Chapter 36\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Theo\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shot up, pacing around my office restlessly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like the seats were biting me hard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
E 55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed around his chest, watching me pace like a caged wolf.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t get it,\u201d I muttered, running a hand through my hair. \u201cShe walks away like\u2026 like I\u2019m not even here\u2026. Its like she\u2019s mad at me and she won\u2019t talk to me\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane raised a brow. \u201cKaia?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped pacing and glared at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course Kaia. She feels she\u2019s not supposed to be here. She calls herself a stray, damn it. A stranger.\u201d I said, my chest rising with a suffocating lump. \u201cYet I can\u2019t\u2026 I can\u2019t stop thinking about her. I shouldn\u2019t, and the pack doesn\u2019t care about her the way I do. And now\u2026 the Luna thing-Elara\u2026 Cara pushing it\u2026 It\u2019s all too much.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane\u2019s expression softened. \u201cShe didn\u2019t ask for any of this. And neither did you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a short, bitter laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither did I. I thought I was in control. But now\u2026\u201d I sighed softly.\u201d But now I feel like I\u2019m losing everything. My decisions, my pack, her. I can\u2019t even protect her properly, and she doesn\u2019t know that. She thinks she\u2019s protecting me by staying away. But it\u2019s killing me that she thinks I don\u2019t care.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane stepped closer. \u201cAnd you don\u2019t? Care, I mean.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head sharply. \u201cOf course I care. But the Council, my father, my stepmother, Elara their eyes on me. And now\u2026 Kaia? She\u2019s just\u2026 too dangerous to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane frowned, gawking at me as if he was trying to peek into my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n
everyone has\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDangerous? Or\u2026 important?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped pacing and slammed my palm against the table,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth!\u201d I growled. \u201cI don\u2019t know how to handle this without destroying everything. And the worst part? She\u2019s\u2026 she\u2019s not at fault in any of this. And now, she\u2019s right in the middle of all of it, and I can\u2019t\u201d I feel my chest feeling stuffy, \u201cI don\u2019t know how to fix things.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane gave me a long look, patient, like he always did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen maybe you don\u2019t have to fix it. Maybe you just\u2026 be there. Watch her. Let her see you\u2019re on her side without pushing. You\u2019ll figure the rest out later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard. The truth in his words cut me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 36\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
#55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
And yet, I couldn\u2019t stop the tightening in my chest every time I imagined Kaia, walking away, keeping her distance from me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I muttered under my breath, more to myself than Zane, \u201cShe doesn\u2019t know it yet\u2026 but I\u2019ll make sure she doesn\u2019t regret trusting me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane just nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No judgment. No advice beyond that. And for some reason, that was exactly what I needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara won\u2019t stop until she gets what she wants,\u201d I muttered after a while.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane\u2019s eyes narrowed, calm but piercing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what about you?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d I looked at him, confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you really want, Theo?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was taken aback by his question.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot just what the council expects from you or what your father and Cara want.\u201d Zane repeated, this time more carefully. \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
What do I want? I never really gave it a thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then for a minute,I let my mind drift away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a bitter laugh, pacing again. \u201cI\u2026 I don\u2019t know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Truth. Honest, unfiltered truth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane didn\u2019t flinch. \u201cYou don\u2019t know?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know what I don\u2019t want,\u201d I admitted, my voice steady. \u201cElara. She\u2019s\u2026 she\u2019s not the one. She can\u2019t be my Luna. And Cara is pushing her to become Luna? The Council\u2019s nodding along? I can\u2019t let that happen. Not for the pack, not for me\u2026 and definitely not for her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane tilted his head, waiting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yet,\u201d I muttered, more to myself than him, \u201cI don\u2019t even know what I do want. Only that it isn\u2019t that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane let that hang in the air, knowing better than to push.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll figure it out,\u201d he finally said. \u201cYou always do. Just\u2026 don\u2019t lose sight of the truth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at the floor, my jaw tight and heart hammering in my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Truth. Right now, the only truth I could cling to was that I would not let Elara be Luna. Not after everything she did. I can\u2019t let her get away with what she did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 36\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo,\u201d Zane called out. \u201cWhat do you think of Kaia?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised my head looking at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia?\u201d I muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Kaia\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane stepped directly in front of me, forcing me to stop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Zane stopped in front of me,my chest rose and fell too fast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t get a grasp on my emotions. I don\u2019t know what to think.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane says. \u201cEnough running in circles.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t speak, only clenching my jaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re distracted. Restless. Snapping at everyone. So I\u2019m going to ask you once more.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took a step closer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want, Theo?\u201d Zane asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat clung. \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane shook his head. \u201cThat\u2019s a lie. You know. You just don\u2019t want to admit it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then Zane says. \u201cThen let me make it simple.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His gaze sharpened glaring at me intently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And he stepped closer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you in love with her or not? Just answer me.\u201d Zane said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
E55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
My breath caught unintentionally. I\u2019d hope Zane didn\u2019t notice but knowing him? It wouldn\u2019t escape his\u00a0<\/p>\n
attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn love?\u201d I asked, \u201cWith who?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know who I\u2019m talking about,Theo\u201d Zane sighed frustratedly. \u201cDon\u2019t try to outsmart me. Are you in love\u00a0<\/p>\n
with Kaia?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to speak but I couldn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In love? With Kaia?\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, that can\u2019t be.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 36\u00a0<\/p>\n
I finally managed to say with my voice strangled. \u201cNo. I can\u2019t be.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane didn\u2019t blink. \u201cThat\u2019s not what I asked.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked away, my fists curling at his sides.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Afraid,looking at Zane would expose something I didn\u2019t know was brewing in my head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen stop lying to yourself.\u201d Zane quietly urged. \u201cBecause one day, she\u2019ll stop waiting for you to figure it\u00a0<\/p>\n
out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I feel my wolf, Stash surged to the surface at Zane\u2019s words; a sharp, desperate growl I couldn\u2019t control.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSee? Even Stash agrees with me,Theo\u201d. Zane smiled in my face.\u201d Stop lying to yourself now or you\u2019ll only end up regretting it\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cZane, stop making up things in your head\u201d I scolded. \u201cYou\u2019re a beta not a matchmaker\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked away saying this. But Zane\u2019s words stuck to my head like a stubborn fly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Could I really be in love with Kaia?\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s bullshit. I\u2019m only worried about her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That\u2019s all there is to my feelings for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia is someone I need to protect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love her, don\u2019t we,Theo?\u201d Stash asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course not! We don\u2019t love her. She\u2019s not ours\u201d I growled, trying to push him back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are a liar. Theo\u201d Stash sucked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stash doesn\u2019t like people much but he can\u2019t stop talking about Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s wrong with everyone?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stash and Zane have both lost their damn minds!\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, Kaia is\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:27 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 36 Chapter 36\u00a0 \u2013Theo\u2013\u00a0 I shot up, pacing around my office restlessly.\u00a0 Like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27281"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27281\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}