Chapter 30 Chapter 30
Zarlia’s cab stopped in front of the house.
Her heart was still pounding, every word from Luke’s mouth echoing in her ears like a curse. Eat her heart.
She shook her head hard, refusing to believe it—refusing to believe he could even think about it.
The cold night air bit at her skin as she stepped out of the car. The headlights vanished as the taxi drove off, leaving her alone. She gripped her bag and walked toward the front door—only to stop.
The door was unlocked.
Her stomach twisted. She hadn’t left it that way. Slowly, she pushed it open. The lights were on.
“Hello?” she called softly. “Stetson?”
Silence.
She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the floor. Her hand hovered near the nearest lamp, ready to swing it if she had to. But then—
A noise. A crunch.
She turned sharply. Someone was behind her. Zarlia immediately kicked off her heels, grabbing one by the pointed end and raising it like a weapon. “Who’s there?” she demanded, spinning around.
A young woman froze mid-step, her silver-dyed hair catching the light, a bag of chips in one hand and wide, guilty eyes. Crumbs were still dusted on her lips.
“Whoa—okay, okay!” the girl lifted her hands in surrender, chips spilling to the floor. “Don’t stab me with your shoe, lady!”. She looked like she was in her early 20s.
Zarlia blinked, lowering her heel slightly. “Who are you?”
The girl cocked her head. “You’re not my brother,” she said flatly, giving Zarlia a slow once-over. “Who the hell are you?”
Zarlia frowned. There was something oddly familiar about the girl—the smirk, the dyed hair, the confidence. Then it hit her.
“Brother?” Zarlia echoed, her eyes widening. “Wait—Mimi?”
The girl blinked. “Uh… do I know you?”. She wore black combat jeans and a white crop top with make up that make her look like a rebel—which she obviously was.
Zarlia slowly lowered her heel. “You’re Mimi. You have that blog—‘Lunatic Moon,’ the one about werewolves, and…” she trailed off as realization settled in. “I follow your blog.”
Mimi’s eyes lit up slightly. “You read that thing?” she said, snorting. “Didn’t think anyone outside the pack still did.” She brushed her hair back and strolled past Zarlia casually, plopping onto the couch and grabbing the remote. “So, you’re a fan. Cute.”
Zarlia just stood there, confused, watching Mimi flick through the channels like she owned the place.
“Wait,” Zarlia said, frowning deeper. “You said brother. You’re Stetson’s—”
Mimi looked over her shoulder with a smirk. “Bingo. Little sister. The disappointment of the family. Didn’t he tell you about me?”
Zarlia froze. She had read about her—how the pack was hunting Mimi down for exposing secrets to humans. She had thought it was gossip. But standing here, staring at her silver hair and defiant grin, it wasn’t gossip anymore.
Her breath caught. “They’re after you,” Zarlia whispered.
Mimi shrugged, opening a new bag of chips. “Story of my life. I’ve been on the run since I was eighteen. Don’t worry, they won’t find me here. I’m good at hiding.” She stuffed her mouth with the newly opened chips.
Zarlia exhaled shakily and stepped closer. “What are you doing here?”
“Crashing,” Mimi said with a grin. “It’s my brother’s house. And since he’s too busy playing pretend somewhere, I figured he wouldn’t mind.”
Zarlia blinked in disbelief.
Then Mimi’s eyes narrowed suddenly—her gaze fixing on Zarlia’s neck.
“Wait,” she said, sitting up. “Is that… a bite mark?”
Zarlia touched her neck instinctively.
Mimi’s jaw dropped. “You’re my brother’s mate?” she exclaimed, springing to her feet. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this!”
Zarlia frowned, walking past her toward the stairs. “Was. I washis mate.”
Mimi followed her, still in disbelief. “Wait—what do you mean was? Did you guys break up or something? You’re human—how did he even—”
Zarlia didn’t answer. She walked into the bedroom and went straight for the closet, pulling out her suitcase. Her movements were brisk, emotionless, but her trembling hands betrayed her.
