Chapter 45 45
Zane's POV
My hand froze inches from Rhylie’s door, my body torn between instinct and reason. Everything in me screamed to turn around, to walk away before I did something I will be regretting for the rest of my life. But the bond... the pull to her was undeniable, stronger than I had ever felt.
I could feel Dalton pacing in my mind, his fury making my mind feel like a burning furnace. "Zane, don’t do this. You know something’s wrong."
But I couldn't understand what he meant; Rhylie was our mate; it was normal to feel this way, but what bothered me more was the fact that ….It didn’t make sense. Just last night, all I could think about was Scarlett. The way her lips felt against mine, the way her body had fit so perfectly in my arms. But now... it was like she was fading, slipping away, and all I could think about was Rhylie.
It wasn’t natural. It couldn’t be.
The door opened before I even knocked, and Rhylie stood there, her eyes wide with surprise. I stared at her all I could feel were burning desires.
"Zane?" she said, her voice soft, almost seductive. "What are you doing here?"
I swallowed hard, the words catching in my throat. What was I doing here? I didn’t have an answer. All I knew was that I couldn’t stay away. Not anymore.
"I... I needed to talk to you," I managed, my voice sounding weird even to my own ears.
Rhylie’s lips curled into a smile, and she stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter. "Of course. Come in."
I hesitated for a second longer, but the pull was too strong. I stepped into her chambers, still not knowing why exactly I was there, but I just wanted to be there.
Rhylie closed the door behind me, her movements seductive and enticing to me as I watched, She crossed the room to where I stood, her gaze never leaving mine. "Is there any problem, Zane? A few days ago, you told me off,” she said, her voice soft, but I could feel the sadness in it, one that made my heart suddenly ache, "Is something wrong?" She asked
I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to steady myself. "I don’t know," I admitted, the frustration obvious in my voice. "Things don’t feel right. The bond, I don’t understand what’s happening."
Rhylie’s smile widened slightly, and she stepped closer, her fingers brushing against my arm. "It’s the curse, Zane," she whispered. "It’s been affecting both of us. But we can fight it. Together, just like we have been doing all these years together”
Her touch sent a jolt through me, and for a moment, the confusion in my mind cleared, replaced by longing for her. The warmth of her hand against my skin was enough to push away the doubts, the questions. All that mattered was her. The bond between us. The bond that had always been there.
"I can help you," Rhylie continued, her voice soft and soothing. "You don’t have to fight this alone."
Her words were intoxicating me, and before I knew it, my body was moving on its own, closing the distance between us. I reached for her, my hands finding her waist as I pulled her closer, the heat between us was making me lose control.
Rhylie’s fingers trailed along my chest, her touch making me thirsty for something longing, the burning desires. My mind was clouded, the pull to her stronger than ever, taking over every thought. Her lips brushed against my neck, sending a jolt of heat through my body. Every instinct told me to stop, that this wasn’t right, but I couldn’t. I was trapped, wrapped around her fingers
She smiled, sensing my hesitation, but didn’t stop. “Zane,” she whispered, her voice low and sweet. I just wanted to have her under me “We’re meant to be. You know that, don’t you?”
I nodded, but it was as if I wasn’t in control anymore. The bond between us was all I could feel. It was intoxicating, drowning out everything else Scarlett, the curse, everything. Nothing else mattered.
Dalton roared in the back of my mind, his voice desperate, but it felt distant like he was calling from the other side of a thick wall. “Stop! This isn’t right! She’s not your mate!, maybe she is, but I hate her and I won't let you mate with her because how does she not fucking have a wolf”
I tried to listen, to pull myself back, but Rhylie’s hands on my skin, her scent filling my senses, was too strong. I reached for her, pulling her closer, feeling the heat between us grow.
But even as I moved, something inside me screamed. This wasn’t real. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
Rhylie’s lips found mine, and for a second, I lost myself completely. Everything else didn't matter anymore, The doubts, the warnings from Dalton, it all disappeared as her hands pulled me deeper into her grasp.
“Zane...” she whispered again, her breath hot against my skin. Her hands slid lower, and I felt my body respond, moving with hers.
