Chapter 33 It's Time
Zoe's POV
"Alpha Jeremy?"
I called his name. My voice soft. Careful.
He froze.
His whole body went stiff.
Like my voice had power over him.
For a moment, he just stood there. Back to me. Not moving.
I held my breath. Waiting.
Would he turn around? Would he come back?
Would he recognize something in my voice?
The seconds stretched. Long. Tense.
Then... he started walking again.
Away from me.
Out the door.
Without turning back.
Without looking at me one more time.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
And I was alone.
I let out the breath I'd been holding.
My hand... the one that touched his... was still tingling.
That feeling. That connection.
It was still there. Still working.
The mate bond.
Even through the disguise. Even through the fake identity. Even through everything.
My touch still affected him.
I smiled to myself. Couldn't help it.
"It's still working." I whispered. "I can still make him active."
A laugh bubbled up. Quiet. Almost bitter.
All those weeks planning. Thinking about how to get close to him. How to make him notice me.
And here it was. Happening without me lifting a finger.
One touch and his body responded.
One look and his wolf recognized something.
This might make my job in Lakewood so much faster than I thought.
I didn't even have to try hard.
The bond was doing the work for me.
"Perfect." I said to myself. Still smiling.
But the smile felt strange on my face.
Wrong somehow.
Because part of me... a small part... didn't want it to be this easy.
Didn't want him to feel the bond.
Didn't want to use our connection against him.
I pushed the thought away. Hard.
"Focus, Zoe." I whispered. "Remember why you're here. Remember what he did."
The gun. The forest. The shot.
My supposed death.
Yes. That's what mattered.
Not the mate bond. Not the way his eyes looked when he talked about losing someone.
Not the pain in his voice.
"He deserves this." I told myself firmly.
I finished my drink. Stood up. Paid the innkeeper.
Went up to my room.
Small. Simple. But comfortable enough.
I lay on the bed. Stared at the ceiling.
My hand still tingled where I touched him.
"Three weeks." I whispered to the empty room. "Maybe less. If this keeps working."
Three weeks to destroy him.
To take everything from him like he took everything from me.
The thought should have made me happy.
Should have made me feel powerful.
But instead... I just felt tired.
And my stomach... the baby... stirred slightly.
Like a reminder.
A reminder of what I was carrying. Who the father was.
"We'll be fine." I touched my stomach. "Both of us. Once this is over."
I hoped I was telling the truth.
...
Later that night, I couldn't sleep.
The room felt stuffy. Hot. Closed in.
I needed air. Space. Something.
I got up. Threw on a cloak. Went downstairs.
The inn was quiet now. Most guests asleep.
I stepped outside. Into the cool night air.
Better. Much better.
I walked around the building. To the small garden behind it.
Sat on a bench. Breathed deep.
The stars were bright tonight. Clear. Beautiful.
"Miss the view from here?" A voice made me jump.
Two women. Pack members by the look of them. Walking past the garden.
They didn't see me in the shadows.
"I do. But the ball will be even better." The first woman said.
"I can't wait. Only three more days!"
"I know! I already have my dress. And my mask."
"Your mask? Let me see!"
They stopped walking. One pulled something from her bag.
"It's beautiful!" The second woman gasped.
"Thank you! I want to look mysterious. You know how the ball works. Everyone dresses gorgeous but wears masks to hide their real identity."
"That's the fun part. You could be dancing with anyone. The Alpha. The Beta. A warrior. And you wouldn't know until midnight when everyone removes their masks."
"Do you think the Alpha will dance this year?..."
"Poor Alpha Jeremy. Still mourning her. I heard since the incident with the assassin, he had not gotten his life back.
"Well, maybe the ball will cheer him up. Help him move on."
"Maybe. Three days can't come fast enough."
They walked away. Still chatting. Still excited.
I sat there in the shadows.
Processing what I just heard.
A ball. In three days.
Where everyone wears masks to hide their identity.
Where anyone could be anyone.
Where I could get close to Jeremy without raising suspicion.
Where I could dance with him. Touch him. Make him feel the bond even stronger.
And he wouldn't know it was me until I wanted him to know.
My mind raced. Planning. Plotting.
This was perfect.
Better than perfect.
A ball where everyone hides their face?
I was already hiding my face. Already pretending to be someone else.
This was made for me.
I stood up. Walked back to my room.
My heart pounded with... what? Excitement? Anticipation?
Fear?
All of it. Everything mixed together.
I closed my door. Locked it.
Sat on the bed.
"Three days." I whispered.
Three days to prepare.
Three days to plan.
Three days until the ball.
I touched my stomach again. The baby. My secret weapon.
The child making me invincible. Powerful. Unstoppable.
"We can do this." I told the baby. Told myself.
The ball would be the perfect opportunity.
To get closer to Jeremy.
To make him fall harder.
To set up his destruction.
I lay back on the bed.
Closed my eyes.
And smiled in the darkness.
"It's time."