It had been a busy few days. Rory had been indirectly punishing Zoe for the stunt pulled at the reception event, with more work.Xavier's team had no success finding a way to the rooms again or to get through the retinal scanners.Zoe and Xavier couldn't get each other out of their heads oblivious to the plight of the other.Xavier wanted to go see Joe Simmons but didn't want to let it known to his hosts that he knew Simmons. During a couple of events that happened after the reception, like Miranda Peterson's bridal shower and her groom's roast party. Since the events were gender-specific, Xavier couldn't even catch a glimpse of Zoe. Not that it would help. He had no idea what she felt. In his mind, she was probably better off without him. After all, she had moved on so quickly to dance with her new Alpha.He wanted to save her from this pack but he needed sold proof before he got to her. He felt like she wouldn't even want to talk to him after the way they parted. He ofte
Zoe's POVAfter the disaster that the bachelor and bachelorette parties had been, I was sure that the wedding was canceled.So, when Misha called grumbling and panicking at once about how he was traumatized and still being called in to work, I was shocked.But I got ready and reached the meeting where Rory was leading with Richard and the to-be-wedded couple. The venue had changed but since so many important people had taken time out of their busy schedules to attend the wedding. The wedding was going to happen.Miranda looked like she had been crying. Her groom was more interested in his phone than literally anything around him. Rory just wanted to make Richard happy, who was in a very sour mood. Fair enough, if my house caught fire during a party, I'd be worried too. Misha was sipping his coffee like it was medicine. Laura was the only one actually taking notes and providing input when asked.I had a new problem. Last night at the hotel, I was in charge of junior staff, making sure t
Xavier's POVWhen we wre dropped back to the hotel last night, we did what we had been doing for the last few days. We got ready to meet at the warehouse for mission debriefing.My guy was gone. The plan had not worked the way we had imagined it to. But that was a part of the job. We were all aware of the risks before we got into it, especially without my cloaking ring which Eva had lost on Peterson's pack house grounds.Lawrence showed the phone and flash drive that our guy had given him before running. We spent the rest of the night working out what the numbers and lists in the photoes meant. Trying to decrypt the flash drive without our guy was hard. Peterson knew how to keep secrets. I'd give him that.But I was going to keep no stone unturned from finding out what he was hiding.Lawrence had to return to his undercover job. I ordered most of my entourage to get back to the hotel undetected and cover for the ones staying behind to keep researching. We needed to have found somethi
Zoe's POVIt had been a few weeks since the grand wedding.I had joined the office team and was introduced to the rest of the people on my floor. The work was great. Misha and I were paired up for most tasks since we already had some fieldwork practice together. I rarely saw Rory since she was busy with higher-ups and had moved to the next great project with another team.I made Dad start a few hobbies since he was usually home alone till I got back from work. I hadn't seen Angelina much either. She had left for New York to find herself a college of choice for further studies. I couldn't get Xavier out of my head. No matter what I was doing, his words, his touch, and the way he was looking at me were burned in my brain. Why did he have to say all those things? Why did he suddenly care? Hadn't he given up on me? On us? And what did he mean that Richard was dangerous? No, I don't know why he said that. But as far as I had known Richard, he couldn't be that bad, could he? Why could my
Zoe's POV"Where is Xavier?" I asked. If it truly was his operation, where was he?"Where do you think?" Lawrence raised a brow at me sarcastically.Before I could retort in annoyance, Eva answered calmly, "He is on the other side of this compound, with another team.""Why?" I asked."Stop asking that and be patient. We are waiting for a signal." Lawrence said annoyed.I was the one who had been kidnapped, why was he annoyed?Eva made me change my shoes. She gave me a pair of sneakers because my stilettoes were going to be noisy. I had no idea what that even meant. But I did as I was told. Not like I had much of a choice.I remembered Eva's ring and asked, "Where's my bag? I had the ring that you dropped when we met at the guest reception."Her eyes lit up and she grabbed something from under her seat. She handed me my bag and I took out the ring. She visibly relaxed at the sight of it, "Thank you for keeping it safe. Alpha was so mad that I had lost it.""Did Xavier give this to you?"
Eva was freaking out.One moment, she was listening to Richard's conversation with the traffickers, and the next, Zoe was gone from her side.She noticed Zoe turn the corner on the far side of the compound and instantly tried to mind-link her. But like the last few times she had tried, Zoe's mind-link was closed. It was unreachable. But Eva didn't have time to stay confused.She rushed after Zoe. She had no idea what the young girl had in mind but Eva mind-linked Xavier."What do you mean she was gone? What were you doing?" Xavier thundered. His anger made Eva wince.'I was listening. And I thought she was too.' Eva tried to explain as she noticed Zoe hiding behind a few large crates."Where is she now?" Xavier asked.'Inside the compound, Alpha. She's got your cloaking ring. But if I get any closer I'll be found.' Eva felt guilty but there was no time to point fingers yet."Make sure Zoe doesn't get seen. And don't get yourself caught either." Xavier ordered and motioned hi
Zoe's POV"Zoe?" A familiar voice echoed through the silence that had settled in the compound hall as everyone was waiting for the other to make the first move.We looked at the troubled newcomer."Dad?" I asked in disbelief. Who called him? Why was he here? No! He was not supposed to be here."Sweetie, what is going on here? You didn't come home and your phone's GPS said you were here," Dad looked worried but I was more concerned for him."Well, well. What an unexpected turn of events." Richard smirked, getting more and more confident with each passing second."He had nothing to do with anything. Keep him out of this!" I growled while on my knees and then shouted to Dad, "Dad, please leave!"A swift sharp slap cut my cheek, "Nobody asked for your opinion, you wolfless Omega!"My eyes widened. He knew. How long had he known?"You will pay for that!" Xavier started walking towards us determined and in a flash, I had been pulled up to my feet, my back to Richard's chest as he held a sil
Zoe's POVEverything hurt.I couldn't focus on which pain was more unbearable. The ache in my heart at the loss of my last family member, my only shelter in the cruel world. Or, the pain from the bones that kept breaking on their own for some reason.I wailed with everything I had until the pain consumed me. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't hear anything. All there was, was a terrible, unbearable, red-hot pain, all over me.I felt like my brain was being boiled. It was like my skull was about to explode. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't focus. The pain was overwhelming all my senses. I couldn't move. I wanted it to stop. I didn't know how to stop because I had no idea what was happening. It was like every bone in my body was breaking. From my fingertips to my guts, I could feel all my nerves getting stimulated at once. How could one be conscious of one's gut? I wanted to scream. I opened my mouth. I don't know if any sound came out. I wanted to cry.I closed my eyes. I don
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