Page 10

SEVEN

CHRISSY

C hrissy's lips parted as she faced Zev, the moonlight casting a soft glow over his chiseled features.

She was about to make a joke and deflect again, to retreat into the safety of her walls.

But then, she stepped even closer to him, her bare feet sinking into the cool sand.

The warmth of his hand in hers sent tingles up her arm, and she felt the weight of his gaze, intense and unyielding.

The night stretched around them, the waves crashing against the shore in a rhythmic lullaby.

Chrissy couldn't believe what had just happened.

This had been the most real and magical night in months—maybe ever.

Zev had a way of making her feel seen, of peeling back the layers she'd been forced to wear for so long.

He made her want to be vulnerable, to show him the parts of herself she'd kept hidden, even from herself.

She couldn't believe she'd actually sung him one of her most personal and vulnerable songs, especially when it was only half-written and far from perfect.

She never shared her unfinished work with anyone anymore.

Marty had made sure of that. He'd stripped her of her creative freedom, forcing her to sing the songs his producers wrote, ones that didn't feel anything like her at all.

The only exception was 'Daddy's Girl,' the song that had made her a star.

But even that felt like a relic of a time when she'd been free to create and be herself.

Zev had listened to her raw, imperfect song with a reverence that made her chest ache.

He hadn't critiqued it or told her to polish it.

He'd just… appreciated it. And that made her want to wrap her arms around him right now, and to let him hold her so she could feel safe again.

Because she did feel safe with him, in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.

"You're different," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "You don't want anything from me. You're not trying to use me or control me. You just… want to be here. With me."

Zev's eyes darkened, and he stepped impossibly closer, his free hand lifting to cup her cheek. His touch was electric, sending a jolt of heat through her. "I want you , Chrissy. Not the pop star, not the image they've created. Just you."

Her breath hitched, and she leaned into his touch, her heart racing. "I don't know if I'm ready for this," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "But I want to be."

"That's enough for me," he said, his voice low and rough. "We'll take it one step at a time."

She nodded, her eyes never leaving his. The air between them crackled with tension, and she felt the pull of him, magnetic and undeniable. She wanted to kiss him, to feel the heat of his lips on hers, but she hesitated, her fear warring with her desire.

Zev seemed to sense her internal struggle. He leaned down, his breath warm against her ear. "Whenever you're ready," he murmured, his voice a promise. "I'm not going anywhere."

Chrissy's heart swelled, and she felt a tear slip down her cheek.

She hadn't realized how much she'd needed to hear those words.

In what felt like forever, she finally felt a flicker of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, she could find her way back to herself.

And maybe Zev could be the one to help her get there.

She squeezed his hand, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside her. "Thank you again," she said, her eyes locking with his. "For… everything."

Zev gave her a small, knowing smile. "Always," he said, his voice a vow.

Chrissy's heart was racing from the intensity of the moment, her hand warm in Zev's, and his other hand cradling her cheek like she was something precious.

The moonlight bathed them in a silvery glow, and for a second, the world felt like it had narrowed to just the two of them.

His eyes held hers, and she could see the promise in them, the unspoken vow that he'd be there for her, no matter what.

But then, the sound of hurried footsteps crunching against the sand shattered the moment. Ewan appeared, his face tight with worry and his dark hair slightly disheveled.

"It's Jonah," Ewan said, his voice urgent. "He hasn't come home."

Zev's entire body tensed, his hand dropping from Chrissy's cheek as he turned to face Ewan. The shift in him was immediate—gone was the tender, protective man who'd been holding her hand, replaced by the Alpha, commanding and ready to act.

"What do you mean he hasn't come home?" Zev's voice was sharp.

"He was supposed to be back by sunset. His parents let him explore, but he knows the rules. He's never missed curfew before." Ewan's jaw tightened. "We've checked the usual spots. But nothing."