“I want you, “ I said my breath hot against her skin
Scarlett’s POV
I was in the middle of a conversation with Kent, laughing at one of his sarcastic remarks when I suddenly felt weird. I couldn’t explain it, but suddenly, my chest tightened, and a strange sensation came over me. It felt like something was pulling me like a cord inside me was being pulled.
I stopped mid-laugh, my heart racing for reasons I couldn’t understand.
“Scarlett?” Kent’s voice cut through my thoughts, his brow raised with concern. “You okay?”
I blinked, trying to shake off the feeling, but it only grew stronger, more serious “I... I don’t know,” I muttered, standing up immediately. “Something’s wrong.”
Kent stood with me, his expression serious now. “What do you mean? What’s wrong?”
I couldn’t explain it, couldn’t put it into words. I just knew something was happening. My legs started moving before I could think it through, my body pulling me toward a direction I didn’t consciously choose.
“I have to go,” I said, my voice distant, my feet already taking me down the corridor.
I didn’t know where I was going, but something inside me knew. As I hurried down the hallway, the strange pull grew stronger and more serious. My heart pounded in my chest, fear gnawing at me. Why am I feeling like this?
And then, before I realized where I was, I found myself standing outside Rhylie’s chambers.
A cold feeling settled over me, my heart pounding in my chest. No… I didn’t know what I was about to walk into, but the thought alone made me feel weird
Without thinking, I pushed open the door.
Zane’s POV
I didn’t hear the door open. All I felt was a sudden jolt, a force pulling me away from Rhylie’s touch. I stumbled backward, my mind confused as Scarlett’s face came into the room
She stood there, her eyes wide with shock, her breath coming in angry gasps. And before I could even process what was happening, she had shoved me off Rhylie.
“Zane, what are you doing?” Scarlett’s voice was cold, her hands shaking as she grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the bed. “What’s going on?”
For a second, I didn’t recognize her. I didn’t recognize anything. My mind was a haze, clouded with confusion and lust, but the moment her hands touched me, something changed
Dalton roared again, louder this time, his voice angry, Wake up! This is wrong!
I blinked, trying to clear my head, but the haze… still clung to me, pulling me back toward her. My body moved on its own, my eyes finding Rhylie again as she reached out for me, her expression unreadable.
“Zane, don’t listen to her,” Scarlett said, her voice desperate. “Something’s wrong. This isn’t you!”
But the bond... It was too strong. I couldn’t fight it.
Rhylie smiled, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Get out, Scarlett,” she said, her voice smooth and commanding. “This doesn’t concern you, I am having a moment with my mate”
Scarlett’s grip on my arm tightened, and for a moment, I saw a flash of something in her eyes, fear, anger, something I couldn’t quite place. But then, she let go.
“If you want him, then take him,” she said, her voice trembling but cold “But I’m not going to stand here and watch this.”
“You came in here yourself, remember? so get out” said with a smirk playing on her lips
Scarlett gave me a cold glare before turning on her heel and storming out of the room without another word, and the second the door slammed behind her, Rhylie reached for me again.
“We don’t need her,” she whispered, her voice calling. “It’s just you and me now.”
But something inside me snapped.
I shoved Rhylie away from me, my breath coming in sharp gasps as I knew I wasn't meant to be there. I wanted to, but something kept pulling me away from her. “Stop,” I said, my voice low and filled with fury.
Rhylie’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly recovered, her smile returning. “Zane, you’re just confused. Let me..”
“Stop!” I roared, my body trembling with barely contained rage. Dalton was pushing forward, his presence filling me with a need to get away from her. To get back to Scarlett.
I backed away, my chest heaving. “This... whatever this is... it’s not real.”
Rhylie’s smile changed into a frown and for the first time, I saw fear in her eyes. But before she could say anything, I turned and stormed out of the room, leaving her behind.
I didn't know what to do anymore, I just didn't understand what was actually going on anymore, I needed to clear my head, I needed to feel better, I needed to understand what exactly was going on, and I had to fix
l the curse and give Scarlett her revenge we reject Each other and maybe then I will be able to find my way back to Rhylie.