ZEUS
No wonder I hadn’t connected the dots. Warpath’s president—the elusive, shadowy figure no one seemed to have seen in person—was him.
Odin must’ve caught the flicker of realization on my face because he stepped closer, his voice softening as he reached for my collar. “You look thinner,” he murmured, adjusting it with gentle fingers.
I laughed under my breath, trying to shake off the tension. “Really?”
“Zeus…”
His voice sent a shiver through me. I still wasn’t used to him saying my real name, not like that.
“Hm?” I couldn’t meet his gaze. If I did, I might lose what little resolve I had left.
His hand slid down to mine, gripping it firmly. “Let’s go home
ODIN“I love you,” I murmured, pressing my lips softly against Zeus’.“I love you too,” he whispered back, his kiss lingering, as if neither of us wanted to pull away.I gazed down at him, memorizing every inch of his face—the curve of his lips, the warmth in his hazel eyes. Mine. He was mine, and leaving him here, alone in Damon Darcy’s grasp, felt like carving off a piece out of my soul.A sharp knock on the door shattered the fragile moment.“Mr. Damon,” Victor’s voice came from the other side.Zeus lifted his head, meeting my gaze with a small, reassuring smile. “Go,” he mouthed, gently releasing my hand.
ZEUSThe next day, I woke up earlier than usual. My nerves were already on edge, a mix of excitement and thrill twisting in my stomach. As I worked out, my eyes kept darting toward the clock.Odin was coming.After he left last night, Victor got a call from Warpath Technologies saying they wanted to sign the deal with Darcy Group. Which meant today… Odin and I were supposed to meet again.The thought alone sent a rush of energy through my veins, and I finished my morning routine in record time. But as I stepped out of the shower, something felt… off.Victor wasn’t here.He was always on time, never late, never absent. Yet, today of all days, there was no sign of him. I reached for m
DAMONI stepped out of the car, my polished shoes striking against the marble floor as I strode toward the penthouse. My grip on the Warpath Technologies contract tightened, the smooth paper crinkling under my fingers. My mood? Foul.“So, the President of Warpath Technologies just… sent the signed contract instead of attending the meeting?” My voice was sharp as I flicked my gaze toward Victor, who scrambled to keep pace beside me.“Yes, Mr. Damon,” he confirmed, slightly lowering his head. “His secretary delivered it personally. She mentioned the President had to leave the country due to an urgent matter, so he won’t be attending.”A bitter scowl crossed my face. This contract, the one I’d fought tooth and nail for—was finally in m
ODINThe baby's sharp, heart-wrenching cries pierced through the thick walls of the meeting room, pulling my focus away from the tedious discussion with the pack’s Elders. I had been handling critical decisions—territorial expansions, rogue incursions, and strengthening our defenses—but nothing held my attention the way her cries did.Without another word, I pushed back my chair and strode toward the baby’s room. The pack members fell silent, exchanging wary glances but knowing better than to question me.The sight that met me tightened something in my chest. My little princess—face flushed, tiny fists balled up—was wailing uncontrollably in the caretaker’s arms.“What’s wrong?” My voice came out harsher than I intended.
ZEUS"Don't tell me he saw the love bites."I ran my hand over the back of my neck with one hand, feeling the faint sting where Odin's lips had been last night, as I sped down the road.Damon’s reaction haunted me. It wasn’t just his touch on my neck, it was the way he looked at me. Something in his eyes sent a chill crawling up my spine. My heart twisted with an emotion that I couldn’t place… and I hated it.Clenching the steering wheel tighter, I forced myself to focus and press down on the accelerator harder. The city blurred past as I made my way to Lucas’ office building. Entering the parking lot, I pulled into my usual spot, my pulse drumming in my ears.“Zeus!”
ZEUSThe ground beneath me felt unsteady. My worst fear had been confirmed.“You knew,” I choked out, my fists clenching at my sides. “You knew about Odin…”A slow, cruel smirk curled his lips. “Of course, I did. And so did you.” His voice lowered, venom lacing every word. “Tell me, how could you let him touch you? Didn’t your skin crawl? Didn't you feel repulsed? You were forced, right? That beast forced you into those dirty acts, right?”“Once again you call them beasts?”Rage burned hot beneath my skin. My fingers trembled as I forced myself to meet his gaze. “If you hate werewolves so much—why did you make her fall for you? Why
DAMONI hated the rain.But on that day, in the middle of a downpour, a boy running barefoot across the street caught my eye.My car had broken down in an area of the slums, and while the driver worked on fixing it, I sat in the backseat, watching him. He was filthy, soaked to the bone, and clearly poor. Yet, he looked as casual as if it was another normal day.Standing under a makeshift shelter, he unwrapped a cheap piece of candy and popped it into his mouth. After gathering two bamboo sticks and a few bricks, he waded into a large, filthy puddle in the middle of the road. The water was thick with mud and waste, but he didn’t hesitate. He placed the bricks down, using them as stepping stones, and created a makeshift bridge.
*Zeus*Pain.That’s all I felt as I came to, my head pounding like it had been split open. A dull ache throbbed, warm and cold all at once, and I realized blood—both dry and fresh—was smeared across my forehead. I shifted, wincing as my eyes fought to open, each blink a struggle against the sticky darkness. For a moment, all I could see was black, blinding black, then a sickly blur that forced my eyes shut again.After a second, I braced myself, sucking in a shallow breath as I tried again. This time, my vision cleared just enough to show a haze of shadows, and I got the sense that I wasn’t alone. But it wasn’t because anyone else was here; no, it was more the way the darkness closed in around me. Pressing down. Suffocating.A chill spread through me as I felt the hard surface under my back. Cold and hard. Stone? Maybe hard packed dirt. I couldn’t tell. My whole body screamed as I pushed myself upright, every muscle in me stiff and aching, like I’d been crushed under something heavy.
