Chapter 49

Zora POV

I wanted to curl into a hole and ball my eyes out until there was no water left in my body to aid my pity party. Cass's words carried venom and hatred I almost didn't recognise her. It hurt worse than any wolf bite. I wanted to disappear under my covers and cry but I still had a job to do.

I couldn't go to Cassidy's house and mine wasn't safe. I felt so alone.

I marched to the elevator. I couldn't wait to leave the hospital.

"Zora! Wait," Zelda called.

I stopped and ran my sleeve across my nose. "Sorry, I thought you and Kaleb were busy."

Kaleb appeared behind her, hands in his pocket and expression unreadable. However, judging by Zelda's swollen lips and pink cheeks they were doing more than just talking.

"We were just… never mind. Were you going to leave without me?"

"I'm sorry, Zelda. I have work in a few minutes. I don't want to be late."

"I'll take you," Zelda offered.

"Don't worry about it. It's the bar close by. It's less than ten minutes away."

Kaleb placed a hand on Zelda's shoulder. "She'll be fine. There are betas all over the Pack."

A battle raged behind Zelda's eyes. I wouldn't come between her and her mate. I promised to see her later and entered the elevator.

"Wait!"

A hand slipped between the elevator doors and parted them open.

"Gunner?" I stepped back into the elevator.

"I know you're mad at me-"

"Yeah, wait for another elevator."

"Zora we need to talk."

He slipped into the elevator and it started to descend. Ugh, this is going to be a long ride.

"Cass and I didn't plan to make a baby," he said.

"I don't care. I'm happy about the baby! You came between my best friend and me and I don't want anything to do with you."

He cupped my cheeks and slammed his body into me. My back hit the cold metal wall.

"You don't know how much it hurts when you say that? Don't you know an Alpha doesn't handle rejection well?"

I rolled my eyes. I tried to shove him but it felt like pushing a boulder. He shoved his knee between my legs, parting them instantly.

"Where's your man now?" he growled.

"Get off me," I warned.

"Or what? Dash isn't here. He doesn't deserve you."

"Neither do you! I don't care if you're with Cassidy or Lilah! You need to stay away from me."

"Fine. I'll never look or talk to you again…"

I tilted my head slightly. "Okay… is that all?"

"Yes, but only if you kiss me right now."

"I'm in a relationship!" I gasped. "Are you insane?"

He was in a relationship too! Honestly, I'd pay good money to find out he Fathered another woman's child. Lila was a bitch and even though it wasn't nice to enjoy other people's suffering but she needed a good kick in the ass. I'd feel bad about my bad thoughts later.

Gunner wrapped his hand around my throat and raised his knee to my crotch. I forced my limbs to still and to steady my heart rate but he was so close it was difficult to control myself.

"Kiss me right now. I need to get you off my skin and I'll never give you the time of day again."

I would not cheat on my boyfriend because of him!

"What do you say?" he inched closer and his breath caressed my lips.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. I shoved him off and straightened my clothes.

"Never! However, I expect you to keep your promise. It's better for the both of us."

I marched out of the hospital building. On the bright side I wasn't sad anymore I was furious. I doubted he thought a kiss would help him get over me. It would have made things worse.

I made it to my job safely. I sent Zelda a text telling her I made it to work okay. The bar was quiet. Two guys played pool in the corner and another guy stared at a half-drunk glass of water intently I doubt he knew what was happening around him.

I put on my black apron and made myself useful by cleaning up the tables and picking up trash. The later it got the more people would come in. I was looking forward to a busy night with lots of tips, anything to get my mind off of everything that happened today.

"Ouff," someone said after our shoulders collided.

"Oh my gosh," I gasped. "I'm sorry I didn't see you!"

I cupped my mouth. I was lost in my thoughts I began wandering around aimlessly I didn't see the guy heading my way.

He held up his phone and smiled. "I'm sorry, I've got a lot of work today. My head's been buried in my phone all day."

"No, I wasn't looking."

He chuckled, revealing a cute dimple on his left cheek. "We actually should stop meeting like this."

I tilted my head to the right. "Have we met before?"

"I'm sure you meet a lot of people in here but we have. We bumped into each other on your way out."

His brown eyes did seem familiar but I couldn't recall meeting him. Perhaps he was a regular.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he offered.

I smiled. "No, no I can't. I'm on the job."

"Come on, this place is a desert. One drink I could use the distraction or else I'll bump into people all night."

"Yeah, we don't want that. Okay, one drink or my boss will get mad at me."

The man chuckled. "We're paying customers he should be happy. Alright, we'll sit in the corner so he doesn't spot you, is that okay?"

"Yes, so I'll see him before he sees me."

My new friend ordered two cocktails and they arrived a few minutes later.

"So… are you new here? I've lived here all my life and I've never seen you before."

He chuckled revealing that cute dimple again. "You must be popular. Do you really know everyone?"

I shrugged. "It's easy to tell the locals and you Sir are not."

It was a small Pack and we all knew each other one way or another.

"You caught me. I'm not from here. I'm thinking about buying land it's recently become cheap here."

I took a sip of my cocktail. They made decent drinks here but mine was oddly sweet.

"Which means you're staying," I said.

"Who knows? The process has been rather stressful."

I chuckled. "I thought it was all simple. You look at the land, you like it and then you pay for it."

He laughed and I took another sip of the cocktail. I could barely taste the alcohol so I put the drink aside.

"Oh, dear Zora, if only life was so simple."

How did he know my name?

"How did you…" I cleared my throat. "How…"

"Is something wrong Zora?"

My vision blurred and the man across from me split into two.

"What's wrong with me?" I cradled my head.

"You've eluded me for too long. Somehow you escaped the idiots I sent to get you so I've been forced to take you myself."

My limbs refused to cooperate I needed to get away from him. My speech was slurred and the crocked smile on the man's face got brighter.

"Give in Zora so you and I can leave together."

My head got heavy and fell forward. The world around me went dark and quiet.