Chapter 4

ZAX

The moment I found out someone was following Red since I went to that restaurant two days ago, I was on edge all the time.

“Are they humans?” I seethed in righteous anger. I hadn’t run to release the frustration inside me, and my wolf was agitated about protecting his mate.

“No, sir.” Gillean swallowed hard. “But they smell like humans.”

“Tell Axl and Ivo not to kill them yet. I want information. I want to know the reason, and if no one talks, they know what to do.”

Overhead, I instantly heard the chopper approaching with Red in it. Simultaneously, the printer ran at the corner.

Gillean went to grab the printed images of the men who tried to abduct Red. I still had no clue what they wanted with the human because at this moment, Red had no association with me, no connection with me, or whatsoever. So, I wasn’t the reason for her failed abduction.

And yes, I made a lot of enemies over the years. Werewolves like us kept grudges. That made us dangerous and violent. We were vengeful in nature, so yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone wanted to harm Red once the news of our mating was out in the open.

That was also the reason why I was not fully on board with having a human mate, but I’d waited long enough to break the curse, and I’d suffered enough that I couldn’t wait to end it.

I took the pictures Gillean gave me, making me growl. And it was becoming harder and harder to keep my anger in check.

“Sons of bitches.” What was more concerning was the next picture I saw, which had my jaw clenched tight.

“Sir, calm down. You don’t wanna terrify Ms. Klein more than she already is.”

I wanted to scream at him for telling me what to do, but he was right. My vengeance could wait. So, I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes closed.

“Go and bring Red here.” I opened my eyes and picked up the images of the unconscious men lying inside the van. The two looked younger, maybe in their late twenties, while the other one was in his thirties.

Red hadn’t entered my office, but her scent was already in the air.

My heart began to race harder in my chest in excitement to see her. At the same time, I didn’t know how to start the conversation with a human without scaring her or telling her that her life was in danger. And she had no idea who I was or why she was here.

As the double doors swung open, I inhaled her scent into my lungs. I watched her for seconds as she walked in, looking so innocent, frail, and small. I felt like I could break her arm with a little grip, but deep inside, I knew she had fire in her. She was stronger than she looked because she was made for me.

The doors shut after her, and I let go of a shuddering breath.

She turned to face me, her blue eyes instantly widening in recognition. Confusion flashed all over her face, and I sensed anger and fear in the air.

“You?” That was her first word. “Mr. Zax Skoll.”

“Yes. Come. Take a seat.” I was even surprised I managed to pull myself together and stay calm.

“No. I want to know why I am here, Mr. Skoll,” she said firmly. Defiance set in her jaw and her narrowed eyes. “The sooner you tell me, the better, because I need to get back to the city.”

If I were the Zaxton she met two decades ago, I wouldn’t have been so considerate and merciful. I would have taken her that night, tied her to my bed if she tried to escape, and then I fucked her to my pleasure, and claimed her to get the job done.

But since a human saved me years ago, I promised myself not to hurt their kind as long as they wouldn’t hurt the people I cared about.

“Then sit down, and I’ll explain.”

“I’d rather stand.” Her stubbornness would be admirable, but I hated defiance.

“Okay.” I picked up the photo and slid it forward. “I heard what happened at the alley.”

She frowned and stepped forward with hesitation. As soon as she recognized the picture, she picked it up with a shaky hand, stared at it, and stared back at me.

“What the hell is this?”

“You tell me.”

“I honestly don’t have a clue.” She looked back at the image. “It’s my picture from my high school yearbook.” I believed her. She looked genuinely shocked and scared.

“My man found it inside the pocket of one of the men from the white van. I believe they were there for you.”

“I don’t believe you. For all I know, you set that up to make it look like someone wanted to what?” She snorted and put it back on the desk. “Abduct me.”

For a little human, she is feisty.

I would have thought the same thing. I liked that she was careful, but not too careful that she left her window unlocked.

“You were being followed for two days, and you have no clue.”

“You’re lying.” Her eyes narrowed into slits. “If I’m here because of your generous tip. You can have it back.” She began to open her bag.

“You’re in danger, Red.”

She stopped, shaking her head. “If this is the reason why I’m here. You’ve lost your damn mind. I don’t have enemies. Why would someone want to kidnap me? I’m a nobody.” Yet. She looked around. “But you? You clearly have money and probably a few enemies, but we have no connection. I didn’t even know you five minutes ago. So, if you don’t want your money back, then I’m leaving.”

“Stay here for the night.”

She snorted as she stepped back, ready to bolt out. “In your gothic house? No thanks. I’ll call an Uber.”

“There’s no Uber around here.”

“Then tell your guy to send me back to the city.” Her frustration was growing.

I admired that she wasn’t falling for my excuse, my money, and my gothic house, as she called it. I loved the fact that she was skeptical about all of this, but there could be a reason for it. I hadn’t read the full report, but I’d find out sooner.

“The least that I could do for dragging you into this is stay and let me be your host.”

She stared at me, really stared at me. Skepticism was growing in her eyes, and so was anger, but she was also curious.

I still didn’t get it. Why was she not affected by the mating pull while I was barely hanging on a thread? What was so special about her?

“I found an invitation at my door this morning while your men were waiting down at my apartment building, and they happened to be in the alley when the white van crashed into the wall. And you said I was being followed two days ago. How do you explain that to me? Have you ordered your men to follow me?” She stalked forward. “Why? What do you want with me, Mr. Skoll?”

She was asking the right questions with the answers I wasn’t ready to give.