Chapter 124
SOPHIA’S POV
My heart was racing fast.
“This is harassment-” I said.
“This is courting.” He smiled. “There’s a difference p>
I stood there, looking at Zade in disbelief.
His persistence was starting to annoy me.
“Leave me alone!” I snapped at him.
Without waiting for him to say anything, I walked away but Zade grabbed my hand.
He looked at me “Your brother is about to walk in”
That was when I heard the rumble of Marco’s truck engine. Zade was rigt.
My brother. Marco was coming down the street.
Panic shot through me like lightning. If Marco saw me standing here with Zade. if he realized this was the same man who’d been sending me expensive gifts, who’d been pursuing me despite my marriage. he’d lose his mind.
Without thinking, I grabbed Zade’s jacket and pulled him toward me, pressing myself against his chest and burying my face in his shoulder.
Zade went completely still. I could feel his heart hammering beneath my cheek. I could sense his wolf rising to the surface in response to my sudden closeness.
“Sophia?” His voice was rough “What are you p>
“Shhh!” I hissed, gripping his jacket tighter. “My brother. Don’t move p>
I heard Marco’s truck slow down as it passed us. Through my peripheral vision, I could see him glancing our way, but from his angle, he’d only see Zade’s back.
To him, Zade was probably just another alpha wolf who’d stopped to talk to someone on the street.
The truck kept going, turning the corner toward the main house’s back entrance.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
But when I tried to pull away, Zade’s arms came around me, holding me in place.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, my voice muffled against his chest.
“Enjoying the moment,” he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “You came to me willingly this time p>
“I was hiding from my brother, not—” I pushed against his chest, but he didn’t budge. “Let go p>
“In a minute.” Zade’s hand came up to cradle the back of my head. He ran his fingers through my hair. “This is the first time you’ve let yourself touch me without immediately running away. I’m not wasting it p>
“This isn’t-I didn’t mean-” My protests died as I became acutely aware of how perfectly I fit against him.
My wolf purred, the traitorous thing.
“Your heart’s racing,” Zade murmured. “Is that fear? Or something else p>
“Fear,” I lied. “Definitely fear p>
“Liar.” He pulled back just enough to look down at me “You’re not afraid of me, Sophia. You’re afraid of how you feel when you’re near me p>
“I don’t feel anything p>
“Don’t you?” He caught my hand, the one still clutching his jacket, and pressed it flat against his chest, over his heart. “Feel that? That’s what you do to me. Every time I see you. Every time I think about you p>
His heartbeat was wild under my palm.
“Zade, please p>
“You’re so shy,” he teased “It’s adorable”
Before I could respond, he lifted my hand to his lips and ran his tongue across my fingertips.
The sensation sent electricity shooting through me. My wolf whimpered with need, and I felt heat flood my face.
What the hell p>
“You-!” I yanked my hand back, feeling scandalized. “That’s disgusting p>
“Is it?” He smirked. “You didn’t seem to mind p>
Something in me snapped. Years of being controlled, manipulated, pushed around – all of it bubbled up in a moment of pure instinct.
I lunged forward and bit his chest hard, right through his shirt.
Zade gasped. “Did you just p>
I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I shoved him with all my strength, catching him off-guard enough that he stumbled back.
Then I ran.
I ran straight into Sky Manor, slamming the door behind me and locking it. My mother and Klara were both staring at me from the living room, eyes wide.
“Aunt Sophia, why is your face so red?” Klara asked innocently.
“Exercise,” I said, my voice too high. “I was… exercising p>
“With that man outside?” My mother’s eyebrow rose. “The same man who sent the giant wolf plushie p>
“It’s complicated p>
“I’m sure it is.” She gave me a look that said we’d be talking about this later. “You should get ready for work. You’re going to be late p>
I glanced at the clock and cursed. She was right. I’d spent so much time dealing with Zade that I was now running behind schedule.
I rushed upstairs to change, but my phone buzzed before I could get to my closet.
It was a text from an unknown number: You bit me. I’m impressed. And turned on. We should do that again sometime. -Z
My face burned. I typed back furiously: Stop texting me. Stop sending me gifts. Stop showing up at my house. LEAVE ME ALONE.
His response came immediately: No.
Just that. Just “no” and a smirking emoji.
I wanted to throw my phone across the room. Instead, I shoved it in my pocket and got dressed with shaking hands.
The drive to work was a blur. I couldn’t stop thinking about Zade’s heartbeat under my palm, the way he’d looked at me, the feel of his arms around me, the-
I forced the thoughts away and focused on the road.
By the time I got to Moonstone Hospital, I was fifteen minutes late. Dr. Nancy looked up from the nurses’ station as I hurried past.
“Sophia? You’re never late. Is everything okay?” he asked me.
“Fine,” I lied, not slowing down. “Just… complicated morning p>
She raised an eyebrow “Well, you look exhausted. Try to take it easy today, okay p>
The morning passed fast. I kept myself busy with patient rounds and consultations. I threw myself into work, grateful for the distraction but every time I had a quiet moment, my mind drifted back to Zade.
I thought of the way he’d held me, the way he’d looked at me like I was something precious, the way he’d made me feel – wanted, desired, seen.
Things Damien had never made me feel.
My phone buzzed from time to time with more texts from Zade. I ignored them all bbut I didn’t delete them either.
Around two p.m., I was reviewing a patient’s chart when my phone rang. Damien’s name flashed on the screen.
I considered not answering. We’d had enough conflict lately, and I wasn’t in the mood for another fight.
But something made me pick up.
“What?” I answered.
“Ashley’s in the hospital.” Damien’s voice was tight “Emergency room. You need to get here now p>
My blood ran cold. “What p>