A gasp of awe escaped Zoe lips as she stepped into the vast library. Books stretched endlessly from floor to ceiling, covering every wall in an impressive display of knowledge and stories. The rich scent of aged paper and leather bindings filled the air, creating an atmosphere that felt like stepping into another world. This was her paradise, a sanctuary where countless adventures and mysteries awaited discovery. An overwhelming desire to devour every book in this vast collection washed over her, making her fingers tingle with anticipation. Reading had always been her sanctuary, her perfect escape from the complexities of life. Whenever challenges arose, or difficulties seemed insurmountable, she could simply lose herself in the pages of a book and forget about reality, finding solace in the worlds created by countless authors.
She began searching through the countless volumes, her eyes scanning the spines with focused determination as she desperately sought information about Fey witches. The soft carpet muffled her footsteps as she moved along the towering shelves, her fingers trailing the spines of ancient tomes and modern manuscripts.
After carefully scanning the shelves and methodically working through various sections, her eyes landed on a promising title: "History of Witches." The leather-bound volume seemed to call to her, its worn edges suggesting years of use and hidden knowledge within its pages.
This could be precisely what she needed. She carefully carried the book to a nearby plush couch, settling into its comfortable embrace. Trying to ignore the persistent hunger pangs that reminded her of missed meals, she opened the book and dove into the first chapter, eager to uncover its secrets.
Jackson
His heart raced with excitement at the thought of bringing Zoe coffee. The simple act of providing her with her favorite beverage filled him with joy. If coffee was all it took to keep that enchanting smile on her face, he would gladly buy an entire coffee plantation to ensure her happiness.
He had just finished preparing their drinks when Jennifer materialized before him, her presence unwelcome and intrusive. Jason's step-sister was someone he intensely disliked, and he still couldn't fathom why his friend constantly defended her actions. She was manipulative and cruel, always throwing herself at any man she perceived as powerful or influential. Now, she stood there, flaunting herself in a dress that was inappropriately tight and short, leaving little to the imagination. Her overwhelming perfume permeated the air, making his stomach turn with its cloying sweetness.
"Jackson, finally found you," she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
"I'm occupied, Jennifer," he replied curtly, hoping she would take the hint.
"Oh, we haven't caught up in ages," she persisted, stepping closer.
"There's no need to, Jennifer."
His attention shifted to where Jared stood uncomfortably close to Zoe, the sight making his blood boil. His wolf snarled inside his head; get away from my mate, or I'll tear you apart.
He couldn't disagree with his wolf's protective instincts. Now, he needed to extract himself from Jennifer without creating unnecessary drama that would complicate matters further.
"Good seeing you, Jennifer," he said dismissively.
"Don't be cold; remember our fun, Jackson?" she pressed, her eyes gleaming with suggestion.
That night remained his biggest regret—letting her into his bed while drunk and clouded with poor judgment. Though it wasn't an excuse, had he known her true nature then, he would have never made such a grave mistake that now haunted him.
"I remember, Jennifer, and it's never happening again," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He moved to reach Zoe, but she had vanished from her previous spot. Scanning the room frantically, he saw no sign of her, though Jared sat alone, eating as if nothing had happened.
He immediately mind-linked her guard, Dustin. He was one of his most trusted men, and he knew he'd protect his mate faithfully. He'd assigned him to her, determined to keep her safe from the moment she arrived.
"Dustin, where's Zoe?" he demanded through the mental connection.
"She's in the library, Alpha," came the prompt response.
"Why?"
Dustin's hesitation was palpable through their mental link; he was clearly withholding something important.
"Dustin, tell me now."
"Alpha, Jared made a snide comment about the amount of food on her plate," Dustin reported through their mental link, his voice tinged with anger and concern. "She put down her barely touched meal and headed for coffee when she spotted Jennifer with you. The hurt in her eyes was unmistakable. She seemed deeply upset and left quickly. I heard her muttering something about hating Jennifer as she walked away."
