Chapter 19

OLIVE

We step out of Danny’s café, to-go coffees in hand. Danny had generously given us a large thermal flask of coffee and a mountain of cake, all in a bid to win over Zeke.

“So, what’s the game plan?” I ask, curiosity piqued.

“Well, first off, we’re heading up there,” he says, pointing to the peak of one of the nearby mountains.

“And the rest, darling, is a surprise,” he adds, pulling me closer so his arm is draped over my shoulders. Zeke plants a soft kiss on my temple.

I can’t help but smile. I had been worried that he would plan something extravagant and flashy, like whisking me away to some fancy restaurant and booking out the entire place, just like in the movies.

But that’s not me. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with that.

I hope Zeke understands this about me. I’m a simple girl who is easily pleased. I don’t need material things. All I need is someone’s time, Zeke’s time.

We’ve been hiking for about two hours now. The sun is beginning to set and my curiosity about Zeke’s surprise is growing.

We’re nearing the mountain’s peak. We’ve encountered a few wild bears along the way, but they know better than to approach us.

One whiff of us and they turn tail. We must smell like danger to them.

As we emerge from the tree line, I spot jars with lit candles inside, forming a path leading to a pickup truck. The truck bed is turned away from us, facing the view.

Off to the right, nestled closer to the tree line, is a log cabin.

“Wow! Are we staying here tonight?” I ask Zeke, hope in my eyes.

He looks down at me, his grin wide and his teeth gleaming white.

“Do you like it? Wait! Don’t answer that yet, I haven’t shown you the best part!” he says, grabbing my hands and leading me towards the pickup truck.

As we round the truck, I gasp, tears welling up in my eyes. The truck bed is filled with pillows and blankets. A small table sits amidst the pillows.

The table is laden with sweets and snacks. A large tablet sits in the center of the table, with ~Joker~ ready to play. It may not be a romantic movie, but it’s so me!

I stand there, speechless.

“Oh no…you don’t like it. It’s okay. I can change it!” Zeke says, uncertainty creeping into his voice.

“No, no! Don’t you dare touch anything! This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me!” I exclaim, tears of joy threatening to spill over. “I love it.”

Ezekiel breathes a sigh of relief. He offers me his hand and says, “Me lady.” He helps me climb onto the truck. His touch sends sparks down my arm.

As Ezekiel climbs in, I take in the landscape, the vibrant hues of the sky. They’re the most vivid I’ve ever seen from up here.

I can see the pack towns far below us. It’s a breathtaking sight.

I rest my head on Zeke’s chest as we snuggle under the duvet and start watching the movie.

Sometime later, the movie ends. The sky is now pitch black. Stars are scattered across the sky; there are no man-made lights up here.

I’ve never seen so many stars in my life. I’ll never forget this evening. It’s perfect in every way.

I’m still nestled in Ezekiel’s strong arms, my head against his warm, hard chest. He’s gently stroking my hair as we quietly gaze at the stars.

“I want to know everything about you,” he says.

Smiling, I reply, “You already do.”

“That’s not true. I want to know why you chose to study pack law and politics. What drove you to choose this major?” he asks.

“I want to make a difference for people like me, people who are different. I want them to feel like they belong. I want to bring about changes in packs so that people can’t discriminate against hybrids.

“We need to educate wolves that it’s okay to be different. I know there will always be some degree of bullying, but if I can change even one person’s life, I’ll be happy,” I say, speaking from the heart.

“You really are amazing. Do you know that?” he says, pulling me closer. “Now it’s your turn to ask a question.”

Honestly, there’s only one question I want to ask, but I don’t want to spoil the moment. I don’t want this warm, special moment to turn cold and distant.

“It’s okay. I know what you want to ask,” he says.

I raise an eyebrow at him.

“As long as you promise not to run away, I’m ready.”

“I promise I won’t run. Are you sure?”

He nods.

“Okay. What happened the night your father died?”

I can feel his heart rate quicken. He’s nervous. I rub my hand soothingly over his chest and say, “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

He takes a deep, shaky breath before beginning.

“There was a traitor among the royal advisors. The traitor…he poisoned my mother. She died before we could even get her to the pack doctor.

“He gave her a lethal dose of wolfsbane. It was enough to take down three wolves, let alone my mother.

“My father was devastated, as you can imagine. He was consumed by grief for his mate. You see, before I was born, my father had negative views about hybrids.

Ezekiel continues, “It was only when his beta, Dinah’s dad, met his witch mate and had Dinah that he began to understand that hybrids weren’t something to be feared or looked down upon.

“He loved Dinah as if she was his own.

“But…when my mother died, grief consumed him, rage consumed him. We slowly lost him, piece by piece, until there was nothing left of my father.

“He’d lost all sense of humanity. He was more beast than man.”

Zeke’s face tightens. “In his grief and anger, he started to see hybrids as monsters again.”

