Raven black hair tumbled over tan shoulders, stopping only when it reached his torso. He had eyes of truest amber and they were so cold, Zoey shivered. Her eyes trailed along the elegant lines of his face and she found that she couldn’t draw her gaze away from him.
Zoey had seen her fair share of men but none were this beautiful. There was nothing soft or delicate about his features. Wild and rare was his kind of beauty. He was not a man you looked away from. Or walked away from. He was the type of man you ran away from.
All of her senses screamed danger as she observed the man who was bathed in blood and covered with tattered clothes that had no doubt been ripped from battle. Her eyes drooped from his luscious and sensual lips to the skin below his neck. Through the rip of his shirt, she could see the build of muscles and—she swallowed, forcing her gaze back to his face.
She jerked, heart slamming in her chest when she found his amber gaze narrowed on her. He tilted his head in an awkward way, eyes skimming over her figure, beckoning her closer. Something. . .there was something wrong with her. She found her feet moving toward him, even if her subconscious screamed at her to run from him.
A hand settled on her shoulder, breaking through her trance, and she turned slightly to find Iona watching her strangely. “What are you doing?”
“I. . .ah. . .I have to give the prisoner food,” she said, slightly flustered. Just what had she been about to do? Walk into the cage? Everyone knew never to engage with the imprisoned enemy unless necessary. What had she been thinking?
“Leave it in the corner, Dia. This one’s different. I wouldn’t advise you to get within five feet of him.”
Zoey blew out a shaky breath and nodded. She had done this a lot of times. She just had to drop the darned food tray and get the hell out of there. Holding that thought, she straightened her spine and walked briskly to the corner, dropping the food tray by the side of his dungeon.
She knew she really shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help but steal a glance in his direction. Her heart began to race again when she found him watching her still. Her cheeks flamed and something within her began to melt under his hot gaze. What in the world was going on with her?
Her insides turned molten as she held his gaze. There was a sudden crack behind that cold and steely demeanor, and she spied something she shouldn’t have. Something she had never seen in the eyes of any other prisoner she had tended to. There was pain, and regret.
It was so strong, she nearly doubled over. Yeah. That was it for her. She fled from the cell, not trusting herself to remain there without speaking to him, or even worse, reaching out to touch him. Never would she return to that place, she swore to herself.
But she knew she would go back. She couldn’t get his eyes out of her head. Even as she stood in the meeting later that night, listening to her mother address the witches on the fight that had happened earlier, all she could think of was the emotion she had glimpsed behind his eyes.
She had to go back to see him later tonight.
**************
Zoey stood before the cage, staring defiantly at the prisoner. She observed him with the same amount of intensity he watched her with. There was something unsettling about this. Him. Perhaps, she was scared that Anastasia would skin her alive for being in here at this time.
Not quite. Though Anastasia was not her biological mother, she loved her like her own. She would not harm her. Though it didn’t change the fact that she really shouldn’t be here.
“You didn’t touch the food,” she blurted, not knowing how to start a conversation with him.
His eyes remained cold and unyielding as he said, “Why? Has your leader given the order for me to be poisoned to death?”
Her nostrils flared and ire flashed in her eyes. “My mother would never do that. Watch your words, wolf.”
He cocked his head arrogantly. “Mother? What are you? You are covered in the stench of witches but your distinctive smell isn’t one of the witches. You smell wrong.”
Zoey backed up, glaring at him. How he had been able to glean that she wasn’t one of them from smelling her was beyond her. Still, if he kept insulting her family, she might bash her fist into his throat. “I do not see how that is any of your business.” She eyes him obviously irritated.
“This was a waste of time,” she muttered underneath her breath, turning to leave.
But he said so softly, she almost didn’t hear him, “What is your name?”
Her head whipped back to the prisoner. “Tell me yours first.”
His lips twitched slightly, but he didn’t laugh. “Zachary .”
“Zoey,” she replied.
“Zoey,” he repeated and she shuddered as her name rolled off his tongue in a way that made her feel like she had been caressed. “You do not reek of blood. You did not fight today.”
Unable to meet his piercing gaze, she looked at every surface except his face. “I do not like war. I try to avoid conflict as much as I can.”
He shifted slightly for the first time, and Zoey watched as his elegant fingers plunged into his dark mane. “Do you think I'm a fool for coming here as your mother does?”
Zoey blinked. “Yes, I do.”
He laughed and it was a musical sound, the most beautiful thing she had heard. The fine hairs on her skin rose at the sound of it and she shuddered again. This man. . .he was doing things to her that no one else had.
And heavens help her, she quite liked the weird feeling she got inside from speaking to him. So she remained, exchanging words and thoughts with the prisoner, and it was only when the roosters announced the break of dawn that she left the dungeons, feeling torn deep within herself.
