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Chapter 157
~Snow’s POV~
The words hit like a thunderclap, freezing in place.
"What?" My voice broke the silence, eyes wide as I looked between the two of them.
Zade ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "That’s what I’ve been trying to tell her. She’s my sister, Snow. My lost sister."
The world seed to tilt on its axis as the weight of his statent settled over us.
"That’s not possible," I muttered, shaking my head. "You’re saying... Zara is your sister? The one you’ve been searching for all this ti?"
"Yes," Zade said, his voice firm. "And if you’d stop letting your jealousy cloud your judgnt, you’d see that everything I’ve done has been to protect her—not to take her from you."
I turned to Zara, whose expression had a faint glow of ’I warned you’ and sighed.
"Is this true?" I asked her, my voice softening.
"I..." She hesitated, her eyes filling with tears. "I don’t know. He says it is, and it... it makes sense. But I don’t know what to believe anymore."
The weight of her pain settled on , and I took a step back, my mind racing. If Zade was telling the truth, then I’d misjudged everything.
"You have to believe . I did a DNA test, and she is my blood. Andrew saw her and inford ..."
"Andrew? He’s in it too? He was aware."
"Yes. He is my cousin. Only a few knew about Zara and her disappearance, and he did. The mont he saw Zara, he alerted and arranged for my return to check it out myself and I did."
I couldn’t believe my ears.
All the tis I thought he was chasing Zara because he had feelings for her, they were all just in order to find his cousin.
Gosh! I was a fool!
The weight of Zade’s words hung in the air. I swallowed hard, guilt clawing at as I glanced at Zara. Her wide, tear-filled eyes mirrored her pain and hope.
I raked a hand through my hair. My jealousy, anger, and earlier actions now seem too stupid, even for , Snow Zephyr, a man of calculated intelligence.
"I’m sorry," I said finally, my voice barely audible. "For everything. I’ve been a fool," I admitted, breaking the silence. "Zade, I’m sorry for accusing you of sothing so baseless. And Zara..." My voice softened as I turned to her. "I’m sorry for everything—for not trusting, for not showing you how much you an to ."
Zade stepped forward, his arms crossed. "I’ll accept your apology, Snow. But only on two conditions."
I arched a brow, my curiosity piqued. "And those would be?"
"First," he said in a firm tone, "you cut ties with Jenna completely. I don’t care what it costs you, whether it’s political alliances, business deals, or anything else. She’s toxic, and I won’t have her anywhere near my sister."
"I already intended to do that," I said without hesitation. "She’s crossed too many lines."
"Good. She crossed them because your boundaries and defence were weak, bro, fix that," Zade replied more like cautioned. "Second—and this one’s non-negotiable—you confess your feelings properly to Zara. Make her feel special. And while you’re at it, announce to the world who owns your heart, so every other woman knows to back off."
A wry grin tugged at my lips. "You think that’ll stop them? Won don’t care about claims when they want sothing."
Zade smirked, confidence radiating from him. "You’ve got nothing to worry about. My sister’s perfectly capable of handling any woman with loose screws for a brain wanting to try their luck. Trust ."
I couldn’t help but glance at Zara, her cheeks flushing a soft pink as she avoided my gaze. She looked utterly adorable.
"Deal," I said, extending a hand to Zade.
He took it firmly, nodding. "Then go make it right." He tilted his chin in Zara’s direction and I knew what to do.
I turned to Zara, my heart pounding as I took a step closer. With every ounce of sincerity I had, I dropped to one knee before her.
Her gasp echoed through the quiet night. "Snow... what are you doing?"
Looking up at her, I felt Glacier stir in my mind, urging to pour out everything. "I’m apologizing properly, Zara. I’m confessing to you, in the most un-Alpha-like way possible, because you deserve nothing less."
Her eyes widened, a mix of shock and sothing warr flickering within them.
"You’ve driven crazy since the day we t," I began, smirking softly. "You’re stubborn, infuriating, and too damn clever for your own good. But you’re also kind, strong, and... the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever t."
"Snow," she whispered, her blush deepening.
"I love you, Zara," I continued. "And I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life making you happy—pampering you, spoiling you, and kissing you senseless until you’re sick of . Will you let take care of your heart?"
She hesitated, her lips twitching into a teasing smile. "On one condition."
I laughed, glancing at Zade, who raised an amused brow. "And what would that be?"
Her grin widened. "You pamper every day, cook for , and treat every day like it’s our honeymoon."
I threw my head back, laughing wholeheartedly. "How about I one-up that, Mrs. Zephyr? I’ll take you on an actual honeymoon and spoil you rotten daily."
She blinked, her smile softening. "Deal," she agreed without a second thought. Clearly, she got more than she bargained for.
Without hesitation, I stood and cupped her face, pulling her in for a kiss. Her lips were soft and sweet, tasting faintly of the ice cream she’d had earlier. I deepened the kiss, one hand sliding to her waist to pull her closer.
She responded with equal fervour, her fingers tangling in my hair as the world around us faded. Every emotion—love, regret, longing—poured into that kiss, sealing a promise I intended to keep.
A slow clap broke the mont, and we pulled apart to see Zade grinning smugly, Scott standing beside him with an equally amused expression.
"Inform the kitchen," I ordered Scott, smirking at his startled expression. "Prepare a feast. I want to make a toast to the lady of this house—and of my life."
Scott nodded, a rare smile tugging at his lips as he hurried toward the mansion.
Just as the warmth of the mont settled over us, Zade’s expression shifted. His smirk faltered, replaced by a sharp, dangerous glint in his eyes.
"Snow," he called, his voice low and tense. "There’s sothing wrong."
"What is it?" I asked, already on high alert. Knowing Zade, only extre danger could make him tense that way, and the aura emanating from him was putting Glacier on edge too.
Zade’s gaze locked onto my car, narrowing. "Can’t you sll—"
The faint tallic tang hit , Glacier snapping to attention. My eyes turned crimson as my wolf surged forward, taking control.
And then I heard it.
A faint, rapid beeping sound coming from the car.
"Zara, get down!" I shouted, grabbing her and pulling her behind as the realization hit.
The explosion ca a split second later.
A deafening BOOM shattered the night, flas engulfing the car as the shockwave knocked us off our feet. Smoke billowed into the air, and the acrid scent of burning tal and gasoline filled my lungs.
"Zara!" I called frantically, searching for her amidst the chaos.
"I’m... I..." her voice ca, trembling weakly. Imdiately I raced to Zara’s side, and the next second, she was passed out on the ground, blood flowing from her head and staining her top.
Fuck!
Zade was already on his feet, his wolf surfacing as his gaze darted toward the wreckage, his expression murderous.
"Who the hell did this?" he growled, his voice a dangerous rumble.
"I don’t know," I said, my teeth clenched, Glacier roaring in agreent. "But they just made the biggest mistake of their lives."
"Quick, take her inside and get treatnt imdiately," Zade ordered, his veins already popping out.
I nodded, already ready to carry Zara, when my eyes swept back to him. "And you?"
"I’m going hunting for my prey—the bastard who did this to my sister. I’ll make them pay."
"I’ll take Zara in and join y..."
Zade cut off before I got the chance. "No. Your job and life should be focused on protecting my sister. This... they are mine."
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