AMBER.“If Sidney appears with a mark on her neck tomorrow, you’ll go home.” Cassidy began, and it made me swallow harder. “No more buts. If you want a place to have a vacation while on university break, I can take you home with me.”“You can stay here with us, too.” Amara offered. “See, you have a lot of options.” Cassidy continued. “To continue, let’s say she doesn’t have a mark on her neck by tomorrow—call Mom. We need more info from her. You need to do this thing that I will suggest so Zach can stop with his lies.”I nodded my head, and she began with her suggestions. My eyes widened as I listened, but everything she said made sense. I just needed the guts to do that, but first, I needed confirmation from Aunt Celeste. I nodded my head again, agreeing with everything. I was about to say something when Cassidy spoke again. “Okay, girls, I have to go. I already see Kairo.”“Kairo?” We all asked at the same time.“Yes, that sexy Alpha of Dark Wood Pack.” Cassidy winked at us.“Whe
AMBER.Of all the people to bump into as I was moving out of my room, why did it have to be them? Sidney pushed his chair and stepped out of the elevator. My gaze eventually met hers, and she flashed me a small smile, which was too different from what she had given me earlier. Did Zach tell her about our past? Or did he stop her from being friendly with me?“Are you leaving? Who’s driving you home?” Zach’s voice drew my attention back to him. He looked at me with a face devoid of emotion, hands clasped together while his elbow rested on the armrest. He looked calm—totally not affected by me anymore. Of course, having Sidney beside him calmed him down. Why would the girls think Zach was faking their mate bond? And why on earth am I still here?I wanted to tell him I was leaving because that was what any decent female would do, but the words that came out were different from my thoughts.“No, not leaving.” I smiled despite the pain in my heart as I shook my head. I raised my coiled f
AMBER.I should move on. I should call Cyrus to pick me up.I had no idea how long I was seated on the floor until I finally decided to call my brother. I crawled to where my handbag was and pulled out my phone. But just when I was about to press his number, I remembered Cassidy’s words.“If Sidney appears with a mark on her neck tomorrow, you’ll go home. But if she’s not marked—call Mom.”I closed my eyes and contemplated what I should do next. My rational mind told me to call my brother. But, like always, I let my heart rule over me. The phone rang on the other side, and it didn’t take long before someone answered the phone. “Moon Stone Pack, this is Alpha Darvin.”“Uncle, good evening,” I answered timidly.“Who’s this?” He asked, and I couldn’t blame him. I rarely called his office, as I would usually contact Cassidy directly, and he might not be familiar with my number. “This is Amber, Uncle. Can I speak with Aunt Celeste?”“Yes, of course. She’s here. Is everything alright, swee
ZACH.“Then fuck them! Keep pushing her away. You’ll wake up one day, and she’ll be married to Drake, and you’ll get to see that every day of your life.” Sidney said, and it made me swallow hard. She was right. But it only meant I needed Amber away from here before Drake could make his move, and she fell for it. “I’m right. You want her.” She added.I remained in silence. She entered the room, her hand holding onto the wall. “But hey, you promised I’d get my money no matter the outcome, right? My mother needs that for her operation…” She let out a sigh before she continued. “I promise, no matter what I say to you in private, I will never divulge anything or sabotage you. I’ll do exactly what you want.”“Even if you sabotage me, I will still pay for her operation,” I told her, taking my gaze off her and continuing to massage my leg. I asked her why she needed the money, and she told me her mother was sick and needed a bypass operation. She’d been working part-time on Xander’s farm
ZACH.“Give me the phone!” My voice was louder this time, and I was about to growl again when Amber’s scent hit me, and I heard small footsteps approaching.My chest heaved as I tried to breathe in more, wanting to smell if I could scent Edmond. Because if I did, heaven forbid, I had no idea what would happen next.“What’s going on?” Amber asked as she stopped in the entryway before her eyes turned to me while Mindy continued walking and sat back in her seat. “Why are you shouting so early in the morning?” Amber asked me.“Where have you been?” Ara asked her before a soft chuckle escaped her throat. I tore my eyes off her. She looked so fucking beautiful in her jeans shorts and off-shoulder blouse. She looked like she just got out of the shower. “In my room.” She then smiled apologetically before she sat on the chair beside Drake. “I’m sorry I’m late. I enjoyed my bubble bath. I forgot the time.”Nikka sat back in her chair as well, and I didn’t even hear what happened to her conver
ZACH.The hours moved slowly. I hadn’t seen Amber and Sidney for the rest of the day. I had no idea where Amber was, but Sidney was here in the packhouse because, aside from the first day, I didn’t allow her to go out.Drake told me the warriors were asking about her. It was nothing unusual because she was someone they hadn’t seen before. But I didn’t want to tell anyone she was my mate, so I told Drake he could tell them she was a family friend visiting us. I was sure the rest of the Omegas in the house, as well as Arlo and Mindy, would never try to defy me. My only problems were my sisters and Amber. These females could not be told, especially if they were upset, and with me not knowing what they were up to, I knew sooner or later I would have to face more inquiries about Sidney. I had to devise a plan if my mother heard of it. I was sure I could ignore Dad but not Mom. Maybe I should tell the border patrol not to allow entrance to my parents. Honestly, I had no idea what the n
