As the clock struck 3 pm, Zoe went to Jackson's office. She couldn't help but notice Dustin, the guard, trailing behind her. It was as if he had become her new shadow, his footsteps echoing in the hallway. She found herself puzzled, wondering why she was being watched so closely. She made a mental note to discuss this with Jackson. Could it be that he didn't trust her? The thought made her uneasy.
She reached the office and knocked on the door. Jackson said, "Come in," his deep voice resonating through the thick wood.
Her stomach knotted up as she turned the knob and walked in, her fingers trembling slightly against the cool metal.
Jackson's office was huge, a testament to his status as Alpha. One wall had floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the room with natural light, and another had built-in shelves filled with leather-bound books and framed pictures that captured moments from the pack's history.
He had a sitting area with a plush black leather couch and two matching chairs arranged around a sleek glass coffee table, creating an intimate meeting space.
Jackson was sitting behind a dark mahogany desk that commanded attention. It had to have been at least 5 feet long, its polished surface gleaming under the afternoon sun.
He was sitting in a high-backed black leather chair that enhanced his powerful presence. He was dressed casually today, a departure from his usual formal attire. He wore a crisp button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves, showing off his muscular arms that spoke of years of training. He had on a pair of dark blue jeans that fit him perfectly and expensive-looking dress shoes. He looked like a god, his presence both intimidating and magnetic. His dark hair was artfully messy, and his intense gaze was fixed on Zoe, making her heartbeat.
A lady sitting in one of the chairs across from the Alpha cleared her throat, breaking the charged atmosphere between them.
"If you two are done ogling each other, can we get to this meeting?" she said, her voice hinting amusement.
She was an older woman, Zoe would say she was in her late 60s. She had long grey hair that cascaded down her back like a silver waterfall and bright blue eyes that sparkled with wisdom. She was wearing a very colorful floor-length dress adorned with intricate patterns. She had a warm and calming aura that seemed to fill the room.
"I am Belinda; you must be Zoe," she said, her voice gentle and welcoming.
Jackson snapped out of wherever his thoughts were and said, "Sorry, yes, this is Zoe, and Zoe, this is Belinda," gesturing between them.
Zoe walked over and shook her hand, feeling a slight tingle where their skin met.
"Yep, she is definitely a Fey witch," Belinda declared with certainty.
"I cannot believe I am meeting a Fey wolf," she said, mumbling something else about how amazing it was, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Excuse me, I didn't hear you," Zoe said, curiosity evident.
"Oh, sorry, dear. Don't mind me. I am just a rambling old lady," Belinda replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"Celine said you could help me, can you?" Zoe asked, hoping to clarify her words.
"Yes, my dear, I can," Belinda assured her warmly.
"How about we all sit?" Jackson suggested, motioning toward the seating area.
Jackson, Zoe had forgotten he was even there. He didn't know she was a Fey wolf; no one did. The weight of her secret suddenly felt heavier than ever.
"Ugh, Jackson, umm, about this information," Zoe was stumbling through her words, anxiety making her tongue feel thick.
She was scared of how he would react and what he would do. Would he kick her out of the pack? Would he hate her for keeping such a significant secret?
"It's okay; this was your secret to keep and tell people when you want," he said, surprisingly gentle and understanding.
"I think you should keep this between the three of us for your safety," he added, showing genuine concern for her wellbeing.
"I agree," Belinda said solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Belinda continued, "I firmly believe you are the last of your extraordinary kind. The implications of this are grave, if anyone were to discover your true nature, they might attempt to claim you for themselves. Someone would not hesitate to kidnap you, seeing you as nothing more than a powerful weapon to be wielded for their own purposes."
Jackson let out a deep, threatening growl, his protective instincts clearly triggered by the mere suggestion of harm coming to Zoe.
"Easy there, pup," Belinda said with the confidence of someone who had dealt with countless protective wolves before. "Your alpha instincts are showing."
She gave him a knowing wink, her eyes twinkling with wisdom. "You can rest assured that your precious secret is perfectly safe with me. I've guarded far too many secrets in my lifetime to start breaking confidences now."
The old witch's eyes glazed over momentarily as if seeing something beyond the present moment. Once she has her full powers awakened, she will be truly unstoppable. No force on this earth will be able to touch her or harm her. The thought was both excited and concerned Belinda.
