All Chapters of Twins’ Obsession: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Zarek didn’t move at first.His chest rose and fell slowly as he stared at Astrid, still lying against the edge of his office table, her lips slightly parted and her cheeks flushed. His hands were still resting on either side of her, caging her in like a man who didn’t want to let go. But then….Knock. Knock.The sound made both of them freeze. Astrid sat up straighter quickly and tried to pull her dress into place.Zarek exhaled sharply and stepped back from her. His face was unreadable again. Cold and serious, like nothing had just happened. Like he hadn’t just had his hands on her, or whispered things that made her entire body heat up.“Cover up,” he said in a low tone, not even looking at her. “And stay right there.”Astrid swallowed hard and nodded. She felt embarrassed all of a sudden, even though a part of her didn’t want him to walk away.She wasn’t even supposed to like it at all.Zarek turned and walked to the door. He didn’t open it all the way, just cracked it enough to pe

Zarek didn’t say anything. He just let Astrid’s fingers keep moving slowly over his shoulders. The tension in his muscles had started to melt away, and even his wolf had gone quiet for the first time in days. It felt… nice and calming.She was good at this.Astrid didn’t speak either. She kept her head low, focusing on the way his muscles moved under her hands. She didn’t know why she was doing this. Maybe because he looked so tired. Or maybe it was something else she didn’t want to admit.“You’re good at this,” Zarek finally said, his voice low as he broke the silence.She blinked. “I… I used to do it for my father sometimes,” she muttered under her breath, wondering why she even thought of her wicked father now.That man didn't deserve to be in anyone's line of thought or memory.Zarek hummed quietly, then tilted his head back a little. “So tell me,” he said after a short pause, “why did you run away that day? The day Valerian caught you. You clearly told me you were willing to stay

_Zarek’s POV_Zade scooped Astrid into his arms like she weighed nothing, her blood staining the front of his shirt. Her head lolled and eyes swollen shut, mouth cracked open with pain. The sight stirred up my wolf, but I tried to keep my damn head in check.The crowd didn’t cheer. They just watched silently. The anger radiating off me was enough to silence them all.“She’s gonna be alright,” Zade muttered, more to himself than anyone. He turned to Shiski, the beta and the short man who ran this bloodpit. He was a rat-faced bastard with too much confidence. “We’ll be back, Skiski, we’re not done yet.”He rolled his eyes arrogantly and waved us off.Fucking asshole.Zade turned to look at me. “Let’s go.”I stared back at him, then at Astrid. “You take her. I’ll catch up.”He narrowed his eyes, but didn’t argue. “Fine. Don’t take long.”Then they disappeared, leaving behind blood, silence, and the sick stench of sweat. I walked toward the alley behind the fight room. The cold air slappe

_Astrid’s POV_I didn’t move.Not even when the knocks turned into loud, angry thuds.I just sat there on the floor, curled into myself with my arms wrapped tight around my knees as if that could protect me from the next storm. My chest felt heavy and my eyes stung with tears. I was tired, so, so tired.Then the door cracked. Not creak. It actually cracked.It splintered like glass hit by a hammer, and before I could react, it burst open with a loud bang and I flinched.When I looked up, I saw him. Zade.It was Zade.He stepped inside like a shadow creeping into some sunlight, his presence was cold and overwhelming as always. His face was unreadable, but his dark eyes found me in the corner immediately.I scrambled to my feet, heart racing.“Don’t come any closer,” I hissed, backing away from him. My eyes darted around the room, looking for anything to use as protection. Now that I dared to lock the door against him, he might try to punish me for it.My fingers closed around somethin

_Astrid’s POV_I woke up before the sun had even fully risen, my body aching from the day before. Every limb felt stiff, and every breath I dragged in became a reminder of the soreness left behind by Zade’s brutal training. But I didn’t let myself hesitate. If I wanted to survive, if I wanted to go, I had to be stronger. Stronger than the pain and stronger than them. Which I knew was extremely impossible.Getting dressed was a struggle. My shirt stuck to my skin, and my fingers fumbled with the buttons thanks to the tightness in my shoulders. But I forced myself through it, slipping on the gloves Zade had given me, but then tossing it aside and tying my boots with a hiss of pain.When I stepped out of my room, Esme was already waiting like a sour shadow. She looked me over with a twisted expression.“Tch,” she scoffed. “I still don’t understand what the Alpha sees in you. A weak, limp thing like you? He must be going soft.” She repeated yesterday’s words and I can’t help wondering why