Chapter Thirty Seven

Zane’s POV.

Reign.

That was what they called it. It was the “free city” for packs that had bent the knee to Chase and his rule. But it just sounded like a fucking joke to me.

Nothing was ever free when Chase was involved.

I got out of the car and looked up at the hotel they had reserved for us, this tall, shiny, and gold-tinted building. A five-star hotel in the middle of enemy land.

I turned back to see my men who were already acting like we were on vacation, laughing and taking in the sweet smell of artificial freedom.

They were foolish, I didn’t trust shit.

“Mr Zane, sir.” The valet said with a bow. “Your rooms are ready. The girls will take your bags.”

“The girls?” I frowned.

And as if on cue, six beautiful women in red, beautiful dresses walked out of the hotel, each of them holding golden bowls filled with so much h fruit, grapes, cherries, pomegranates, you name it, they had it.

“Welcome.” One of them purred, bowing low enough for her perfume to choke me, and for me to see her generous cleavage. “From Alpha Chase, as a gift.”

I didn’t say anything. I just watched. The fruits were one thing, but the way they carried themselves made it clear they weren’t here just for hospitality. These women weren’t waitresses, they were bait. Part of the gifts.

“Damn.” Xandre, one of the squad, whispered to me. “Did we just arrive in Paradise or what?”

“Keep your eyes peeled,” I muttered. “This is enemy territory, be on your fucking toes.”

He shrugged, already walking off with one of the girls hanging off his arm.

I followed them upstairs, staying close. The suite they’d given us was massive, there were marble floors, velvet couches, and champagne bottles stacked by the windows. The city sparkled beyond the glass windows like a fucking fantasy novel.

But all I saw was a trap.

Still, I tried not to ruin the mood for the others. I took a corner seat by the window and watched my men get comfortable. Half of them already had their boots off, and the girls were pouring them drinks, sitting on laps like they belonged there.

I closed my eyes for a second.

"Hey.” A soft voice said. I opened them again.

One of the women had walked up to me. She was tall, bronze-skinned, with honey eyes and curly hair that fell over her shoulders so nicely.

“I’m Dana.” She said, giving me a small smile. “You haven’t touched your drink yet.”

“I don’t drink anything that comes from Chase.” I said.

She laughed softly.

“Well… not all of us are here by choice.” She said.

I looked up at her.

“What pack are you from?”

She paused, then spoke.

“Eclipse.”

I stood immediately.

“What? Why will a member of my pack be here, running errands for a madman?”

She flinched like I’d raised my voice too loud.

“That madman makes sure I'm not in the street. He sheltered us, fed us and our clothes on our back. We owe him,"She spoke quietly.

Her words drifted off.

“What the hell are you doing here then? To spy on us? On me?” I hissed, pulling her by the arm toward my room.

“No! By the goddess, no!” She said. “I just…I do what I have to do to survive.”

I shut the door behind us.

“What the fuck does that mean?” I snapped. “You serve fruits and flirt with the enemy?”

Her face hardened.

“Don’t judge me!” She bit back. “Do you know how many girls disappeared when they said no to Chase? I said yes so I could stay alive. ”

All I could do was feel bad at the moment. I didn’t know what to say to that.

She stepped closer.

“I know you think this is a setup. But not everything is black and white. Some of us are just… gray.”

We stayed silent for a bit, feeling our heavy breath slap on each other's face. I noticed her leaning forward until she kissed me.

I couldn't pull away, I just wanted myself to feel like I used to, love like I used to without the guilt burning away my sense of satisfaction.

I succumbed to her warmth, feeling her hands wander down and around my body, exploring the span of me. I let her hand go lower, and she softly massaged my hard rod until I thought I would explode from the touch alone.

It felt like a lifetime ago since I was touched like that. I heaved a sigh when I felt my dick in between her wet thighs. The deeper went, the more intense it got.

Her moans filled the air alongside the lewd smell of sex. I could feel myself losing grip of my senses from her warmth thighs that were squeezing my cock intensely.

"For a Prince, you are really rough," She gasped when she stumbled against the wall. I placed kisses on her neck, moving downward to her chest, drawing a line with my tongue that made her moan softly.

Her shirt dress patched the moment she went on her tippy toes. I was certain at that point when I noticed that she wasn't wearing any panties.

My mind wondered but my body needed to feel more pleasure. I grabbed her ass and gently went inside of her.

"Fuck!" She wheezed. I shut my eyes, feeling the rush of the moment and her insides wrapping around my firm cock.

But, I opened my eyes to see a different picture. For a second, Brielle's face was on hers. The image startled me to a point where I had to back away.

She looked in shock, wondering what went wrong, "Are you okay?"

My heart pounded against my ribs like it wanted to tear itself out of my chest.

“I’m sorry.” I said, gasping. “I can’t do it."

I walked out of the room, ignoring the curious looks of my warriors and the fake smiles of the women still in the suite.

I ran, dropping my clothes by the lake, and I shifted and then ran deep into the forest behind the hotel. I needed space, I needed to breath. I wondered what I had to do to let go of it all, the pain, the hurt, all of it.

Everytime when I thought I had moved on, something else came up to remind me that I haven't.

I shifted back by the lake and sat there, naked in the dark, staring at the water. My reflection looked just as lost as I felt.

“You really fucked up your life, didn’t you?” I muttered to myself.

I couldn't help but think about the child we had lost and how it could had been if the baby was still present. Maybe it would had gone differently but that's a reality I would never get to witness.

At a point I realized, nothing would change, no matter how hard I pondered. Everything would be as it is, the harsh reality of life.

******

I walked back in the hotel, the music had turn to silence. Their loud laughter had given way for the night's chirpings. I chuckled softly with the thought that they had been put to bed by the women they admired from earlier.

I walked into my room, hoping to see her again and maybe explain why I had to storm out earlier. But something felt different, the moment I turned the knob. The eerie feeling could be noticed in an instant.

I walked in with my guard up and the room looked empty.

"It's a shame," A voice shot from the dark corner by the door.

I reacted accordingly, watching keenly as the huge figure stepped into the light slowly.

"I was expecting the other one but any of you might just work," Chase stepped closer. Staring at him up close, I wouldn't deny the fright that shot through me.

"I wasn't expecting you tonight, Alpha Chase. I thought the meeting will heard by morning," I muttered, watching him pace round me like a predator.

"I did send someone to pass the night with you. Apparently you got scared and ran away," He chuckled lightly with his statement.

"I needed air, so I left accordingly," I replied with a grin, trying to keep my head calm to assess the situation.

"You will get enough air," He grunted, with a smirk that sent terror through me.

I noticed his gaze staring behind me. The silent footsteps confirmed that we were not alone. I turned swiftly and was met with a sharp knife that went into my gut.

"No!" Chase held me up from behind as I stumbled backwards.

"Don't fall, I need you to stand and collect it,"

I gazed into the eyes of the one who stabbed me. It was the last thing I could recall before I passed out from the silver's effect.