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TWO

ZEV

Z ev Landon stood on the patio outside his island resort's lobby with his hands planted on the teak wooden railing, surveying his domain.

Morning sunlight spilled across Isle Luna, turning the Caribbean Sea into a dazzling carpet of diamonds.

His keen gaze tracked a pair of staff members arranging chaise lounges along the pristine white beach that curved like a crescent moon around the eastern cove.

"Miguel." His voice carried easily to the head of housekeeping, who immediately straightened. "The Orchid Villa needs special attention today. Fresh-cut local flowers, premium linens, and make sure the privacy screens are operational."

"Of course, Mr. Landon." Miguel nodded. "Any specific requests from the VIP?"

Zev's jaw tightened imperceptibly. "The guest prefers absolute discretion. No photos, no social media mentions, and no press. Not that we usually allow that here. But this time it's particularly important that nobody gets any ideas."

He didn't mention that the VIP was Gerri Wilder. He rarely kept secrets from his pack, but Gerri's visits were always... complicated. She never came without a purpose, and that purpose inevitably raised questions that he couldn't or wouldn't answer most times.

His wolf stirred beneath his skin, unusually restless today. Zev rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the sensation.

"Something wrong, boss?" Tina, his events coordinator, approached with her ever-present tablet.

"It's nothing." He straightened, his six-foot-two frame casting a long shadow across the polished marble flooring. "Just a… feeling."

"Full moon's not for two weeks." Tina's knowing smile reminded him that his pack was attuned to his moods. As Alpha, his energy affected them all.

"Run the security protocols again," he said, changing the subject. "I want beach patrols doubled and the perimeter sensors checked."

"Already done. Ewan's team swept the island at dawn." Her eyes crinkled. "Though Ewan said you'd ask again anyway."

A smile tugged at Zev's mouth. His best friend knew him too well.

The morning briefing continued as Zev prowled the main lodge, checking details others would miss—a slightly crooked painting in the dining room and a loose floorboard near the spa entrance.

Isle Luna was more than just a luxury resort.

It was home to his pack. Their sanctuary was hidden in plain sight among the pampered elite who paid obscene amounts for privacy and perfection.

His family had purchased the island four generations ago, transforming it from a wild jungle outpost to an exclusive paradise. What guests never realized was that the true purpose was protection—a place where wolf shifters could run free under the moonlight without fear of discovery.

As Zev walked the meandering path toward the cliffside villas, his wolf's senses reveled in the island's perfume—salt spray mixing with the heady scent of tropical flowers and the rich, loamy smell of the jungle that covered the island's interior.

Beyond the manicured resort grounds lay miles of protected wilderness where his pack could shift and hunt freely.

He paused at the edge of the tree line, letting his gaze sweep across his territory.

The resort occupied only a quarter of the island—twenty-five exclusive villas and bungalows nestled into the landscape, the main lodge with its world-class restaurant and spa, and the hidden infrastructure that kept everything running seamlessly.

The rest remained wild, preserved for the pack's hundred members who lived in a cluster of homes tucked into a protected valley on the western side.

Yet despite everything he'd built and everything he'd inherited, something gnawed at him. An emptiness he couldn't name.

"What more could you possibly want?" he muttered to himself, annoyed at the persistent feeling of incompleteness.

He had wealth beyond measure, a pack that respected him, and a private island paradise.

Women threw themselves at him regularly—guests, staff from the mainland, even supernatural creatures drawn to his power as Alpha.

None of them had ever sparked more than passing interest.

His wolf's restlessness increased, making him roll his neck to ease the pressure building there.

"You're in a mood today." The observation came from Sofia, one of the few humans who knew their secret. As the resort's concierge, she handled the most delicate guest requests. "The staff's picking up on it."

"I'm fine." He forced his shoulders to relax. "Just... anticipating problems."

"With this VIP?" Sofia cocked an eyebrow. "Must be someone special. You've never been this twitchy for a celebrity before."

"She's not a celebrity." He kept his voice neutral. "Just someone who deserves our best."

