Zoe stood in a garden of breathtaking beauty, where vibrant flowers bloomed in every direction, and the sweet fragrance of jasmine perfumed the air. A majestic waterfall cascaded down moss-covered rocks, creating a mesmerizing symphony as it flowed into a crystal-clear river that wound through the garden like a silver ribbon. A lovely lady was there, bathed in an ethereal white light that seemed to emanate from within her very being. She exuded a sense of tranquility that washed over the observer, giving her a profoundly peaceful and comforting feeling she had never experienced before.
As she wondered about her mysterious surroundings, the ethereal lady spoke like gentle chimes as if reading the questions straight from her mind. She told her to be patient, carrying wisdom beyond measure. She mentioned that she would have many questions when the truth finally emerged. She started to ask about this truth, but her words were cut short as a deep, resonant growl ripped through the trees. She turned just in time to see a magnificent all-black wolf approaching them, its fur gleaming like polished obsidian. The lady smiled softly, expression serene and knowing, and said, "I bring you no harm, child, and I will explain everything when you are ready." The black wolf continued its low growling but maintained its distance as if held back by an invisible barrier. There was an inexplicable pull to this wolf that she couldn't comprehend or rationalize. Though she had never seen him, she felt strangely comfortable in his presence, as if they shared some ancient connection. He never ventured too close; he simply stood there, his intense eyes fixed upon her with an almost human-like intelligence. As she reached out, drawn by an irresistible urge to touch his midnight fur, she was suddenly jolted from this mystical scene by angry yelling.
It was all a dream, a wonderful, mysterious dream that slipped away like morning mist. Reality crashed back as she quickly realized the source of the commotion - Aliza and Katelyn were engaged in a heated argument with Tyler and Danny, their voices sharp with accusation. Trying to diffuse the situation, Danny wrapped his protective arm around Aliza and said in a placating tone not to be mad at the messenger. "It's what we saw," he added, his voice heavy with reluctance.
Tyler explained that they had encountered a group of people who had initially appeared amicable. With evident discomfort in his voice, he mentioned that they had been unaware of Jarred's connection to their group. The mention of Jarred's name sent an electric current through Zoe's body, causing her to bolt upright. She hastily kicked off her sleeping bag and jumped, her heart thundering. Katelynn immediately moved to her side as she demanded information about Jarred. Tyler merely mumbled, avoiding eye contact, which only heightened Zoe's mounting anxiety. She recognized the ominous nature of the situation and stepped away, her mind whirling with possibilities. She called out again, her voice breaking with emotion, "What about Jarred?" Katelynn gently took her hand and guided her toward the campfire, attempting to offer comfort through her touch. By this point, Zoe was in tears, sick with worry about Jarred, dreading what might have happened to him. Katelynn drew a deep breath, her face filled with compassion, and said, "I am sorry, Zoe. Tyler saw him with another group of people, unclothed and asleep beside another woman."
Tyler's protective instincts surged, and he charged after Jarred, unbridled rage evident on his features. Zoe's mind struggled to process the devastating revelation. "This cannot be real," she repeated like a broken record, her voice barely audible. The words spilled from her lips repeatedly, as if their repetition might somehow dispel this nightmare. Her thoughts raced frantically, searching for any logical explanation for this betrayal. "Why would he do this to her?" she questioned, her voice breaking with raw emotion. The memories of his professions of love and his heartfelt marriage proposal now seemed like cruel jests. "He said he loved her; he asked her to marry him." A disturbing thought invaded her mind, making her stomach twist. "Was it because she wouldn't have sex with him?"
Aliza, demonstrating her unwavering support, shifted closer and began tracing soothing circles on Zoe's back. Her touch provided comfort as she stated firmly, "Don't even entertain those thoughts." After a brief pause, she added with conviction, "A man who truly loved you would have waited." A bitter chuckle escaped Zoe's lips when Aliza offered, in complete seriousness, to place a hex on him. Katelynn, refusing to be outdone, contributed her own suggestion about magically reducing his manhood. Zoe's eyes widened in shock, and she turned to Aliza with a look of disbelief, silently questioning the possibility of such magic. Aliza responded with a casual shrug and a mischievous twinkle in her eye, declaring, "Being a witch has its advantages. I'm sure I can figure something out." Beth perfectly punctuated the moment by dramatically brandishing her kitchen knife and announcing that she didn't need magic to exact her revenge. Despite her tears, Zoe couldn't suppress a laugh at their fierce loyalty and creative threats. These remarkable women were doing everything possible to lift her spirits even as her world crumbled around her. The harsh reality was undeniable - she had lost her home, her career, and her finances were in ruins. The thought, "Could this year possibly get worse?" felt like challenging fate.
