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Chapter 193
~Zara’s POV~
The rest of the evening unfolded in a haze, the mory of Kaid’s smirk and his unsettling calmness lingering in my mind.
Every flash of his piercing green eyes, his composure, and his fury when Snow challenged him replayed in my head.
Even Astrid was rattled.
Snow remained by my side through most of the night, his hand never straying far from mine.
When he couldn’t be there, Zade stepped in, reminding that I was never alone. Normally, their overprotectiveness would have felt stifling, but tonight, I welcod it.
Despite my deep desire to escape the tension of this event and the oppressive stares and whispers, I refrained from voicing my desire.
Instead, I waited patiently, counting the minutes until I could slip away unnoticed.
When Zade beca distracted, caught in a conversation with a visiting Alpha, I seized the opportunity.
Quietly, I slipped past the bustling crowd, making my way toward the side entrance of the ballroom, the one leading to the Zeta wing of the estate.
I had nearly made it to the double doors when a wave of nausea hit like a punch to the gut.
My heart paused as my gaze fell upon two individuals I had never anticipated seeing again—two individuals I hoped to avoid encountering.
Ivan and Clarissa.
The sight of them brought back mories I had long suppressed. mories of my death, betrayal, and being tossed aside like I was nothing.
Ivan’s cold, calculating gaze and Clarissa’s venomous smile haunted my every nightmare since I had that dream—the glimpse of what happened after they had murdered .
My stomach churned, and bile rose in my throat. I froze, unable to look away as Ivan locked eyes with , his expression morphing into disbelief before quickly being replaced by sothing darker—anger, malice, and perhaps even fear.
Clarissa’s reaction was no better. Her lips curled into a sneer, her eyes narrowing as they road over like she couldn’t believe I was alive and unbroken.
"They’re here." Astrid’s growl rumbled in my head, filled with raw, unbridled fury. She advanced, her energy sweeping through like a tsunami. "They dared to show their faces. Let handle them, Zara. Let tear them apart."
I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. Anger bubbled in my chest, threatening to spill over.
mories of Ivan’s betrayal and Clarissa’s cruelty fueled the fire inside , and for a mont, I let it take over.
I stepped forward, my heels clicking against the floor as I moved toward them. My vision tunnelled, and the crowd around faded into the background.
All I could see were their smug faces, and all I could hear was the sound of my blood roaring in my ears.
"They deserve to pay." Astrid snarled, and I couldn’t disagree.
But before I could take another step, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling back against a solid chest.
I stiffened, my anger montarily replaced by shock as an unfamiliar but commanding presence washed over .
His scent—smoky, earthy, and laced with an underlying hint of sothing wild—sent a shiver down my spine.
"Not here, my lady," Kaid’s deep voice murmured close to my ear as his warm breath fanned my ear. His tone was low, almost soothing, but there was an undeniable edge of authority that sent my instincts into overdrive.
"Kaid," I hissed, twisting in his grip. "Let go."
"Not a chance," he said smoothly, his arms tightening. "You’re not thinking clearly."
"I’m thinking perfectly clearly," I shot back, my voice trembling with rage. "I don’t need you to tell what to do."
His erald eyes t mine as he stepped around to face , his grip loosening but his presence was still overwhelming.
"If you act impulsively here, in front of everyone, you’ll give them exactly what they want—power over you." Is that what you want, Zara?"
His words hit harder than I wanted to admit. My anger wavered, and I glanced back toward Ivan and Clarissa, who were now watching our exchange with curiosity and sothing that looked like satisfaction.
Kaid’s hand moved to my arm. "You’re better than this," he urged softly.
Astrid growled in protest, but I forced myself to step back, to breathe. My anger hadn’t dissipated—it still burned, but Kaid’s words managed to douse the flas just enough for to think clearly.
"You don’t get to lecture ," I muttered after so ti, eting his gaze.
His lips quirked into a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Perhaps not. But you’re too important to let your emotions get the better of you."
I opened my mouth to retort, but a familiar voice interjected. "Zara?"
I turned to see Snow approaching, his eyes narrowing as they flicked between Kaid and . His jaw tightened, and Glacier’s growl was almost audible in my mind.
"Is everything okay?" Snow asked but the edge of protectiveness was unmistakable.
Kaid’s expression remained calm, almost amused, as he released my arm and stepped back. "Your wife is fine, Alpha. Just a minor misunderstanding."
Snow’s eyes darkened, and I could feel his anger radiating off him in waves. He reached for , pulling close as if to stake his claim.
"Next ti," Snow said coldly, his voice dripping with warning, "you keep your hands off her."
Kaid’s smile widened slightly, his gaze lingering on for a mont longer before he inclined his head. "As you wish, Alpha. But you might want to keep an eye on her. She has a habit of attracting trouble."
With that, he turned and walked away, his hands tucked in his pockets as his presence lingered even after he disappeared into the crowd.
Snow’s grip on tightened, his eyes scanning my face. "Are you okay? Did he do anything—"
"I’m fine," I interrupted, placing a hand on his chest. "Let’s just go. Please."
He hesitated but nodded, his protective instincts still on high alert as he led toward the exit.
I felt Ivan and Clarissa’s eyes on as we passed but this ti, I didn’t let it consu .
"Hey, love, eyes up here and only here."
I glanced up at Snow’s face; though a smile tugged at his lips, I could still see the rage in his eyes.
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