Page 14

TEN

ZEV

W hen Chrissy glanced up at Zev, he couldn't hide his feelings for her any longer. The wall he'd carefully constructed around his heart had crumbled entirely at the sight of her sitting there with his grandfather's guitar, teaching a young pack member to embrace her talent.

He leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, watching her with open adoration. He knew his eyes betrayed emotions he hadn't planned on revealing so soon – affection, pride, and something that felt dangerously like love.

"Alpha Zev?" One of the younger boys tugged at his shorts. "Are you okay? Your eyes look funny."

Zev cleared his throat, ruffling the boy's hair. "I'm fine, pup."

The truth was far from fine. He was completely enraptured.

When Chrissy had first spotted his grandfather's guitar tucked away in the corner, Zev had felt a moment of hesitation that almost stopped him from sharing it.

That guitar was sacred – a relic from the man who'd shaped him into the Alpha he'd become.

No one had played it since his grandfather passed fifteen years ago, except when Zev occasionally dusted it off to tune the strings. He remembered those afternoons spent learning basic chords, his grandfather's weathered hands guiding his own.

But today, something had compelled Zev to place it in her hands. And when her fingers had strummed those first notes, it was as if his grandfather's spirit had filled the room again.

"You've got a special gift," he said to Chrissy as Emma scampered off with the other children. "Those kids won't forget this moment."

"It's nothing special," she shrugged, though her eyes sparkled with happiness. "I just remember what it felt like to be that age, loving music but afraid to share it."

"It is special," Zev insisted, his voice deepening to a rumble that seemed to affect her. Her cheeks flushed pink as he stepped closer. "You brought something back to life today."

His wolf paced eagerly under his skin, urging him to claim her now – to announce to everyone that this remarkable woman was their Luna. But Zev held back, determined to do this right.

"The way you played..." He gestured to the guitar she still held. "It was like my grandfather was in the room again."

"I felt something," she admitted, running her fingers along the worn wood. "Like the guitar was showing me how it wanted to be played."

"My grandfather would have loved you." The words escaped before he could filter them. "He always said music was magic. That it could heal what medicine couldn't reach."

Chrissy's eyes widened at his intensity. "Sounds like a wise man."

"He was." Zev moved forward, unable to keep distance between them any longer. "Sometimes I think he had a hand in bringing you here, when we both needed it most."

"You believe in that kind of thing?" Her voice was soft and curious. "Divine timing?"

"I believe in fate." Zev reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear "And in the woman standing in front of me." What he really wanted to tell her was that he believed she truly was his fated mate. But he knew she might not be ready for that knowledge yet.

The spark between them ignited again as his fingers brushed her cheek. The same electricity that had surged when they'd kissed in the cave the night before.

"I think the kids have finally run off to brag about meeting you," he said, nodding toward the now-empty doorway. "We have the room to ourselves."

Her green eyes darkened with realization. "Is that your subtle Alpha way of saying you want to kiss me again?"

A predatory smile spread across his face, the wolf within him rising to the surface. "There's nothing subtle about what I want, Chrissy."

Zev took the guitar from her hands and gently set it down on the stool next to him, his movements deliberate and controlled.

The precious instrument deserved care, but his focus had already shifted entirely to the woman before him.

Her scent—jasmine with hints of honeysuckle—invaded his senses, clouding his judgment in the most delicious way.

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her flush against his chest, savoring the feel of her soft curves against his hard planes. Her skin felt impossibly warm beneath her thin white tank top, and her cutoff shorts revealed miles of tanned, toned legs that tested his restraint.

He then leaned in and kissed her with a hunger that surprised even him—a raw, primal need that had been building since their moment in the cave. Her mouth opened beneath his, inviting him deeper, and he growled low in his throat at her eager response.

"You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured against her lips, his voice a rough caress.

Chrissy's fingers threaded through his hair. "Then show me," she challenged.

The Alpha in him couldn't resist. He lifted her effortlessly off the ground, her weight nothing in his arms, and kicked the door shut behind them. With one arm still supporting her, he flicked the lock closed, ensuring no interruptions.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing herself against him in a way that made his blood burn hot.

