Chapter 10 A Fucking Lie
ZADE
"Cat got your tongue?" I murmured, tilting my head as I studied her.
She didn't answer. Her jaw was clenched, her chin lifted in defiance even as her pulse fluttered wildly beneath her skin. I could smell her fear, heat, and desire twisting together into something intoxicating.
So, I moved closer. She swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling heavily. Those fucking tits caught my attention without trying so hard. She probably didn't even realize what she was wearing when she'd run out earlier. A large white T-shirt that barely skimmed her thigh. The one she'd stolen from my room years ago. I guess she'd found her things where I'd stashed them away.
"You run into my arms to save another man," I continued softly, "offer me anything to keep him breathing... and now you're quiet?"
My knuckles brushed the wall beside her head.
"Funny," I added. "You're usually much louder when you're angry."
Her eyes flashed with annoyance. "Get out of my space."
A fucking lie.
I leaned in just enough that my breath ghosted over her cheek. She shuddered, and there it was. The truth her body couldn't hide.
"You don't mean that," I said calmly. "If you did, you wouldn't be trembling."
"I'm sick," she snapped.
"No," I corrected, sliding a hand up her thigh. "You...want me."
She shook her head harder as I cupped her mound through her panties, a gasp tumbling from her lips.
"You think I don't know what you offered me out there?" I asked. "Do you think I didn't understand?"
Her lashes fluttered, her lips parting on a moan as I trailed a finger over her heat through the fabric.
"Think whatever you—" she cried out when I found her clit, pressing my thumb against it.
I leaned in to press my lips against her temple, her face tilting towards mine. Her skin was still boiling hot. Slowly, I stroked her through her panties. She moaned again before she could stop herself.
"There it is," I murmured. "That sweet sound."
Her hands clenched at her sides, her fingers curling as though she was holding herself together by sheer will.
"You hate that you want this," I whispered, running my teeth over her earlobe. "You hate that your body responds before your pride does."
"I don't—"
"Liar."
I leaned closer, biting her ear and sliding my index finger against her slit. I nearly groaned when I found her wet and throbbing. She squirmed against my touch, panting as I kept torturing her with maddening strokes.
"Z-Zade, I—"
I latched onto her neck, sucking and biting until she could no longer hold back her mewls.
"This isn't right," she panted, tossing her head to the side, granting me better access.
Who was she trying to deceive? Me or her?
Her thighs trembled as I decorated her skin with my marks. And just before she could hit her climax, I pulled away. Her cheeks flushed, frustration burning in her eyes.
"You're despicable," she hissed, and I smiled, satisfied by how much emotion I was pulling from her.
"You are my mate," I said, my eyes dropping to her full lips. "And nothing is going to take you away from me. Soon, you'll be begging me to take what's already mine."
The words were barely out of my mouth when her knees buckled.
"Indie—"
She crumpled.
I dropped my weight, my arms snapping around her just as she went slack, her body folding into mine.
"Fuck," I cursed as her head lolled against my shoulder.
I slid down the wall with her, bracing her against my chest, one hand cradling the back of her skull as I pressed my fingers to her throat.
Her pulse fluttered in erratic beats.
"Indigo," I said, tilting her face up. Her lashes didn't even move. "Bunny. Open your eyes."
Something tight and vicious twisted behind my ribs.
No, this wasn't supposed to happen. I'd been watching her. I never miscalculated.
Her skin was still burning, but it was the thin trail of blood oozing from my nose that froze me in place.
"Shit," I breathed, hauling her fully into my arms and rising. She didn't stir. That terrified the hell out of me.
I started moving fast, heading straight to the room.
'Giselle,' I snapped through the mindlink. 'Now.'
I didn't wait for a response. Indigo's head rolled slightly against my chest, her lips parted. I adjusted my grip instantly, tucking her closer.
Sociopath, that's what they called me.
So why were my hands shaking?
I pushed her too far. That's all I could think about.
My jaw clenched hard enough to ache.
I burst into the room and laid her down on the bed with a care that bordered on reverence, stripping the wall of dominance away like it had never existed. I brushed damp hair off her face, my throat tight.
She was so still.
"Indigo," I croaked. "Don't do this."
My chest felt... tight. It felt like something ugly was clawing its way out of a place I'd locked down years ago.
