73

-H.

"Come in, Alpha. Have a seat!" Charles said anxiously.

I looked up to where Luna had disappeared. I could feel her nervousness. Especially her fear when she saw Charles.

I tried to contain my anger. Vain. I roughly pushed Charles against the wall with my hand.

"What the hell have you done to her?"

"Was? Mit wem?"

"I'm your alpha so don't lie to me!" I say menacingly.

I wanted to yell at him, but I didn't want Luna to hear.

Charles was a member of my pack. An Omega that was constantly on the move. He had lost his mate a long time ago and claimed a few years ago that he had a crush on another woman.

He lived too far away from the pack and as a wolf, after a while you feel alone. We're just used to living in a pack. That was also the reason why he had moved here.

I growled menacingly at him and used my alpha voice. With this I had the ability to give orders.

"Why does she despise you? What. Did. You. With. Her. Do?"

His eyes glaze over and I sensed he wanted to keep it to himself. But no matter how hard he tried to lie to me, nobody could beat my alpha voice.

"Do not lie to me."

"I touched her. She fought back, but I kept trying!" he said in a trance.

"You have something?"

Zoe's POV.

I stormed into my father's study in anger.

Without knocking, I literally yanked the door out.

"Zoe, was soll das?"

"It's about Hunter. I think he's found his mate."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I have this feeling. She's human and he certainly wouldn't admit it."

"Zoe, my daughter. Whether or not she's his mate, you are his mate. You'll be mating with him in a month. I'll pay him a visit if you like. I'll scare him a little."

"Maybe she's just Ella's friend. I don't know."

"We'll see. I'll talk to him anyway."

I nodded to my father and left his workroom. Feeling agitated, I made my way to my room, but was grabbed by the arm and pinned against a wall.

"So you still want it?" the big blue-eyed guy asked me.

"You know I have no choice."

"I can't let you mate with him while you're my mate."

"Cole. I'm begging you. Don't say that out loud. If my father finds out about this, he'll kill you. I can't watch him kill you. I'm doing all this for your sake."

"The day you two are mated. That day I'm dead. I won't live another second."

"Cole, don't do it."

"Then tell your father that we both belong together."

"You know he wants a powerful alpha by my side. Not an omega. We are the strongest fighting pack. We've had that reputation for decades. An omega as an alpha only diminishes it all."

"So you choose him? Is that it?"

"I'm sorry, Cole. You have to know I love you. But my father will never tolerate that. I'm doing this to protect you."

"Sometimes I think you don't love me. The way you act with Hunter. The way you get jealous when he's with other women."

Tears welled up in my eyes.

"It's all feigned damn it. I have to do this. No one should suspect anything. Please understand me. I'm playing jealous. I've never harmed anyone and I won't. I don't care about Hunter. It's not you. Please Cole. Don't make this any harder than it is."

"Okey, Mate. Then pair up with Hunter. Do what you think is right and I'll do what I think is right."

He kissed my lips one last time before running away, leaving me crying.

My forbidden soulmate.

Nobody liked me, but I was really a completely different person. A good actress, if you will.

I had a bad feeling about leaving Hunter and Charles alone. Maybe I should see what they were talking about? Hunter didn't seem particularly fond of my stepfather. With him, on the other hand, you could see his fear.

Before I could think any further, however, there was a knock on my door. Overwhelmed, I wondered who it could be. My mother wasn't there and Charles would never knock. Wasn't that what it was?

"Luna? Can I come in?" came the voice from the other side.

Of course it was Hunter. After all, he was the only one left in the house. I was a genius when it came to logical thinking. Warning, sarcasm.

"Luna?"

"Ehm, yes"

God was that embarrassing.

Hunter entered my room and his eyes found mine. I didn't know why, but he seemed completely different. He no longer had a smile on his lips. The radiance had also faded and he seemed emotionless.

What happened downstairs?

"Are you alright?" I asked questioningly.

"Pack your things!" It came from him.

"What? What for?"

"Charles is away for a while. He has some business to attend to. I don't want you to stay here alone. So you're staying with me for now."

"Hunter..."

His eyes flew to me and twinkled when I called his name.

"Is everything alright with you?"

Something was wrong. His breathing was rapid. His whole body was tense and his hands were balled into fists.

"There is nothing."

I didn't know why I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his stomach. But I felt like he needed a hug.

Hunter

I was loaded. I tried not to let my anger seep out. I didn't want Luna to notice that I almost had an emotional outburst.

The thought of Charles trying to touch my mate multiple times made my blood boil. While I was reading everything out on him, he had explained to me that it never got very far. Just a few hand grabs. But still. The fact that he had these thoughts was the last straw.

Not only had I hospitalized him, I had banished him from our pack. He would never be allowed to set foot in this city again. I had taken care of that. He should never come near her again.

If she hadn't hugged me, I probably would have transformed before her eyes. She took my anger and I felt safe around her.

I bit back a growl as she pulled away from me. She was small and petite, but just perfect for me. If only she wasn't human, I would have tagged her long ago.

But a life with me by her side might cost her her life. If I marked her, she would become a vampire. But not even this was fixed. It could be that she killed my poison.

"Are you packing your things? Do you want me to help you?" I asked to get my mind off things.

"I'm not sure. My mother will be back in a few days. Besides, I don't know you well enough."

How I wish I could change that.

"I'll wait for you in front of the door. Take the essentials with you."

I toyed with the idea of ​​kissing her on the forehead or on her cheek. But I knew that if I did, I would completely lose control. So I left the room and stood in front of her door.

I wish this had a future between us. Although I would fight against tagging her and being able to just be with her. But I would eventually lose control and I could never forgive myself for that.

My cell phone rang in my pocket and I answered it without looking.

"Hallo?"

"Hallo, Hunter."

Damn. It was Zoe's father.

"I have something important to talk to you about. So I'll be with you in about an hour."

"I'm sorry, but I'm not at home right now. The conversation will have to wait."

"Hunter, I'm coming whether you like it or not."

With these words he hung up and I sighed annoyed. He also thought that I was afraid of him. Today I would already show him who is the stronger of the two of us. Also, it's a chance to tell him I wouldn't make Zoe my mate anymore.

If I couldn't have Luna, then I didn't want anyone else in my life.

He had messed with the wrong person.