LOGINThe days passed, and they turned into weeks. Zion made a lot of progress with her. Whenever he could, he’d find an excuse to take her to and from school. Sometimes he’d take her back to his place where they’d study or they’d play some video games. Jack didn’t come around when she was with him, giving him the space to woo her.She didn’t invite him back to her house, but their parents had hit it off. He’d spent a great deal of time at her place while their parents talked.Trey was officially dating Cheryl, which actually caused a few problems for Zion. With Trey and Cheryl together, it put her at their table for lunch. Zion found Maya eating around the school wherever she wanted to. He’d found her in tears a couple of times, and it was always down to Cheryl.The wolf inside him was demanding that he hurt the bitch who’d hurt Maya. He talked to his dad about the problems, but he only advised him to keep his distance. Hurting a human wouldn’t be good for the pack. There was more than one
“Yeah, steak. Anything with beef and potatoes and we’re all set.”“What about your mom?”“She’s the same. We’re pretty normal, Maya. Oh, we love chocolate.”“Okay. Meat and chocolate, got it.”“Maya,” he said.“Yeah.”“I can’t wait to see you.”Her cheeks were on fire. “Bye.”She passed Jack the cell phone, wishing she could leave but knowing it was rude.“Yep, she is. Yep … yep … bye.” Jack put his cell away.“Thank you.”“No problem. If you need any help, call me. In fact.” Jack pulled out a pen that he’d placed behind his ear. She watched him scrawl on the paper in front of him, tearing it off. “Here, call me whenever you need me and can’t get in touch with Zion.”She took the number from him. “Erm, thanks.”“See you around, Maya.”Pocketing his number, she didn’t know if she should throw it in the trash. She still didn’t trust either guy. Grabbing the trolley, she made her way toward the butchery department to find her mother still looking at the array of meats.“Beef,” Maya said.
Opening his bedroom door, he walked into his room, quickly stashing the books with her pictures in it into the nearest empty drawer. When he turned around, he found her still waiting on the threshold of his bedroom.“You’re not a vampire, are you? Can you come in?” He winced at his own words.“Erm, I’ve never been in a boy’s room before. I don’t, I’m not, I’m, erm, I’m not comfortable right now.”Feeling like the worst kind of idiot that ever lived, he went to her. “Nothing is going to happen, Maya. Seriously, I just didn’t want to be alone. I knew my parents would be home, and that’s why I invited you here.” He took her hand, leading her into the bedroom. “This is why I brought you here. I knew you wouldn’t want to be here without an adult present.”He slowly pulled her into his bedroom. She didn’t need to know that his parents being home wouldn’t stop him touching her if she let him.Zion curbed those needs instantly. She wasn’t here to help him with his dick.“See, nothing else is
“What are you going to do?” Jack asked.It was after school, and Zion leaned up against his car waiting for Maya to come out of school. He was so pissed off at what Cheryl had done. There was no way he could hurt her, not in the way he wanted to. She’d made his mate cry. When he saw Maya sitting on the bleachers, he’d been relieved, but then he saw she was crying and he’d almost lost it. He’d been hunting for his mate because Trey couldn’t give a shit, only to find she’d been hurt by that slut, Cheryl.“I don’t know.” He wanted to hurt Cheryl, humiliate her, make life so fucking hard for her that she knew what it was like to be in Maya’s shoes.He’d prove her wrong when it came to Maya. The best way to get back at Cheryl was by showing her to be a liar.“What did Trey say when I left?” Zion asked.“Nothing. I don’t even know why you were worried about him being a problem with Maya. He didn’t give a shit about her when you were gone. I’m starting to think he was just using Maya until
“Are you okay?” she asked, finally speaking.“Good, just focusing on driving.”“You don’t seem to be doing a good job of it.”“You’re in one piece, so we’re doing okay so far.” He reached over and squeezed her thigh.Maya gasped and jerked in her seat.“Shit, sorry, I was just trying to reassure you.”“Don’t worry about it.”On the way into school she noticed several of their peers were looking into his car. They were blatantly staring.“Ignore them,” he said, grabbing her hand.“It’s hard. They’re wondering where the joke is.” She forced a laugh even though she didn’t feel it.“I know it’s hard for you to think like this, Maya. There’s not going to be a joke or even a small giggle.”He pulled the car into the spot next to Jack, who hit the hood of his car.“It’s about time you got here. I’ve been saving this spot for you.”Trey was leaning against Jack’s car, laughing.Maya saw how comfortable he was around Jack and Zion. Last night he’d come around to her home and admitted he wanted
Jack looked through each picture. “She’s always close to you, and I know it’s not because she tried to either. I remember half of these pictures, and she did everything to stay away from us.”*Cruel to our mate.*Zion rubbed his chest, wishing there was something he could do or say to himself that would take away this heartache, but there was nothing.“I’m sorry, man. I know you don’t want to hear about this.”“It’s okay. My dad—he warned me all the time about hurting the wrong people. I wonder if he knew what I was setting myself up for.” Zion shrugged. “Either way, I’ve got to live with it now.”Jack put the pictures down. He didn’t have one of her from recently. The sound of the door opening put them both on alert. In the next instant he heard his mother talking. They both charged from the room in an attempt to get downstairs. He pushed Jack back into the room, rushing downstairs with his friend following behind him. They were both laughing by the time they got into the kitchen. Hi
Zion hovered over her, every muscle locked tight, waiting to see if he’d finally gone too far. His wolf clawed at the inside of his skin, snarling to finish what they’d started. There was no question left in his mind—Maya was the one he’d bitten all those years ago, the mate fate had chosen for him
A fierce swell of pride surged through Zion. Maya had always belonged to his pack—her scent had been woven into his world long before he’d realized it. That explained the way his men treated her: quiet deference, protective glances, never a hint of challenge. She was theirs to safeguard, even when
“I’ve got family handling the pack while I keep my little toy all to myself for a while.”The word toy should have pissed her off. It was possessive, crude, borderline insulting. But damn it, every time it rolled off his tongue it sent a rush of heat straight between her legs. She hated how much sh
Staring around the room, Maya saw over thirty couples mingling—some deep in conversation, others kissing passionately, and a few simply sitting close, hands wandering affectionately. She wore simple jeans and one of Zion’s shirts. His scent clung to the fabric, wrapping around her like a protective







