"We should kill them" my wolf growled, her voice a low, guttural whisper that echoed within the confines of my mind.
Marcus and my boss recoiled, their faces blanching as the weight of my wolf's fury pressed upon them. The air grew thick with tension, the silence in the bar deafening.
"No," I murmured, my voice barely audible over the pounding in my ears. "I'm over this. I just want to leave."
My limbs trembled, the adrenaline that had fueled my earlier defiance now draining away, leaving me weak and unsteady. Each step toward the door felt like wading through molasses, my vision narrowing as exhaustion threatened to consume me.
With a deep breath, I turned on my heel and pushed open the door, the cool night air washing over me like a balm. The oppressive atmosphere of The Drunken Moon receded behind me, replaced by the quiet hum of the city at night. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew I wouldn't let them define me.
The streetlights cast long shadows on the pavement as I stumbled forward, each step a battle against the fatigue that clung to me like a second skin. My wolf, once a roaring inferno, now lay dormant, her presence a faint ember in the recesses of my consciousness.
I reached the corner and leaned against a lamppost, the cold metal grounding me as I fought to steady my breathing. The events of the night played on a loop in my mind—the confrontation, the betrayal, the surge of power that had both liberated and depleted me.
A sudden noise behind me—a door slamming, footsteps approaching—snapped me back to the present. I turned to see Khalil emerging from the shadows, his expression a mix of concern and regret.
"Zara," he called softly, his voice laced with uncertainty. "Are you okay?"
I wanted to respond, to reassure him, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I shook my head and turned away, unwilling to let him see the vulnerability etched across my face.
He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to touch my shoulder, but I flinched away, the memory of my earlier outburst still fresh.
"I'm sorry," he said, withdrawing his hand. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's not you," I interrupted, my voice hoarse. "I just... I need time."
He nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Take all the time you need. I'm here if you want to talk."
I stood there for a moment longer, gathering the remnants of my strength before pushing off the lamppost and continuing down the street. The city stretched out before me, a maze of possibilities and uncertainties. But for the first time in a long while, I felt a flicker of hope.
I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I was moving forward—and that was enough.
The night air clung to me like a second skin as I trudged home, the weight of the evening's events pressing heavily on my shoulders. My clothes were disheveled, hair tangled, and emotions a chaotic swirl of anger, sadness, and exhaustion. The disrespect I had endured from Marcus and my boss left a bitter taste in my mouth, but all I craved now was the solace of my bed.
The city's lights blurred as I navigated familiar streets, each step bringing me closer to the sanctuary of my apartment. Thoughts raced through my mind: Who was Khalil? Why did his presence stir something deep within me? Was this the mate bond? But as an Omega, I believed such connections were beyond my reach, especially with someone who exuded Alpha dominance.
Reaching my building, I slipped inside quietly, noting my roommate's closed door. Without much of an appetite, I headed straight to my room. Stripping off my clothes, I hoped to shed the remnants of the day's indignities. The cool sheets offered a semblance of comfort as I curled up, seeking refuge in sleep.
As I drifted off, a faint voice echoed in my mind, calling to me. Tossing and turning, dreams of power, my wolf's voice, and Khalil intertwined, leaving me restless. Something felt incomplete, as if a crucial piece of the puzzle was missing.
The city's ambient noises faded into the background, replaced by whispers that seemed to emanate from within. My wolf's presence was stronger than ever, her emotions a mix of curiosity and longing. The connection between us was growing, yet the uncertainty of our bond left me unsettled.
In the depths of my dreams, I found myself in a forest bathed in moonlight. Shadows danced among the trees, and the air was thick with anticipation. A figure emerged from the darkness—Khalil. His eyes met mine, filled with recognition and something deeper. As he reached out, the scene dissolved, leaving me grasping for answers.
✦ Chapter 3.5: "Echoes of Her Name"
Khalil – POV
She smelled like moonlight and lightning.
Like something ancient and unfinished.
When I walked into that bar, I wasn't looking for her. Hell, I wasn't looking for anything. I'd been drifting, chasing silence between jobs, hoping maybe the next state line would finally quiet the storm in my chest. An Alpha who never had a pack. Who was an orphan pup in a human foster care system. All I wanted was to get some fresh air and maybe a drink. But the moment I stepped into The Drunken Moon and laid eyes on her — everything changed.
At first, I couldn't even breathe.
She was behind the bar, moving like the world owed her peace and kept stealing it back. Tired. Sharp. So damn beautiful it hurt. I didn't need a name. Didn't need an explanation. My wolf saw her and froze.
Not in fear.
In recognition.
And I knew — even before she looked at me — that she was mine. Well kinda. It's definitely the matebond but something feels a little off. Like one of the cords to link me to her isn't there.
I stayed in the shadows, watching her work. Listening to the slick ass remarks from Boozos about her being an omega. They're out of their minds if they think this girl is an omega.
I could feel goose bumps on my arm as I walked in. Watching her try to hold herself together. Why was she here, what was her story and why That man at the bar circling her like a drunk predator. Touching her when she didn't want to be touched.
Saying things I could barely stomach. My fists clenched every time she forced a smile. Every time she swallowed her rage just to survive.
I couldn't help myself and followed her into the backroom. Because if I stay looking at that guy any longer my wolf might accidently break his neck. I thought I had a plan going back there but seeing her alone back there was making my wolf go crazy.
