Chapter 40 40

Chapter 40 40
Zara’s POV

What the hell happened last night?

The question echoed in my skull the moment I opened my eyes.

I lay still for a second, staring at the ceiling and trying to piece together fragments that refused to come together. My room looked the same and nothing out of place, nothing was broken and stood out but yet something felt different.

There was a scent lingering in the air which was definitely not mine it was warm and masculine which was dangerous.

My heartbeat stuttered, then picked up speed, Darius. He was the first person that flashed through my mind.

I sat up too quickly and instantly regretted it. My head throbbed violently which was a sharp, punishing reminder of every drink I shouldn’t have had.

“Stupid…” I muttered under my breath, pressing my fingers to my temples and why did I drink that much?

I forced myself out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom, the second I caught my reflection, I froze because I looked completely wrecked.

My hair was tangled beyond reason and my mascara smeared under my eyes like bruises, my lips dry, my skin pale and dull. I looked like I hadn’t slept in days.

“Wow,” I whispered hoarsely. “You’ve officially hit rock bottom.”

I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would wash away not just the mess but the shame curling in my chest.

And then the memories from last night started to come back to me and I gasped as I staggered backward.

I remember having a glass of wine in my hand then I had another and another until I loss count and that laughter didn’t feel like mine.

A man’s hands was touching me like a pervert and that was Alpha Henry and my stomach twisted.

Then suddenly there was another presence and it was Darius.

My breath caught sharply as he stepped in and pulled me away from the pervert, he took me away from there and we we straight into his car and then…

Oh God. “No… no, no, no…”

My back hit the wall as the memory crashed into me fully this time, I threw myself at him.

My face burned instantly, heat rushing through me so fast it made me dizzy.

I remembered his tie in my hands and the way I leaned into him.

The way I looked at him and the words I said.

I squeezed my eyes shut. “I want you…”

My stomach dropped, did I said that to him?

My ex-fiance father in law, God I felt sick.

I staggered out of the bathroom, unable to look at myself any longer because every reflection felt like a reminder of just how badly I had lost control.

My gaze fell on my purse sitting at the edge of the bed and suddenly… everything made sense.

That scent, It wasn’t just in the air. It was in my room and on my sheets.

My heart slammed hard against my ribs, Darius was truly here in my room and he saw the chaos in my life.

A fresh wave of embarrassment hit me as I glanced around the clothes scattered everywhere and books piled carelessly, everything screaming that I had no control over anything anymore.

“Great,” I muttered bitterly. “Just great.”

I grabbed my phone from my bag, plugging it into the charger. The screen flickered to life and immediately, guilt punched me straight in the chest.

Bella.

Message after message.

Bella: Where are you??
Bella: Zara, answer me!
Bella: I’m serious, I’m about to lose my mind.
Bella: Someone said Darius took you home are you okay??
Bella: Call me NOW.

“Shit…”

I ran a hand through my already ruined hair, I had left her.

She came for me and supported me, stood by me through everything and I disappeared like an idiot who couldn’t hold her liquor.

I didn’t even hesitate before calling her and she picked up instantly.

“Zara! Where the hell have you been?!” Her voice came fast, sharp and filled with panic mixed with leftover anger. “Do you have any idea how worried I was?!”

“I’m sorry,” I said immediately, my voice softer than I intended. “I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to just vanish like that… I....”

“What happened?” she cut in. “Because the whole school is talking.”

Of course they were.

“They said you got drunk and left with an Alpha,” she continued. “Some people are saying you hooked up with one, was it Darius?”

My breath hitched and my heart started racing all over again.

“No,” I said quickly....too quickly. “I mean… I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so?” she repeated incredulously.

“I don’t remember everything,” I admitted, biting my lower lip. “I remember Henry trying something… and then Darius stepped in. He took me away from him.”

Bella went quiet for a second. “And then?” she pressed but I swallowed hard.

“And then… I made a complete fool of myself.”

“How bad?”

I hesitated then forced the words out.

“I threw myself at him.”

Bella exhaled slowly. “Okay… and?”

“And nothing,” I said, my voice dropping. “He didn’t touch me, didn’t take advantage so nothing happened.”

That somehow made it worse.

“He stopped it,” I whispered. “I think his phone rang… or something interrupted us. I passed out right after that.”

“And he brought you home?” she asked.

My gaze drifted around my room again, at the bed.

At the space where he must have stood. “Yes,” I murmured.

Bella was quiet again, but this time, the silence felt… different.

“So let me get this straight,” she said slowly. “You got drunk, nearly got taken advantage of, threw yourself at the most dangerous man in the pack… and he still made sure you got home safely without touching you?”

I closed my eyes, when she said it like that…

It sounded worse and yet smething twisted low in my stomach.

“I don’t know what to do,” I admitted softly.

And for the first time since waking up, I wasn’t just embarrassed.

I was terrified because no matter how wrong it was a part of me couldn’t stop thinking about the way it felt to be in his arms.