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The message is short, but it sends a chill down my spine: "YOU CAN’T HIDE FOREVER"
I feel the blood drain from my face as the reality of the situation hits me. This isn't just some harmless prank. Someone is really out to get me.
"Zoe!" Marcus's voice cuts through my panic. He's by my side in an instant, his hand on my arm. "What is it? What's wrong?"
Wordlessly, I hand him the note. His expression darkens as he reads it, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "This changes things," he says, his voice tight with anger and concern. "I'm staying with you tonight."
I blink, taken aback by his sudden declaration. "What? No, that's not necessary. I can take care of myself."
Marcus shakes his head, his expression brooking no argument. "This isn't up for debate, Zoe. Whoever's behind this is escalating, and they're getting bold. I'm not leaving you alone."
I open my mouth to protest, but the words die on my lips as I see the genuine concern in his eyes. Despite my usual fierce independence, I find myself nodding. "Okay," I say softly, surprised by how relieved I feel at the prospect of not being alone.
Marcus's shoulders relax slightly, and he gives me a small, reassuring smile. "Good. I actually have an overnight bag in my truck, just in case something like this happened."
I can't help but chuckle, despite the seriousness of the situation. "Always prepared, huh?"
He shrugs. "It's the military training. Never hurts to be ready for anything."
As we head back into the salon to gather my things, I find myself stealing glances at Marcus. The events of the day swirl in my mind—the kiss, the rejection, and now this new threat. It's all so confusing, and having him stay the night is only going to complicate things further.
Chapter 6
Zoe
The drive back to my apartment is silent. Marcus's presence beside me is both comforting and unsettling, a constant reminder of the danger I'm in and the confusing emotions swirling between us.
As we step into my small apartment, I can feel Marcus's eyes scanning every corner, his body tense and alert.
I clench my jaw, irritation bubbling up inside me. This whole situation is ridiculous. I'm used to handling things on my own, not being babysat by some overprotective wolf shifter – no matter how annoyingly attractive he is. The fact that Marcus rejected my kiss earlier only adds fuel to my frustration. Who does he think he is, anyway? Making me feel all these conflicting emotions and then shutting me down.
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, noting how his presence fills my tiny living room. It's infuriating how safe I feel with him here, how my body instinctively relaxes despite my mind's objections. I'm not some damsel in distress. I've taken care of myself for years, and now I'm forced to rely on someone else?
"You know," I say, unable to keep the edge out of my voice, "I've managed to survive here on my own for quite a while without a big, bad wolf watching my every move."
Marcus turns to me, his expression serious. "This isn't a joke, Zoe. Someone is targeting you specifically."
I roll my eyes, heading to the kitchen. "Yeah, well, excuse me if I don't feel like cowering in fear. I'm hungry." I yank open the freezer, pulling out a frozen pizza. "Hope you like supreme. It's all I've got."
I half expect him to lecture me about the nutritional value of frozen pizza or insist on cooking something himself. But to my surprise, he just nods. "Supreme is fine. Thank you."
As I prep the pizza, I can feel Marcus's eyes on me. It's unnerving, how intensely he watches, like he's cataloging my every move. The kiss we shared earlier flashes through my mind, and I feel a flush creeping up my neck. Damn it. I'm supposed to be annoyed with him, not... whatever this is.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound is the crunch of crust and the occasional sigh. Finally, I can't take it anymore.
"Look," I say, setting down my slice. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. It's just... this whole situation is frustrating. I hate feeling helpless, like I can't even live my own life without someone babysitting me."
Marcus's expression softens slightly. "I understand," he says, his voice low. "But you're not helpless, Zoe. You're strong. We're just trying to make sure you stay safe while we figure out who's behind this."
I nod, feeling some of the tension drain from my shoulders. "I know. It's just... hard. I'm not used to relying on anyone else."
"You don't have to do everything alone," Marcus says, reaching out to touch my hand briefly. The contact sends a jolt through me, and I pull away, confused by my own reaction.
"Yeah, well," I mutter, grabbing another slice of pizza. "Old habits die hard, I guess."
After dinner, I curl up in a plush armchair with my book, but my eyes keep drifting to Marcus. He's settled on the couch, his laptop perched on the coffee table as he works. I try to be discreet, stealing glances over the top of my novel. He looks so big, so masculine hunched over his computer. The way his muscles flex as he types is mesmerizing. I catch myself wondering what those strong hands would feel like on my skin and quickly shake the thought away.
An hour and a half passes in comfortable silence before Marcus's phone rings. He answers with a gruff, "Yeah?"