Sofia's knowing smile made him wonder how transparent he was. "The Orchid Villa is ready. I added those special Belizean chocolates she mentioned in her thank you note from her last visit."

Zev nodded, impressed but not surprised by Sofia's attention to detail. "Perfect."

As she walked away, Zev turned toward the helipad where their guest would arrive soon. His wolf paced beneath his skin, as if anticipating something monumental. Usually, he could sense threats to his pack or territory, but this wasn't danger his instincts were reacting to.

It was something else entirely—a premonition of change that made his heart beat faster and his senses sharpen. His wolf knew something was coming. Something important.

"Just another day in paradise," he murmured to the turquoise sea stretching endlessly before him. But he didn't believe it for a second.

The concrete of the elevated helipad shimmered in the morning light as Zev stood with his arms crossed, his muscles tensed beneath his crisp white linen shirt.

The landing area jutted out over the side of a cliff, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the Caribbean's endless azure expanse.

He checked his watch for the third time in five minutes.

"If you keep scowling like that, you'll scare her off before she even lands." Ewan's deep voice cut through Zev's concentration as his oldest friend strode up beside him, dressed in cargo shorts and a navy resort polo that stretched across his broad shoulders.

Zev didn't uncross his arms. "I'm not scowling. I'm focused."

"Oh, is that what we're supposed to call it now?

" Olivia appeared at Ewan's side, her flowing yellow sundress catching the island breeze.

She slipped her hand into her husband's with the easy familiarity of true mates.

"You look like you're preparing for battle instead of welcoming the most beloved matchmaker in the supernatural world. "

"I want everything to be perfect." Zev ran his hand through his thick wavy brown hair, feeling the weight of responsibility. "Gerri Wilder deserves our absolute best."

Ewan snorted. "You've personally inspected every corner of the resort twice over. The staff is ready to mutiny if you criticize one more perfectly arranged flower."

"Her connections span continents," Zev countered, pacing the edge of the helipad. "Hell, she even has contacts off-world. Nova Aurora's Alpha bear shifter still owes her a favor, and those bears don't give their loyalty easily."

Olivia's green eyes sparkled with amusement. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Gerri's other talents, would it? Her legendary matchmaking prowess, perhaps?"

Zev shot her a sharp look. "This is about business. Her endorsement keeps our exclusive clientele flowing—the kind who respect our privacy as a supernatural community."

"Mm-hmm." Olivia exchanged a knowing glance with Ewan. "Nothing at all to do with her uncanny ability to match shifters with their fated mates? The woman has a perfect track record, you know."

"Just look at us," Ewan added, pulling Olivia closer against his side. "Three years of bliss thanks to her meddling."

"I'm well aware of her reputation," Zev said stiffly, his wolf stirring restlessly. "And I'm happy for you both, obviously. But I'm focused on running this resort and protecting our pack. I don't have time for matchmaking mumbo jumbo."

Ewan's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Because when she visited a few months ago, you two had a pretty intense private meeting. She looked like the cat who ate the canary afterward."

Heat crawled up Zev's neck. Damn Ewan and his observations. "That was about expanding our charitable initiatives."

"Of course it was." Olivia's smile widened. "Which is why you've been prowling around like a caged animal since her call last night."

Zev fell silent, his mind racing back to that midnight conversation. Gerri's voice had held that unmistakable note of mischief when she'd said she had "life-changing news" that required her immediate presence on Isle Luna.

Why hadn't he made the connection until now? His wolf had been unusually alert all morning, sensing something momentous approaching. It wasn't just Gerri's visit that had him on edge—it was what she represented for his future.

"She promised you something, didn't she?" Olivia's voice softened, her intuition as sharp as ever. "What was it, Zev?"

The words stuck in his throat. Admitting it made it real. "She says she's located my mate."

The silence that followed felt electric. Ewan's expression shifted from surprise to understanding.

"Well, shit." Ewan clapped him on the shoulder. "No wonder you're wound tighter than a spring."

Olivia's delighted laughter danced on the sea breeze. "The mighty Alpha of Isle Luna, finally caught in Gerri's web like the rest of us mortals. Oh, this is delicious."

