Page 33 of Marked For A Bite (Rebellious Mates #2)

Zoe smiled, her heart swelling with love for this complex, dangerous man who had claimed her as his own. For now, in this secluded cabin, the world outside ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, tangled in sheets and each other.

She sighed contentedly, resting her head against his chest, the steady thrum of his heartbeat grounding her. "For once, it feels like we're just Zoe and Logan," she whispered, her voice tinged with a wistful longing. "No High Council, no rebellion—just us."

But as the words left her lips, an uneasy feeling settled in her chest. Did I just jinx us?

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than her phone buzzed loudly on the bedside stand, shattering the quiet intimacy of the moment. Zoe groaned, reaching for it reluctantly, but Logan's hand clamped down on hers, his grip firm yet gentle.

"Ignore it," he growled, his voice low and commanding. His lips trailed down her neck, nipping playfully at her skin. "You're mine right now."

Zoe glanced at the screen, her stomach dropping when she saw Naomi’s name flashing across it. "It's Naomi," she said, her voice tinged with guilt. "I can't ignore her."

Logan exhaled sharply, his frustration evident, but he released her hand, his body still pressed against hers. "Fine," he muttered, though his tone suggested anything but that. "But make it quick."

Zoe answered the call, trying to sound casual. "Hey, Naomi. Now's not a great time."

Naomi's voice crackled through the line, her tone teasing. "Oh, am I interrupting something? Don't worry, I'll keep it quick. Just checking in to make sure you're still alive. You know, since for a moment there, I thought you were dead for two weeks when you hadn't called me."

Zoe laughed softly, her fingers absently tracing patterns on Logan's chest. "I'm fine. Logan and I decided to steal a weekend away."

Naomi's response was lighthearted, her curiosity tempered by respect for Zoe's boundaries. "Well, don't let me ruin your fun. Call me when you're back to reality."

As Zoe hung up, her phone buzzed again almost immediately. This time, Lena's name appeared on the screen. "It's Lena," Zoe said, her brows furrowing as she glanced at Logan. "I should probably put it on speaker."

Logan grunted in acknowledgment, though his jaw tightened visibly. Zoe hit the speaker button, and Lena's voice filled the room, calm yet urgent. "Zoe, Logan, I've uncovered something important."

Logan sat up, his alpha instincts kicking in. "What is it?"

Lena's tone was steady, but Zoe could hear the undercurrent of excitement.

"I believe I've cracked some of the third part of the prophecy.

It mentions a secret hybrid— the third one who hides in the shadows will help to bridge the two worlds with their strong leadership and mind, forcing reconciliation between traditional values worth preserving and progressive changes necessary for survival. "

Zoe frowned, her mind racing. "How does that fit into where we are now? The rebellion's still scattered and untrained. We're barely holding things together as it is."

"Exactly," Lena replied. "Which is why this is crucial.

One of the scattered rebel groups, led by Elena Walsh, has recovered ancient texts that prove the Council has systematically altered shifter history and ancient bloodlines for centuries.

But they need someone to translate the writings. Zoe, you're uniquely suited for this."

Logan's jaw tightened further, his muscles coiling like a predator ready to pounce. "Where's Elena's base?"

"Tidewater territory," Lena answered. "It's remote, deep in their lands. I don't expect you for a few days, so try to enjoy your weekend. I just wanted you to know what's coming."

Logan's voice was firm. "We'll head out in a few days."

As Lena hung up, Zoe let out a long, weary sigh as her and Logan laid back down.

Her peaceful weekend was slipping away, replaced by the inevitable return to their fight against the High Council.

She curled into Logan's side again, her fingers splaying across his chest. "Just when I thought we had a moment to breathe. "

His arm tightened around her, his voice a low rumble in her ear. "We'll take it one step at a time. Whatever comes, we face it together."

Zoe nodded, her resolve hardening. "We'll make it happen. As the shifter world's power couple, we'll burn it all down if we have to and rebuild it better than before."

Logan's lips curled into a wolfish grin, his eyes flashing with predatory intensity. "Damn right we will."

They lay there for a while longer, wrapped in each other's warmth, savoring the quiet before the storm.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the world in a deceptive calm.

But Zoe knew that soon, they'd be back in the thick of it, fighting for a future where love wouldn't be forbidden and where their children could live freely—without the shadow of the Council looming over them.

For now, she clung to Logan, her mate, her warrior, her partner in this fight. Together, they were unstoppable.