Chapter 42 42
Zane’s POV
The first light of dawn had just begun to enter through Scarlett’s window as I carefully slipped out of her bed. My body was reluctant to leave the warmth of her presence, but I needed to think clearly. Last night had been... nothing serious, though, but the pull between us was growing stronger by the day.
So I gently closed the door behind me, I leaned against the wall, running a hand through my hair. The kiss... the mate bond... it was all becoming too much I thought, my heart still racing at the memory of her lips on mine.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was not even supposed to be my mate, I thought, the confusion gnawing at me.
How can the goddess pair me with two mates? And they were both having the goddess mark which makes it crazier
Dalton moved restlessly in the back of my mind, his presence stronger than ever. “You know she’s the one, Zane. You can’t deny it anymore.”
I clenched my jaw, trying to shut him out. The pull to Scarlett was undeniable, but Rhylie... she had been with me first. Rhylie was my mate too, I reminded myself. But why do things feel so... wrong?
As I pushed myself off the wall, I went down the corridor, my thoughts were deeply scattered and confused. The castle was quiet, most of the pack members still asleep, but the silence only made the unsettling feeling of confusion grow deeper in me.
The witches had to have answers. I needed to know if it was even possible to have two mates. This wasn’t normal, and it couldn’t just be the curse messing with me.
But as I walked, and took a turn to my chamber, I came face-to-face with Rhylie.
She stood there, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes dark and something else, I could practically feel the anger radiating off her, and for a moment, I thought she was going to lash out.
“Zane,” She said, her calm. “What were you doing in her chamber?”
I froze for a moment, realizing she must have seen me leaving Scarlett’s chambers. “I was checking on her,” I said, keeping my tone normal
Rhylie’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Checking on her? In her bed?”
I clenched my fists at my sides, feeling Dalton stir with frustration. Watch it, he growled. She’s crossing a line, but that
“It’s not what you think,” I replied, trying to stay calm. “She had a nightmare.”
Rhylie’s smile didn’t fade, but her eyes darkened with something more dangerous. “Of course, you feel the need to play hero for your other mate” The way she spat the word made it clear that she wasn’t taking this lightly.
“I won’t let you do this,” she said softly, but there was venom in her words. “You can’t choose her, Zane. We’re bonded. We’re “fated”
Something about the way she said it made me pause. Her insistence on the bond felt... forced. “Are we?” I asked, my voice steady.
For the first time, Rhylie’s smile faltered, and I saw a gaze of uncertainty in her eyes. But she quickly recovered, stepping closer to me, her hand reaching for mine. “You know we are,” she whispered. “You and me, we’ve been through so much together. You can’t just throw that away.”
I stepped back, her touch leaving me cold. “This doesn’t feel right, Rhylie.”
Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, I saw a flash of panic. But then her mask slipped back into place, and she let out a soft laugh. “You’re confused, Zane. The curse... it’s messing with your head. That’s all.”
I didn’t respond, the feeling growing in my stomach. Something wasn’t adding up, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
Rhylie’s gaze hardened, and she turned on her heel, walking away without another word. But as she disappeared into the shadows, I couldn’t help but have the feeling that something was seriously wrong.
Rhylie’s POV
My blood boiled as I stormed through the corridors, my hands clenched into fists. That bitch. Scarlett was ruining everything. She had Zane wrapped around her finger, and I could feel the bond I’d worked so hard to create slipping through my grasp.
Zane was mine. I had claimed him long before that cursed Luna showed up with her goddess mark and her sob story. She’s going to ruin everything, I thought, my teeth grinding in frustration.
I pushed open the door to the witches’ chambers, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Kiana, my younger sister, was waiting for me inside, her eyes wide with concern as I entered.
“Rhylie?” she asked, her voice tentative. “What’s wrong, you're not supposed to be here now?”
I slammed the door behind me, pacing the chamber like a caged animal. “The bond is weakening, Kiana,” I hissed. “He’s spending too much time with Scarlett. If I don’t do something soon, he’ll choose her, the mate bond between them is ruining everything”.
Kiana raised a brow, I could feel she was starting to get nervous. “I... I can try to strengthen the spell,” she stammered. “But it won’t last forever, Rhylie. You know that if yours couldn't last forever….then mine… also,” Kiana said.
My powers were caged because I was used to forming a forced mate bond, which was against the rules of witches, I can't unleash my powers until I completely break free from the spell I used to tie myself to Zane, this was exactly why I needed Kiana and this was why Scarlett doesn't understand how dangerous I was.
I turned on her, my eyes blazing. “Then we need to find another way. I can’t let her win, Kiana. I won’t let her take Zane from me.”
Kiana swallowed hard, her eyes looking toward the door as if she was afraid someone might overhear. “The witches... they’re starting to suspect something, Rhylie. They know something’s wrong, moreover, remember you lied about the goddess mark on you and didn't allow you to shift into your wolf form, you aren't a wolf, Scarlett has the true goddess mark and I'm very sure, she can shift to her wolf form” Kiana said already starting to get on my nerves
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. “Shut up and tell me what you meant by the witches are already suspecting, What do you mean?”
Kiana hesitated, wringing her hands. “They’ve been talking. They think Zane can’t have two mates. They’re starting to question the bond between you and him.”
My breath caught in my throat. If the witches found out what I had done, if they realized that the bond between Zane and me wasn’t real, it would be over. I would lose everything.
I grabbed Kiana by the shoulders, my nails digging into her skin. “You need to keep them quiet. Do whatever it takes, Kiana. I don’t care how, but you need to make sure they don’t figure out the truth.”
Kiana nodded quickly, her eyes wide with fear. “I’ll... I’ll try. But Rhylie, we need to be careful. If they find out—”
“They won’t,” I snapped, releasing her and stepping back. “Just make sure they don’t.”
I left Kiana to think of something. I had to strengthen the bond between me and Zane and look for a way to cause a rift between scarLet and Zane. I turned back to my chamber, my mind racing. If the witches were suspicious, it meant I was running out of time.
I had to act fast. The bond with Zane was slipping, but I wasn’t going to lose him. Not to Scarlett. Not to anyone.
I needed more power. And if that meant tapping into darker magic, then so be it. My heart was pounding in my chest, a mix of fear and rage. Scarlett wasn’t just a rival; she was a threat to everything I had worked for. Zane had been mine, bound to me by magic, and now the mate bond between him and Scarlett was breaking the spell apart. It wasn't just weakening; it was annoying
I had never felt so desperate, so out of control.