“Where are you going?” Mimi asked, flopping onto the bed and watching her pack. “I’m leaving,” Zarlia said shortly.
Mimi blinked. “Leaving? As in running away?” Zarlia gritted her teeth, she was good at running away but she always came back, this time however, she wasn’t going to.
Zarlia zipped the bag. “Call it whatever you want. I’m done.”
Mimi tilted her head. “Because of my brother?”
Zarlia finally stopped moving and looked at her. “Because I finally realized what I mean to him.” Her voice cracked slightly before she steadied it. “And I can’t stay where I’m not wanted.” Or where her life was at risk because the mood goddess decided to play a stupid joke.
Mimi frowned, sensing the storm behind those words. She sat up, her tone softening. “You know, Stetson doesn’t really do emotions. He’s bad at showing them. But he’s not—”
Zarlia shook her head. “You didn’t hear what I heard, Mimi.”
There was silence. Then Mimi asked quietly, “You love him, don’t you?”
Zarlia looked down, her eyes glassy. “I didn’t mean to.” She forced a small laugh. “But I do. And that’s the problem.” No matter how she forced herself to believe, Stetson didn’t love her the way she did.
Mimi sighed, falling back on the bed with a groan. “My brother is such an idiot.”
Zarlia smiled weakly. “You’re not wrong.” She closed her suitcase and stood. The weight of the decision pressed on her chest, but she forced herself to move.
“Where are you even going?” Mimi asked again.
“I don’t know,” Zarlia admitted. “But I’ll figure it out. I always do.”
Mimi propped herself on her elbows, watching as Zarlia walked toward the door with her bag in hand. “You really think you can just leave him? He’s a werewolf, remember? He’ll track you down before you even get out of town.”
Zarlia paused, her hand on the doorknob. “Let him,” she said softly. “By the time he finds me, it’ll already be too late.”
Mimi frowned. “You think running will fix it?”
Zarlia turned to her with a sad smile. “It’s not about fixing anything, Mimi. It’s about surviving.” She started toward the door again, but Mimi’s voice stopped her.
“Will you come back?”
Zarlia didn’t turn around. “I don’t think so.”
Mimi bit her lip. “When’s he coming back?”
Zarlia hesitated. Then she looked over her shoulder, her eyes distant. “Once he realizes I’m gone,” she said. “But by then, I’ll be far away.”
And without another word, she walked out—her heels clicking softly against the floor, her figure disappearing through the door that now seemed much heavier than before.
Mimi stood there, the echo of her steps fading into silence. She sighed, tossing her chips aside, a frown tugging at her lips.
“Stetson,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. “You really don’t know what you just lost.” She looked toward the doorway one last time, her silver hair glinting under the dim light, and whispered, “And you’d better pray she forgives you—because I sure as hell wouldn’t.”
Zarlia walked under the rain, her clothes and bags drenched but the pour was still as brutal, the bus station was her only saving grace. She had nowhere to go to, nobody to turn to. Her eyes couldn’t see beyond the rain.
A part of her wanted Stetson to find her with worry in his eyes and Asher throwing a fit but this wasn’t a fairy-tale, she didn’t deserve a happily ever after.
Suddenly she saw a figure running towards her in the rain.
No, it couldn’t be…
She suddenly felt tears falling from her eyes, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Could it really be him?
The figure approached and what had looked like a built man in a fitted tailored suit suddenly morphed into a slender figure in a designer mini gown—Zarlia was suddenly confused.
The woman stopped in front of her with a worried expression. Zarlia immediately recognized those big deep blue defiant eyes anywhere.
“Are you okay?”, Caroline said. “You look like hell”. Zarlia couldn’t say if she was disappointed or relieved.
If Stetson had showed up, she would follow her heart and follow him home therefore get herself killed but he didn’t come so she had time to get her thoughts in check and start afresh.
“Can I crash at your place for a few days”, Zarlia asked.