Chrissy's stomach dropped. A kid was out there, alone, in the jungle at night. She didn't know Jonah, but the thought of a child lost and scared made her chest tight. She stepped forward, her feet sinking into the sand. "I'm coming with you."

Zev's head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing. "It's not safe for you. The jungle at night is dangerous, especially for someone who doesn't know the terrain."

She crossed her arms, her chin lifting in defiance. "A kid's out there alone. I'm not just going to stand by and do nothing."

Zev's gaze bore into hers, and for a moment, she thought he might argue. But then he gave a curt nod, his expression softening just a fraction. "Fine. But you stay close to me. No wandering off."

"Deal," she said, her voice firm. She bent down to slip her sandals back on, her fingers fumbling slightly in her haste. Zev did the same, his movements quick and efficient.

Ewan stepped closer, his voice low. "I'll rally the others. We'll spread out and cover as much ground as we can."

Zev nodded, his jaw set. "Use the pack link. Keep me updated."

Chrissy straightened, her brow furrowing. "Pack link?"

Zev glanced at her, his expression softening again slightly. "It's how we communicate. Telepathically. But it's something that develops after puberty, so Jonah can't use it yet."

"Got it," she said, though her mind was still reeling from the idea of telepathic communication. She'd known shifters were different, but this was something else entirely.

Zev turned back to Ewan. "I'll take Chrissy with me. I've got a hunch he might be near the lava tube cave. It's easier to navigate on two legs, so I'll stay in human form."

Ewan nodded, then turned and jogged back up the beach, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows.

Zev grabbed flashlights from a nearby storage shed and handed one to Chrissy. "Stay close," he repeated, his voice firm but not unkind. "The jungle can be unpredictable at night."

She nodded, gripping the flashlight tightly. "Lead the way."

They moved quickly, the jungle swallowing them whole as they left the beach behind.

The air was thick with the scent of earth and foliage, the sounds of the night creatures buzzing and chirping around them.

Chrissy's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to focus, her eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of Jonah.

Zev moved with a predator's grace, his steps sure and silent despite the uneven terrain. She could feel the tension radiating off him, his focus entirely on the task at hand. But every so often, he'd glance back at her, his eyes checking to make sure she was still there and still safe.

"You're sure he'd be near this cave?" she asked, her voice low as they pushed through a thicket of vines.

"It's a place I used to explore when I was his age," Zev said, his voice steady. "It's secluded, but it's also dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. If he's there, we'll find him."

Chrissy nodded, her mind racing. She couldn't help but admire Zev's calm under pressure, the way he took charge without hesitation.

It was a stark contrast to the men she'd known in her world, who were all bluster and ego.

Zev was so different. He was a leader, but he didn't need to shout to prove it.

Zev and Chrissy moved deeper into the jungle, their flashlights cutting narrow beams through the oppressive darkness.

The air grew cooler, the cacophony of night creatures fading into a distant hum.

Chrissy's pulse quickened, her senses on high alert.

The jungle felt alive around her, its weight pressing in, but she forced herself to stay focused and keep moving forward.

Zev's broad shoulders moved ahead of her, his presence a steady anchor in the shifting shadows.

They turned onto a narrow trail that led to the base of a cliffside, its jagged silhouette cutting into the starry sky.

Zev stopped, his flashlight beam scanning the dense wall of vines and moss that clung to the rock face.

He turned to her, his blue eyes sharp in the dim light.

"The cave's just through here. The entrance is narrow so stay close to me. "

Chrissy nodded, her throat suddenly dry.

She stepped closer to him, her shoulder brushing his arm.

A shiver ran through her, though she couldn't tell if it was from the cool air or the way his body seemed to radiate heat.

Zev pushed aside the thick vines, revealing a narrow opening barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through sideways.

He stepped in first, his voice echoing back to her. "Come on, I've got you."

She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding, then followed him into the cave.