This wasn't rage or hunger. This was fear.
And I hated it.
Her breathing hitched suddenly, and my head snapped down. Relief rushed through me so quickly my knees nearly gave out.
"There you are," I whispered hoarsely. "Stay with me."
The door flew open seconds later.
"Alpha!" Giselle rushed in, skidding to a halt at the sight of her. "What happened?"
"She collapsed," I said flatly. "Her heat spiked and crashed. Fix it."
Giselle moved fast, her hands already glowing faintly as she checked Indie's vitals. "Her body's overloaded, I think."
I didn't take my eyes off Indie.
"Then make it stop."
Giselle hesitated. "Zade—"
I looked up.
Whatever she saw on my face made her swallow and nod immediately.
"I'll do everything I can," she said.
A thin, high-pitched whine suddenly pierced into my skull.
I stiffened, recognizing it for what it was.
The sound sharpened, burrowing deeper. The room seemed to spin as something cold crawled up my spine. Then the voices came.
Bring us back...
We need your power...
Come to us...
I straightened abruptly, stepping away from the bed.
"Zade?" Giselle said, her voice laced with concern. "Where are you going?"
I didn't answer. If I stayed, I would lose control right there. So I turned and walked out.
"Zade, wait—!" Giselle called after me.
The door slammed shut behind me as I stalked down the corridor, my vision narrowing, shadows writhing at the corners. The whispers grew louder.
You belong with us.
You can't escape us.
Come!
"Shut up," I muttered through my teeth.
The hallway swayed. I barely registered the body I nearly collided with until hands grabbed my shoulders.
"Alpha." Noah's voice pierced through the noise. "Hey. Look at me."
I forced my gaze up. My beta's expression changed instantly.
"Shit," he breathed. "You're hearing them."
I nodded once. Talking took too much effort.
"Come on," he said without hesitation, looping an arm under mine and steering me away. "Study. Now."
I didn't resist.
He shoved the study door open, hauled me inside, then slammed it shut and locked it. Noah pushed me into the chair, kneeling in front of me, his hands firm on my knees.
"Breathe," he coaxed.
The voices screamed.
Liar.
Look at me!
You’re cursed!
"Make it stop," I growled, my fists clenching. "You know how."
Noah swallowed.
"Zade—"
My nails bit into my palms as my chest heaved. The ringing worsened enough to make my vision blur.
Only pain could snap me out of it. Noah reached for the blade on the desk without another word.
The first slice stung, blood welling up instantly.
The voices lowered.
"Harder," I snarled, my breathing ragged. "Don't hold back."
Noah hesitated, his brows furrowed. "You're already healing—"
"DO IT."
The second cut was deeper. Pain stabbed up my arm, drowning the whispers in a rush of sensation. My head snapped back, a groan rolling out of me as the voices faded. Sweet, sweet silence.
I slumped forward, gasping.
The wound knit itself together almost immediately.
Noah stared at it, blood smeared across his hands, his face twisted with guilt. I knew it killed him a little more every time he witnessed my psychotic episodes. Thankfully, it didn’t go so far this time.
Gently, he wiped off the blood on my arm with wet wipes from the desk, his shoulders slumped.
“Zade—”
I cut him off. “I know it looks bad. But I’ve tried. There’s simply…no cure.”
Anguish exploded across his features. “You’re dying—”
“Shhh,” I whispered. “You can’t let anyone hear you.”
The door slammed open. Noah spun around.
Giselle stormed in, a worried look on her face.
"It’s Indigo. She’s suffering from the bond sickness.”
I frowned. "What?"
She blinked back tears. "Her former mate neglected their bond for years."
Something dark and murderous unfurled in my chest.
"She needed intimacy," Giselle continued. "Connection. Regular contact with her mate to stabilize her body and wolf. Instead, she was ignored. Degraded. Left to rot."
The air left my lungs.
"How bad," I croaked, "is the damage?"
Giselle hesitated. “It’s severe, Alpha.”
That was all I needed to hear. I stormed out of my study and headed back to the room. I flung the door open, freezing when I was met with Indigo’s absence.
Giselle gasped behind me. “Where did she go? She was just here.”
I closed my eyes, searching for her throughout the pack house using my senses. My eyes popped open as dread sank in. Where on earth did she go?