Chapter 28 Chapter 28

Chapter 28 Chapter 28
ZANE

I couldn’t sleep.

I paced the hallway outside Mira’s room, my boots scraped the stone floor, and the sound felt too loud, grating in my skull. My wolf clawed at my ribs, snarling, tugging me toward the door. Luca had gone out for a run. Jax had disappeared somewhere into the shadows. But I could not leave. The bond in my chest burned hot as it pulled me toward Mira, toward the girl I wanted, toward the girl I wanted to be the only one who mattered.

I told myself I was just checking once more, making sure Sofia hadn’t whispered something fatal, so I pushed the door open.

The room was empty, the bed sheets were twisted, the blanket tossed on the floor. No Mira. No Sofia.

Ice flooded my veins.

“Fuck,” I said, the word tearing from me as my fist hit the doorframe. Pain shot up my arm, but I barely noticed. They were gone. Sofia had taken her away, and my wolf roared inside me and rage clawed at my chest and burned my vision red.

I shifted before I even thought about it. Black fur ripped across my skin. My claws dug into the floor as I tore through the back door and into the night.

I found them in the clearing. The rogues hadn’t even had a chance to realize what was coming. By the time I was done, the ground was littered with bodies. Their screams had ended, and I was human again, naked and coated in blood. Claw marks branded across my chest burned, but I barely noticed as I scanned for Mira.

She was curled in the dirt, shivering, her arms tight around herself, legs drawn up, shirt shredded and pants torn. She looked so small, so fragile, and my chest constricted with something sharp that it hurt to breath.

Sofia emerged from the trees, her face pale, her clothes in covered in dirt. She froze when she saw me but I ignored her.

I dropped to my knees beside Mira. “Mira, fuck… baby,” I whispered.

She flinched, then lunged toward me, pressing her face into my shoulder. Her arms wrapped around my neck and shook violently, teeth clattering against my skin. I lifted her carefully, cradling her against my chest. Her sobs pressed against me, wet and ragged.

“I almost didn’t get here in time,” I said, my voice cracking. “I almost lost you.”

Sofia stepped closer. “Mira… oh my gods,” she said.

I snapped my gaze toward her. She glared back at mewith hate, with the nerve to stand there after everything. I wanted to crush her throat, to feel the life drain from her slowly, but not in front of Mira. Not yet.

“We’re going back,” I growled. “Now.”

I carried Mira through the trees in long furious strides. Her weight was nothing, her body clinging to me, face pressed to my neck. Her breath smelled of fear and blood and something else that made my stomach twist. Even now, I wanted to pin her down, to make her forget everything but me.

Back at the mansion I kicked my door open and I laid her gently on my bed. I didn’t borther taking her to hers because she needed me tonight. She curled up immediately, pulling the blanket tight around her torn clothes. Shaking harder now that the adrenaline was fading.

Luca and Jax were already there. smell of fear and blood had drawn them in. Luca’s eyes widened at the blood. “What happened?”

“Rogues,” I said, voice low and rough. “They almost got her.”

I I could not finish the sentence. The words stuck in my throat.

Jax’s gaze slid to Sofia in the doorway, eyes going cold and calculating like he already knew this was all her fault.

Sofia was still glaring, still standing there like she had any right. I wanted to cross the room and crush her, make her choke on her own fear and blood.

“Leave,” I said, my voice was coming out deadly. “Go back to your room.”

She hesitated, her eyes flicking to Mira. “But—”

“Now,” I said, much sharper and she flinched back, her steps slow and reluctant, then the door clicked shut behind her.

Mira whimpered, shaking so hard the bed trembled. I moved to the basin for a wet cloth to clean her, but her hand shot out. Fingers curled around my wrist.

“Don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t leave me.”

I froze. Her eyes were wide, red-rimmed, terrified, pleading.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said softly as I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into my lap. She pressed against me willingly, face buried against my chest. Her breaths were fast, hot, desperate.

“They almost…” She choked on the words. Sobs racked her tiny frame.

“I know,” I said. “They’re dead. I killed them. No one touches you again.”

She nodded, clinging tighter to me. Minutes passed in tense silence, untill her shaking gradually slowing.

“I didn’t believe her,” she whispered. “Sofia… her story… I wanted to. She’s my friend. But something felt wrong. And now… gods, it happened to me too.”

I tensed, guilt twisting through me. Not for Sofia, never for her. For Mira. For letting this happen. For not ending Sofia when I had the chance. For every second wasted while Mira bled.

“You’re safe now,” I said, voice rough as I touched her cheek. “With me.”

She lifted her head. Eyes met mine, red-rimmed but bright green. Her hand came up, tracing the claw marks on my chest. Still raw, still angry.

“You saved me,” she whispered and bond flared between us. Hot, insistent. Her fear faded, replaced with something slicker, warmer, heavier.

She leaned in slowly and hesitantly until her lips brushed mine.

I froze, my body reacting before my mind could, my cock stiffening instantly and pressinghard against her thigh through my pants. Gods, she felt good. Soft. Warm. Alive. But I pulled back just enough to look at her.

“Mira…" My voice came out hoarse. "Is this what you want? After what happened?"

She nodded, eyes shining dark. “Yes. Please. Make me forget.”

Fuck. How could I say no?