Chapter 34 I Don’t Share
INDIE
I stood in front of the closed door to the treatment room, my arms wrapped tight around my middle. The wood was cool against my back where I leaned, but nothing else felt cool. My skin was still too hot, the venom mark on my arm pulsing in time with my heartbeat.
Zade stood directly in front of me, blocking the hallway like a wall made of muscle. His arms were crossed, his jaw clenched. His violet eyes were fixed on my face with that blank, unreadable stare that always made my stomach flip in the worst way.
I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
He hadn't said a single word since I carried the unconscious vampire inside and Giselle barked orders for everyone to clear the room. He'd just looked at me silently, then walked me here and planted himself like a sentinel between me and the door.
Now the silence had lingered for so long, it had become painful. I swallowed hard. My voice came out small.
"...Are you mad at me?"
He gave me no answer whatsoever.
I shifted my weight, my bare feet scuffing the hallway rug.
"I know I shouldn't have brought him in," I whispered. "I know it was stupid. I just...he was bleeding out and calling for help. My healer instincts kicked in. I know it was reckless. I know the pack is already on edge, and the last thing anyone needs is another stranger, especially a vampire."
Zade still didn't move. His silence was louder even now.
My throat tightened. "I'm sorry. I should've called for you first. Or Mason. Or anyone. I just... I didn't want to leave him to die out there."
I risked a glance up at his face. The same blank mask lingered, his aura vibrating like a predator's.
My fingers twisted in the hem of the hoodie.
"He's... he's my mate too," I said, barely above a breath.
The air seemed to grow impossibly cold. Then Zade moved.
He took one step forward and slammed his hand against the door beside my head. It was not hard enough to crack the wood, but hard enough that I flinched. He braced the other hand on the opposite side, caging me completely. His body heat crashed over me like a wave. His delicious scent nearly caused me to moan.
A growl rolled out of his throat, low and lethal.
"I don't share."
He'd spoken those words calmly. They still felt like teeth against my throat.
My pulse hammered so loud I was sure he could hear it.
"Zade—"
"No."
He leaned in until his forehead nearly touched mine. His breath ghosted over my lips.
"That creature wakes up, he leaves. He walks out under his own power, or he gets carried out in pieces. I don't care which. But he doesn't stay. He doesn't breathe the same air as you. He doesn't look at you. And he sure as fuck doesn't get to call you mate in my house."
My mouth opened, then closed again.
I wanted to argue. To explain the bond pull, the way it had tugged at something deep inside me the second I saw those golden eyes. To tell him I wasn't choosing anyone over him, that Zade was still the only one who owned every broken piece of me.
But the look on his face—the cold possessiveness that was barely leashed—killed every word before it could form.
He was shaking. But there was no anger in his eyes.
So, I lifted a trembling hand and laid it flat over his beating heart.
His eyes lowered.
"I'm not leaving you," I whispered. "Not for him. Not for anyone."
His jaw flexed. Then the growl softened into something rougher, almost pained.
"Then don't ask me to share you."
I swallowed hard.
"Okay."
His forehead finally dropped to mine. He exhaled heavily then.
We stayed like that until the tension in his shoulders eased a fraction. Then he spoke again, his voice so low that I almost missed it.
"He stays alive until he can walk. After that... I don't make promises."
I nodded against him.
He pressed one hard kiss to my temple, lingering there like he was branding me with his mouth instead of his teeth this time.
Then he straightened.
"Stay here," he said. "I need to speak to Giselle. Alone."
I opened my mouth to protest. He laid a single finger over my lips.
"No arguing, Bunny. Not tonight."
His thumb brushed the corner of my mouth gently before he turned and pushed the treatment room door open. It closed behind him with a soft sound.
I slid down the wall until my butt hit the floor, my knees drawn up, and my arms wrapped around them. The mark on my arm gave another vicious throb.
I pressed my forehead to my knees and tried not to cry. Because somewhere in that room was a vampire who called me mate. And somewhere inside me was a ticking clock that said if I didn't kill Enid soon, both Zade and I would die.
And I still hadn't told him. I didn't know how.
All I knew was that the hallway suddenly felt very cold.
And very lonely.
...
Much later, the living room was quiet except for the cheerful theme song looping on the TV and Lila's soft giggles every time the cartoon characters did something silly. I sat cross-legged on the floor with her tucked against my side, her head resting on my shoulder, her small fingers clutching the edge of the blanket we'd dragged over our laps.
Maris lounged on the couch behind us, half-watching the screen, half-scrolling through her phone, and occasionally snorting at whatever drama was unfolding in the pack group chat.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the knot in my chest had loosened just enough that I could breathe without feeling like the air was made of broken glass.
