We zoom back to camp, well aware Ajay would be beyond pissed when he found out we
left without his permission. My body aches at the thought of chopping wood again. All the
wolves are by the fire, listening to Aanya sing and play guitar. We change back into our human forms.
She has a fantastic voice. We take a seat. Ajay's eyes are fixed on her, and he doesn't
seem to notice our return, and we are about to rat ourselves out. How stupid.
The song is finally over, and everyone claps.
"Glad you two can join us." Ajay looks at us.
I smile awkwardly, well aware I no doubt look like an idiot.
"You mind telling me where have you been, Zare?" he asks.
I retell the story of the apple tree and what he said about Kiara. Looking over at her, I
was right; she looks so scared, and it hurts my heart.
"So you left for a date of picking apples, how romantic," Ajay snaps.
Smoke starts laughing, giving me a wink.
"Fuck this shit. Come on, baby, we didn't have to take this. We will just leave the pack,"
Chetan remarks.
"Correction, you need the Alpha's blessing to leave the pack, and you don't have it,"
Ajay comments.
"And?" retorts Chetan.
"You leave you two lose your wolf forms and that little mark you two share."
"I think we both know Zare and I share more than just being Mark mates."
"Are you sure about that?"
"She loved every minute of it, and I am sure she didn't pretend all that moaning."
"And that's why she was begging for my forgiveness. Because, in the end Zare knows
who's better. Isn't that right, baby?" Ajay gives me a wink.
"What about you Dev? You bone Zare, too? Do you have anything to add; asks Smoke,
making a pouty face at me.
"Enough, everyone!" yells, Cricket. "Let Zare join my pack; it will separate you two and
get her off your hands."
"No, Zare is my cub," Ajay states.
"She needs something different. She's not happy, or she wouldn't be running off,"
Cricket says.
"Do me a favor; worry about your pack, and I will handle mine." Ajay grabs me
by the arm. "Chetan, follow me now. I am going to be merciful this one time in exchange for the valuable information. Next time tell me where you're going, okay, Zare? Chetan, understand?"
"Yes, whatever." Chetan rolls his eyes.
Ajay grabs my face with his one hand, and I shiver at his touch. "That's a good girl, he
says, rubbing my cheek and lower lip with his thumb.
My whole body is weak; I want his lips on mine so badly. I want him in every single
way.
"Just think you could have had me, Zare." He smirks.
He was teasing me, and it brings tears to my ears. I can't help but cry in front of him.
"Stop Ajay, you can be such an asshole," Chetan snaps.
"I know," Ajay says, arrogantly.
"Are you coming?" I hear Aanya's voice.
"Sure thing, sweetheart." Ajay drops his hand from my face. He over to Aanya, wrapping
his arm around her shoulder.
"He is such a dick!" declares Chetan.
"Yeah, I wronged him. He's mad at me." I sigh.
"Do you think he actually likes Aanya?"
"No."
"You sure?" he asks.
"I guess I don't care."
Dev walks over to us, wrapping me in a big hug.
"You know I am always here for you?" he claims, looking me in the eyes.
"I know." I smile, wanly.
Look at you, bro, stealing Alpha's girl." He laughs, playfully punching Chetan in the
arm.
"You know me, bro." Chetan laughs.
"Don't let that act fool you. He is fucking pissed; he was in the camper earlier throwing
shit all about," Dev says.
Chetan cracks up laughing. "I am glad he's mad."
"That Smoke is such an ass."
"Seriously, you're telling me. I am about to whoop his ass."
"I will join," Dev chuckles.
"Zare."
My eyes see Kiara, and my heart is overjoyed. Rushing up to her, I hug her, and she lets
me in, hugging me back.
"I am sorry for how I acted about Chetan. I am a hypocrite; I couldn't fight the pull of the
Mark either with Cricket, and you shouldn't, either. It's amazing, just let him in," she says.
"I have feelings for Ajay and possibly Chetan. It's so confusing." I groan.
"I understand. No feelings compared to how I feel about Cricket. I would do anything for
him, go to any measures to be with him. I am glad you found him." She smiles and kisses my cheek. "Embrace yours," she says before walking away.
Dev soon left us, too.
"Does it hurt you seeing her with Cricket?" I ask Chetan.
"It was hard at first, but now I am happy she has him. And I realize as soon as I marked
with you, you were all I wanted," he states.
The words enter my heart, and one thing is sure: Chetan would never hurt me like Ajay.
Rushing into his arms, he smothers me in a loving embrace and kisses me on the head.
"You're my beautiful girl," he says.
"Your girl?"
"I hope you will be one day."
My face breaks out in a smile, and my stomach feels like it's upside down.
"I will make you happy, always put your first, and will never hurt you, Zare."
Even with all the pain and confusion, Chetan still found his way into my heart tonight,
warming my soul and making me feel better. He brings his lips to mine, and this time, I had no intention of pulling away. He kisses me platonically. He is so tender and sweet as he rubs the side of my face mid-kiss.
"You are the sweetest thing," he whispers in my ear.
Ajay and Aanya walk by, hand in hand, not saying a word. Seeing them together
doesn't hurt this time around. My eyes are only for Chetan, and my heart surrounds itself to him.
He says all the right things, and I know with every fiber in my being that he does genuinely love me. I think it's more than being mark mates.