"Let's mark her right now". My wolf Dean said. He was half serious which surprised me. Dean always told me that the matebond was nearly impossible to resist. But he was sitting in the back of my head wagging his tail like a pup waiting for permission. But from who. I snap back to reality as Zara was noticeably weirded out that I followed her back.
Fuck.
"Can I help you?" She asks. There was not a shred of fear in her voice. It was strong and firm but there were definitely traces of want.
"All she has to do is ask and I can give her a full course to be satisfied by" Dean boosted.
"Shut tf up". I silently yell in my head. This is the worst first impression ever. I tried to be cool and match her vibe.
"I don't know," I said as smooth and sexy as I could without sounding like a creep. "Can you?". She was definitely feeling something between us. I could smell her arousal from the doorway. I don't know what I thought was going to happen.
Part of me really thought that if we were alone that she'd fall into her instincts and run into my arms kissing me all over. But despite the initial arousal she just seems hot and bothered and not the good kind. Maybe it was bad timing. It is probably best to wait to have this interaction when her shift is over. So I cut the convo short before I could embarrass myself any further.
"I'll let you get back to work," I said. "But I'll be here. When you're ready." I didn't even give her time to respond for fear she might reject me on the spot. It took everything in me not to bolt as soon as those doors swung close.
"I'm such an idiot, what's the point of following her if I wasn't going to make the first move" I groaned in my head.
"Should have let me take charge she would have been putty in my hands." Dean smirks.
"Really, is that before or after you sat back quiet like pup with his tail between his legs." I Scoffed. Earning a growl from Dean but before he could respond we smelt it. Her arousal has gotten even stronger as she walks out the back. I see a couple of the other customers sniff the air.
Shit they can smell it. It's not like she's in heat so it shouldn't start a frenzy. I just don't like the glazed look of lust in their eyes. And Dean is on alert he doesn't like this shit at all.
Before we could get up, that asshole Marcus starts berating her. He must not be afraid of death. Dean echoes in my head, venom dripping with every word. I wanted to run to her to claim her in front of everyone. Of course she would lust after me Im her fucking mate.
My wolf said, Go to her.
But my instincts said, Wait. She was anything but helpless and the last thing I wanted was to overstep her boundaries she clearly had in place. If I moved too fast, if I spoke too soon — I'd scare her. And I couldn't afford that. Those eyes of hers showed a princess who had to escape her tower on her own because her prince never came.
Felt like a complete coward but even the dean could sense I was right. So long as he doesn't touch her. But this son of a bitch just couldn't close his mouth.
"Oh, so this the one you went back there for?" he spat. "Bet she gave you a quickie, huh? Mouth feel real nice, didn't it? Ain't let me touch her, but you — Mr. All Black Everything — she let you go all the way."
Dean is going to kill this guy. I can't let him, this isn't our territory and if something happens we could lose our mate forever. I was doing everything I could to hold Dean back and this was not an easy task. I was getting a headache as he scraped and clawed to get control. Then Marcus opened that god forsaken mouth again.
"I was gonna help you," he said to her. "Take you away from this place. Treat you right. And this the thanks I get? Least you could do is suck me off too, since you're giving out samples now."
"Kill him" was all I could say but before Deean could take control I saw it. The shift. The power.
When Marcus opened his mouth one time too many and said something about her eyes, her body, her worth... she snapped.
I felt her wolf before soft and tired but this aura right now is totally different. It rolled off her in waves, hot and wild, so much stronger than I expected. The whole bar went quiet. I've seen alphas challenge each other on blood-soaked fields and not summon that kind of presence. But she did it — standing in bar shoes, hair tied up, eyes on fire.
And Goddess help me, I wanted her even more.
Dean moved toward her without thinking. Our body acted before our brain caught up. We just wanted to ground her — to be there in the way no one ever had for us. To protect her and show her she's not alone. I reached out, thinking maybe if I just touched her arm, it would calm her down and we could take it from there.
But she turned on me like a flame.
She grabbed my wrist and slammed me against the wall.
Her voice wasn't hers. It was deeper. Ancient.
"Don't touch me," she said.
And I felt that line carve itself into my chest.
I wasn't mad. I wasn't hurt.
I was wrecked.
Because that wasn't a rejection. That was a wound talking. That was pain with nowhere else to go. And I knew right then that this woman — this omega the world had labeled weak — had lived a thousand lifetimes of betrayal before I ever found her.
So I backed off. I left.
But I didn't go far.
I waited outside, leaned against the bricks in the alley while the cold wind bit at my neck. My wolf was pacing in my head, whining like we'd just been left behind in the woods. He didn't understand why we weren't fighting for her.
But I did.
She wasn't ready.
And I wasn't about to be the next man to cross her boundary
When she finally walked out the door — shaking, drained, beautiful in a way that almost made me fall to my knees — I couldn't help myself. I stepped toward her. Called her name.
She flinched.
Told me it wasn't about me.
Said she needed time.
I nodded. What else could I do?
I watched her walk away with that fire still trailing behind her, even though her shoulders were heavy. Even though her eyes were tired.
She didn't know what she was yet.
Didn't know she had an aura that could shake the sky.
But I did.
And I was going to make damn sure she lived long enough to figure it out.