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“No,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. “Just me.” He has no idea how that question sends shards of glass through my heart.
You could tell him why. No, I can’t.
That would mean I’d have to tell him what happened, and I can’t even tell my own reflection what happened.
“So, Aria, what do you like to do in your free time?” Zane asks, his gaze fixed on the competitors, but his attention is clearly on me.
“I enjoy reading,” I reply, keeping my tone casual. “Mostly fantasy and adventure novels. They help me escape.”
He nods thoughtfully. “Any favorites?”
“The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas,” I say without hesitation. “I love the strong female characters and the intricate world building.”
Zane’s lips twitch in a half smile. “Sounds like a good read. What about your hopes for the future? Any big dreams or plans?”
I hesitate, trying to think of a safe answer. “I guess I just want to find a place where I belong. A place that feels like home.”
He studies me for a moment, searching my eyes. “That’s a good goal. We all want to belong somewhere.”
I nod, feeling a pang of sadness. “Yeah, we do.”
“What about your pack?” he asks suddenly, his tone casual. “You’ve mentioned a few names, but I don’t know much about them.”
I frown before turning to face him fully.
What is he getting at here?
I hesitate, my heart pounding. “I don’t have a pack, Zane. You know this.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s right.” Zane nods slowly, but there’s a tightness to his jaw, as though he doesn’t believe me and he’s setting me up. “And Logan? What’s his deal?”
I freeze, my mind racing. “Logan? He’s, um, new to your security business, right? We haven’t met yet.”
Zane’s eyes narrow slightly, and I feel his suspicion growing. “He seemed pretty interested in you last night.”
What would Cayenne say?
I force a laugh, trying to deflect. “Well, I am pretty interesting.”
Zane doesn’t smile. “You are,” he agrees, his voice low, “but there’s something you’re not telling me, isn’t there?”
I stare at him, my heart in my throat. “What do you mean?”
Is that what all of this was about? He’s fishing for something. This isn’t even a date. What a dick. Fine, he’s getting feral answers.
He leans closer, his eyes burning into mine. “I can sense you’re hiding something, Aria,” Zane says, his voice a mix of frustration and concern. “I want to trust you, but as pack protector, I can’t ignore my instincts. Help me understand.”
The air between us crackles with tension, and I look away, my mind racing. He’s right—I am hiding the fact that I can take his knot. I hope it isn’t bigger than his ego.
I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. Zane’s intensity is both thrilling and unnerving. He’s reading me like an open book, seeing through my carefully constructed walls.
He’s being an asshole, and from the smirk on his face, he knows it, so I lean in and whisper in his ear. “The only thing I’m hiding is the fact that one time, at band camp…” I say, but it just isn’t obnoxious enough. “I ate apple pie.”
“Apple pie.” He shakes his head, looking to the front of the room again, but I watch him.
“Yep,” I reply, and then, because Aunt Sara told me if I ever feel uncomfortable with a man—alpha, beta, or omega—I should bark at him, I channel my inner Chihuahua and let out a series of sharp, ridiculous barks that would make any self-respecting dog cringe. It’s obnoxious, it’s absurd, and it’s absolutely perfect.
I might as well throw a growl or two in there, so I listen to my inner diva and growl.