Jackson's blood boiled, the rage building inside him like a violent storm. His wolf clawed at his consciousness, demanding retribution. Was his mate feeling jealous? The thought both thrilled and troubled him. Her reaction suggested she cared more than she let on, but he hated seeing her hurt.
A more worrying thought crossed his mind. Had she somehow discovered his past indiscretion with Jennifer? The mere possibility sent cold dread through his veins. That one-night mistake could destroy any chance he had with his mate.
Pure, uncontrollable rage consumed him as he methodically searched for Jared in the dining room. That worthless excuse for a wolf had dared to insult his mate? The audacity of it made his hands shake with fury. He'd rip the wolf's tongue out for daring to speak to Zoe that way. But the coward had already disappeared, likely sensing the impending danger. Jackson immediately mind-linked Cole, his Beta and most trusted friend, ordering him to locate Jared and report back.
Jackson focused on taking care of Zoe, trying to reign in his murderous impulses. He carefully prepared a fresh plate of food, selecting items he'd noticed she enjoyed at previous meals. He asked Rebecca, a kitchen staff he trusted most, to deliver water and fresh coffee to the library via cart, ensuring his mate would have everything she needed.
Zoe
She was so deeply absorbed in the ancient text that Jackson's throat-clearing startled her out of her focused state. Looking up from the yellowed pages, she found him standing there, holding a steaming cup of coffee and a plate of carefully arranged food that made her mouth water despite herself.
She attempted to smile, though it felt forced. "Not hungry," she mumbled, ignoring the delicious aroma wafting from the plate.
Her traitorous stomach chose that exact moment to growl loudly, betraying her words with embarrassing clarity.
"Your stomach disagrees," Jackson said, his eyes twinkling with gentle amusement that made her heart flutter traitorously.
Settling beside her on the plush couch, he gently took the book from her hands and carefully and deliberately replaced it with the warm plate.
"You're beautiful, Zoe. You need to eat," he said softly, his words carrying a weight she couldn't quite understand.
She tried deflecting, mentioning her eagerness to explore the extensive library and its countless treasures.
He tilted his head, studying her with those intense eyes that seemed to see right through her defenses.
"We both know that's not the real issue. And I promise he'll never speak to you like that again," he stated firmly.
"What do you mean?" she asked, genuinely confused by his words.
"I know what Jared said. It was unacceptable and completely false," Jackson's voice barely contained the anger simmering beneath his controlled exterior.
Unsure how to respond to his protective reaction, she focused on eating, suddenly realizing how famished she was as she devoured the perfectly prepared food.
"Why do you even care?" she questioned between careful mouthfuls, trying to maintain dignity while practically inhaling the meal.
"It's my responsibility," he replied simply, though something in his tone suggested more was left unsaid.
Of course - he was the Alpha. Caring for pack members was his duty, nothing more. Someone like Jackson would never care for someone like her beyond his official responsibilities.
His attention shifted to her reading material, perhaps sensing her discomfort.
"Fascinated by witches?" he inquired, his tone carefully neutral.
Not wanting to reveal Celine's cryptic words, she smiled and nodded, keeping her secrets close.
He sighed, returning the book to her hands. "I have work to handle in my office. Meet Belinda there at three."
His following words were unexpectedly gentle, catching her off guard. "Zoe, if you need to talk about anything, I'm here."
Then he turned and walked away, leaving her with swirling thoughts and a racing heart that refused to calm.
A strange warmth filled her chest, and she couldn't suppress the genuine smile that spread across her face. The thoughtful gesture touched her deeply—no one had ever brought her food before or shown such care for her well-being. Celine's words echoed in her mind; she'd said Jackson was trustworthy. She made a mental note to speak with him after she met with Belinda, perhaps finally ready to share some of her burdens.
