Chapter 16

Zayn Chaos

She's still the same as she was before. I can see through her lies because, every time she does it, her eyelashes flare—same habit. A short-lived smile crossed my face as I maneuvered the steering wheel.

But as quickly as that happiness came, it was replaced with fear. I know I’m not supposed to get close to her. I shouldn’t. But nobody will defend her if not me. I’ve failed her a couple of times before, and I know I can’t fail her in this lifetime.

"Remember what you promised me, Zayn," Greg warned me. "You are not going to get too close to my daughter if you want her to live longer."

I’ve burned that reminder into my mind. It’s what keeps me grounded whenever I’m tempted to forget. With a sigh, I nodded.

Greg is Ai’s father. I have to listen to him, no matter what. After all, I know what it feels like to lose a loved one—how much more devastating it would be for a parent.

"I heard you wiped out Riverlake's Pack just because they captured Coraline. You know that’s a violation," he added.

Greg isn’t really in a position to question me. He’s just a Beta, while I’m next in line for the throne. But I still respect him. He is, after all, the father of the woman I love.

But speaking of Riverlake's Pack, rage surged through my veins. If Greg had seen how badly hurt his daughter was, he would probably have done the same.

If that pack hadn’t harmed Ai—if they had just let her go when she begged for freedom—I would have spared them. But they went far beyond simply capturing her; they tortured her. And now, Greg expects me to show mercy? Never.

"They deserved it," I replied coldly.

"You killed the innocent just because of the wrongs committed by their leader. You think that's fair?" Greg challenged.

Fair? I clenched my teeth, my fists tightening. No one—absolutely no one—can hurt Aila now. I won’t let anyone bring her pain, not while I’m still breathing. Those who harm her will face the consequences, whether they are leaders or bystanders.

I have vowed to protect her, and if that makes me a monster, so be it. Ai is my everything, and her safety comes above all else. If I have to burn an entire pack to the ground to make sure no one dares to hurt her again, I will.

"You think I care, Greg?" I snapped.

I've already made sacrifices that most wouldn't even fathom. I dealt with my own father in ways that still haunt me, and I’ve even punished my own pack members when it came to Ai’s safety. Why would I hesitate to crush anyone outside our pack who dares to threaten her? Why should I care about their innocence when Ai’s life is on the line?

Greg's shoulders sagged. "I'm telling you, Zayn," he said quietly, almost like a plea. "Do not go overboard protecting Coraline. You know her fate."

His words twisted a knife in my chest. Fate. The idea that Ai was bound to a destiny beyond our control gnawed at me. But I couldn’t accept that. I refused to leave her defenseless just because someone decided her future was already written. No matter what Greg believed, I would do whatever it took to shield her, fate be damned.

Fuck those witches, fuck their curses, fuck fate, fuck destiny, and fuck everyone for giving Ai a hard life. If only I could swap someone else's life for hers, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Damn sacrifices, nothing but brief flashes of happiness in an endless pit of suffering.

"You know what I'm capable of, Greg," I whispered. "I will change her fate. I’ve done it once, and I know I can do it a second time if worse comes to worst"

Greg's gaze hardened, but he didn’t argue. He knew better than to challenge the sheer force of my resolve. But just as I took a breath, a sudden flashback jolted through my mind, paralyzing me with the weight of a memory I had tried desperately to bury.

It was like being pulled underwater, submerged in a moment so vivid it stole the air from my lungs. Blood. There was so much blood, staining the ground where she lay motionless. Her eyes — once so full of light and laughter — had gone still, and I had felt a coldness that shattered every fragment of hope I’d ever clung to.

The woman I loved, broken and gone, her life snatched away by a fate that seemed endlessly cruel.

Ai deserved to live. She deserved to be loved and cherished, not to be cast aside as a pawn in some cosmic game. The fear that gripped me wasn’t just fear of losing her — it was fear of failing her again, of watching that nightmare become reality once more.

I clenched my jaw, shoving the memory back into the recesses of my mind. No, I wouldn’t let that future come to pass. Not this time. Not ever.

"I hope you will not regret any decision you make..." he paused. "I'm happy that you care for my daughter, but I hope you always choose the lesser evil. After all, you lead the many, not for one," he said before walking away.

Greg is duty-oriented; that's why my father trusted him so much. A person like him will choose to defend the pack over family matters. But that's not the case for me. I lead not for the people; I lead because I'm able. They rely on me, and whether I disappoint them or not is not my problem.

They can hate or love my kind of leadership; it's up to them. I'm not doing it to gain their approval.

I can put my life on the line to save my pack in the same way I can make sacrifices for one person. That might be the reason why my father couldn't fully give me the power of an Alpha—because he knew I am reckless.

"The payment will be processed by Greg. Just tell him," I commanded after ordering all the necessary equipment for the homestead.

By the time I arrived back at the homestead with a small load of equipment — most of it scheduled to be delivered tomorrow — the sky was tinged with the warm hues of dusk.

A handful of the she-wolves were wrapping up their duties, exhaustion evident on their faces but strength still present in their postures. They nodded respectfully at me, but I could see the unease in their eyes. My reputation wasn’t one that inspired comfort.

I scanned the entire area, and my eyes instinctively found her among the she-wolves. She was wearing a floral dress with a tulip print, looking out of place. Her pale skin made her stand out, almost like a goddess lost in this realm. She was just... ethereal. Suddenly, our eyes met, and hers widened as if in shock.

"Why are you here already?" she asked, sounding a little annoyed, as if seeing me was a bad thing. This woman!

"Oh, you miss me?" I teased, enjoying the way her cheeks flared with irritation and how she rolled her eyes. These little moments made my heavy load feel a little lighter.

"Are you deaf or what? You need to have your ears checked, Zayn. Something's wrong with them," she shot back, unwilling to yield.

I wanted to chuckle, but with the other she-wolves around, I hid it behind a smirk. She was easily annoyed, easily angered, but for some reason, she looked even more beautiful when she was angry. Weird, right?

"It's working fine. I can still hear you and your fast... heartbeat," I said, pestering her more.

Her chinky eyes widened as she glanced at the rest of the she-wolves, who were pretending to be busy. Before I could brace myself for her retaliation, a broom came crashing straight into my face. Fuck!

"Oh, no! You better learn to catch a broom with your hand, not your face! Tsk!" she uttered dramatically while shaking her head. "Next time, I'll teach you."