ZACH.What the fuck is Nadine doing here?My heart thundered as I rolled my chair, heading for the main hallway while I mindlinked Arlo. ‘Where is Sidney?’I was aware Sidney had met Nadine, and if they recognized each other, there would be more questions. ‘I don’t know, Alpha. She’s probably at home.’ Arlo answered. ‘Where are you?’‘Training building. Is there something wrong?’ ‘And Mindy? Where is she? Can you mindlink her to find Sidney? She needs to tell her not to go out of her room.’ ‘Mindy is here with me.’ Arlo replied. Fuck! I internally growled and mind-linked with an Omega, ordering her to find Sidney while I ignored Arlo when he asked more questions as to what was wrong. I met the Omega I mindlinked along the corridor. She bobbed her head in respect before hurrying up the stairs while I continued to the front door. I was right—Nadine was there, and with her was a man I could only assume was Xander. They were talking to one of our Omegas, who Nadine had been close wi
ZACH.I was about to roll my chair when I heard running steps from the outside, and I smelled my sister.Shit!“Let’s go!” I cocked my head in the direction of my office, hoping they would fucking move faster. “Nadine!” Nikka shrieked, and I grimaced. She acted as if they hadn’t seen each other in a year when they had just come from her territory a few days back.“Hello there, sweet pea!” Nadine swiftly moved to approach and hug her. “Enough of that. We have a business to deal with. Let’s go.”“Business, ew.” Nikka scrunched her nose and let her go. I thought I was off the hook until her eyes landed on Sidney. “Oh, so you met Zach’s mate.”“Excuse me?” Nadine stopped in her tracks a few feet away from Xander. “Zach’s mate?”Nikka wriggled her eyebrows before pointing her finger at Sidney. She had a wide smile on her lips, so I had no idea if the smile was because she liked Sidney or if she knew something else. “Yes, Sidney.” Nadine’s head turned to look at Sidney while Xander looked
AMBER.“Hello, sexy Alpha…” I said as I kicked the door closed when I came to his office. Zach tilted his head up, and I eased into a more relaxed position, but the moment his eyes fell on my clothes, his forehead creased.“Did you walk back from the training ground to here just in your sports bra?”“I didn’t have time to shower, as I thought we would shower together,” I replied, placing my tea on his table as I stood beside it. He pushed his chair back, and I knew it was my signal that he wanted me on his lap. I didn’t waste time and sat on him, straddling his legs. “You can’t go around like that. It’s not immodest, but until my mark sits on you, I hate that someone might still think they have a chance with you.”“I love you…” I cut him and cupped his face. “I won’t do it again. Until your mark sits on my neck.”He chuckled and cupped my face. “Maybe by that time, I have to set another alibi… That until you carry our child, you can’t walk around in that.”I giggled, but my heart w
BETA FEMALE MINDY.“Until you wear that badge on your shoulders, you are considered like any of the females visiting this pack. If letting us do our work is an annoyance to you, feel free to leave. You can come back when you are already in your right frame of mind.” I motioned with my hand, laying it out toward the door. She was about to swat my raised hand, but Arlo caught hers and lowered it. She hissed and stepped back. I was sure Arlo’s grip on her pained her. “I don’t like you…” She mumbled, still looking at me. “The feeling is mutual, Estelle.” I dropped the Lady in her name. She didn’t deserve it. Her mouth hung open, but she didn’t say anything this time. Arlo then nodded at the two men, and they took her things and walked out of the packhouse. Arlo told her she could follow them and they would drive her back here once it was done, but she refused. She wanted to speak with Alpha Zach.“As I mentioned, the Alpha is busy. You can wait for your things in the receiving room, or
BETA FEMALE MINDY. Lately, I haven’t been able to get enough of my mate and the kisses he has given me. I wanted more of them until we remembered we had things to do. We were laughing as we ran down the stairs to meet our new guest.‘She’s here, Lady Amber.’ I mindlinked my future Luna when we were already by the stairs and almost on the ground floor. ‘Don’t worry, I will be with her until she’s in her room. I also made Arlo promise not to leave the Alpha alone until you’re back to accompany him.’I was glad to do this for her. We both trusted our males but not the females around them, and since Lady Amber had been building my confidence to face those females who flirted with Arlo, I wanted to do the same thing for her. I would keep an eye on the Alpha with Arlo’s help when she couldn’t. ‘Thank you. I appreciate this.’ I replied. ‘I’ll be there soon.’ After we ended our conversation, I prepared myself to face the half-sibling of the man who had done me wrong. I only had a few hour
