Zoe's POVIt took me a few minutes to gather my bearings and decide that Claire Devereux was indeed right. It hurt but it was the truth. It had been glaring at me from the start. Xavier and I didn't belong with each other, not like Claire and he did. It was better if I just focused on getting my Dad free and making sure that John paid for everything. I marked the spot where I had to reach on the map to find a road that could hopefully provide me with a hitchhiking possibility."I will call Maisie later. She'll apologize to Jacob on my behalf." I told myself as I walked through the winding non-existent paths in the woods. 'Should've brought some water.' I told myself as I panted due to my human-like weaknesses. I loathed how weak I was without a wolf. Why did I not deserve a wolf? Maybe if I had one, I would try and be worthy of Xavier. Be a true Beta.I hated how pathetic I was to love and give up on it. But I never stood a chance in front of Claire Devereux. I sighed and kept going
Xavier's POV"Maybe it's better if we split up. We can cover more ground." Maisie suggested and I agreed."You take left, I'll take right." I nodded and we both rushed in opposite directions.I was hoping to find them before Claire said or did something irreversible. I knew she was prone to overreactions when it came to things that mattered to her.I still remember what she had done to the poor kid in school who had found her misplaced favorite pen and had refused to return it. Poor girl never spoke or did anything else in school except sit obediently in class and do classwork. Even as a young teen, even without her wolf. She had always been vicious like that.The same had been repeated when we went to college. Only it was worse because she had her wolf. Not that she needed her wolf to ruin someone psychologically. It was something that I had once admired in her. How cold she was towards her enemies. Dad had called her an asset to the pack. He was proud when I had wished to choose her
Zoe's POVAfter the way he blamed me for almost being murdered, I refused to say another word to him as we trekked back to the Hill House.I wanted to tell him why I was there in the first place. I wanted to show him how unfair his trust in Claire was. I wanted him to know that he won and I had given up on us. But the way he defended her while blaming me, made everything pointless. Why did he save me if I was such a liability? Or maybe he would've done the same for anyone in that situation. I guess we would never know. I imagined what my wolf would say to me in this situation if I had one. I had heard that the wolves share a part of our psyche, are versions of ourselves, and are our only friends in tough times. Would my wolf blame me for letting myself cornered too?As we exited the woods, I was behind Xavier and nobody saw me at first.Claire rushed to him and hugged him tightly, "Xavy, where were you? I won! I found the treasure. Wanna know what it is?"But as they parted she notice
Xavier's POVI walked into my room and took off the bloody shirt. I quickly washed some blood off of my hands and face before stepping out of the bathroom and seeing the three people whom I had called."Alpha, what exactly happened out there?" Micheal asked professionally while Jacob handed me another shirt to wear."I would like to know that too." I replied, barely holding in my anger."Should I call the Delta and ask where the border patrol was?" Micheal offered."You do that." I ordered and then looked at Claire.She looked as perfect as I had last seen her a few hours ago."Jacob, ask Mr. Smith to make sure that the Devereux house security measures are all in line.Once we were alone I asked, "How are you?" She looked tense but my question eased her instantly."I'm fine now that I know you are alright." She stepped closer, pressed a hand to my chest, and looked up at me with her beautiful eyes. Eyes that, once, I could stare at them forever and not get tired.But now, I was worried
Zoe's POVI had been in my room for the rest of the day. Maisie was with me."Why didn't you tell me any of this before?" She massaged her temples.I had told her everything. The whole truth from the start. I was in a vulnerable state and when she started asking questions, I broke. I needed someone to trust. Besides Dad, she was the only one I had. I told her about Xavier, my contract with him to save Dad, and to gather evidence to put John in front of the Werewolf Council. He had to pay for his sins."What was I supposed to say? And honestly, I was hoping for it all to be over sooner. And I definitely didn't expect for Claire to return." I shrugged."Well, better late than never." She looked at me determined."What do you mean?" I asked confused."I mean, I am with you. All in. You are right. John needs to pay and I will help you however I can." She was the reason I had stayed sane for as long as I had.Her conviction made me smile in irony as I asked, "And what do you have in mind?"
Zoe's POVA helpless tear slipped from my eye as John tried to force the kiss on me. He was taller, stronger, and with his wolf, unbeatable.But I was not going to go down without a fight. I let him think he had won and as his lips touched my cheek, his grip loosened slightly, I brought my hands to his face and scratched at his eyes as hard as I could.He cursed and let me go, just as we heard Jacob call from the other side of the door, "Zoe, you have a minute?""Bitch." John whispered not wanting Jacob to know of his presence and immediately opened the door to the balcony before jumping out."Zoe?" Jacob called as I tried to get myself under control."Coming." I replied.I opened the door and he immediately noticed my appearance."May I come in?" He asked politely and I let him."Was John here?" Was his first question as soon as I closed the door. It was pointless to lie to him. His wolf must've already sniffed out the fresh scent. So, I nodded, hugging myself."Alpha knew it was a ba
Zoe's POVThat night I slept in Maisie's room. It was a mutual decision that it was safer this way.The guys had been on patrol all night. I barely slept. I could often hear faint steps outside the balcony after regular intervals. I hoped it was our guys and not rogues or witches working the perimeter.The morning could not come faster.At the breakfast table, we were informed that the additional help had arrived around dawn and the ladies were allowed to be safely escorted back to the city. The people staying were going to make the part of the border secure and make sure that the threat, if any, was neutralized.We packed our stuff haphazardly and were crammed in an SUV as one of the soldiers was directed to make sure all of us reached our homes safely. First Alyssa and Claire were to be dropped at their city hall and then Maisie and I were to be taken to our pack. I didn't see Xavier all morning. I didn't even get to say goodbye for the last time. He was so busy, Jacob had walked u
Zoe's POVIt only took two days and I was already on my first day on a new job. Thanks to the way John had destroyed my Dad's reputation, almost no one in the pack was willing to give me any kind of job. It also didn't help that everyone knew while growing up and was aware that I had no wolf.Maisie had to convince the owners of a huge catering company to let me work for them. The upside was it was a multi-national company so they had promised to let me at a different location than our pack for the sake of their reputation.The downside, as I found it too late, was that the different location was Blood Crescent Pack. I cursed my luck. What were the chances that I could cater unnoticed in the same pack where no one but Jacob did not hate me?"Earth to Zoe." A fellow waitress snapped her finger in front of me and snapped me out of my overthinking daydream, "You know if one of those wine glasses as much as gets the tiniest chip, it is coming off of your salary. So, be careful with those"
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