DAMONI hated the rain.But on that day, in the middle of a downpour, a boy running barefoot across the street caught my eye.My car had broken down in an area of the slums, and while the driver worked on fixing it, I sat in the backseat, watching him. He was filthy, soaked to the bone, and clearly poor. Yet, he looked as casual as if it was another normal day.Standing under a makeshift shelter, he unwrapped a cheap piece of candy and popped it into his mouth. After gathering two bamboo sticks and a few bricks, he waded into a large, filthy puddle in the middle of the road. The water was thick with mud and waste, but he didn’t hesitate. He placed the bricks down, using them as stepping stones, and created a makeshift bridge.
ZEUSThe ground beneath me felt unsteady. My worst fear had been confirmed.“You knew,” I choked out, my fists clenching at my sides. “You knew about Odin…”A slow, cruel smirk curled his lips. “Of course, I did. And so did you.” His voice lowered, venom lacing every word. “Tell me, how could you let him touch you? Didn’t your skin crawl? Didn't you feel repulsed? You were forced, right? That beast forced you into those dirty acts, right?”“Once again you call them beasts?”Rage burned hot beneath my skin. My fingers trembled as I forced myself to meet his gaze. “If you hate werewolves so much—why did you make her fall for you? Why
ZEUS"Don't tell me he saw the love bites."I ran my hand over the back of my neck with one hand, feeling the faint sting where Odin's lips had been last night, as I sped down the road.Damon’s reaction haunted me. It wasn’t just his touch on my neck, it was the way he looked at me. Something in his eyes sent a chill crawling up my spine. My heart twisted with an emotion that I couldn’t place… and I hated it.Clenching the steering wheel tighter, I forced myself to focus and press down on the accelerator harder. The city blurred past as I made my way to Lucas’ office building. Entering the parking lot, I pulled into my usual spot, my pulse drumming in my ears.“Zeus!”
ODINThe baby's sharp, heart-wrenching cries pierced through the thick walls of the meeting room, pulling my focus away from the tedious discussion with the pack’s Elders. I had been handling critical decisions—territorial expansions, rogue incursions, and strengthening our defenses—but nothing held my attention the way her cries did.Without another word, I pushed back my chair and strode toward the baby’s room. The pack members fell silent, exchanging wary glances but knowing better than to question me.The sight that met me tightened something in my chest. My little princess—face flushed, tiny fists balled up—was wailing uncontrollably in the caretaker’s arms.“What’s wrong?” My voice came out harsher than I intended.
DAMONI stepped out of the car, my polished shoes striking against the marble floor as I strode toward the penthouse. My grip on the Warpath Technologies contract tightened, the smooth paper crinkling under my fingers. My mood? Foul.“So, the President of Warpath Technologies just… sent the signed contract instead of attending the meeting?” My voice was sharp as I flicked my gaze toward Victor, who scrambled to keep pace beside me.“Yes, Mr. Damon,” he confirmed, slightly lowering his head. “His secretary delivered it personally. She mentioned the President had to leave the country due to an urgent matter, so he won’t be attending.”A bitter scowl crossed my face. This contract, the one I’d fought tooth and nail for—was finally in m
ZEUSThe next day, I woke up earlier than usual. My nerves were already on edge, a mix of excitement and thrill twisting in my stomach. As I worked out, my eyes kept darting toward the clock.Odin was coming.After he left last night, Victor got a call from Warpath Technologies saying they wanted to sign the deal with Darcy Group. Which meant today… Odin and I were supposed to meet again.The thought alone sent a rush of energy through my veins, and I finished my morning routine in record time. But as I stepped out of the shower, something felt… off.Victor wasn’t here.He was always on time, never late, never absent. Yet, today of all days, there was no sign of him. I reached for m
ODIN“I love you,” I murmured, pressing my lips softly against Zeus’.“I love you too,” he whispered back, his kiss lingering, as if neither of us wanted to pull away.I gazed down at him, memorizing every inch of his face—the curve of his lips, the warmth in his hazel eyes. Mine. He was mine, and leaving him here, alone in Damon Darcy’s grasp, felt like carving off a piece out of my soul.A sharp knock on the door shattered the fragile moment.“Mr. Damon,” Victor’s voice came from the other side.Zeus lifted his head, meeting my gaze with a small, reassuring smile. “Go,” he mouthed, gently releasing my hand.
ZEUSNo wonder I hadn’t connected the dots. Warpath’s president—the elusive, shadowy figure no one seemed to have seen in person—was him.Odin must’ve caught the flicker of realization on my face because he stepped closer, his voice softening as he reached for my collar. “You look thinner,” he murmured, adjusting it with gentle fingers.I laughed under my breath, trying to shake off the tension. “Really?”“Zeus…”His voice sent a shiver through me. I still wasn’t used to him saying my real name, not like that.“Hm?” I couldn’t meet his gaze. If I did, I might lose what little resolve I had left.His hand slid down to mine, gripping it firmly. “Let’s go home
DAMONWith a cigarette balanced between my fingers, I leaned back in my chair, my gaze fixed on Victor standing rigidly before me.“The plan went exactly as you wished, Mr. Damon,” he reported, his voice steady but cautious. “My men recklessly tailed that Jay guy as you instructed. Zeus discovered it and he was furious.”I exhaled a thin stream of smoke, letting the silence stretch before I spoke. “Furious… or afraid?” Afraid that I would find out something by linking all the clues? The corner of my lips curled into a cold, knowing smile when my eyes landed on the dossier spread across my desk.Jay Williamson. Twenty-nine. Unemployed.But that wasn’t what caught my attention.“A hunter, “ my voice drop