Zoelle's determination to find Snow consumed her. The wolf's piercing eyes haunted her, a constant reminder of the strange, dangerous events unfolding around her. She searched tirelessly—through forests, around the city outskirts, and even remote areas—but every lead dissolved into frustration. Snow had vanished, leaving Zoelle with nothing but questions and a growing sense of unease.
The phone buzzed on a quiet afternoon, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and froze. The caller ID read: Jolie.
She hesitated before answering. "Hello?"
"Zoelle," Jolie's voice was unusually calm. "I've been thinking about our last conversation. I owe you an apology for being harsh."
Zoelle frowned, suspicion prickling at her. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"I realize I was wrong. Can we meet to clear the air? There's a quiet spot near the forest where we won't be interrupted," Jolie said smoothly.
Zoelle's instincts screamed at her to decline, but curiosity gnawed at her. She needed answers. "Fine. Where exactly?"
The meeting spot was more remote than Zoelle had anticipated. Dense trees surrounded the clearing, their shadows stretching long as the sun dipped lower. The air felt heavier here, thick with something she couldn't quite place. Jolie stood waiting, her expression unreadable, but Zoelle couldn't shake the unease settling in her chest.
"Thank you for coming," Jolie said, her smile faint and unconvincing.
Zoelle stayed back, her arms crossed. "What do you want?"
Before she could react, Jolie's hand darted out, gripping Zoelle's wrist tightly. The calm façade melted away, replaced by cold determination. Zoelle's pulse quickened, a knot of dread tightening in her stomach.
"You should've stayed away from Ryland," Jolie said, her voice low and dangerous.
Zoelle tried to pull away, but Jolie shoved her back against a tree. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs, and Zoelle gasped, struggling against Jolie's unyielding grip. Fear surged through her—this wasn't just a warning. This was a threat.
"You don't belong in this world," Jolie hissed. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into."
Zoelle thrashed, her heart pounding as Jolie's strength proved far greater than she'd anticipated. Pain blossomed where Jolie's nails dug into her skin, and a wave of panic flooded her chest. She had to get away. She had to—
A low, guttural growl cut through the air. Both women froze.
Emerging from the shadows was a massive wolf, its fur dark and sleek, its golden eyes burning with intensity. The air seemed to shift as its presence commanded attention. The wolf's gaze locked onto Jolie, its intent clear.
"Stay back," Jolie warned, her voice faltering for the first time.
The wolf ignored her, taking a slow, deliberate step forward. Jolie's grip on Zoelle loosened, and she backed away, her bravado crumbling under the wolf's unrelenting gaze. Zoelle collapsed to her knees, gasping for air, her heart racing in her chest.
The wolf turned its attention to her, its gaze softening, almost... comforting. But before Zoelle could process the moment, darkness overtook her.
---
Zoelle woke with a sharp breath, her body aching. The sterile scent of a hospital room filled her nose, and the white walls seemed to close in around her. The events of the night before flooded her mind—Jolie's attack, the wolf, and the overwhelming feeling that she was caught in something much bigger than herself.
"You're awake," a familiar voice said.
She turned her head sharply, only to find Ryland sitting beside her bed. His expression was unreadable, though something dark simmered beneath his calm facade.
Zoelle's heart skipped. "What are you doing here?"
Ryland's gaze remained steady, though a flicker of something—concern, maybe—shone through. "I found you unconscious in the forest. You were hurt. I brought you here."
Memories of Jolie's attack and her cryptic warnings about Ryland flooded back, and Zoelle instinctively recoiled. "Where's Jolie?"
Ryland's jaw tightened, his calm exterior cracking for a moment. "She won't bother you again," he said simply.
Zoelle's stomach churned. She couldn't trust him—not fully. Jolie had claimed to be close to Ryland, and if that was true, what did it mean for her? What was Ryland involved in?
"I want to leave," she said quietly, her voice trembling more than she cared to admit.
Ryland leaned back, his expression softening, but there was still a guarded intensity in his eyes. "You're safe here, Zoelle. No one will hurt you again. But I need to know—what happened out there?"
Zoelle's lips pressed into a thin line. The truth was too dangerous, too tangled. "I can't talk about it."
For a long moment, Ryland said nothing. His gaze lingered on her, as though weighing her words. Then, he nodded. "Fine. But know this—I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."
His words were meant to reassure, but Zoelle couldn't shake the unease gnawing at her. His concern for her felt real, but there was something... off. The pieces of this tangled puzzle didn't fit, and every time she thought she had an answer, another question emerged.
---
That night, Ryland's frustration boiled over. Zoelle's face lingered in his mind—the fear, the vulnerability, the way she had looked when he found her in the forest. The need to protect her surged within him, a primal instinct that threatened his carefully cultivated control.
The confrontation with Jolie took place in her office. She sat behind her desk, her eyes narrowing as Ryland entered, his presence almost suffocating in its intensity.
"You've gone too far," Ryland said coldly, his gaze hardening as he approached.
Jolie scoffed, though there was an edge of unease in her voice. "I was protecting you. She's a liability—"
Ryland slammed his fist onto the desk, silencing her. "You endangered her life. That's not protection—it's obsession."
Jolie flinched but recovered quickly, her expression hardening. "She's a distraction. You're losing focus because of her."
Ryland's gaze darkened, his voice low and dangerous. "If you ever harm her again, you'll regret it."
Jolie's resolve faltered under his piercing stare. She nodded stiffly, but Ryland wasn't done. "You're going to apologize to her. Now."
---
Zoelle sat in her apartment, trying to piece together the chaos of everything that had happened. Her nerves were frayed, every creak in the floorboards outside making her jump. The silence was deafening, and her mind raced in circles, never finding rest.
A knock at the door shattered the stillness. Zoelle hesitated before opening it.
Jolie stood there, looking uncharacteristically hesitant. Ryland was close behind, his presence looming in the doorway. For a moment, Zoelle could only stare, unsure what to expect.
"I believe you have something to say," Ryland prompted, his tone sharp, though the quiet beneath it made Zoelle's heart race.
Jolie glared at him, her eyes full of frustration, but she quickly turned to Zoelle. "I'm… sorry," she said, the words stiff and unfeeling.
Zoelle blinked, unsure how to respond. Her mind struggled to process the situation. Was this sincere? Or was it another manipulation? Before she could decide, Jolie had turned and left, disappearing into the night without another word.
Ryland's gaze softened slightly as he stepped into the apartment. "You're safe now," he said quietly, the tension in his voice lessening. "I know this is overwhelming, but I need you to trust me."
Zoelle's heart raced, her mind at war with itself. "Why are you doing this?" Her voice barely above a whisper, the question hung between them like a fragile thread.
Ryland's expression softened even further, though something vulnerable flickered behind his eyes. "Because I care about you," he said, the words laced with something raw, something real.
Zoelle's heart skipped a beat. The truth of his words stirred something in her, but the chaos, the danger surrounding them both, made it impossible to believe him completely. Something was off, but she couldn't ignore the pull between them.
---
That night, Ryland sat in his study, trying to focus. Zoelle's face lingered in his mind—the fear, the softness, the way she'd looked when she needed him. For years, he had prided himself on control, on detachment. But Zoelle had shattered that. She made him feel things he couldn't explain: protectiveness, desire, even vulnerability.
He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts a storm. Why did she affect him like this? What did it mean for the dangerous world he was a part of?
He couldn't ignore her any longer. And that terrified him.