Page 18

FOURTEEN

ZEV

A s they moved through the ancient stone pathways of the ruins, Zev couldn't tear his eyes away from Chrissy.

The song she'd created—seemingly out of thin air—had stunned him into reverent silence as they walked hand-in-hand.

That song wasn't just a fragment or rough idea.

It had poured from her fully formed, as though the island itself had whispered the melody into her ear.

"It's like you're connected to this place," he said, watching her trace her fingers along the weathered stone. "The way you sang about it... about us."

His wolf was preening inside him, its tail wagging with unbridled joy.

For generations, his ancestors had protected these sacred grounds, and now his mate had honored them with her gift.

The wolf recognized what Zev was only beginning to understand—she belonged here, had perhaps always been meant to find her way to these shores.

"The song just... came to me," Chrissy said, her green eyes bright with the lingering creative energy. "I can't explain it."

Zev ran his hand along the back of his neck, realizing he'd been less than forthcoming about the ruins. "I should have told you—these aren't just any shifter ruins. They belonged to my family. My ancestors were the first to claim this island centuries ago."

He frowned, wondering why he'd fallen into his habitual vagueness about Isle Luna's history. For so long, protecting the pack had meant guarding their secrets, even from guests who posed no threat. But Chrissy wasn't just any guest.

"I'm sorry," he continued. "Old habits. We've kept ourselves hidden for so long that sometimes I forget I don't need to hide from you."

As they followed the path back toward the resort, still shrouded by the dense jungle canopy, Zev made a silent vow.

No more half-truths. She was his in every way that mattered—except for the formality of his mark upon her skin.

That would come soon, if she accepted. For now, he would show her exactly who and what she'd given herself to.

He stopped abruptly in a small clearing, sunlight dappling the ground around them.

"Chrissy." His voice deepened to that commanding timbre that came naturally when his alpha instincts surfaced. "Would you like to see my wolf?"

Her breathing quickened, her pupils dilating slightly. "Your actual wolf form? Right now?"

"Right now." He nodded, already reaching for the buttons of his shirt. "Just you and me. No one else around for miles."

A flash of nervousness crossed her features, quickly replaced by excitement. "Yes," she whispered. "I'd like that very much."

Zev efficiently removed his clothing, not missing how her eyes tracked every movement, lingering on his chest, his abdomen, and lower. The admiration in her gaze fed his alpha pride. With practiced ease, he folded his clothes and set them aside, standing before her in all his glory.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice already roughening with the change.

At her nod, he allowed the shift to take him.

The familiar rush of power surged through his veins as bones reshaped, muscles elongated, and fur erupted across his skin.

Within moments, a massive wolf stood where the man had been—silver-gray with distinctive dark brown patches across his belly and chest.

Chrissy's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with wonder. "Oh my god," she breathed. "You're magnificent."

His wolf's ears perked forward at the praise, his tail swishing once in satisfaction. He remained perfectly still as she took a tentative step forward, then another, until her small hand hovered just above his head.

"Can I...?" she asked.

He nudged his muzzle against her palm in answer, and a delighted laugh escaped her. Her fingers sank into his thick fur, scratching behind his ears in a way that would have been embarrassingly pleasurable if he weren't so captivated by her fearlessness.

Then, in a gesture that sent a primal surge of possessive joy through him, Chrissy knelt before him and wrapped her arms around his massive neck, pressing her face against his fur. No human had ever embraced his wolf form this way—with complete trust and open adoration.

"You're so beautiful," she murmured against him. "So powerful but gentle."

His wolf rumbled with satisfaction, nuzzling against her hair. The acceptance in her touch reached something deep and ancient within him, a part that had always wondered if a human mate could truly understand this side of him. Her wholehearted embrace answered that question definitively.

After savoring the moment, Zev gently disengaged and stepped back, shifting once more into his human form. He retrieved his clothes and put them back on as she stood there watching him, her eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and awe.

"That was truly magical," Chrissy said, her voice filled with wonder. "I've never seen anything so beautiful and perfect. Thank you for showing me."

Zev closed the distance between them, cupping her face in his large hands. "Thank you for seeing all of me," he said roughly. "Many humans fear our wolf forms. You embraced mine."

She smiled up at him. "Maybe someday, when you're feeling especially wild, you could take me for a ride through the moonlit jungle?"

The image hit him with powerful force—Chrissy astride his wolf form, racing through the island under a full moon, her laughter mingling with the night sounds of the jungle.

"Nothing would honor my wolf more," he growled, pulling her against him. "And nothing would please me more than to share that freedom with you."

He kissed her then, pouring every ounce of the emotions swirling through him into the kiss—pride, passion, gratitude, and the beginnings of something deeper that he wasn't quite ready to name. But his wolf knew. His wolf had always known. She was his.

When they broke apart, Chrissy's cheeks were flushed and her green eyes luminous with desire. Zev traced his thumb across her lower lip, savoring the softness beneath his skin.

"I should get you back to rest for a bit," he murmured, though everything in him rebelled against the idea of separation.

They made their way back to the resort, hands entwined, shoulders brushing with each step.

The connection between them hummed like a live wire, making his skin prickle with awareness.

His wolf prowled just beneath the surface, already possessive of every curve, every smile, and every breath she took.

When they reached her villa, Chrissy turned to him with that mixture of shyness and boldness that drove him wild. "I suppose I should take a short nap before dinner to regain my strength for later." Her eyes flashed with a hint of mischief.

"Of course." Zev's blood began to heat with anticipation. "I'll make reservations for eight."

