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Chapter 217
~Kaid’s POV~
The scent of Zara lingered in the air, growing stronger with each step I took toward the clearing. My claws dug into the earth as I moved cautiously, my wolf growling low in my mind.
She’s here. She was here.
But as I stepped into the open space bathed in moonlight, I saw nothing. The clearing was empty—silent, still, and utterly devoid of her presence.
My heart pounded as I scanned the area, my sharp gaze sweeping across every shadow, every patch of grass. There was no movent, no sign of life. Just the faint echo of her scent clinging to the air like a taunt.
My wolf stirred restlessly, pacing in my mind. "She’s not here, but she was."
"I can sll that, genius," I muttered under my breath, my frustration mounting.
I moved to the center of the clearing, inhaling deeply. The sweetness of lavender and honey wrapped around again, teasing , pulling at sothing deep inside. It was recent—no more than a day old.
But why had she been here? And where had she gone?
I crouched low, pressing a hand to the ground as I examined the area more closely. The grass was slightly trampled, as though soone had stood here for so ti. My fingers brushed against a faint imprint in the soil, a delicate indentation that could have been a footprint.
She wasn’t alone.
My wolf’s growl deepened, a flicker of rage sparking in my chest. Zara had been here—with soone else.
But who?
I straightened, my fists clenching at my sides as I tried to piece it together. The image of her with Snow earlier flashed in my mind, his arms around her, the way she leaned into him.
Could it have been him?
My jaw tightened as the thought took root. Snow had no business bringing her here, to a place so close to my territory. The sheer audacity of it made my blood boil.
"Focus," my wolf snapped, cutting through my spiraling thoughts. "This doesn’t make sense. Why would they co here?"
He was right. None of this added up. Zara wasn’t the type to wander into the woods without reason, especially not this deep. And yet, her scent was here, vivid and intoxicating, as if she’d stood right where I was just monts ago.
My wolf prowled the edges of my mind, his frustration mirroring my own. "We need to know why. We need to know what she was doing here."
I let out a sharp breath, forcing myself to calm down. Losing control wouldn’t help. I needed to think, to figure out what had drawn her here and why the air felt so... off.
Closing my eyes, I focused on my surroundings, letting my heightened senses take over. The forest was alive with its usual sounds—the rustle of leaves, the chirp of crickets, the distant call of an owl.
But beneath it all was an underlying tension, a subtle shift in the atmosphere that I couldn’t ignore.
Sothing isn’t right.
My wolf growled in agreent.
"She shouldn’t have been here," I muttered to myself, standing and pacing the clearing. "She shouldn’t be anywhere near here."
And yet, she had been.
The realization settled heavily in my chest, a mix of confusion and unease tightening like a vice. Zara was keeping secrets—secrets that had brought her to this place.
The question was: why?
And more importantly, who had been with her?
I took one last look around the clearing, inhaling deeply in a futile attempt to pick up another scent. But there was nothing. Just her, faint and fading, slipping further from my grasp with every passing mont.
With a growl of frustration, I turned and loped back into the trees. This wasn’t over. I’d find out why she’d co here, who she’d been with, and what it all ant.
And one way or another, I’d get my answers even if it ant confronting her.
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~Zara’s POV~
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, warming my face. I stirred even as the haze of sleep clung to as I blinked into consciousness.
The faint scent of cedar and frost surrounded , imdiately grounding in comfort.
Turning my head, I saw Snow sitting on the edge of the bed, his shirt half-buttoned, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was focused on tying his tie, his brows furrowed in concentration.
"You’re awake," he said smoothly as his eyes t mine. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Barely. How long have you been up?"
"A while," he admitted, leaning over to press a kiss to my forehead. "You were out cold. You slept through everything last night—even when Aira ca to see you."
My cheeks flushed. "I was just so tired. The ds knocked out."
"I know," he murmured. "Which is why you’re staying ho today."
I sat up, blinking away the remnants of sleep. "What? No way. I’m not staying ho."
Snow’s smile softened, but there was a hint of authority in his tone. "Zara, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Rest."
"Snow—"
"Listen to ," he interrupted, his gaze locking onto mine. "The company is dealing with a crisis. Whoever this dead Marcus is, leaked sensitive information, and our rivals are circling like vultures. I need to create counterasures and figure out what Marcus has been up to. You don’t need to worry about this. Just focus on yourself."
His words struck a nerve. I pushed the blankets off and swung my legs over the side of the bed.
"Exactly why I need to co with you. You need your assistant, and I’m not going to sit here while you handle everything alone."
"Zara." His voice was firr now, laced with concern. "You’re not just my assistant anymore. You’re my wife. Your health matters more than anything else."
I folded my arms, eting his steady gaze with my own. "And as your wife, it’s my job to stand beside you. I can help."
"You can help by resting." He stood, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "And where I am sure you are taken care of, I an protectively. Draven is around. He’ll ensure everything is in place with security."
I frowned.
Now not just Aira or Tempest or even Zade was babysitting . Snow’s beta too.
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