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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.I felt like I was just floating, waiting for the waves to take me where they wanted me to go. My mind told me to leave this place, but my heart kept betraying me. I had been staring at my packed luggage for many hours, but I couldn’t seem to have the strength to pick up the phone and call Cyrus.Zach had been rude to me from day one, and it had only been a few days, but he was already shaking what was left of my determination. The only thing I was holding on to was that Sidney was still unmarked. I wanted to ask the twins if they had asked why she wasn’t marked yet, but I didn’t want to pressure them as well. I knew it was already hard for them to balance their friendship with me and accept Sidney as their brother’s mate. Making them choose between us was never my goal. So, yes, I should leave. Any decent female would. I am not wanted here.But I promised Cassidy I would do what she suggested that I do before leaving everything behind. But I was still not one hundred percent
ZACH.I listened to Nadine’s litany, and although everything she said made sense, I did not bend.I told her that instead of taking Sidney away, she should talk to Amber instead and convince her to leave my territory. If she could do that, I would send Sidney home and admit to my sisters, as well as Arlo and Drake, about the fake mate bond.I didn’t want Sidney out of here while I could still see Amber.In the end, Nadine had no choice but to agree. She would do her best to convince her to leave and move on. I didn’t ask her to talk about the last part, but she must have felt it was the right thing to do.And yes, it hurt. It fucking hurt. But it was for the best.“Stay for dinner. I’m sure the food is ready.” I told them when we finally came to an agreement. She also said she would not say anything to my mother and I promised I would do it myself.Of course, I will, but only if one of my sisters tells her about it.“We might stay overnight then. Because I need time to talk to Amber,”
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
*FREE CHAPTER*ZACH.‘It’s already almost eight in the morning, Alpha. John called and said he couldn’t make it today because of an emergency.’ Arlo said. My eyes snapped fully open as my forehead creased. ‘Did he say if he could come to the next session?’‘Nothing about that. And he sounded in a hurry, so I let him go right away.’This was not good. It meant I had to wait a few more days before I got an answer from him. But what if he had no plans to return? What if he discovered that we had already caught him?‘Thanks. Is everything okay?’‘Yes, Alpha. You were supposed to call Alpha Jace at seven today, but I called him earlier and told him you were not to be disturbed.’ I could sense teasing in his voice.‘I didn’t say that.’‘I decided on that,’ he chuckled. ‘Is everything okay between you and the Luna?’I smiled at the title he used for Amber. ‘Yes, we’re good.’‘Do you want me to send someone with breakfast?’‘No. We’ll make do with what we have here.’ I replied. ‘How is Mindy?
ZACH.“Oh, Goddess! This is so good…” Amber whimpered seductively as she gripped my thighs tightly while bouncing on top of me. She was riding me in a reverse cowgirl style, her body bent slightly forward so that I had the arousing view of her round ass, as well as the full sight of my cock as it plunged in and out of her tight pussy. She was so wet that I could see her juices leaking out of her at every stroke. My upper body was half elevated, resting on the reclined bed of the cabin. Yes, we finally made it to the bed of this house. Although we didn’t have any plans to have sex, we couldn’t get our hands off each other. Especially me. Once I got my first taste of her, I couldn’t control my cravings for her anymore. Amber was an addiction that I didn’t want to stop. I removed my hand from her hips and smacked her already red ass, eliciting a gasp from her. She bent more forward and held my legs before grinding her hips against mine and clenching her pussy around my cock. Sweat form
AMBER.“I don’t know how to distinguish beautiful from not since I laid eyes on you. You are the most beautiful, Amber, and everyone else pales in comparison.” Zach said, and I was left speechless.I pouted my lips as my eyes welled up. I could totally understand what he was telling me, as that was exactly how I felt. Ever since I admitted to myself that I was in love with him, no one has come in comparison with him. “If you also want to ask if I am or was attracted to her, I’m not, and I wasn’t. But I will admit that when we were still both in a bad place, and I knew I was running out of time, I did entertain the idea of claiming her.”My jaw tightened as my heart clenched in pain, but I remained quiet, listening to him. “That was the reason Sidney came into the picture. I thought that if I hurt you back then, and if Sidney could push you away from me, by the time Estelle entered my life, you would have long forgotten about me.” He then cupped my jaw again, his thumb brushing my che
AMBER.“I should get going. Zach is still in the car, and I told him I was only here to convince you he didn’t want to claim Estelle.” Dad pressed a kiss on the top of my head as we walked toward the front door, our arms still around each other. “Don’t give him a hard time. I could tell he never wanted to.”“I know, Dad. That’s why I ran here instead of elsewhere. I want to speak with him first.”“This cabin is beautiful.”“He built this house for me,” I said proudly as we stood at the front door. I met his eyes while a broad smile was plastered on my face.“Did he?”I nodded, still smiling. “He said this was supposed to be his gift for me for our union, but the accident happened. But he kept it well maintained. I love it.”“He’s full of surprise, isn’t he?”I nodded, my eyes beaming with happiness.“I’m glad even with everything happening around you, Zach can still make you smile beautifully.”“He’s the only thing that keeps me going,” I told him until I realized my words. “I mean, of
AMBER.“What’s another way out?”“You, with your wolf out,” Dad said, and the color drained from my face as I stared at him with my mouth open.“We checked the copy of Zach’s blood contract, and this part was not included in his but was on Grant’s or the Council’s copy. Zach also signed it, but maybe he didn’t notice this extra page. We assumed Grant also forgot this page.”“I don’t understand how Alpha Grant forgot this page.”“We could only assume he wanted to do this blood contract to power trip, and you were the first condition. Zach could not claim anyone except you, only if your wolf surfaced. Grant had always looked down upon females with no wolf. Same reason he never helped his own sister, Lexi’s mother, because she was wolfless. I was sure he thought of you as the way out to mock you and Zach. But eventually he remembered that he had a daughter whom he could put in a better place. So he scrapped you and changed it to her. But he forgot to change his contract to delete you. He