"You have something incredibly special here," she said to Jackson, her voice heavy with meaning. "A gift must be protected and nurtured with the utmost care."
"When can we begin the training process?" Zoe asked eagerly, her voice filled with barely contained anticipation.
"Well," Belinda replied thoughtfully, "we first need to address awakening your dormant powers."
"How exactly do we accomplish that?" Zoe pressed, leaning forward in her seat.
"Well, my dear," Belinda said, her voice taking on a gentler tone, "that responsibility falls entirely on your shoulders. You see, your magical abilities are intrinsically linked to your emotional state, and I can sense that your heart is heavily fortified with walls of protection. Your reluctance to trust or love comes from a deeper place - a lack of trust and love for yourself. Fey magic is mighty and temperamental; it demands complete self-trust to be properly controlled. If your powers were to manifest today, they would be chaotic and uncontrollable, mirroring your internal emotional turbulence. Therefore, our first priority must be helping you develop self-love and self-trust."
Zoe let out a soft, somewhat bitter laugh. "That's all? Couldn't I recite some magical words from an ancient spell book and instantly access my powers?"
"This isn't some television show, darling," Belinda responded, her voice firm but kind. "Real magic requires real work."
Zoe took a deep, shuddering breath and lowered her head, the weight of reality settling heavily on her shoulders. This journey would be far from simple. Years of built-up emotional barriers and trust issues weren't going to disappear overnight, and the prospect of confronting these deep-seated issues made her heart constrict painfully.
The memories of that fateful night during her senior year remained locked away, untold even to her family. Her inability to be intimate with Jared had led her to create the excuse of waiting until marriage, but the truth was far more complicated. She hadn't realized she had started crying until she found herself being gently pulled onto Jackson's lap, his strong hands rubbing soothing circles on her back.
"I believe Jackson is exactly the right person to guide you through this," Belinda observed, watching their interaction with knowing eyes.
Turning to Jackson, she instructed, "Contact me immediately when her powers begin to manifest."
With that, she rose gracefully from her seat. She departed from the office, leaving them alone with the weight of everything revealed.
Once Belinda's footsteps had faded away, Jackson carefully tilted Zoe's chin up, forcing her to meet his concerned gaze. "Would you like to talk about what's troubling you?" he asked softly.
Zoe shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can share it yet; even my family doesn't know."
"Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?" he prompted gently.
"Why don't you trust me?" The words burst from her lips before she could stop them.
"What do you mean?" Jackson asked, genuine confusion evident in his expression.
"The guard is constantly following me. You insist on sharing meals with me and keep me restricted to your house floor," Zoe explained, her voice trembling slightly.
Jackson ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture of slight frustration. "So you've learned about Dustin."
Zoe could only manage a slight nod, words failing her.
"First of all," Jackson began earnestly, "I share meals with you because I genuinely enjoy your company."
"If you'd allow it," he continued, his voice softening, "I would spend even more time with you."
"As for Dustin," Jackson explained carefully, "he serves as your personal security guard, assigned to shadow you precisely because I cannot always be there. He is my most trusted guard in the pack, and I am completely confident that he would willingly sacrifice his life to ensure your safety."
"I don't understand," Zoe's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why am I singled out for protection? Why am I the only one with a dedicated guard?" Her voice carried a mix of curiosity and underlying concern.
Jackson's fingers found their way to his hair, tugging gently at the strands - a telltale sign of his internal struggle that Zoe had recognized. The gesture betrayed his stress about the situation at hand.
"I suppose if I'm expecting complete honesty and openness from you, it's only fair that I extend the same courtesy," he admitted, his voice carrying a weight of significance. "There are things you need to know."
"What?" Zoe pushed herself away from his chest, creating enough distance to properly study his expression. Her heart began to race with anticipation.
"What do you need to tell me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jackson took a measured pause, seemingly gathering his thoughts before speaking. "Let me begin with this revelation: I am the black wolf you encountered in Eve's garden."
"Wait, that was you!" Zoe exclaimed, her eyes widening with recognition and surprise.
Jackson nodded solemnly, then continued, "I knew about your existence long before you became aware of mine. I strategically sent Jason to guide you to me. I was also privy to your identity as a Fey wolf before you discovered it yourself."
