Chapter 39

Dash committed to helping me fix the house. I felt bad because the renovations cost thousands of dollars but he didn't want to hear about that.

I had a boyfriend!

I almost couldn't believe I was in a relationship with the man who left me after he took my virginity. The truth was I never stopped loving him. I never stopped hoping he would return and love me back.

"Zora?" Dash's voice drew me out of my thoughts.

I cleared my throat and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Yeah?"

"We're meeting Gunner at a café in fifteen minutes."

I nodded. Dash climbed out of bed and I watched him walk out my bedroom door so he could use the bathroom. I wish I could make my bedroom en-suite but that would only be another round of chaos.

Dash spent the night with me. We didn't do anything. Though being in his arms was magical. I felt protected and loved.

"Dash…"

He came back. "What's wrong?"

"Have you told him? Them?"

He blew out a breath. "He'll know when he sees us."

Nothing happened between Gunner and me. Just one heated kiss and a lot more heart ache. Kaleb was the one I felt bad about. Shouldn't have gotten involved with my best friend's brother even though we never actually had sex.

Dash leaned in and kissed me. He kissed me hard, taking my bottom lip between his teeth and biting down.

I jolted but he kept me in place. Dash moaned in my mouth. The vibrates went to my crotch. I pulled away.

"We have to stop if we want to get out of the house, Dash."

"I'd rather stay here than meet Gunner anyway." Dash laughed as he walked out of my room.

***

Gunner was early. He sat alone in a booth with his head buried in his phone. Dash's hand never left my waist as he guided me to the both. Gunner lifted his head and his eyes narrowed.

"Got news?" Dash asked.

Gunner set his phone on the table. "News for Zora."

"It's been quiet. It's a good thing we haven't been inspecting bodies."

I could cut the tension with a knife. Dash and Gunner held each other's stares, neither one of them backing down. I snuggled closer to Dash and his fingers curled around my arm. That was when Gunner broke eye contact and looked at me.

"Anyway, I found an address for Astra, but when someone went to check her out she wasn't there," Gunner said.

"She knows you're following her," I said.

"We've been careful. I think she's running from someone else."

Astra Dean could be my Mother. The possibility of meeting her was overwhelming. I had so many questions but I was also still mourning the Mother who held me when the storms were too much for me and cared for me when I was sick.

"You don't have to meet her," Dash said.

I bit my bottom lip. Gunner didn't miss a beat.

"I know but I have questions that no one other than her can answer. I have no choice, Dash."

"I'll be right there next to you," he said softly.

I fought the urge to kiss him in front of Gunner but this was the Dash I fell in love with. The one who shielded me from Gunner's wrath. Though, I recalled Dash pulling a few tricks on me. He dumped ranch dressing in my hair. It smelled so bad I had to cut it off. I had a bob that whole summer.

His phone rang and he excused himself from the table. He left me alone with Gunner. The restaurant wasn't packed with customers but if Gunner decided to do something to me I doubted anyone would battle the Alpha to help me.

"What the hell are you doing?" he hissed.

"I'm going out with my boyfriend. Is something wrong?"

Gunner scowled. "Boyfriend."

"I love him and he loves me."

"I loved you first Zora. I wanted you. There's nothing I wouldn't have done for you."

I rolled my eyes.

"I tried to mark you so you wouldn't belong to anyone else. Dash did the same but I would have given you everything."

"You are delusional you know that right?"

I leaned back in the booth and folded my arms.

"My love for you wasn't in my head. It was real."

"So was your hate. You loved the Zora you could toy and manipulate."

"Zora-"

"No, you liked timid and quiet, Zora. If you ever made me yours my life would have been a living hell." I stood abruptly.

Gunner stood too and looked me in the eyes. I saw hints of brokenness and desperation.

"You have a girlfriend now… forget about me, okay?"

"What's going on?" Dash asked, walking back into the restaurant.

"I don't feel like breakfast. Let's go."

Dash wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me out of the restaurant. I hoped the past would remain in this building and never rear its ugly head again.