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From what I gather, she’s trying to keep a low profile so that her ex can’t find her. These attacks are working against her. Which is why she’s trying so hard to help us, and why she reacted that way about us going to the vampire council.

Zyion drops his arms and shakes his head. “I never would have thought it.”

I can already tell this conversation is taking a turn. He’s about to say something that’s going to piss me off. As a Beta, I need to step away so that I can de-escalate this potential fight, but for the life of me, I can’t make myself back down.

“No back down,”my wolf says, coming to the forefront.

“Thought what?”

“Calm yourself,”Chayton says in my head.“I can feel your wolf right at the surface. Zyion doesn’t understand. He doesn’t have a mate. He’s just concerned about his pack.”

I knew everything Chayton was saying was true. I know Zyion isn’t coming from a place of hate, but of concern. However, my wolf didn’t want to hear that shit. He wanted Zyion to finish his thought.

Zyion scoffs. “I never would’ve thought you’d lose sight of whose side you’re on.”

“I’m on Dark Woods side. Always.” I punctuate my response with a fist to my palm.

“We know that, Enzo,” Chayton says, stepping forward. “No one is questioning you.” He cut his gaze to Zyion.

I’m pretty sure Chayton is having a conversation in Zyion’s head. I can tell from the way Zyion’s brow pinches and his lips quarrel.

“Yeah, whatever,” Zyion says, turning his back. “I’m not the one fucking the enemy.” He muttered his words, but he knew we'd hear them.

“Zyion,” Chayton warns.

“Hey, we didn’t find much from our side. Looks like they’ve abandoned these caves days ago,” Alarick announces as he walks into the small cave we were in.

Without turning to look at her, I can sense her here. I guess she knew something was wrong, because I can feel her soft touch probing my mind.

“What’s wrong?”her voice is so sultry inside my head. You would think it would calm me down, but no, it doesn’t.

“Do you mind repeating that, Zyion?”

He turns to face me; he seems shocked for only a second before his shoulders lift and his chin rises higher.

He runs a hand over his short hair before speaking. “Yeah, I know you’re taking one for the team and all, but I just don’t understand how you can lie down with that fucking leech every night.”

I don’t recall thinking about my actions or telling myself to move. However, one minute I’m on one side of the room and the next I have Zyion by the neck, pinned to the cave wall.

“Enzo,” Chayton shouts my name, but I don’t register it.

“Call her a leech again,” I dare him. “You are my brother, but I will rip your throat out if you ever disrespect my mate again. Do you understand?”

Zyion gasps at the tight hold I have around his throat. Finally, he’s able to mumble a yes. I let him go, and he leans against the wall behind him clutching his reddening neck.

Shame causes my stomach to turn. Never would I have thought I’d react to him in that way.

“He deserved it,”my wolf growls. He still wants me to kill him.

“No. He was speaking out of past hurts. He has a reason to doubt her.”

“He does not,”my wolf argues.“He knows of vampires. But he does not know her enough to doubt her.”

My beast’s words hit me like a train. He was right. I knew of vampires. I know what they are capable of. But I’m starting to see vampires, like werewolves, are not a monolith. They are not all the same. So yes, he has a reason to hate vampires, but he has no reason to despise these two.

I turn to leave, needing space between myself and Zyion.

“Zo, wait.” Like every time she calls me that nickname, my body freezes. I go through mixed emotions about hearing her call me Zo. Part of me loves the familiarity she finds with giving me a nickname, and then part of me still feels that bite of shame.