"Is there more?" Zoe asked, her mind still reeling from these revelations.
"Yes," Jackson's voice carried a note of finality. "You are my mate."
"You what?" Zoe's voice rose several octaves as she practically leaped from his lap, putting distance between them.
Her mind raced frantically. This couldn't be possible. The very notion defied logic. How could such a thing be true?
"It is possible," Jackson responded to her unspoken doubts. "I understand your skepticism, especially since you cannot sense the mate bond yet. But I can feel it, clear as day."
Zoe paced the room restlessly, muttering to herself, trying to process this earth-shattering information. Her thoughts whirled like a tornado until one pressing question emerged.
"Do you even want me as your mate?" The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. Immediately, fear gripped her heart. What if he didn't? What if he desired someone more worthy?
"Yes!" Jackson's response came swiftly and forcefully, startling her with its intensity. "Of course I want you. The Moon Goddess herself chose you for me," he declared with unwavering certainty. "I have waited countless years for my mate, and every moment of patience has proven worthwhile."
He swiftly crossed the room, grasping her chin and tilting her face upward to meet his gaze. "The Moon Goddess blessed me with an intelligent and captivating mate. I have never desired anyone else, nor will I ever."
A deep blush spread across Zoe's cheeks at his words.
"I adore when you blush like that," Jackson murmured, his eyes softening with affection.
Her cheeks burned even brighter at his comment. Compliments were foreign territory for her, and accepting them proved challenging.
"We will work together to unlock your powers," Jackson promised solemnly. "I will earn your trust and your love, Zoe. That's my sacred vow to you."
Zoe sank onto the nearby couch, overwhelmed by everything. A sobering thought struck her as she processed his words - he didn't honestly know her. His perception might change drastically once he understood the extent of her damage.
"You might change your mind," she whispered so softly she wasn't sure he could hear.
"Why would I?" His response confirmed his enhanced hearing.
"Because I'm broken," she admitted, vulnerability evident in her voice.
"No," Jackson's response was immediate and firm. "You are not broken."
Zoe took a deep breath and released it slowly. It was time to face the truth—now or never.
Zoe had never been intimate with Jared. Jackson gave her a peculiar look, and she thought she detected a flicker of relief dancing in his eyes.
When he remained silent, she felt compelled to elaborate. She explained how she had maintained her stance on waiting until marriage before becoming intimate. Despite Jared's repeated attempts to persuade her otherwise, she had remained steadfast in her decision, never wavering from her principles.
A dark shadow crossed her face as memories of her senior year surfaced—memories of an incident so traumatic that she had kept them buried deep within, never sharing them even with her closest family members. The weight of this secret had been her solitary burden to bear.
The image of Tyler suddenly materialized in her thoughts, and a wave of anxiety washed over her. She knew with absolute certainty that he would transform into an unstoppable force of vengeance if he ever discovered what had happened.
"You cannot tell Tyler," she blurted out, her voice trembling with urgency.
Jackson's eyebrow arched questioningly as he asked, "Why?"
Zoe explained that Tyler would undoubtedly lose control and attempt to harm the perpetrator. He had never approved of her boyfriend in school, and this revelation would only validate his suspicions.
"I make no promises about not hurting him," Jackson declared, his voice thick with barely contained rage, his eyes darkening to an obsidian shade.
"Your eyes," Zoe observed, noting the transformation.
"My wolf is unhappy, Zoe. What did this guy do to you?" Jackson's voice was tight with controlled fury.
She bowed her head, wrapping her arms around herself in a protective gesture. "You promise you won't look at me differently?"
"I promise," he assured her, his voice softening.
He unfolded her arms gently and took her hand in his. His thumb traced soothing circles on the back of her hand, offering silent comfort and support.
Zoe drew a deep breath, steeling herself to voice the words she had never spoken aloud. The truth that had haunted her dreams and shaped her fears was about to be released into the world.
"He raped me," she finally confessed, the words hanging heavy in the air between them.
The admission seemed to echo in the silence that followed, each reverberation carrying years of suppressed pain and trauma. The weight of her secret, now shared, created an invisible bond of trust between them, even as it threatened to shatter the peaceful moment they had been sharing.