Chapter 9%
Zane’s POV:
After the disaster at Elder Thom’s birthday, I thought the worst was over, but I was wrong. And everywhere I turned, the pack looked at me the same way they had after the birthday party. Like I was already finished. Like they’d seen what I did and wanted nothing more to do
with me.
I couldn’t shake Grandfather’s voice from my head. “You bled her dry? My grandson did this? For this woman?” The shame in his face. I’ve never seen him look at me like that. Not even when I made mistakes as a boy.
And then there was the silence. No one spoke to me unless they had to. No one dared mention her name around me, but that didn’t stop them from whispering it behind my back. Quinn. Always Quinn. And now, she was the one they respected. Not me.!!
I pushed open the door to my quarters and walked straight to the liquor cabinet. I wasn’t in the mood to think, but I couldn’t stop my mind from going back to the way Quinn looked when I left here in a burning room, and then she vanished, only to give those fucking gifts to Elder Thom?!
They hadn’t seen her pass the border gates. No scent trail. No mess. Just gone.l
Behind me, I heard footsteps.
“Zone?” Nina’s voice was soft, hesitant. She stood just inside the doorway, hands folded over the swell o of her stomach. She was trying to look vulnerable again. Always the same act X
1 know things have been hard,” she said, carefully choosing her words. “But maybe we should talk. About the future. About the baby.”
I didn’t answer right away. I just poured the drink, took a long sip, and stared at the window. I already knew where this conversation was going “Get out of here, Nina. I’m not in the mood.
“She’s gone, Zane,” Nina said gently “You know that, right? After what happened, she’s not going to forgive you this time. And honestly.. maybe it’s time to let go of all that pain. You lost the baby, yes, but I’m still here. I can give you more. As many pups as you want. We can build something new, if you’d just stop chasing ghosts.”
I finally turned to look at her. “I don’t care how many pups I have with other women. Quinn is still my mate. She’s still my Luna. That hasn’t changed”
Nina blinked like I’d slapped her. “You can’t be serious.”}]
“I’m completely serious,” I said. “You’re here because I let you be here. But don’t confuse temporary convenience with permanence.”} “You dragged her to the healer’s hall and took her blood until she passed out. Then stood there like it was just another errand,” she said, louder now “She lost her child. Zane. Because of you. Because of me. She’s never coming back!”
I walked past her to the closet I opened it and ran my hand across a few of Quinn’s things I hadn’t thrown out. A silk wrap. A book she used to read at night. A box of hairpins she left in the bathroom drawer. I pulled one of the wraps out and held it for a moment. It still smelled faintly like her
“I want your things out of the Alpha wing,” I said without looking at her!
You heard me Pack your things. You’re moving to the southern quarters.“)
She threw up her hands like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, then marched toward me with her voice rising like I’d just insulted her existence “You’re moving me out of the Luna’s rooms?”
“They were never yours.” I said flatly “And I’m not going to let her walk back in here and smell you in her space.“!
“She’s not coming back! Nina snapped, slamming her hand down on the bar table so hard that a few bottles toppled over and hit the floor with a loud clatter “Why the hell would she? You humiliated her in front of the entire council. Elder Thorn nearly shifted just to rip
d off And she sent those gifts because she was saying goodbye. That was closure
“She always forgives me,” I said quietly, shaking my head as if that would make it true. Saying it out loud felt like clinging to the edge of a cliff rd already fallen from, but I couldn’t let it go I couldn’t let her go t
stunned. “This isn’t one of your usual fights You pushed her too far. You killed her trust. That woman walked through anded her ashes “T
locked at her and felt nothing No guilt. No anger Just numbness X
needs time ”
and better “Time? You’re delusional “%
hat now? You sit around with
old things and pretend this is
your life?:
a the bed. Inside it was a sketch Quinn had once drawn–ter design for a bangle she’d wanted to forge in derd given it to a tattooist the right after the birthday party. The lines were now burned into my chest, etched directly over my heart t
I stood unbuttoned my start and showed it to her
“She’ll see it,” I said “Shell know I meant avery word
Booked at the ink and then at me like she’d just been stapped Her mouth opened slightly, then twisted with disgust Her eyes darted “You think a stupid tattoo makes you some tragic lover now You think she 11 look at that and
forg
vurdu left her
baby? Gods, you’re pathetic, Zanel’t
ross the face with a sharp crack that echoed through
353 PM & c.
the room. She stumbled back a step, holding her cheek, eyes wide with disbelief.
“You hit me,” she whispered, stunned. Tears welled in her eyes, but I didn’t feel sorry. I didn’t even blink.
“Yes, I did!” I grabbed her arm, not gently, and dragged her toward the door. She cried out, trying to pull away, but I didn’t stop.
“You don’t speak her name like that again. Ever, I growled. “Pack your shit and get out of my quarters. You don’t belong here
She opened her mouth, trembling, and looked like she was going to argue, but all that came out was a choked sob. “You don’t mean that,” she cried. “I gave up everything for youll gave my body and now I’m giving you an heir“;
“You’re not my Luna. You never were. You’re just someone i impregnated. Nothing more. Don’t confuse carrying my child with being anything important” I shoved the door open and pushed her out
you–I’ve
I’ve done
She dropped to her knees just outside the door, sobbing harder. “Please, Zane, don’t do this. Don’t shut me out. I love y everything you asked. I can be better. I can be enough. Please, just give me a chance.“)
Her begging didn’t soften me. It made my skin crawl
“You had your chance the moment you walked into my mate’s house and made yourself at home, I snapped.
She kept crying, pleading. I stepped closer to the door and barked. “Next time you forget your place, I won’t be this patient.” Then i slammed the door behind her.