Mate. The word had clanged through him the moment her scent of jasmine had reached his nostrils, cleaving right through the grief and anger that had been eating away at him. The witch’s daughter was his mate. And she didn’t know or suspect anything. It brought a lot of things into question. What was a wolf doing in a horde of witches? Did she really know nothing of it or was she as deceitful as the other witches? He had seen her bright eyes of turquoise blue. She had not known what she was, or who he was to her. He had seen her confusion and he had known the moment she dismissed it, choosing instead to speak to him. He couldn’t tell if it was a blessing or a curse, but he knew one thing for sure. He would never be with her. He would reject her the moment he got out of this cage. But he needed her now. She was the daughter of the Head Witch. If anyone could help him escape from this miserable place, it would be her. He had seen the wildeness in her gaze last night. She wo
“Do not mention this again, Zoey!” her mother yelled and Zoey winced from the high-pitched tone. Anastasia rarely raised her voice at Zoey. It was a first, and Zoey very well knew she had earned it. Even if Zachary was such an ass, she would try her best to get him out of the dungeons, and back to his home. He had said he was sure they had attacked his home in the passing, and it was why he had marched upon their enclave with his men. And she could understand that. She couldn’t imagine what she would have done had she been in the same situation. If she had a family somewhere out there—her true family—and she got wind that they were in harm’s way, she would go to the ends of the earth and back to get them back. “Mother. . .” Zoey drawled in a manner that usually worked when she needed something from Anastasia, but the hardness in Anastasia’s eyes didn’t crack a tiny bit. It remained, and Zoey feared that even she wouldn’t be able to move her mother. “He really isn’
A thunderous slap landed on Zoey's cheek immediately followed by another two stinging ones that sent her ass on the cold hard floor. The slap came again, this time harder than the last. The next one landed right between her eyes, the pain radiating from it numbing her entire face in an instant. A gasp escaped her parted lips as hot tears glistened in her eyeballs. Zoey let out a sob of anguish, unable to hold herself together any longer. Her eyes met with the stern gaze of her mother who loomed over her. She had no words to say in her defense but she was sure Zachary would prove them all wrong soon when he came back for her.He had promised to come for her and that was all that mattered. She could bear the pain so long he came back."How could you do something so scandalous? Do you have any idea how disastrous this could be for this kingdom? What were you thinking Zoey?" Her mother shouted, scanning her from head to toe in distraught. "Mother-""Don't say the word!" Her mother's lo
"Hey, Mommy's princess, your food is ready." Lorna said in a mocking voice while unlocking the doors to the prison.Rays of the golden sun poured into the prison through a small window as she walked in followed by Lily. A small smile twitched on Zoey's pale figure when she saw Lily."Eat while you still can." Lorna dropped the food tray she brought for Zoey with a thud, splashing some of the content on the table. "Lorna." Zoey reached for Lily's hand on the table but she yanked her hands away."Don't you dare touch me you traitor." Lorna eyed her with distaste and moved away."You didn't have to do that." Lily chided Lorna."I can act as I like. Who knows I might be six feet below by dusk." Lorna pranced out of the room."Hey, don't mind her nasty behavior. She'll come around soon." Lily pulled Zoey into her arms and comforted her.After a brief second, they pulled away and Zoey wiped the dry tears on her cheeks. Lily patted her slowly while waiting for her to speak."What about Moth
"Who attacked us? Why? Is Mother okay?" Zoey's eyes widened in shock as she popped out different questions while following Lily toward the dungeon's entrance"Stay here." "No, I can't. What would I do here?" Zoey wondered."Your mother will have my head if I dare go against her instructions. Remain here, Zoey. I'll try to come back for you." Lily told her before exiting the dungeon.Zoey's heartbeats thumped hard against her ribcage as she paced the dungeon lost in thought. Why did she have such a strange dream about Zach just when they were attacked? What exactly was going on? Unable to find answers, she sat back on her bed to wait for Lily after all she had no choice but to wait. ***************************"Are those potions ready?" Zach turned to address Lucifer, his right-hand man who stood aside waiting for his orders."Yes, Alpha. Everything is ready. We await your orders." Lucifer replied. "Good." Zach nodded.He couldn't wait to avenge the missing girls,
Zoey roved her eyes around the exit to the dungeon as she tightened her grip on the iron bars. Her heartbeats thumped so hard she could hear them. She inched her ears closer so she could pick up the slightest sound but it was all in vain. The exit was as quiet as the graveyard. Letting out a frustrated groan, she cursed inwardly and repeated the same action. It was the same.The dungeon was so far beneath the coven. It was made to prevent the groans of prisoners from disturbing their peace. Never had she imagined that she would grace it someday."Hello!" She screamed as loud as she could, straining her vocal cords but her voice bounced back reminding her that she was all in the dungeon alone."Anyone there?" Zoey shook the iron bars with every strength she could summon but no one replied to her. This wasn't looking good. Lily hadn't come back for over thirty minutes and with each passing second, a pang of deep fear hit her. What if something happened to them?They had powers and mag
Suppressing a low gasp, Zoey's hands flew to her mouth and her eyes widened in shock. She couldn't stop it, a small cry of dismay escaped through her trembling lips as she felt tears stinging at the corners of her eyes. "Zach, why? Why are you doing this to us?" She moaned. "I told you, Zoey! I warned you." Her mother muttered behind her. Approaching them in evident anger, Zach flung his sheath to a corner, ignoring Zoey's questions as he was ready to take them captive. Goosebumps arose on Zoey's skin as deep fear filled her up to the brim. The intensity of his hateful gaze felt like a knife twisting her guts. Someone wake me up from this dream. Her heart pounded so fast she thought it would leap out of her chest any moment now, and all she could do was stare in shock as the man who vowed to love her now regarded her with dark eyes that burned with hatred and malice. Zoey’s stomach roiled in revulsion. The man before her was nothing more than a monster and his very presence ma
Anger reeled in her body, and she began to advance backward slowly but the men advanced towards her, giving her a lustful look that made her blood boil. She doesn't know how to explain it but the thought of men disgusts her, at the moment she wishes to slay all those men that had killed some of the witches. She steps back slowly till her back hits the wall, the men kept advancing until the first one that spoke raised his hand to halt all movements. "If you come near me, I swear to the goddess I serve, you'll regret it." She swore venomously, her breath becoming heavy and unsteady.The men looked at each other and another peel of laughter escaped their mouths. The one in the front began to advance towards her, covering a few inches.Zoey didn't move, she stayed there, her back seemingly glued to the wall... She waited for him to come to her, eyes burning with fury. "You're such a spitfire, let's see how good you are." He muttered, his voice husky and filled with hatred. He grabbed