Running From An Alpha by Rachel Starkie
Chapter 17
From speaking with Queen Maisy, it was clear to Zoya, Sean, and Dale that something needed to be done. The next steps were still hazy, at least until they could break the commanding hold Morgan held over the councilmembers now in the Den’s care. Either way, they would be permanently removed from their positions, quietly, as news of duped members would not be well received.
For now, the three young wolves were being sent back to their quarters to rest. The return was quiet, but Zoya could not miss the look of utter defeat on Sean.
She sighed, reaching her front door, her eyes on the frame before her. “Sean?” She said softly, seeing him pause. “I have only had sex with one person,” with her admission, she slipped inside.
With barely a moment to sit back, the door slammed against the wall, making Zoya lurch forward. Her eyes followed Sean as he stormed toward her, taking a seat on the couch opposite her chair with a glare that matched her own.
“What?” Her defenses were on high alert.
“Why did you let me think others touched you? The idea…” He gripped the arms of the couch till his knuckles turned white.
She raised an eyebrow, then snapped. “It was the same for me… All those other-women.”
“I never meant-I turned every single one down.” His head dropped with a gentle shake. “I nev- Never meant to hurt you.” His voice cracked, making Zoya cross the expanse of the room to sit by his side.
He buried his head and shoulders into her belly, pulling her to him. “I only wished for your happiness and safety.” He nuzzled her as her hands instinctively ran through his hair. “Morgan tricked me into believing you would only be happy with him. But my heart and soul never faltered. Never changed.” He insisted.
Zoya swallowed hard. She had wanted him to suffer for her torments, but now that she saw it in full force, it turned her. His pain was her pain, and it needed to end. “Will you make a blood vow?” Her cheeks flamed. A blood vow was the most powerful of promises, which brought death to those who would break it.
Sean turned his head to meet her eyes. “In a heartbeat.” He sat up quickly to continue. “Zoya, you mean everything to me. Even in that drug-induced haze, you were always my goal. Now that I am free, I know with everything in me, I want you. I crave you, I have from the moment you leveled me with a branch just from stepping on your land.”
Zoya smiled. She remembered the day he spoke about. She couldn't have been more than four at the time. Sean and Dale had appeared as she was playing alone. Even then, he had more swagger than he knew what to do with.
Thinking they were trying to steal or lay claims, she found the biggest branch she could lift and tried to chase them off.
“My dad thought it was so funny.” She smiled. “Like the mouse trying to scare off a lion.”
Sena chuckled. “I was thankful your mum saved us. I knew then that you would make life interesting, and of course, that was when Dale began to worship you.”
Zoya sighed, remembering her father’s teachings about mates. That no mating was perfect, but that almost anything could be forgiven with time and a true apology. That when I love you was true, nothing else much mattered. “Do you swear you never touched another? Some of the females used to go on and on about you.” She averted her eyes.
Sean took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head back toward him. “When your sixteenth season came, and I realized you were to be my mate, I turned from all other females. I waited as long as I could. Those two years were torture, but once we were together… I wanted my claim, I want my claim.” He vowed, placing his forehead against hers.
Zoya took a deep breath, feeling his truth. She licked her dry lips, softening them. “Then show me.”