All Chapters of The Rejected Wolf Returns: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The quiet of the cabin returned slowly after the storm of emotions that had swept through the bedroom. Zoe lay beside Zack, staring at the wooden ceiling above them as she tried to slow her breathing. The room still smelled faintly of pine from the forest outside, mixed with the warmth of the afternoon sun pouring through the windows.For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then Zoe’s stomach growled loudly. She blinked, and Zack lifted his head slightly, a smirk forming on his face. “Well,” he said. “That answers that.” Zoe groaned and covered her face with a pillow. “Did that seriously just happen?”“Yes,” Zack said, clearly amused. “Your stomach just announced itself to the entire cabin.”She threw the pillow at him. “Shut up.” But her own laughter betrayed her. Zack rolled out of bed, stretching his arms above his head. “I’m starvi

Morning came softly, for a long moment, Zoe didn’t open her eyes. She stayed exactly where she was, half-asleep, warm, and tangled up in Zack’s arms beneath the thick blankets. His chest was solid against her back, one arm draped securely around her waist, his breathing slow and even against her hair. The cabin was quiet except for the faint sound of birds outside and the distant rustle of wind through the trees.If she didn’t move, she could almost pretend none of the complications existed, no pack politics, no Luna duties, no painful past, just warmth and him. Celeste stretched happily inside her mind. This is nice. Zoe let out a quiet sigh. “Yes,” she admitted silently. “It is.” Behind her, Zack stirred. His arm tightened instinctively around her waist before he buried his face closer to her neck.“Morning,” he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep. Zoe smiled despite herself. “Morning. He didn’t move, nor did she. “This is dangerous,” she said softly after a moment. Zack’s voice was

The hall had fallen completely silent. Kelly stood frozen where she was, staring at Zoe as she had just been struck across the face. “Luna?” she whispered. The word seemed to choke in her throat. Zoe crossed her arms casually, her silver eyes cool and steady. “Yes,” she replied calmly. “Luna.” Kelly looked from Zoe to Zack and back again, clearly expecting someone to correct the situation. No one did, Zack looked… stunned. Lucas looked entertained, and the rest of the pack members nearby were trying very hard not to react at all. Kelly scoffed, shaking her head. “No. That’s not possible.” Zoe raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” Kelly pointed angrily toward her. “You can’t be Luna! Zack told me—” Zoe cut her off before she could finish. “You know something interesting, Kelly?” Kelly blinked.“What?” Zoe stepped closer, her voice calm but carr

The sun had barely risen when Zoe woke the next morning. She hadn’t slept much; every time she closed her eyes, the image returned: Kelly, standing outside Zack’s room, wearing his shirt. Zoe sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed her face with both hands. “I should have just stayed at Red Water,” she muttered. Celeste stirred slowly inside her mind. Maybe. Zoe sighed. “Helpful.” Her first instinct had been anger. But now… it was something worse: confusion and doubt, and she grabbed her phone from the bedside table and dialled the number she had long ago memorised. It rang twice. “Zoe?” Alpha Jacob’s voice answered. Relief washed over her instantly. “Hey.” He immediately sensed something was wrong. “What happened?” Zoe leaned back against the wall.

The room smelled faintly of perfume and hairspray as Zoe stood in front of the mirror while Jessica circled her like a very focused stylist. “Stop moving,” Jessica said, holding Zoe’s chin gently. “I’m not moving.”“You are breathing.”“Jessica…” Jessica stepped back and admired her work. “There.” Zoe looked into the mirror. Her black dress hugged her figure perfectly, the soft fabric outlining every curve without being overly revealing. The slit along her leg showed just enough skin when she moved, and the heels made her legs look long and elegant. Jessica had kept the makeup simple —just enough foundation to smooth her skin, a light blush —but her eyes—Jessica had made them pop. Dark liner framed Zoe&rsqu