been an eventful couple of days. I was getting closer and closer to digging enough dirt on John to make sure I could save my little sister from making the worst mistake of her life by choosing that scumbag as her life partner and chosen mate. Jacob had been going on various assignments underground and hiring anonymous people to make sure nobody knew that I was looking for something. That is how I have always worked. In silence, until it was time to reveal what I had been working on. It always helped to catch everyone off-guard. John was going to be no exception. I had a feeling there was more to him than he let on for Zoe’s case. He had ruined her life and family. But I remembered him contacting her during his engagement afterparty. And he had something to Zoe at the parking lot after our lunch together. Yes, he was her ex but my gut was telling me that there was something else brewing. Something that I would not like at all. I could not ask Zoe, I had a feel
Zoe's POVI don’t know what came over me when I requested to be painted but I had not expected Xavier to agree as readily as he did. “Kitten, I’m waiting.” I snapped out of my thoughts as I heard Xavier place his hands on my hips from behind and whisper in my ear, “I volunteer to undress you if you need help.” I felt tingles run down my spine as I nodded silently. If this were how it was about to go down, I’d rather have the full experience, right? At least, that’s what I told myself when Xavier started to remove all the fabric covering my body gently. He had agreed to paint me but on the condition that he would paint me naked. He reasoned that I was a masterpiece that did not need covering. I was skeptical but the way he was looking at me, he could’ve asked anything and I would’ve given it to him. As the snow fell silently outside, I stood naked surrounded by the heat from the fireplace and Xavier’s scent that had overpowered everything in the cabin. “Lay down, get comfortable.”
Xavier’s POVI sat on the stool and picked up the brush. I glanced at my gorgeous mate lying in the hammock without a single piece of fabric covering her and wanted to paint her instead of the canvas. But my brush refused to touch the paint. I was agitated. How dare John play with my sister’s emotions and then blackmail my mate to cheat with him? I was upset for Alyssa. But more importantly, I was furious for Zoe. Why had she let her ex push her around like this? How long had she suffered like this? Clearly, nothing had happened between them or he wouldn’t be blackmailing like he was. But then what leverage did he have on her? “Xavier?” I jerked to reality when she called my name. “You’ve been staring at the blank canvas for five minutes now.” She softly reminded me, and my heart ached for some reason. Was it the effect of mate bond? But I hadn’t even accepted her as mine yet. I still had hope for Claire to someday return to me from wherever she had gone for whatever reasons. “
Zoe’s POVIt was a simple question. It took him a while to answer it.“My Grams.” He spoke deep in thought as his brush moved across the canvas. I stayed silent allowing him to say more if he intended to. He took a deep breath, glancing at me once in a while.“After my mother died. My Father entrusted me to my trainer. I trained during weekdays. And on weekends, I went to my grandmother’s home.” His voice was full of nostalgia.“Your mother’s mom?” I asked, curiously. He nodded in response.“She was so kind. Sometimes I felt like Mom hadn’t truly left me. During one of those weekends Grams said to me that I needed more hobbies than my Alpha training, school, and politics.” He stopped to pick up a new bottle of color and then resumed, as I listened reverently, “She took me to her art room. I had never felt more at home in a place before that. The colors, the patterns, everything called to me. I had to have a paintbrush in my hands or I would dip my fingers in the paint. She saw that.”
Xavier’s POVI stirred in my sleep and found the hammock empty. My eyes snapped wide open. I was sure I had Zoe’s warm little form snuggled up in my side when I fell asleep. Where was she now? I cranked my neck to check if there was a light coming from the bathroom. Nope! I sat up and checked the time on my phone. It was around dawn. It was too early for anything. Especially considering how late we had fallen asleep. I felt a sudden tightening in my chest. ‘She left us.’ Spike whispered in despair and I scolded him, ‘Why would she do that?’ She wouldn’t do that to me. I thought to myself. I had given her no reason to abandon me in the middle of the night like a thief. ‘Then where is she?’ Spike asked sarcastically. ‘How would I know? I woke up with you.’ I retorted, getting up and finding my slippers. ‘She is so far from her home.’ Spike mused sadly. ‘You were the one gushing about how she is our mate.’ I rolled my eyes, looking for signs of her presence or absence. ‘So?”
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