CHAPTER 2

Zoe parked her bicycle close to the parking lot and bent over to chain the bicycle to the rail but for some reason, it was giving her an arduous time. 

'Oh dammit,' she thought, frustrated. 

She was about to give up when she heard someone call her name. 

”Zoe?" 

She knew that voice. It was the voice of her best friend: Dora luggard. She was the Alpha's daughter; they have been best friends since seventh grade. She wasn't nerdy like Zoe was. She was the direct opposite of what Zoe was.

She had long hair, smooth skin, and beautiful features, and her fashion sense was rather...out there. Who would think The Alpha's daughter would hang out with a nerd like Zoe? I mean all the high school celebrities want to hang out with her. 

Dora's parents were wealthy people. Wealthy enough to own a mansion! no jokes, you could get lost in their house. Dora has a big brother who I find attractive—not that he cares. He was one of the school hotties and a bit of a bad boy.

Back to Dora! She doesn't come to school on a bicycle as I do. She does not need to. She has her personal driver who takes her to school every day.

”Dora?" Zoe called, standing up.

 "It seems we're both late for practice today. We may get eaten by the rest of the team," Dora said laughing.

They both fell in step, talking and laughing about the just-ended summer break till they got into the practice hall. Remember when Zoe said they were divided into the popular dance squad and nerdy squad? Okay, confession, she was on the popular team, all thanks to being friends with Dora luggard. She gets full credit for that. 

”Hey, loser!" Someone said, It was the most popular bitch, Lisa. She finds joy in picking on Zoe. 

"You don't have the right to call her a loser," Dora said, her eyes turning up as her claws slowly grew. "Dora, you know if not for your boyfriend, Parker, you wouldn't be here with this loser you call a friend," Lisa muttered a bit shakily. 

”But then again you are the loser," Dora said furiously. "At least I have a boyfriend. Who's yours? Oh, wait you don't have one. All you do is sleep around with another girl's boyfriend. Don't you know what they call you? Slut." Dora let with a raised eyebrow 

Zoe felt relieved when Parker showed up. He immediately went over to Dora and gave her a long French kiss which made Lisa disgruntled. I bet he did it on purpose. 

Everybody in school knew Lisa had a huge crush on Parker Robin Hood. Everyone including the teachers. Embarrassed and annoyed, she stomped off.

In no time practice was over, and they all went into the locker room to shower and change. "Dora, would you mind dropping by my house?" Dora asked with a pout. 

"Dora, you know I would have loved to but I didn't get permission from Lillian," Zoe said, packing her hair up. "Okay, okay, okay. It's fine. Next time?" Dora let out.

”Yes, your majesty," I said with a mock bow causing an enormous chuckle from her. 

Dora left with Parker as I left for my shift at the bakery where I worked. I entered the bakery to find Mr. Peterson about leaving. Mr. Peterson was the owner of the bakery I worked for in the pack.

”Mr. Peter?" She called dropping my bag on the counter.  "I'm sorry I'm late." Zoe apologized.

”You should thank Rico." Mr. Peterson said. "He covered for you." Mr. Peterson added.

Zoe entered the kitchen to seek out Rico.

”I am so sorry Rico," She admitted guilt. 

"A cup of coffee and we're even," Rico mumbled.

"Okay. Coffee. As friends," Zoe said. 

”It isn't a date?" he asked.

”No," She said plainly, hitting him on the shoulder.

”Ouch!" he yelled, 

"That hurt." He muttered yet again caressing his shoulder.

"Sorry," Zoe said insincerely. 

"But you can leave now while I take care of things around here," Zoe said, fixing on an apron. Rico removed his apron before hanging it on the hook on the wall. 

"I will text you the address," Rico said.

”Sure,"  Zoe said. 

Nonetheless, Zoe's shift was over by 8:00 pm. She cleaned up and arranged the kitchen of the bakery as she prepared to leave. She remembered her promise to Rico, he was going to text her soon. Zoe searched the pockets of her trousers before the realization hit her that she had left her phone at home.

"Ah, shit." She facepalmed and groaned at her thoughtlessness. 

She locked up, stuffing the key in her trouser pocket before she began her journey down to the grocery store on her bicycle to get bananas for the muffins she was going to bake for their neighbors. 

She got home much later than intended. She noticed her dad's car was out of sight. It was already late, where did he go? 

There was a strange car that looked new with a shiny paint job parked in the garage. Perhaps her dad had gotten a new car!

She pushed the doorknob and the door gladly opened which was weird because Lilian wasn't always late due to her work as a nurse in the packhouse but maybe Dad had missed locking the door.

Zoe slowly dropped the grocery bag on the counter and immediately went in search of her phone. 

She found it in her room. There were several text messages from Rico. The first one read: LIT AND TASTE.

"Shit," Zoe let out ruffling her hair in frustration. 

Rico: hey mary I have been waiting at the address I sent you. Are you all alright?

Rico: Mary?

Rico: I am coming over to your place?

That was the last message. Zoe clicked on a reply and typed.

Zoe: I am so sorry Rico, I must have left you worried but I left my phone at home. Just got home. Can we have the coffee some other time, please?

She texted back before dropping her phone on her bed. She dropped her phone on the bed before she left the room to move the content of her bag into the fridge.

Zoe flickered the knife she had in her side pocket when she heard footsteps. That was the knife that had been given to her by her dad. 

"Who is there? Anyone home?" She asked but she got no response. 

She turned around to find a giant figure behind me. "I don't want to hurt you so don't come any closer," she warned.

Zoe wondered why there wasn't much light in here?

”Luke?” 

Zoe heard her step-mom's voice, she instantly hid the knife behind her.

”Zoe, you're back!" she said.

”Ye-yeah Lilian," Zoe stammered.

”Oh my Luke, go put on some clothes and don't scare Zoe like that," Lillian said.

Until when Lilian had spoken about him being shirtless. Zoe hadn't fully paid attention to the fact that he wasn't putting on a shirt. Her mouth was left open at the well-built Greek God standing in front of her. 

”I told you my son Luke was going to start living with us," Lillian reminded. 

"Oh yes, I remember! I think work was hectic that I had forgotten," Zoe let out. She felt embarrassed as she ran to her room before shutting the door loudly behind me.

Zoe knew that if Luke was going to be leaving with them, things were sure going to be harder than she thought.