Zara’s POV
I heard Nic’s voice down the hallway, and I silently crept closer, my heart pounding in my ears.
How could Levi allow him inside? Does he not realize that I am not interested in seeing him?
“Well, technically, you did not tell him why you were not interested in seeing Nicholas,” Kaya said, startling me. “It appears that he intervened on his own to encourage communication between the two of you.”
“That does not mean that he can make decisions about things that are personal for me in secret,” I snapped.
I moved to get a better look by moving toward the end of the hallway.
Unaware of my presence, Nic was facing away from the hallway. His hair was neatly combed back and tied up, and he wore black pants and a white formal shirt.
“Stop being upset with Levi,” Kaya said. “You refused to say anything more when you got home, and he seemed concerned about your emotional state. He cares about you. Levi must have been so distraught that he called Nicholas.”
“Nevertheless!” I clenched my hands into fists and snarled. “That does not give him the right to handle my business or to allow Nicolas to enter my quarters!”
“In theory, he is entitled to do so,” Kay asserted firmly. “He is legally your mate, and he resides here. You do not have to give him permission to invite anyone into the quarters.”
“That’s not at all true!” I growled.
I think Levi heard me hiss in rage. He abruptly cut off his conversation with Nic and turned to face me.
“It is not what you think,” Levi mind-linked. “I will explain.”
“Explain?” I let out a roar over the link. “If you knew what he said to me, you would not…”
My thoughts shot into overdrive when Nic looked over his shoulder.
“Zara?” he called, his voice tired.
With wide eyes, I shook my head. My anger towards him was far from over.
Kaya whined.
“Stop it!” I snarled at her. “Now is not the right time to forgive him!”
“He is our mate, Zara,” she said. “Take a look at him. He appears to be worn out. He needs us.”
“A mature woman is what he seeks!” I lost my temper. “He doesn’t-”
“You are behaving ridiculously!” Kay cut me off.
“This is not the right time to argue about this,” I retorted, but Kaya felt compelled to intervene and started fighting for control.
“You will not keep me from my mate!” Kaya let out a roar and extended her aura in an attempt to subdue me.
The atmosphere around her grew cold, but her aura did not affect me.
“No, I am not!” I gave her a growl in return. “I am just exercising caution. Do you recall what transpired when we went to locate Alpha Noah? Do you recall how it affected you? Or how it affected me?”
Kaya released her hold on me and lowered her head, the fight draining out of her. It was fear that made her realize what I was talking about.
“Let us investigate Alpha Nicolas first; we will not be kicking the hornets’ nest just yet,” I said. “Perhaps he did say those things in error, or perhaps he didn’t. However, I do not wish to have my heart torn apart and dispersed once more.”
Kaya gave a nod.
I pivoted quickly and made my way back down the hallway in the direction of my room. I was not prepared to face Nic just yet.
“Zara stop!” Along the corridor came Nic’s echoing voice and heavy footsteps.
Massive hands seized my waist and yanked me back.
This was one round that I was not going to let him win. I released the towel that was covering me and leaped forward, surprising Nic by leaving him holding a white towel in his hands.
I did not care that Nic was getting a full Monty view as I ran the remaining distance in my birthday suite down the hallway toward my room.
I had opened my bedroom door and fled inside, and I was able to slam it in Nic’s face the moment he reached it.
I heard Nic grab the door handle to open it as I locked the door.
“Open the door, Zara!” He yanked on the door, calling out in the hopes that it would comply. “It is time for us to talk!”
“Alpha Nicolas, there is nothing to discuss,” I called from behind the door. I knew that calling him out by title would drive him crazy. “You covered all that needed to be said.”
“Zara. “I am sorry, Zara,” he said, seeming emotionally spent, and he continued to pull on the doorknob. “I didn’t mean it. I simply find everything that is happening to be frustrating. I don’t know what I was thinking. I wasn’t thinking!”
As I listened to his words, my heart tightened in my chest. It was how I felt, too. It was not just Nicolas who was growing restless with the way things were going.
But it did not give him the right to speak poorly of me. I am more than what he perceives me to be. I will demonstrate to him that I am an adult.
I could hear Nic standing at the door, making a sincere effort to apologize and clarify his circumstances.
However, as soon as he confided in me that he was getting frustrated with the circumstances, I stopped paying attention to him.
I was not going to spend my time here listening to his constant yapping. I had to go outside and collect my thoughts.
When Levi attempted to link me, I blocked him and closed my link.
I dashed to my walk-in closet, snatched my black and purple training suit off the shelf, picked up a cozy pair of black sneakers that went with it, and hurriedly walked out of there to change.
I put my hair up in an untidy bun, looked in the mirror, and applied lip gloss and eyeliner to my lips.
“Perfect,” I muttered to myself. “Just the right amount of makeup to avoid looking like a ghost.”
“So?” Kaya asked. “What kind of escape plan do you have?”
“Through the front door,” I replied.
“And how do you think you are going to pull that off?” She inquired, curious to find out.
“Watch and learn,” I told Kaya.
It was then that I realized Nic’s voice was coming from down the hallway.
“What is he doing?” I leaned my ear against the door and whispered.
“Now you seem curious,” Kaya said, appearing a little irritated with me.
“I am not,” I protested. “All I need to do is find out what he is doing before trying to leave my room.”
Although I could hear Nic talking, I was unable to understand what the conversation was about. Werewolf doors are soundproof due to our extraordinary sense of hearing.
I removed the door’s key and peered through the opening.
Nic was on a phone call. I suppose he must have had a call during my time in the walk-in closet. He seemed distracted enough not to notice me leaving.
I waited until Nic turned around and was out of sight.
Now was my chance.
I opened my bedroom door as quickly as I could, glanced around, stepped outside, and shut the door behind me.
Nic was still talking on the phone. He seemed to be upset about something because I could hear him growl angrily.
Whoever it was, they were helping me out by keeping Nic occupied.
I crept past the kitchen and living room, making sure not to make any sudden movements or loud noises, and slipped down the hallway to the foyer door. I reached out to open the door when the last words Nic said over the phone startled me.
Oh, Goddess.
Was I hearing that right?
****