Chapter 54
Evie
One by one, everybody heads outside into the backyard. Quint stops in front of me. “I’m glad you’re okay, Evie.”
I give him my best smile. “Thanks.”
Slate and Reid both nod at me but stay quiet as they step outside. Soon, it’s only Zane and me and his parents. I take a deep breath, hating what’s coming. Zane’s father misses nothing. “What is it, Evie?”
I eye all three of them a moment, hating what I’m about to tell them. I’m afraid it’s going to change everything for them. “It’s about their master.”
I take a deep breath and tell them everything the master told me. The three of them stay quiet, except a growl from Zane or his father every little bit. When I finally get out all the sordid details, I fall silent and wonder what’s going to happen.
“Thank you, Evie,” Zane’s mother says as she squeezes my hand.
I eye her in surprise and then look at her husband. “Aren’t you worried?” I can’t help but ask. “Aren’t you scared he’ll take you from your husband?”
She smiles at me. Smiles. “I’d like to see them try.” She takes her husband’s hand in hers.
“Evie, I will rip his head from his body before he hurts a member of my family,” Zane’s father says without batting an eye. “What I still don’t understand is how did they knew who you were to Zane? They obviously targeted you. The roommate, the boyfriend…somehow they knew—”
“Before I did,” Zane finishes his thought. He doesn’t look happy about the prospect.
I don’t have any answers. “I don’t know,” I finally say softly.
“But they had it set up. Sam even said as much. She asked why I didn’t think it was weird that she was in an all freshman and sophomore dorm.
They set it up before I even got to school.
” That thought terrifies me. Zane steps close and wraps his arm around my shoulder.
“We will figure it out in time,” Zane’s dad says, dismissing the subject, for now anyway.
You two need to get some sleep.” He stands up and gives Zane a hug and shocks me by giving me one next.
He looks me right in the eye. “Don’t ever forget that you are safe with Zane.
He will never let anything happen to you.
Once you’re fully mated, no one can mess with that.
..ever. And not only will Zane protect you, I will as well. ”
“Me too,” Zane’s mom adds.
Zane’s father smiles. “You and Zane are bonded now, and that makes you my daughter now.” Tears dot my vision as he continues. “And as I said earlier...well, you already heard what I said.”
“Yes, Dear. She doesn’t need to be reminded of ripping heads from bodies,” Zane’s mom says with a smile and shake of her head. I can’t help my laugh, and Zane pulls me closer to him.
“Thank you,” I tell them, still trying to keep my emotion at bay.
“No, thank you,” Zane’s mom said. “You love our son.” Her eyes tear up. “And that means more to us than you will ever know.”
“What she said,” Zane’s father says before he transitions back into Alpha. “Son, we’ll have enforcers start running the perimeters here.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Zane’s dad squeezes his shoulder. “Love you, Son.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
Within a few minutes, everybody is gone except for the people that actually live in this house.
When Reid steps inside, I feel a heaviness in my chest. I’m going to have to tell him at some point about everything I learned.
He needs to know about the threat to Riley.
I know her dad will keep her safe, but Reid deserves to know.
As if he feels where my thoughts are turned, Reid meets my gaze.
His eyes narrow, and he stares at me a moment.
I give him a small nod, hoping he knows I need to tell him something.
He stares at me a moment longer and then says his goodnights and leaves the room.
Zane doesn’t tell his packmates anything, and I figure his dad probably will soon.
I’m suddenly exhausted. “Come on. Let’s get to bed,” Zane says tugging at my hand. I follow him to his room. After I use his bathroom to brush my teeth, I yawn.
“Thanks for coming for me, Zane.”
Zane tugs on my hand as I try to walk past him and tugs me into his arms. He breathes in the scent of me and holds me close. “Stay with me tonight in my room. I’ll take the floor; I just don’t want to be away from you.”
“I don’t want to either,” I tell him, not fighting this thing between us. “But you don’t have to sleep on the floor. Stay with me.” He pulls back and meets my eyes.
“Are you sure?”
I meet his gaze without an ounce of fear or uncertainty. “Yes.”
I go to sleep that night wrapped up in Zane’s arms, and I’ve never had a better night’s sleep.
The next morning, I wake up early and slip out before Zane wakes up.