The interior was a tight, winding corridor of smooth black stone, the walls glistening faintly in the flashlight beams. The air was cooler inside, damp and earthy, with a faint metallic tang.

The space was cramped—less than six feet tall in places, and no more than three or four feet wide—forcing her to move carefully.

Her breath hitched as she navigated the uneven floor, her sandals slipping slightly on the damp stone.

"Careful," Zev's voice came from ahead, low and steady. "The floor can be slick."

"Got it," she said, her voice echoing eerily in the confined space. She glanced up, catching a glimpse of a natural chimney in the ceiling, a thin shaft of moonlight filtering down. "This place is… wild."

Zev glanced back at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I used to spend hours here as a kid. It was my escape—away from the pack and away from being the Alpha's heir. Just me and the silence."

Chrissy's chest tightened. "Sounds nice. I haven't had a place like this in… well, a very long time now. No matter where I go, someone's always watching."

Zev's gaze softened, and he slowed his pace to match hers. "Why's that?"

She shrugged, though the movement felt stiff in the confined space. "Fame, I guess. Everyone thinks they own a piece of you or knows you. No privacy and no space to just… be."

Zev stopped and turned to face her in the cramped space, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "You're safe here, Chrissy."

She swallowed hard, her eyes meeting his. Suddenly, the world outside the cave ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, surrounded by the ancient stone, the air thick with something she couldn't quite name. "I trust you," she said softly, the words slipping out.

Zev's jaw tightened, and he nodded once, a flicker of something intense in his eyes. "Good. Because I'm not letting anything happen to you."

He turned then, and they continued deeper into the cave, the walls narrowing in places making Chrissy slightly claustrophobic.

Her steps faltered as the silence pressed in, broken only by the faint drip of water from the ceiling.

She glanced back at the twisting path behind them, her stomach knotting with unease.

"We've been walking for a while. Do you really think Jonah's in here? "

Zev stopped and turned to her again, his expression calm but resolute. "My instincts are telling me we're close. Trust them."

She hesitated, her gaze searching his. "And if we're wrong? If we're just wasting time?"

Zev stepped closer to her, his presence filling the narrow space. His voice was quiet but firm. "We're not wrong. But even if we were, I wouldn't leave this cave without knowing for sure. That's what it means to lead and protect a pack—no one gets left behind."

Chrissy's breath caught at the intensity in his voice.

She could feel the weight of his words, the unshakable conviction behind them.

It was so different from the calculated, self-serving men she'd known in her human world.

Zev wasn't just powerful—he was protective and loyal.

And for reasons she couldn't explain, that made her chest ache for something.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice soft but steady. "I trust you completely."

Zev's lips curled up into a smile, his eyes holding hers for a moment longer than necessary. "Good. You should."

They pressed on, the cave winding deeper into the cliffside.

Chrissy's flashlight beam danced over the smooth walls, catching glimpses of strange formations—ribbons of stone that looked like frozen waves, and tiny pools of water that shimmered like liquid silver.

The air grew cooler yet and the silence more profound.

She could hear her own heartbeat, steady but insistent, echoing in the confined space.

"You know," she said, her voice breaking the quiet, "this place is kind of incredible. I can see why you'd want to escape here."

Zev glanced back at her, his smirk lingering. "It's not just the cave. It's the freedom. Out there, I'm the Alpha—always on and always in control. But in here, I'm just me."

Chrissy's chest tightened again, and she forced herself to look away. "Sounds wonderful. I haven't just been me in… I don't even know how long."

Zev stepped closer to Chrissy, his expression softer now. "Then maybe it's time you found your own cave."

She met his gaze, her heart skipping a beat as she felt herself being pulled closer to him. The intensity of his voice wrapped around her like a warm embrace, making her feel alive in a way she never had. At this moment, she allowed herself to believe that maybe she could find that freedom again.

And as they continued deeper into the cave, she couldn't shake the feeling that her own personal escape might just be standing right in front of her.