Lila yawned, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Mommy, can we watch one more episode?" she mumbled, already half-asleep against me.
I kissed the top of her head. "One more, baby. Then you can go to bed."
Maris glanced over. "Such a cutie. She’s really beautiful. She’s looks a lot like you, Indie."
I couldn’t help but smile.
“By the way, did you hear? Zade made sure those girls from the supermarket were apprehended. Every single one of them. He’s such an amazing leader."
Before I could answer, a soft knock sounded at the doorway.
One of the younger omegas, Anya's cousin, stood there, twisting her hands together nervously.
"Flamekeeper?" she said. "The Alpha asked for you. He's in the treatment room."
My stomach dropped through the floor.
I froze.
The treatment room. Where the vampire was.
The mark on my arm suddenly throbbed viciously, as though Varak was reminding me that the clock was still ticking.
Lila shifted against me, blinking sleepily. "Mummy?"
I forced a smile. "It's okay, sweetheart. Mommy just has to talk to someone for a minute. Maris will stay with you, alright?"
Maris sat up straighter. "I’ll stay with Lila."
I pressed one more kiss to Lila's curls, then I stood on shaky legs.
The walk down the hallway felt incredibly long. Questions kept buzzing in my head.
Why now?
Why did Zade want me there?
Was he finally letting me see my other mate? Was he going to let him stay? Was he going to make me reject him? Was he going to kill him?
Or worse, was he going to make me choose?
The door to the treatment room was ajar. Soft light spilled into the hallway.
I pushed it open with trembling fingers.
Zade sat in the chair beside the narrow bed, his long legs stretched out, scrolling through his phone with one thumb. He was in a clean white shirt and cargo jeans. His casual posture should have looked relaxed.
It didn't.
It looked like a predator pretending to be bored.
The vampire was still very much pale and bandaged across the chest. But he was awake, propped against the pillows. His flame-red hair pooled over the white linen like spilled wine. Those golden eyes darted to me the second I stepped inside.
A slow, lazy grin spread across his face. Zade didn't look up.
I stood frozen in the doorway, my heart slamming against my ribs.
"I'm... here," I said breathlessly.
Zade's thumb paused on the screen. He still didn't look at me.
"Talk to him," he said flatly.
The vampire’s grin widened. He propped himself higher on the pillows, wincing only slightly.
"Finally," he drawled, his voice smooth and teasing despite the bandages. "I've been telling our grumpy mate here for the last twenty minutes that my name is Leon. Not 'vampire'. Not 'creature'. Leon." He shot Zade a mock glare. "How many times do I have to say it before it sticks? You're so annoying."
Zade's jaw ticked.
Wait, Leon said ‘our mate’.
What did that mean?
Leon's golden eyes slid back to me, softening instantly.
"Don't worry, sweetheart," he said, patting the side of the bed beside him. "I'll help exorcise that attitude out of him eventually. We've got time."
I didn't move. My gaze darted between them. Leon's smile turned almost boyish.
"Come sit," he coaxed. "I don't bite. Well. Not unless you ask nicely."
Zade finally looked up. His eyes were flat. Dangerous, too.
Leon ignored him completely, still patting the mattress.
"I'm also Zade's mate," he announced cheerfully, like he was sharing the most delightful piece of gossip. "Didn't he tell you? We can all be one big, happy family. Isn't that great?"
My mouth went dry. Holy shit.
Leon's grin turned mischievous.
"I'm the black sheep back home," he continued, gesturing at himself. "It’s because I’m hybrid, completely different from my family. I left when they tried to kill me.”
I stared at him.
Hybrid? His family tried to kill him?
My voice came out barely above a whisper. “What... hybrid?"
Leon's golden eyes sparkled. He patted the bed again.
"Come sit, pretty flower. I'll tell you everything."
I looked at Zade. He hadn't moved. He was still scrolling through his phone. But the knuckles on the hand holding it were white.
I stayed rooted in the doorway. Leon sighed dramatically.
"Fine. Be difficult. But you're missing out on the best storytime of your life."
He leaned back against the pillows, wincing again, and fixed Zade with a lazy, taunting smile.
"Your turn, gorgeous. Tell our girl why you're pretending to be fascinated by your emails when you're actually two seconds away from ripping my throat out."
Zade's thumb stopped moving. He looked up very slowly. The room felt like it had become ten degrees colder. Leon's grin didn't falter. But I saw the trace of something else in those golden eyes. Caution.
Zade set the phone down on the side table gently.
Then he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and finally spoke.
"Talk," he said to Leon.
His voice was too calm. Meanwhile, Leon's smile turned mischievous.
"Thought you'd never ask."