CHAPTER 3

ZAYNE

Emily could not stop pacing around. She was clearly tense. Looking at my daughter right now, for the first time, I regretted letting her go live with humans when she was just 11.

But Emily has always been an inquisitive child who wanted to explore outside the pack, so I did what I thought was best for her.

“You know she will be fine. You really need to take it easy, princess.”

“Just what was I thinking, Dad? Lisa has really had a rough day. I should not have taken her unawares. I should not have tried to show her my werewolf form. I just wanted her to believe me.”

“I was just tired of hiding in the closet. Gosh, why do I feel like I have lost my best friend?”

She finally sat beside her friend, tapping her feet aggressively.

Times like this, I wish her mum were alive. She would have known the best words to use.

“Come here, baby. None of this is your fault. She will come around to this reality. Go get some rest. I will be in my room.”

I looked at her friend who was lying down peacefully, and I felt it again, that mate bond.

I immediately left the room and went over to the place where I draw out my feelings.

I have a gift of sketching and painting anything I lay my eyes on to perfection, even if it is just a glance. My memory retains every single detail.

I went over to the covered portrait and slowly removed the cover, revealing her… Lisa in that black short gown she wore last night.

I was only meant to unwind with cool music and some drink, but immediately I set my eyes on her, I felt something I thought I had lost 20 years ago when Emily’s mum died.

That strong bond that keeps pulling me to mark her at that spot.

When she came over to me and used her hands to trail down my chest, I lost it.

I do not do one-night stands, but I made an exception with her because my body betrayed me without putting up a fight.

But everything about the way I feel is wrong.

I am not just an Alpha but the king of Alphas of the strongest pack.

It is against the rules for me to have this bond attraction toward her. She is a human, not just any human, but my daughter’s best friend.

No matter how much I try, how her body melted into mine refuses to leave my head.

I covered the portrait again, this time I hid it and made sure I locked the door on my way out.

“Alpha Zayne, we have an issue. Your brother has escaped.”

I stayed still for some seconds. “Scar, to my room.”

He followed me straight to my room. “I made it clear that he should be placed on house arrest till after the Christmas celebration. He being outside there means danger, damn!”

“I am sorry. Our men had it under control, but he killed one of them, took off his clothes and identity, and left.”

If Scar was not my most trusted aide, I would have had my fist on his face.

“I need him back before 24 hours.”

“Scar, I do not need any mistakes this time.”

He took his bow and left.

******

LISA

I opened my eyes and realised it was all a nightmare. Emily’s eyes were shut as she sat beside me.

I sat up, making her wake up. “You are awake. How are you, Lisa?”

Was it concern, or did she look and sound frightened? “I am good. You do not want to believe the horrible dream I had. You had funny claws. I think I should throw away all the crazy werewolf books you read.”

I was expecting her to laugh as usual, but this time she did not. She was avoiding my eyes.

“What is wrong, Emily? Did something happen? You do not look good.”

She bent her head. “It was not a dream, Lisa. I am sorry for hiding it from you. You never believed in any of this. I just wanted to prove to you that I was not joking.”

“What you saw was real. We are werewolves, and my daddy is the Alpha of this pack.”

My knees started buckling as sweat formed on my forehead.

It was not a dream… I stood up and ran over to the wall. Just where am I? Why is my entire life taking a 360 turn? How did I go from living with humans to demons?

“Calm down, Lisa. We will not hurt you, not while you are here. I know this is a lot for you, but please, be calm.”

Emily tried coming over to me. I picked up the flower vessel close to me and aimed it at her. “Do not touch me. I will use this. Move back right away.”

She stepped back with her hands up, and I took to my heels and bumped into someone outside the room.

Oh no. Her dad. If there are demons, it simply means I slept with one.

I gasped and covered my mouth, then Emily ran out to meet us.

“I am so sorry, best friend. Look, we will not hurt you.”

I could not stop my body from trembling. I should have stayed back and gotten married to Josh. Now I will be slaughtered like a goat.

“Please… just let me go. I will not say a word of this to anyone. Please.”

“It is fine. If that is what you want, Lisa, I will ask someone to drive you back home safely. I am sorry again. We can talk once you are calm.”

Emily’s words were relieving. I wanted to run off as usual, but his hands stopped me.

“Unfortunately, you cannot go now. It is not safe out there,” he said.

I removed my hands from his grip immediately. “I do not care. I cannot stay here with demons.”

“Okay then. It is your choice. Go outside and get killed, Lisa.”