He takes a moment before continuing, “One night, he turned on Dinah. He wanted her dead. He couldn’t see his daughter anymore. All he saw was a threat.

“His beta mind-linked me, scared out of his mind. He wasn’t strong enough to stop him. He’d shifted and attacked Dinah, catching her completely off guard.

“When I got there, he was holding her by the back of her neck, shaking her like a rag doll. Dinah’s parents had tried everything to get him to let her go, but nothing worked.

“I was the only one strong enough to stop him. I stood there, frozen. It felt like an impossible choice.

“Let him kill my best friend, or kill my father, the man I admired and loved with all my heart.”

Zeke lets out a heavy sigh. “Dinah’s parents were screaming, begging me to help her. I tried to reason with my father at first. I wanted another way out.

“Dinah was crying out, too weak from the attack to defend herself.”

I sit quietly, listening to his horrifying story.

“His wolf was growling, biting down harder. He wanted her to suffer. I shifted and bit down on his neck, pulling him away from Dinah.

“He turned on me and we fought. This gave Dinah’s parents a chance to grab her. But he wasn’t done with her.

“He kept blocking their way, snapping at Dinah, wanting to continue his attack.

“He lunged for her, and I saw my chance. I went low, grabbing him by his throat. I bit down hard. I could taste his blood in my mouth.

“The look in his eyes, filled with betrayal, being taken down by his own son… I bit down harder until I heard his neck snap.”

Ezekiel’s jaw clenches as if he’s reliving the memory.

“I watched the life fade from my father’s eyes until there was nothing left, and he was gone.” I can feel the tension in his body.

I can’t believe what I’ve just heard, my poor mate. My heart aches for him. The pain he must carry every day, yet he still stands strong for his people.

I’m in awe of his strength, not just as a person but as a friend and a king. I wonder if I could be strong enough to kill someone I love. I’m not sure I could. I think it would break me.

I start to sit up to look at him when his arms tighten around me.

“Please…you promised you wouldn’t leave.” His voice cracks with vulnerability.

I swing my leg over his lap, straddling him. I cup his face in my hands and make him look at me.

“I’m not going anywhere. Ever. I am yours, and you’re mine. You are not a monster, Zeke, far from it.

“You’re the kindest, sweetest, and most thoughtful man I have ever met. I know you wouldn’t have done it if there was another way to save him.”

I lean down, gently kissing his forehead.

I feel some of the tension leave his body as my lips touch his skin.

“I do have one more question. Why are there so many rumors that you killed your father for the throne?

“Every pack I’ve visited, it’s always the same story… We need to tell them you aren’t what they think you are!”

“No,” he says flatly.

“No? I don’t understand.”

“I spread those rumors, Olive. I started them.”

“But…why?” I ask, confused.

“Because I wanted to protect my father’s memory, his honor; I didn’t want him to be remembered as the mad king who tried to kill everyone.

“I wanted him to be remembered as he was: strong, fair, and kind. I hate myself for what I did to him. I wanted everyone to see me as the monster that I am.”

“You aren’t a monster; you couldn’t be further from a monster. You are incredible, you are brave, and you are the most caring person I’ve met,” I say, looking at my mate in awe.

“I was so, so wrong about you.”

Ezekiel raises an eyebrow at me. “Oh?”

“Yeah…” I sigh. “I kind of thought you planned on forcing me into your army and making me some kind of killing machine.”

I grimace. “I sound crazy now, I know. I’m sorry I judged you…but this judgment was based on the rumors ~you~ spread about ~yourself~,” I say, nudging him playfully.

He laughs and pulls me in, showering me with small kisses.

“Thank you for not running away. Thank you for being mine.”

“Always,” I say, smiling.

We lie cuddling for a while in silence before Ezekiel starts to move. “I think I should start warming up the cabin for bed,” he says, getting up.

“Wait here. I’ll be back to get you when it’s ready.” He smiles before jogging toward the cabin.

I sit up and take in the beautiful view. Just a few minutes later I hear movement behind me. I turn and see Ezekiel walking back over.

“That was quick! Is it all ready?” I smile.

He keeps walking toward me, climbing onto the truck bed without a word.

“Errr…okay… What are you doing?” I ask.

~Why is he acting so strange?~

Slowly he crawls on top of me, straddling me and pinning me with his weight.

“Ezekiel, what’s going on? You’re freaking me out a little.”

~Something’s not right. Why isn’t he talking? Why is he being so~ weird~!~

He raises his hands to my face and strokes my cheek.

~There are no sparks... This isn’t my mate.~

I open my mouth to alert my mate, but my mind goes blank. Everything starts to feel fuzzy.

I glance back at the stranger. He’s smirking down at me, a wicked glint in his eyes. His teeth, sharp and needle-like, shimmer under the moonlight, resembling miniature blades.