Chapter 21

Jackson

I had to deal with treaty issues; as the alpha king, I am often involved in these issues. I hated leaving Zoe, but I had made sure she had guards watching her, and Dustin was always with her. I also had Cole watching her as my Beta. He could take out any threat that would want to hurt her.

I was finishing my meeting when I mind-linked Cole to ask for an update. He said she was still sitting at the table, but Alpha Wyatt sat with her. My wolf was mad and wanted to rip Wyatt’s head off. I got up and headed back to my mate.

When I set down with her, I could tell that she was uncomfortable. Wyatt gave me a smug smile as I pulled my mate to me. I realized that Zoe was really anxious, so I asked her to dance. We danced to three songs before she told me she wanted to go talk to Katelynn. I knew something was up, but I did not want to push her. I wanted to trust that she would tell me what was going on when she was ready.

I went and talked to Max and Cole. We grabbed a drink and talked about things we needed to do this weekend. I looked around and did not see Zoe or her sister Katelynn. I asked Dustin where she was.

“The back yard, sir, with her family,” He says to me.

I tell Max and Cole I will be back and go to find out what my mate is doing.

As I approach them, I hear Katelynn say I will kill him.

I flashback to when Tyler told me that Katelynn wanted to kill his father.

But he said his father was in prison—he wasn’t out, was he? I should have had Max check on him when he was tracking down Zoe’s boyfriend from high school.

" Kill who” I say.

Zoe has this looks on her face, like she afraid to say what she is about to say.

But then she starts explaining what Wyatt was saying at the table when I came back from my meeting.

So many questions were circling my head, but my wolf told me to get my mate safely. As I mind-linked Cole and Max, I told everyone to head for my office. I plan to find out how Wyatt knows about my mate and how he knows her dad.

We were sitting in my office when Cole and Max, my trusted advisors, walked in and told us they could not find Wyatt. They have every available guard looking for him.

I can not control the deep growl that leaves me, “How does no one know where he is?” I growl out to my Beta and Gamma.

I pound my fist on the desk when Zoe touches my arm. I reach out and pull her into me, holding on to her tightly.

My wolf is going nuts. He’s convinced that Wyatt is after our mate, and I’m in complete agreement. I will not let her out of my sight. He can not have my mate; he growls at me, and I echo his sentiment with fierce determination.

“We are going to look for him,” Tyler exclaimed as he and Ryker left my office.

“Do not hurt him; I want him brought in alive,” I tell Zoe’s brothers.

“We are going to check on the kids,” Johnny, our trusted caretaker, says as he leads Katelynn, our youngest pack member, out of the office.

I turn to Cole and urgently instruct him to call the elders. We need an immediate meeting about the Raevin River pack.

Max, it’s crucial that you find out everything about Zoe’s father.

We will reconvene here in the morning. I stood up with Zoe in my arms and headed to our bedroom. It’s imperative that she’s safe and alone with me.

I place Zoe on the bed when she says, “I am sorry.”

“Why,” I ask?

She says, “I should have come to you about my father; I just have not told you everything about my father. So I wanted to talk to Tyler first.”

Zoe, I understand you are not ready to tell me everything; I am patient and I hope you will trust me enough soon to tell me everything about yourself.

I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her waist. I bend down and whisper into her ear, “You are my mate; there is nothing that can change how I feel about you.” You are beautiful, I say as I kiss just below her ear. You are kind, I say as I kiss her jaw. You are smart, I say as I kiss right by her mouth, and you are my mate. Then I capture her lips with mine.

I continue to kiss her as I push her back softly on the bed. She let out a moan, and I used this as a chance to slip my tongue into her mouth. I love the taste of her; our tongues are tangled together. My mate wants this as much as I do. I break the kiss to slide her dress over her hair. I sit back on my legs and look at her; she takes her hands and tries to cover her body with them. I growl at her and pin her hands at her side.

“This beauty before me is all mine; I want to see all of your sexy body,” I growl at her.

She has a back bra on and matching underwear; her skin is smooth and feels like silk. I run my hands all over her body, leaving goosebumps all over her body. She lets out a moan as I run my hands over her core. I captor her lips again and ravish her; I pull away when she needs more oxygen.

“Zoe, do you want to,” I ask her.

She looks at me, biting her lip. She nods her head, telling me she is ready.

“I need words, Zoe.”

“Yes,” she says more of a moan.

That’s all I needed; I was going to ravish her body all night.