The ancient tome sprawled before her offered extensive knowledge about witches, its weathered pages filled with intricate details and historical accounts. However, regarding Fey witches, the text proved frustratingly sparse. Their exceptional rarity throughout history has made reliable information scarce, leaving significant gaps in the recorded knowledge. The few precious fragments she gleaned only confirmed what Celine had already shared - Fey witches were exclusively female. They possessed an extraordinary magnitude of power that set them apart from their conventional counterparts. Needing a mental break to process this limited information and kill time until her 3 p.m. meeting, she decided to seek out Katelynn and Aliza. The clock had barely struck eleven.
When she approached the guard stationed outside the library about her sister's whereabouts, he performed a swift mind-link, his eyes briefly glazing over before directing her toward the kitchen. As she walked down the corridor, the distinct footsteps behind her revealed his persistent presence.
"Really, I can find my way on my own," she insisted, maintaining a polite tone despite her growing irritation.
His stoic silence and unwavering footsteps were the only response to her protest, echoing through the hallway.
"At least tell me your name?" she attempted, hoping to break through his professional facade.
"Dustin," came his curt reply, his expression remaining impassive.
"Nice to meet you, Dustin. I'm Zoe," she offered warmly, attempting to bridge the formal gap.
He acknowledged her introduction with a simple nod and continued his silent escort duty.
Upon entering the kitchen, she discovered Beth, Aliza, and Katelynn deeply engaged in lunch preparations. They exchanged warm embraces and cheerful greetings, though she couldn't help noticing Dustin maintaining his vigilant position by the door, his presence a constant reminder of her supervised status.
The question of his persistent surveillance nagged at her thoughts.
When she offered to help with the meal preparation, they politely declined, so she settled for staying to chat. Something in Katelynn's expression suggested she harbored private thoughts to share. Still, the bustling kitchen environment made any confidential conversation impossible.
"We should go shopping on my day off, Zoe," Katelynn suggested, her tone carrying a hint of underlying meaning.
"Definitely. I need clothes badly," she agreed, grateful for the prospect of a regular activity.
The mention of clothing triggered a sudden recollection of her closet's meager contents. Another item to add to her growing list of topics for discussion with Jackson.
"Lunch is served," Beth announced cheerfully.
She went to the dining room, silently offering prayers to avoid another uncomfortable encounter with Jared.
Jackson stood by the buffet, carefully holding two plates. He extended one toward her with a simple yet authoritative command: "Eat."
Nervously, she bit her lip while selecting her food, conscious of his watchful presence.
Jackson leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "Stop biting your lip."
She met his intense gaze, puzzled by his peculiar attention to such a minor detail.
"Sorry," she murmured, uncertain how to respond.
His low chuckle preceded his next instruction: "Follow me."
He guided her to an elevated table, pulling the chair beside his own.
The question of why he wanted her seated next to him plagued her thoughts.
She settled into the chair hesitantly, her confusion mounting with each passing moment.
First, the guard's constant shadow, and now this special seating arrangement.
Did his distrust really run this deep?
Her heart performed an uncomfortable leap as Jared entered the room.
Their eyes locked, and she couldn't suppress the shocked gasp that escaped her lips.
His face displayed a shocking canvas of purple and blue bruises; someone had clearly administered a severe beating.
He quickly approached the table, carefully avoiding meeting anyone's gaze.
She looked questioningly at Jackson, who merely shrugged and responded with casual indifference, "I told you he'd learn his lesson."
"You did this to him?" she asked, horror evident in her voice.
He laughed darkly and said, "I wish I had."
"Your brother Ryker heard about the incident, too," he explained, suggesting there was more to the story than he was revealing.
With a knowing smirk playing across his features, he added, "I must say, I'm quite impressed by your brothers' swift and decisive actions in this matter."
"Men," she muttered under her breath, clearly exasperated by their predictable display of aggressive protectiveness. The group finished their meals in contemplative silence, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging heavy in the air. As they prepared to depart from the dining room, a sudden realization struck her consciousness.
"Jackson, I need to return the clothes in my closet to their rightful owner," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Those belong to you. I had them purchased specifically for your use," he stated definitively before striding purposefully out of the room.
The revelation left her momentarily stunned.
Had she heard his words correctly?
What possible motivation could he have for purchasing clothes for her?