Lahat ng Kabanata ng Love is Hell; Mate is Heaven: Kabanata 181 - Kabanata 190

Mabel’s POV“Hold my hand, or I might float away.”I said it half teasing, half true. Zane’s fingers closed over mine as we left the Lightclaw guest floor with our bags. The hall still smelled like pine polish and citrus. My head was buzzing from the way the morning ended, Isabel’s sentence heard and settled, Tanisha’s quick hug warm on my shoulders. I kept my face calm. Inside, I was still shaking a little.Navy and Adrian met us at the stairs with knowing smiles. Trevon stood a step behind Tanisha, their shoulders almost touching. “Stonebrook soon,” Navy said, and pulled me into a quick hug. Tanisha did the same, her eyes bright.“See you on our turf,” I said.Zane’s thumb brushed my knuckles. No one missed that. Their looks said enough. I did not mind.We drove to the airfield. Zane did not let go of my hand unless he needed both to steer or sign. On the pl

Mabel’s POV“Don’t let go of me yet,” I whispered against his chest.Zane’s arm tightened around me, his breath warm on my ear. My body was draped over him, limp and trembling, and I clung to the rise and fall of his chest because everything inside me felt like melted wax.He lowered his lips to my neck, pressing a slow kiss where his mark would one day rest. The brush of his mouth sent a shiver racing through me, and I let out a soft sigh I couldn’t hold back.When he slipped out, another wave of sensation rolled through both of us. He steadied me when my knees almost gave way, holding me upright with a quiet strength that left me even more undone.“Hold onto me, kitten,” he murmured, his voice husky.I let my eyes close and leaned into him as he guided me under the shower. Warm water poured over my skin. His hands followed, slow and careful, gliding over every curve like I wa

Mabel’s POV“Why would they print this?” I whispered as my fingers tightened around the glossy edge of the magazine.The cover showed Tanisha and Trevon in the center, their smiles flawless, with Alpha Magnus and Luna Alicia flanking them. Perfect family, perfect image. Not a trace of Tanisha’s private sorrow. If I weren’t her friend, I’d never know it existed.I flipped the page and froze. Zane’s face. My face. My stomach knotted.There we were, page after page. Zane leaning close at the dinner table. Zane lifting a fork to my lips. Zane’s hand at my waist while we danced. The caption cut across the biggest photo like a blade: Did Alpha Zane find his Luna?My breath rattled as if someone pressed a stone to my chest. This was no harmless gossip piece. It was fuel for every rumor mill across the packs.I skimmed the article, eyes hungry, heart stumbling. They had caught my name—Lia. They speculated about who I was, if Zane would mark me. One bold note in black letters called out the abs

Mabel’s POV"Are you okay?" Trav asked quietly, once Ashley and Heather were out of earshot."I'm fine," I said, but my voice didn’t sound convincing. Even to me.The air still stung with their words. I could’ve snapped back, said something sharp, but… part of me wasn’t sure they were wrong.What even was I to Zane? A fling? A pet? He calls me kitten like it means something. Sometimes it’s Mrs. Blake. But names can be pretty lies. That man could charm a ghost into blushing.I used to tell myself I understood him. Zane—the temperamental Alpha who took what he wanted, when he wanted, with whoever he wanted. That included girls like Ashley and Heather. Probably a dozen more. Maybe every pretty face that smiled too long.And me? I was just another one who fell for it."I don’t know what just happened," Trav said gently, tilting my chin up so I’d meet his eyes. "But yo

Mabel’s POV"Let me down!" I snapped, my voice sharp against the steady rhythm of Zane’s steps.He didn’t answer. He just carried me like I weighed nothing, slung over his shoulder, his back as solid as stone under my cheek. My arms had gone numb from pushing at him minutes ago, and still he didn’t flinch."You can’t do this," I hissed, twisting my legs.His palm cracked against me. Heat flared across my backside, and his hand stayed there too long. I bit my lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction."Come on, Zane. Let me down. I can walk."Silence."Are you going to ignore me?" I punched his back. My knuckles stung, and I groaned. "You’re impossible."Another slap. Harder this time. My breath caught, not because of pain, but because he squeezed afterward. And I hated myself for wanting him to.Frustration boiled in my chest. I went limp and buried my f