"Nothing is going to happen," Zev growled, though his racing heart betrayed him. "I have responsibilities. A pack to lead. A business to run."

Olivia smirked. "Oh, that's right. You've spent years perfecting the art of emotional unavailability."

His wolf bristled at the accusation, even as the man recognized its truth. "I'm not emotionally unavailable. I'm selective."

"Is that what we're calling it?" Ewan's grin was infuriating. "Your last date was what—a year ago? And didn't she leave after you took three business calls during dinner?"

"This conversation is over." Zev turned his attention to the horizon, where the distant thrum of helicopter blades had just become audible. "Gerri will be here any minute, and I need you both focused."

But while his words dismissed their teasing, Zev couldn't dismiss the sudden churning in his gut. His instincts prickled with awareness, his wolf pacing anxiously under his skin. Gerri had found his mate—his perfect match. The one woman in the universe designed specifically for him.

Gerri told him last night on the phone that she was coming here today to discuss the specifics with him. He didn't know what those details entailed, but probably something about when he'd be willing to meet his mate in the future.

As the sound of the helicopter's engines grew closer, something deep within Zev told him his world was about to tilt on its axis in ways he couldn't begin to imagine. The man in him wasn't too sure if he was ready for it.

Zev straightened his white linen shirt, watching with keen eyes as the sleek black helicopter made its approach. His wolf senses picked up details no human could—the pitch of the engines, the subtle shifts in wind direction, and the precise angle of descent.

"Showtime," Ewan muttered beside him, his navy resort polo rippling in the downdraft as the helicopter touched down with featherlight precision.

Zev maintained his commanding posture, his jaw set and his shoulders squared as the rotors slowed.

This was his territory. His domain. He'd welcome Gerri with the respect she deserved, hear her out about this supposed mate she'd found, then gently explain why his pack responsibilities took precedence over romance.

The door slid open, and Gerri Wilder emerged into the brilliant Caribbean sunshine.

At four-foot-eleven, she nonetheless commanded attention in her designer lavender pantsuit, her white bob perfectly styled despite the helicopter journey.

Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief as she breathed in the tropical air.

"Zev, dear," she called over the dying engine noise. "Paradise suits you as always."

He nodded politely, preparing the practiced welcome speech he'd rehearsed that morning. Then the air shifted unexpectedly.

A second figure appeared in the helicopter doorway, and Zev's entire world stopped spinning.

She stepped onto the helipad with cautious grace—a vision in white, her sundress flowing around curves that made his mouth go dry.

The sunlight caught in her long dark brown hair, creating a halo effect that made her appear almost ethereal.

The dress hugged her body with tantalizing perfection, revealing just enough cleavage to make his wolf howl silently.

Her face was a study in beauty and vulnerability, her eyes wide as she took in the panoramic view of his island.

His island. His territory.

His mate.

The recognition slammed into him with physical force.

His wolf, normally a constant presence beneath his skin, suddenly went utterly still.

The roaring in his ears drowned out everything but the sight of her.

Every sense locked onto her—her jasmine scent cutting through the salt air like a beacon, the sound of her quickened heartbeat, and the way her fingers trembled slightly as she brushed her hair from her face.

She's mine.

The certainty of it buckled his knees. The world tilted sideways as every instinct he possessed realigned to a new center of gravity—her.

"Whoa, easy there, boss." Ewan's strong hand gripped his bicep, steadying him with military precision. "Deep breaths."

Olivia made a small, delighted sound beside them. "Oh my god, it's actually happening. Right now."

Zev couldn't form words. His entire being focused on the woman standing beside Gerri, trying to look composed despite her obvious disorientation.

She was taking in the endless blue sea, the lush island vegetation, and finally—him.

Their eyes met across the helipad, and the connection that sparked between them was almost visible in its intensity.

"Well," Gerri's self-satisfied voice floated through his consciousness, her eyes turning that telltale golden color that signaled her matchmaking powers were in full effect. "I believe my work here is already half done."