Needing solitude to process everything, Zoe pushed herself up from the ground. Her legs trembled as she descended the small creek near their camp, seeking isolation and clarity. The cool water felt refreshing against her tear-stained face. Finding a comfortable rock, she settled down. She attempted to understand how her life had become such a complicated mess. That's when she heard it - Jarred's unmistakable laugh intertwined with a woman's giggles. Looking up, she witnessed him playfully splashing water at her while she called him "childish" between fits of laughter. Her heart, already fractured, seemed to splinter into countless pieces at the sight.
Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks when Tyler's apologetic "I'm sorry" sounded behind her. His voice caught Jarred's and his companion's attention, who turned to stare at them. The woman's face displayed artificial sympathy, while Jarred's expression held smug satisfaction as if deriving pleasure from Zoe's pain. They approached with casual confidence, and she watched in disbelief as the woman turned her attention to Tyler, offering what she clearly believed was an alluring smile. Zoe's blood boiled - unsatisfied with destroying her engagement, this woman was now openly flirting with her brother. She addressed Tyler directly, inquiring if he'd considered "Jason's offer." Despite her distress, the mysterious reference to Jason and some unknown proposition sparked Zoe's curiosity.
When Jarred reached out to touch Zoe's arm, she opened her mouth to question Tyler about the woman's cryptic words. His unwanted contact made her recoil as he insisted, "We need to talk." Tyler moved threateningly toward him, but the woman quickly grabbed her brother's arm. Her sickeningly sweet voice dripped with false concern as she said they really should talk, adding condescendingly, "We don't need any weirdness in our group."
Her words struck Zoe like physical blows. "Our group?" The phrase echoed in her mind, raising countless questions. Before she could voice any of them, Tyler's protective declaration cut through her thoughts: "Bullshit; she was not being left alone with him."
Despite her brother's concerns, Zoe knew Jarred wouldn't physically harm her, and she desperately needed answers. She made a quick decision—she would start with Jarred and then confront Tyler about this mysterious woman and her cryptic comments.
She held her hand out to Tyler, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. "It's okay. I have to talk to him. Go back to camp. Jarred won't hurt me." She needed this moment, needed to understand how everything had fallen apart so completely.
Tyler's protective instinct was evident in his aggressive stance as he grunted, his words coming out as a menacing promise, "He better not, or I will skin him alive." The threat hung heavy between them, Tyler's eyes blazing with barely contained rage.
Jarred merely rolled his eyes at the threat, displaying an arrogance that made Zoe's stomach turn. He casually walked to a nearby rock as if this were just another conversation. She followed behind him, her feet feeling like lead with each step, and lowered herself to sit beside him, maintaining a careful distance.
The question burning inside her burst forth the moment he sat down. "Why?" The single word carried the weight of all her pain and confusion. To her disbelief, he chuckled, the sound grating against her raw nerves. His response was delivered with an air of entitled justification, leaving her speechless. "You couldn't expect me to wait for you forever, right? I am a man; I have needs! You wouldn't give it to me, so I got it elsewhere. You cannot be mad at me for meeting my needs, right?" She sat there in complete shock, her mind struggling to process his words. Was he really trying to blame her for his infidelity? Was he attempting to justify betraying their relationship by placing the responsibility on her shoulders?
Did he honestly think she would fall for such a blatant manipulation? That she would somehow accept his twisted logic and excuse his betrayal?
She would simply nod and agree that, yes, it was perfectly acceptable for him to sleep with another woman while they were engaged.
Zoe forced herself to meet his gaze, her voice trembling with barely controlled emotion as she asked, "Would you have even told me if Tyler hadn't caught you?" The question hung between them like a heavy curtain.
His response came as he turned to stare at the water, avoiding her eyes in a way that made her heart sink even further. "I would have had to tell you; she is my mate, and I cannot just leave her." The words hit her like physical blows, each driving the air from her lungs.
Her face must have reflected the absolute shock she felt, her mouth opening and closing without sound like a fish gasping for air. Tears began streaming down her face, hot and unstoppable. Through her increasingly violent sobs, she managed to choke out, "She is your what?"
His response was calm, almost cruel in its simplicity: "Jennifer is my mate."