"Perfect." She rose on her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips. "Don't be late, Alpha."

The playful challenge in her tone made him growl low in his throat. "I've never been late for anything important in my life."

Zev watched her disappear inside, the curve of her hips in those cut-off shorts nearly breaking his resolve to let her rest. With considerable effort, he turned away, heading toward his office to handle some resort business before their dinner.

He'd barely made it halfway across the grounds when Ewan came barreling toward him, his face locked in a grim expression Zev hadn't seen since their military days.

"We've got a problem." Ewan's voice was clipped and urgent. "A serious one."

Zev's spine stiffened automatically, his alpha instincts surging to the forefront. "Tell me."

"It's about Chrissy." Ewan pulled out his tablet, swiping to a video. "This just hit social media about twenty minutes ago. It's blowing up everywhere."

Zev stared at the screen. There was Chrissy, standing amid the ancient ruins they'd just left, singing the song she'd created—for him, for them. The private, intimate moment where she'd bared her soul through music was now splashed across the internet for millions to witness.

"What the fuck?" His voice plummeted to a dangerous register. "How?"

"The song recording app on her phone. Marty's team has backend access to it—probably written into her contract.

The moment she saved the recording, it uploaded to their cloud.

" Ewan's expression darkened. "They released it immediately, complete with tagging it as 'Chrissy's jungle escape song. ' It's already trending."

A primal fury swept through Zev, his wolf clawing for release. That song was theirs—a gift she'd created in the sacred place of his ancestors. Now it was being paraded for profit by the very man who'd driven her to seek sanctuary.

"The comments are overwhelmingly positive," Ewan continued. "People are calling it her most authentic work. But that's not the real problem."

Zev's jaw clenched. "What else?"

"The recording app Chrissy used—it captures location metadata." Ewan's expression darkened further. "Marty knows she's here. He called the resort's direct line demanding to speak with you."

A low growl rumbled deep within Zev's chest, his wolf snarling beneath his skin. No one made demands of an Alpha, especially not some rogue shifter who had abused his mate.

"Good," Zev said, pulling Marty's business card from his wallet. "I've been looking forward to this conversation."

He dialed the number, putting it on speaker as Ewan stood sentinel beside him. The call connected immediately.

"Shriner." The voice was smooth and cultured, with the unmistakable edge of a predator.

"This is Zev Landon. I understand you've been looking for me."

"Ah, the island owner himself." Marty's tone dripped with false cordiality. "You have something that belongs to me."

Zev's fingers tightened around the phone, his knuckles whitening. "Chrissy Rivera belongs to no one."

"Legally, you're incorrect." Papers rustled on Marty's end. "She's contractually obligated to Empire Records—and by extension, to me. You're harboring a runaway asset, Landon."

"Asset?" The word tasted like poison. "She's a human being who's been exploited and abused."

Marty's laugh was sharp and cold. "Please spare me the hero complex. I made her famous. I made her rich. I made her everything she is."

"You broke her spirit and put your hands on her." Zev's voice dropped dangerously low. "For that alone, I should hunt you down."

"Threats now? How primitive." Marty's voice hardened. "Here's a counter-offer: return my star within twenty-four hours, or I'll release the exact coordinates of your precious little island to every tabloid and social media influencer on the planet."

The threat hit its mark. Zev's eyes flashed with lupine fury as he imagined his ancestral land swarmed with humans, cameras clicking and drones buzzing overhead—the sanctuary his family had protected for generations exposed and violated.

"You have no idea who you're threatening," Zev snarled.

"Oh, I think I do. One reclusive Alpha wolf with a soft spot for pretty humans.

" Marty's voice oozed smug satisfaction.

"Just imagine this, thousands of fans arriving by boat and seaplane and helicopter, desperate to see the magical place where Chrissy created her 'jungle escape song.

' Your precious isolation destroyed overnight. "

Zev was just about to deliver a counter-threat—one involving what happened to rogues who challenged pack territory—when a soft voice interrupted.

"I'll come home."

Zev whirled around to find Chrissy standing there, her green eyes wide and resolute. His heart plummeted as she stepped forward, close enough to speak into the phone.

"Marty, I'll be back in time for tomorrow's press."

"Chrissy—" Zev started, but she shook her head slightly.

"Excellent decision," Marty purred. "My jet is already en route to the closest airfield. It lands at 6 PM. Be on it, or I release the coordinates. Oh, and wear something presentable—the paparazzi will be waiting at LAX."

He rattled off a string of instructions about upcoming interviews and appearances before hanging up abruptly.

Zev stared at Chrissy, unable to process what had just happened. His wolf howled in furious protest, demanding he stop her, mark her properly, and refuse to let her walk back into that man's clutches. Every instinct screamed that his mate was slipping away.

"Why?" The single word carried the weight of his confusion and pain.

The afternoon sun cast a golden glow across her face as she stepped closer, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Because he'll destroy everything you've built here."

"I don't care," Zev growled, capturing her wrist. "Let them come. This island has survived hurricanes and invasions—it can survive tourists."

"But can your pack?" Her voice was soft but unwavering. "Your people didn't ask for this. They don't deserve to have their home exposed because of me."

Ewan tactfully stepped away, giving them privacy in the middle of the sunlit grounds.

Zev's chest tightened painfully. His mate was choosing to sacrifice herself to protect his pack—a more Alpha move than many born wolves would make. Pride and anguish warred within him as he pulled her against his chest, burying his face in her hair to inhale her scent one more time.

"This isn't over," he promised, his voice a rough whisper against her ear. "You're my mate. No contract or threat will change that."