Chapter 44 On his bed
Zoe's POV
The celebration continued around me.
Music. Dancing. Laughter.
But I couldn't focus on any of it.
Because Jeremy had disappeared.
I'd pushed him away earlier. Rejected him publicly. Walked away.
That was the plan. Keep control. Make him chase.
But now... he was gone.
I scanned the crowd. Looking for him.
His tall frame. His dark hair. His presence.
Nothing.
"Looking for someone?" A pack member asked me.
"No. Just... enjoying the view."
But I wasn't. I was looking for him.
Why? Why did I care where he went?
This was good. He was probably sulking somewhere. Nursing his wounded pride.
Exactly what I wanted.
But my wolf... my wolf wouldn't settle.
She paced inside me. Restless. Agitated. Worried.
MATE. FIND MATE.
"He's not our mate." I told her silently. "He's our target."
DANGER. MATE IN DANGER.
"He's fine. He's probably just..."
The bond pulled. Hard. Sudden. Urgent.
Like a rope around my chest. Yanking. Demanding.
I gasped. Stumbled slightly.
"My lady? Are you alright?" Someone steadied me.
"Yes. I'm fine. Just... need some air."
I walked away from the celebration. Into the quieter parts of the pack house.
But the pull didn't stop. Got stronger. More insistent.
MATE. GO TO MATE. NOW.
"Stop." I whispered. "Stop pulling."
But it wouldn't. Couldn't.
The mate bond was screaming at me. Dragging me forward.
Like Jeremy was in danger. Like he needed me. Like something was wrong.
My feet moved on their own. Following the pull.
Down hallways. Up stairs. Through corridors.
Until I stood outside a door.
Jeremy's door. His room.
The pull was strongest here. Right here.
Something's wrong. Something's very wrong.
My hand reached for the handle. Turned it.
The door opened.
And I saw them.
Jeremy. In bed.
Mia. Beside him.
Both naked.
Her head on his arm. Her body pressed against his.
Sleeping. Together.
Everything stopped.
My breath. My heart. My thoughts.
Just... stopped.
Jeremy's eyes met mine. Wide. Shocked. Guilty.
"Margaret..." His voice was rough. Confused.
I couldn't move. Couldn't speak.
Just stood there. Staring.
At them. Together. In his bed.
Disgust hit me first. Sharp. Bitter. Cold.
He'd slept with her. After everything. After the bond. After that kiss.
He'd gone straight to Mia's bed.
But then... something else.
Hurt.
Deep. Painful. Unexpected hurt.
Like someone stabbed me in the chest.
Why did it hurt? Why did I care?
This was Jeremy. The man who killed me. Who shot me. Who threw me away.
I shouldn't care who he slept with. Shouldn't feel anything.
But I did.
I felt... betrayed.
And that made me angry.
Angry at myself. At this stupid feeling. At caring when I shouldn't.
"I... I'm sorry." I finally said. My voice flat. Empty. "I didn't mean to intrude."
"Margaret, wait..." Jeremy tried to sit up. But Mia's weight held him down.
I turned to leave.
"Wait!" Mia's voice. Sharp. Awake.
I stopped. Didn't turn around.
"What are you doing here?" Mia asked. Her voice... angry. Accusing.
I turned slowly.
Mia was sitting up now. Holding the sheet to her chest. Her hair messy. Her face... smug.
"I was looking for the Alpha." I kept my voice calm. "I had a question about... about trade routes."
"At this hour?" Mia's eyes narrowed. "In his bedroom?"
"I didn't know he was... occupied." I looked at Jeremy. He looked sick. Pale. Confused.
"Well, now you know." Mia smiled. Cold. Victorious. "The Alpha and I spent the night together. As we should. As his fiancée."
The word hit like a slap.
Fiancée. Right. I'd forgotten. Or tried to forget.
He was engaged to her. Promised to her.
Whatever I thought we had... whatever the bond made me feel... it didn't matter.
He was hers.
"My apologies for interrupting." I turned to leave again.
"Margaret, please..." Jeremy's voice was desperate. "This isn't... I don't remember..."
"You don't need to explain yourself to her, Jeremy." Mia cut him off. Her voice sharp. "She has no right to be here."
"I was just concerned..." I started.
"Concerned?" Mia laughed. "About what? About my fiancé? In his own bedroom?"
"I thought..."
"You thought what? That you could just waltz into his room whenever you wanted?" She stood up now. Still holding the sheet. But confident. Possessive. "He's mine, Margaret. Mine. Not yours."
I looked at Jeremy. He was staring at me. His face twisted. Guilty. Confused. Pleading.
Like he wanted to explain. To make me understand.
But what was there to understand?
He'd slept with Mia. The evidence was right there.
"You're right." I said to Mia. Keeping my voice steady. "He's yours. I apologize for the intrusion."
"How did you even know where his room was?" Mia's eyes narrowed. Suspicious now. "And why did you come here? Really?"
"I told you. I had a question..."
"At dawn? About trade routes?" She stepped closer. "I don't believe you."
"Believe what you want." I turned to the door. "I'm leaving."
"Yes. Leave." Mia's voice was cold. But underneath... pleased. Satisfied.
She was angry I'd come in. Angry I'd seen them.
But she was also pleased.
Pleased that I'd seen them together.
Pleased that I'd seen her in his bed. In his arms.
Pleased that I knew... he'd chosen her.
Not me.
I walked out. Closed the door behind me.
Stood in the hallway. Breathing hard.
My hands shook. My chest hurt.
"Why?" I whispered. "Why do I care?"
This was the plan. Make him fall for me. Then destroy him.
His pain was supposed to make me happy. His suffering was supposed to satisfy me.
But seeing him with Mia...
It didn't make me happy.
It made me hurt.
And I hated it. Hated this feeling. Hated caring.
"Damn the mate bond." I whispered. "Damn it all."
I walked back to the inn. Fast. Angry.
At Jeremy. At Mia. At the situation.
But mostly... at myself.
For feeling things I shouldn't feel.
For caring about a man I was supposed to hate.
For letting the bond control me when I should be controlling it.