Jennifer. Finally, a name to attach to the face of the woman who had shattered her world. She sat there, her body wracked with sobs, her mind trying to process this devastating revelation. The love of her life, the man she had planned to spend her future with, had found his true mate in another woman. The cruel irony was that she couldn't even correctly hate him for it. Aliza's words about mate bonds echoed in her memory - the undeniable pull, the impossibility of resistance, the all-consuming nature of the connection. She remembered describing how Danny had become her entire world and how other men had ceased to exist for her. He had spoken about only having eyes for her, about other women becoming invisible to him.
Her emotions were a confusing storm of anger and guilt. How could she be furious at something that was supposedly destined? What right did she have to stand in their way if they were truly mates, chosen by the moon goddess herself? Through her tears, she barely registered when Jarred left her alone on the rock, abandoning her to her grief.
Eventually, she slipped down from her perch, her legs shaky but determined. She wiped her face, splashed some cold water on it, and returned to camp, trying to hold herself together.
Katelynn immediately rushed to embrace her, wrapping her in a comforting hug. Fresh ones began flowing freely when she thought she had no tears left. As Katelynn rubbed soothing circles on her back, Ryker approached, offering to break Jarred's jaw. Despite everything, she managed a weak laugh and shook her head.
His words froze everyone in place: "She is his mate."
Katelynn's body went rigid against Zoe's, and Ryker stared at her, both processing this unexpected revelation.
Katelynn finally broke the heavy silence that had descended upon them. She gazed at Zoe with maternal tenderness in her eyes, embodying the nurturing instinct she'd always displayed despite being her sister. Sometimes, it seemed she had inherited more of their mother's caring nature than her siblings. She wiped away the tears that had traced down Zoe's cheeks with gentle fingers, her touch as delicate as her words were resolute.
"Mate or not, what he did was a violation of trust, pure and simple. He had options, and he chose deceit. He could have approached you honestly before things got out of hand." Deep within, Zoe recognized the truth in her words but accepting it felt like acknowledging the final demise of all her aspirations and dreams.
In that moment of clarity, Jennifer's earlier mysterious exchange with Tyler suddenly surfaced in her thoughts. She turned to Ryker, her voice still rough from crying, and asked about Tyler's location.
Ryker's answer was casual yet inquisitive. "He's by the fire with Eric, Danny, and Chris," he said, his eyebrows rising slightly. "Is something wrong?"
She shared Jennifer's odd behavior at the river. She repeated her enigmatic words to Tyler, watching as comprehension gradually appeared on their faces.
Katelynn's expression transformed into intense thought as she mused, "Hmm, and they are mates." Before Zoe could request clarification on what appeared to be a significant observation, she strode purposefully toward Azira and Beth, who were preparing their midday meal.
Ryker's face displayed sympathy as he gave her one last meaningful look before following her lead toward Tyler's position.
They found Tyler exactly as Ryker had indicated, seated beside the crackling fire. Upon seeing her, he patted the empty space next to him invitingly. As she settled down, he wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders, drawing her close in a gesture of brotherly comfort.
She rested her head against his chest, finding solace in the familiar position. When he inquired about her well-being, his fingers automatically moved to her hair, tousling it playfully as he used to do when she was younger. The familiar gesture gave her the courage to voice her question.
"Tyler, what was Jennifer implying earlier about our group?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tyler's throat worked visibly as he cleared it, his expression turning grave as his eyes met hers, heavy with unspoken concerns.
"They've requested to join our group," Zoe and Tyler explained simultaneously, their voices carrying equal measures of resignation. "They were aware of our destination from the start."
"I understand your hesitation about traveling with them," Tyler continued, his voice blending gentleness and authority. "But Jason, Jennifer's brother who leads their group, possesses vital information. He has established contact with someone in the alpha king's inner circle who has shared the precise coordinates."
He lifted her chin with his finger, ensuring she grasped the situation's significance, and softly added, "Little one, if there were another way, we'd take it, but collaborating with them is our most viable option."
The familiar nickname resonated deeply within her - he hadn't used it since her younger years. She had always believed it referenced her diminutive height of 5ft2. Among their family of tall individuals - Katelynn at 5ft10 and their brothers reaching 6ft4 - she was noticeably smaller, though she matched their mother's exact height.
His expression betrayed his reluctance; causing her distress was painful for him. She managed to offer a small smile, attempting to project more confidence than she possessed. "I understand the necessity. If this expedites our journey, then we should proceed. Once we reach our destination, I can maintain my distance from them."
Tyler's approving nod was accompanied by a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Should he dare upset you with his words, I won't think twice about striking him again. I must say, that black eye rather suits him."
His remark elicited a genuine laugh, and she stood up to assist Katelynn and Azria with the meal preparations.