AMBER. “Marry me, Amber.” He said out of nowhere, and my mouth hung open. My eyes welled with tears, and so did his as we stared at each other. “Whatever happens after the 48 days, marry me.”I nodded my head as my tears fell. I felt his chair move forward, and his hand reached behind me, opening his desk drawer. I clung closer to him and turned my head to look at what he was doing. He pulled out a small box, and I already knew what it was—our engagement ring. I sent it back to him months after the accident in the hope it would stir emotion in him and that he would call me. He didn’t, and I regretted that move as I lost the last precious gift he gave me. “You kept it,” I mumbled as he slowly opened the box, and we both looked at the amber ring that I was only able to wear for a month. “I did, like all the other things that remind me of you.” He said as he tilted his head to meet my gaze. “I always looked at it when I was alone. Some days, I wanted to call you and get back with you
AMBER.“I will convince Zach to let Estelle live with us inside this packhouse,” I said straight to the point.“Are you sure about this, Lady Amber?” Arlo asked me. I nodded. “I would rather keep an eye on her than for us to be surprised by whatever her next plan is.”“This will be hard with both of you here,” Drake said. “I’m not asking you to choose.” I smiled at them. “I’m not asking you to choose me. But I want you to respect whatever Zach’s decisions are. Right now, he is choosing me. I will remain here as long as that’s the case. If ever there comes a time that he decides to turn his back on me and choose… choose someone else. I will respect his decision this time.”I saw how Drake’s and Arlo’s shoulders dropped at my words while Mindy bit her bottom lip as she crossed her arms across her chest. Their reaction made me teary-eyed. These three had shown me nothing but support. “But until then… I will do my best to help Zach get out of this mess. I don’t want your Alpha to step
AMBER. Zach was still asleep when I rose from the bed and left the bedroom. There were many things to prepare and do before that cunning snake appeared today. We were not able to sleep early. We talked. A lot.We poured out all our emotions—our disappointment and fears. Despite the uncertainties, I was more confident that Zach was mine. He was more determined not to let Anna or Estelle get between us. He told me he had never been attracted to anyone except me, so he knew that the chaos she brought would not affect his feelings for me, only his future. And I believed him because I felt the same way. There was no one I had ever been attracted to aside from him. For some people, the attraction wanes as they grow older, but for me, it only grows stronger. I loved Zach when we were younger, loved him at his peak when he was my strength and protector, and loved him still at his lowest and most vulnerable state. My love for him keeps growing more in every stage of his life—of our lives.
ZACH.In my rush to confront her and take Amber away from there, I didn’t consider that she might turn out to be my fated mate, but I was lucky that she wasn’t. Or this would be a bigger mess than it already was. Estelle left with a threat that she would come back. I was left baffled by the contract she showed me. I was sure I didn’t sign anything, but was it because, in my hurry to get out of that room, I signed it without noticing and thought it was part of the original contract?Did I fucking sign another blood contract without my knowing?A sudden movement snapped me back to the present. I found Amber bent over the bushes at the side of the steps, retching uncontrollably, but nothing was coming out. I slammed my coiled fist on the armrest of my chair. Moments like this were when I wished I could fucking walk. I could do nothing but watch her while Mindy rushed out of the packhouse and went to her.“Amber…” My voice came out so low as I rolled toward the edge, nearer. I pulled o
AMBER. ‘Are you fated mates?’ I asked Zach in our heads.‘No.’ He replied. I looked at her extended hand and shook my head as I stepped back. I knew I would stumble soon. It was taking too much of me to hold myself up, and then I felt hands grabbing my arms, supporting me. Arlo came, and he was standing behind me. He let go of me once I was able to gather myself.‘Don’t believe her. I never said I would claim her,’ Zach reached my head. It was all I needed to hear to bring my confidence back. I tilted my head up and scoffed at her. “This pack only has one Luna. And you’re standing in front of her.”“Really now? From what I can see, Zach is still not able to stand.” She spoke confidently. Too far from the meek female who needed me to help her with everything. Did she know who I was from the beginning? Was she lying the whole time? Was the friendship she showed me part of their show?“I’m only claiming Amber,” Zach said, and I smirked at her before I mirrored her stance, crossing m
AMBER.I showered in the locker room of the training building after my session. I could have easily showered at the packhouse, but I knew that if Zach saw me, he would never let me out of his sight. He had been asking, or should I say demanding, for my attention since lunch. Not that I didn’t want to spend time with him, but I had things to do that needed to be out of his earshot, or I would have to answer questions I didn’t have answers to yet.I was already in a hurry to meet him, but I was held up twice by some people who wanted to speak with me. Since I really wanted this pack, especially the females, to be comfortable around me, I entertained them.When I was finally able to get away, I rushed toward the packhouse, hoping Zach was still working, as I hated keeping him waiting.The streets were empty, but it was nothing extraordinary, as it was just a regular day. Usually, more vehicles would be on the road on Fridays, as people would get off work and go out to chill afterward.The