Alethea (Zoe)
Sharp pain pierces through my lower abdomen, forcing me to stop. My hand instinctively flies to my stomach as the pain is more unbearable than I ever expected. It’s as if my body is betraying me, reacting to something I can’t control.
I know this is Asher’s doing. I know it’s his way of testing me to see how I’ll react. He knows exactly what he’s doing: kissing Maya right in front of me.
Maya has her back to me, oblivious, but Asher’s face is impossible to miss. His eyes lock onto mine, watching as I struggle to contain the pain.
What kind of bond is this? It refused to break, even after he rejected me. It’s infuriating. A part of me wants to march up to him and squeeze the life out of him, just to make him feel even a fraction of the agony he’s put me through.
How am I supposed to move on when I’m bound to this arrogant excuse of an Alpha?
And then there’s my son. Asher doesn’t know about him, and I plan to keep it that way. I refuse to let my child grow up like him. My son deserves better than this… better than.
When Asher is finally satisfied with the pain he’s inflicted on me, he lets go of Maya.
But of course, Maya, being the clingy fool that she is, refuses to step back. She clings to him like he’s the only thing keeping her alive.
A part of me wants to rip her off him, to tear her away and remind her exactly where she stands. How dare she hold on to him like that? The thought races through my mind, burning with fury.
‘He’s mine,’ a strong voice echoes in my head.
I shake my head slowly, trying to push that ridiculous claim away. No, I won’t let myself agree to something so… so stupid.
But then Asher’s eyes shift. His gaze is no longer on Maya, it’s on me. And Maya notices. She turned her face toward me.
“Asher, who’s this?” she asks.
Asher smiles. “Maya, this is Ms. Zoe Carter, the mastermind behind our new database app.”
I take in a slow, steady breath, reminding myself of Selena’s lessons. ‘Control your emotions, no matter what.’
But as I look at Maya, memories flood back, her threats, the way she shoved my face into icy water, the wolves she sent after me. It all made my chest tighten with rage.
I want to scream at her, to tell her to get out of my sight. Instead, I school my face, not letting her see the storm brewing in me.
“And Ms. Zoe, meet my mate, Maya Whitaker.”
My heart twists painfully in my chest, the emotional agony shattering whatever control I thought I had left. The ache is all-consuming, but I force myself to take a deep breath.
He pulls her closer, staring into her eyes with an intensity that makes my stomach churn. It’s as if she’s his entire world. And for a moment, I almost believed it.
“It’s good to meet you, Luna,” I say, bowing my head slightly in respect. Physically I look composed, but inside, I stand tall.
“I thought I’d treat Ms. Carter to breakfast. I hope you won’t mind, my love,” he says, taking Maya’s hand and leading her toward the table.
“Not at all, my Alpha,” Maya replies, grinning like a lovesick fool. I glance at her quickly, studying her expression.
Beneath her smile, I catch a flash of surprise. It’s clear she wasn’t expecting this sudden display of affection from Asher, and that realization brings a smile to my face.
I can’t tell if I’m amused because Asher doesn’t actually care for her or because she’s being played so effortlessly. Either way, it feels oddly satisfying.
“Thank you, Alpha Asher, for inviting me. It’s an honor to share a meal with the all-powerful Alpha of the Redwood Pack,” I say, smiling bright and unbothered.
Alpha Asher seems momentarily thrown by my calm demeanor. Oh, he expected me to be sad, maybe even jealous, seeing him with Maya.
“I hope you slept well on your first night in our pack,” he says, his smirk dripping with mischief as he settles into his chair. Of course, not before pulling out a seat for that dumb fool, Maya.
I loathe her. Every fiber of my being wants to march over there and slam her head into the plate in front of her. And while I’m at it, maybe I’ll wipe that stupid smirk off Alpha Asher’s face by doing the same to him.
I know what he’s doing. That question wasn’t innocent-it was a reminder of what happened last night. How he came into my room, uninvited, doing things I can’t erase from my mind.
But two can play this game.
“Oh, I had a great night,” I say with an exaggerated smile. “Though I did miss cuddling with my boyfriend.” I pause dramatically as if just realizing what I said. “Oh, my bad-I’m so sorry. Did I say that out loud?” I add, feigning ignorance.
The effect is immediate. Asher stiffens in his chair, his smirk vanishing as his face darkens. His entire body radiates tension, his wolf threatening to surface. I can feel his aura shift-anger rolling off him.
But for once in my life, his overwhelming presence doesn’t scare me. I meet his darkened gaze. If he thinks he can control me, he’s wrong.
Ever since I gave birth to Declan, I’ve felt a surge of power coursing through me-a strength I can’t fully explain. I’m no longer the timid Ally who could be easily bullied.
This newfound resilience, both physical and emotional, has transformed me. So, it doesn’t surprise me that Asher’s aura no longer affects me.
Maya, on the other hand, looks unsettled. She glances between me and Alpha Asher, clearly trying to piece together the unspoken tension between us.
I lower my head slightly, my voice is soft and apologetic. “I didn’t realize it was improper to mention my boyfriend in front of the Alpha. I’m so sorry… I just miss him. I swear I didn’t mean to say it out loud,” I murmur.
But inside, I’m laughing. Watching Maya’s uncertainty and Asher’s barely-contained fury is more satisfying than I care to admit.
Maya reaches out, placing a hand on Asher’s shoulder. Her touch seems to ground him, and I can see him slowly regaining control, his wolf retreating.
“Let’s eat,” Maya announces brightly, clapping her hands. The servers immediately step forward, moving to dish food to our plates.
I’m not entirely comfortable with it. I would have preferred to serve myself, but I don’t want to appear rude. The spread is impressive-bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes, and an array of drinks including fruit juices, tea, and coffee.
I choose bacon and eggs with a cup of tea. The tension in the room remains palpable, but I stay composed, sipping my tea and observing quietly.
I try to drown every thought in my head and focus on my food. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t ignore the sensation of someone’s eyes drilling into me. I know without looking who it is. Alpha Asher.
I refuse to meet his gaze, keeping my focus on the plate in front of me, pretending not to notice. A part of me hopes he’ll stop, but his presence is impossible to ignore.
“You know,” Maya’s voice cuts through the silence. “You look like someone I’ve met before.”
The words hang in the room; slowly, I lift my head.
My breath catches in my throat the moment my eyes meet her. Her piercing eyes, sharp and calculating, lock onto mine, pinning me in place. For a moment, the world around us fades. It’s as if her gaze sees straight through me, revealing every wall I’ve worked so hard to build.