Chapter 40 Fake Stories
Zoe's POV
Two days passed after the dinner incident with Mia.
I'd heard through the inn staff that Mia and Jeremy had a big fight.
That she'd been crying. That he'd been distant.
Perfect.
Everything was going according to plan.
Today, I decided to push further.
I went looking for Jeremy.
Found him in the pack gardens. Alone. Sitting on a bench.
His head down. Lost in thought.
"Alpha Jeremy." I approached slowly. "Mind if I join you?"
He looked up. Surprised.
"Lady Margaret. I... of course. Please."
I sat beside him. Not too close. But close enough.
"You look troubled," I said softly.
"I am." He admitted. "There's a lot on my mind."
"Want to talk about it?"
"I'm not sure talking will help."
"Sometimes it does." I smiled. "And I'm a good listener."
He looked at me. Studied my face.
Then nodded. "Alright."
We sat in silence for a moment.
Then I started talking. Filling the quiet with stories.
Fake stories about the South. About my supposed home.
"In the Southern Highlands, we have a tradition," I said. "Every full moon, the whole pack gathers. We dance. We sing. We celebrate being alive."
"That sounds beautiful."
"It is. My father... he always said life is too short not to celebrate every moment." I smiled at the memory I was creating. "Even the hard moments. Especially those."
"Your father sounds wise."
"He was. Is." I corrected quickly. "He taught me that strength isn't just about power. It's about heart. About choosing kindness even when the world is cruel."
Jeremy turned to look at me. Really look at me.
"You're very different from most nobles I've met."
"Different how?"
"Real. Genuine." He paused. "Most people in power... they hide behind masks. Behind titles. But you... you seem to actually care."
If only he knew how true that was. About the masks.
"I do care," I said. And that part wasn't a lie. "I've seen enough pain in this world. I don't want to add to it."
"That's... refreshing." He smiled. Small. Sad. "Most people I know are only interested in power. In status. In what they can gain."
"Is Mia like that?"
His smile faded. "No. Mia is... complicated."
"Do you love her?"
The question hung between us.
"I care about her," he said finally. "But love? I don't know. How do you know if it's real love or just... obligation?"
"Real love makes you feel alive," I said. "Makes you want to be better. Makes you willing to sacrifice anything for that person."
"Have you ever felt that?"
"Once." The word slipped out before I could stop it.
"What happened?"
"He betrayed me." Truth disguised as fiction. "Made me think I mattered. Then threw me away like I was nothing."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It made me stronger." I looked at him. "Sometimes the worst pain teaches us the most important lessons."
"What lesson did you learn?"
"That trust is earned. Not given freely." I smiled. "And that revenge..." I caught myself.
"That moving forward is the only way to heal."
We sat quietly again.
Then I started telling more stories. Lighter ones.
About festivals in the South. About funny mishaps. About childhood adventures.
All fake. All carefully crafted.
But Jeremy listened. Laughed. Smiled.
Really smiled. Like he hadn't in a long time.
"You're good for me," he said suddenly.
"What?"
"Talking to you. Being around you." He turned to face me fully. "You make me feel... lighter. Like maybe things aren't as hopeless as they seem."
"Things are never as hopeless as they seem, Alpha."
"Jeremy. Please. Just Jeremy."
"Jeremy," I said his name. Softly. Like a secret.
His eyes darkened. Intense.
"Margaret... I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"I think... I think I'm falling for you."
My heart stopped. But I kept my face calm.
"Jeremy..."
"I know it's fast. I know we just met. But I can't help it." He moved closer. "Every time I'm near you, everything feels right. Like the goddess herself brought you to me."
He was falling for me.
Or maybe the bond was pulling him. Making him think it was choice when it was really fate.
Either way... I had him.
"I feel it too," I whispered. And that was the dangerous part. The true part.
Because I did feel it. The pull. The connection. The bond.
Even though I hated it. Even though I didn't want to.
"You do?" Hope filled his voice.
"Yes."
He reached up. Touched my face. Gentle. Tender.
"Can I...?" He didn't finish the question.
But I knew what he was asking.
I should say no. Should pull away. Should remember why I was here.
But instead...
I nodded.
He leaned in. Slow. Giving me time to stop him.
I didn't.
His lips touched mine. Soft. Careful.
Questioning.
And everything exploded.
The mate bond flared to life. Hot. Powerful. Consuming.
My wolf howled inside. Rejoicing. Celebrating.
MATE! MATE! MATE!
The kiss deepened. His hand on my face. My hand on his chest.
I could feel his heart racing. Could feel the bond tightening. Connecting us.
It felt... right. Wrong. Perfect. Terrible.
All at once.
Then... reality crashed back.
I pushed him away. Hard.
Stood up. Stepped back.
"I'm sorry. I... I can't." My voice shook.
"Margaret?" He looked confused. Hurt. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No. It's not you." I wrapped my arms around myself. "I just... I need time."
"Of course. I understand." He stood too. Kept his distance. "I shouldn't have rushed..."
"It's fine. I just... need to go."
I turned. Walked away fast.
Back to the inn. To my room. Locked the door.
And stood there. Shaking.
I'd done it. I'd kissed him. I'd proven I could make him fall for me.
I had him totally now. Completely under my control.
I could carry out my revenge. Destroy him. Take everything.
I should feel satisfied. Victorious. Powerful.
But instead...
I felt angry.
Angry that I'd felt the bond too.
Angry that the kiss affected me.
Angry that for one moment... one stupid, weak moment... I'd forgotten about revenge.
And felt something else.
Something more emotional than hatred.
Something that felt dangerously close to...
No.
I pushed the thought away. Hard.
"It's just the bond," I told myself. "Just biology. Just the mate connection. It doesn't mean anything."
But my lips still tingled.
My heart still raced.
And my wolf still howled for him.
"Damn it," I whispered. "Damn it all."
This wasn't supposed to happen.
I wasn't supposed to feel anything but rage.
But I did.
And that terrified me more than anything else.