I head to the kitchen and jump when Reid calls out my name softly.
I whirl around, hand on my chest. “Reid, you scared me.” He must have just come in from a run because he’s all sweaty.
“Sorry.” He stares at me expectantly, and I take a deep breath.
“I’m only telling you this because of Riley,” I say softly.
His entire demeanor changes, and his eyes narrow. “What?”
I tell him everything I told Zane’s parents last night. When I’m done, I feel exhausted again. I eye Reid, wondering if I made a mistake in telling him. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you,” I say quietly.
His eyes snap to mine, and I flinch at the glimpse of his wolf in his eyes.
I take a step backwards, and he freezes.
He blinks several times. “You did the right thing telling me, Evie.” His voice is lower now.
“Thank you. I owe you.” Then he turns and walks right out the front door.
I stare after the door a few minutes and hope I did the right thing.
“Hey, Love.” I turn to see a sleepy-eyed Zane walk towards me. I smile and step into his warm embrace.
“Hey, Handsome.” He nuzzles my neck, and I close my eyes.
“Morning, Lovebirds.”
Zane blows out a breath on my neck. “We need to find our own place.”
I laugh and run my fingers through the back of his head.
He lifts his head and smiles at me before he kisses me and makes me forget my name.
I marvel at the fact that I’m able to smile today.
With everything that happened yesterday, I would think that it would rock my world.
And yet, it doesn’t. I now have this big guy next to me to thank for that.
I was scared yesterday; no, I was terrified.
But I knew that Zane would come for me. Deep down, I knew he would.
Just like I know he’ll protect me from the next threat and the one after that.
I trust him with my life. I smile as Quint and Zane tease each other.
I lean against the counter and watch them.
I’m not the same person I was a few months ago.
I’m stronger now. I feel confident in who I am turning into.
And I’m happy with who I am. Zane turns at that moment and catches my smile.
He walks over to me and pulls me into his arms. “What’s the smile for? ”
“I’m just happy. I love you, Zane Blackwood.”
His face softens. “And I love you, Evie Bennett.” He kisses me tenderly.
“Are you still good to go with me to my uncle’s next weekend?”
He smiles down at me. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He kisses me again, and I sigh against his lips. That is until Quint starts making gagging sounds that ramp up to full-on barfing sounds. I pull away from Zane laughing. He just shakes his head. “When do we get our own place again?”
____________
“Mom, Uncle Mick, we’re here,” I say as I open the door after knocking.
I hear a happy scream from my mom. “Evie, Baby.” And then her arms are around me.
I close my eyes and blink back tears. I didn’t realize how much I missed her, missed this.
When I pull back, I notice she has tears of her own in her eyes.
But she turns to the man standing beside me with a big smile on her face. “And you must be Zane.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She reaches up a hand and puts it on his shoulder. “It’s really good to meet the man who’s captured my daughter’s heart.” Her words come out a little broken, and I blink back more tears because this moment is everything to both of us right now.
Zane gives my mom a beautiful smile. “Well, she captured mine first.”
My mom blinks back tears and then hugs him. “Let me introduce you to my brother, Zane.”
And then my uncle’s there. “Hey, Zane. I’m Mick.” Zane shakes his hand and introduces himself.
My mom turns to me and hugs me tightly. “He’s the real deal, Baby.
I would have given anything for your father to look at me that way.
” I swallow hard, and she releases me and gives me a smile that is so full of goodness and happiness and not an ounce of sadness.
“I am so happy for you.” She tucks my hair behind my ears.
“When you’re given a gift like that, Baby, you wrap both hands around it and hold tight to it.
” I look over and watch Zane chuckle at something my uncle says.
He glances my way a moment later and gives me a blinding smile, and I feel his love for me pulse through the bond between us.
My mom’s right. He is the real deal, and I’m going to hang on to him with both hands.
I struggle to contain my happiness in this moment.
I blink back tears of happiness. This quarterback pulled a move on me and snuck up on me and into my life so completely before I even knew what was happening.
I never saw him coming, but I am never letting him go.
Zane’s grin widens. I caught that, Baby. That’s what we call a quarterback sneak.
My smile grows as well. Well, it was a good play.
Yeah, it was! I got the girl.