Zev turned and pressed her back against the door, his lips leaving hers to explore the column of her throat.

Her pulse raced beneath his mouth, and his wolf howled with satisfaction at her response.

"Zev," she breathed, her head falling back to give him better access.

His teeth grazed the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, and she shuddered in his arms. The primal part of him knew exactly what it wanted—to mark her, claim her, and make her irrevocably his. His canines lengthened slightly, the wolf so close to the surface he could barely contain it.

The realization of what he was about to do hit him like a bucket of cold water. This wasn't how he wanted their first time to be—rushed against a door in a music room where anyone might hear them. She deserved better. She deserved everything.

With more willpower than he thought he possessed, Zev set her gently back on her feet, though he kept his hands at her waist, unwilling to break contact completely.

"Why did you stop?" Disappointment colored her voice, her lips swollen from his kiss.

"Because when I take you," he said, his blue eyes locked on hers, "it won't be here, and it won't be quick." He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. "I want to savor every inch of you, Chrissy. And that requires a proper bed and all night long."

Her eyes widened at his promise, her pupils dilating with desire. But something flickered across her face—hesitation mixed with uncertainty—and Zev immediately recognized it. His wolf might be demanding satisfaction, but the man in him knew better.

He stepped back, creating distance between them despite every instinct screaming at him to pull her closer.

The white lace of her bra peeked through her thin white tank top, and those denim shorts barely covering her perfect backside were driving him to the edge of his control. He needed air. Space. Clarity.

Zev carefully retrieved his grandfather's guitar, the wood warm from Chrissy's touch, and tucked it away in its rightful place. His fingers lingered on it for a moment, steadying himself.

"Come on," he said, his voice rougher than he intended. "Let's get some fresh air."

The walk toward the beach gave his wolf room to breathe. The salty breeze ruffled Chrissy's dark hair, sending her intoxicating scent directly to him with every gust. He flexed his fingers, fighting the urge to reach for her.

"You're nothing like the other celebrities who've stayed here," he said, watching as her bare feet left delicate impressions in the sand.

Chrissy laughed, the sound pure and unfiltered. "I never wanted the celebrity part, just the music. The songs, the words, the melody—it's all magic to me." Her smile faded. "Or at least it was, before Marty."

Zev's jaw tightened at the mention of her manager. The rogue shifter who dared to cage what was meant to be wild and free.

"I was just this na?ve twenty-four-year-old girl excited about sharing my music," she continued, hugging herself as if suddenly cold despite the tropical heat. "I thought everyone was good, you know? Trustworthy. But there are people out there who just want to exploit others for money and status."

Her vulnerability struck him like a physical jab. His protective instincts surged forward, and he fought to keep his eyes from shifting to their wolf gold.

"I feel trapped. Scared." She kicked at the sand, frustration evident in the set of her shoulders.

"You should consider being a music teacher on the side," he offered, deliberately lightening the mood. "The way you drew Emma out of her shell was pure magic. I saw something light up in your eyes when you were teaching her."

Chrissy's smile returned, brightening her entire face.

"That's not a bad idea, actually. I'd have to find time for it though.

" She sighed. "Back home, I don't even have time to sleep or breathe.

All I wanted was two days off to see my dad after my album dropped, and Marty refused. Said I needed to do press."

Zev's anger flared, white-hot and dangerous. He imagined ripping Marty's throat out with his teeth for denying her something so basic and so human. The wolf inside him snarled in agreement.

"That's not unreasonable," he managed, keeping his voice level despite the rage bubbling beneath. "Taking time to see your father after what was probably an exhausting album production? Any decent manager would understand that."

He stopped walking, turned to face her fully. The sunlight caught in her hair, highlighting strands of deep chestnut among the dark brown. His mate was exquisite, perfect in every way.

"Stay as long as you need to decompress," he promised. "I'll keep you safe while you're here."

What he didn't say was that he'd keep her safe forever, if she'd let him. That he'd tear apart anyone who tried to hurt her, starting with Marty Shriner.

"Thanks," she whispered, and the genuine gratitude in her eyes caused his chest to constrict.