Chapter 169

I lunged for Zoe, a growl ripping from my throat.

“Holy shit. Holy shit,” someone was saying over and over. It sounded like Fiona, but I could barely register it. I was too far gone.

I was going to tear Zoe to pieces. The rage was so strong, a red film fell over my eyes. She’d held me captive, watched me get tortured. She was working for the enemy, and I was going to kill her.

Before I could reach her, a wolf barreled into me, knocking me to the floor. Zoe took a few rapid steps back as the wolf towered over me. It was large and black. It nuzzled me, and when I glanced at Zoe, it growled low. Then it nuzzled me again. It took a moment for me to register its scent through the anger, but the moment it did, my rage seeped away.

Matt lay down beside me, his eyes on Zoe. His gaze promised death if she came any closer. Instead, she held up her hands, looking weary. I’d never seen Matt in his wolf form, but he was one of the biggest wolves I’d ever seen.

“Someone get them some clothes,” Nina said with a sigh.

Jenna and Seth jumped up and left the room. The remains of what we were wearing lay scattered across the hardwood.

“Woah,” Fiona breathed.

“We don’t have time for this,” Zoe said, eyeing me wearily. “I’m on your side.”

I growled.

“She is,” Nina said, giving me a pleading look. “I know you don’t understand, but please listen. Zoe’s working for us. She has been this whole time.”

I knew I needed to shift if I wanted to talk to them, but I wasn’t keen on getting naked in front of everyone. Luckily, Seth and Jenna reappeared with clothes a moment later and motioned for Matt and me to follow them. I got up and huffed out a hot breath, my gaze trained on Zoe.

“Please, Celeste,” Nina said.

Matt nudged my flank, and I forced myself to walk away. Seth and Jenna trailed us into the kitchen and left the clothes on the counter. The minute the door swung shut behind them, I forced the shift to come over me.

I pulled the clothes on. They smelled like Matt and were much too big for me. It had to roll the hems of the pants up a few times.

Matt shifted too and pulled out a similar outfit. It hung off him, thanks to his recent weight loss. We both looked a little ridiculous.

“We all leave clothes here,” Matt explained in a low voice.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I just got so mad.”

He put his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. It’s hard to control those emotions when you’re a new wolf. You have every reason to want to tear Zoe apart.”

“Did you know she was working with us?”

“I know who she is. I didn’t realize she was there with you.”

I nodded.

“I should tell you.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Zoe is Nina’s stepmother.”

I didn’t know what to say. I was too shocked.

“I don’t know why she was there with you,” he said. “Please believe me.”

“I believe you,” I said. We stood in silence, staring at each other. He lifted his hand to my face, and I leaned into his calloused palm. He kissed me lightly, then turned to look at the closed door with a resigned expression.

“Are you okay to go back out there? We can take a few more minutes, but they’ll eventually come looking for us.”

I smoothed down my hair and gave him a crooked grin. “I’m okay. We can go.”

He smiled and slipped his hand into mine. I let him lead me from the kitchen and didn’t comment when he angled his body to block my view of Zoe. He took me back to the table, and I sat down beside Fiona again.

She gave me a wide-eyed look, and I just shrugged. I avoided looking up at Zoe. I was worried that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to control my anger.

“Celeste, I understand that you’re angry,” Zoe said. Just the sound of her voice grated on me. Matt squeezed my hand, and I forced myself to look up at her. “I don’t blame you for that. The way they treated you was horrible.”

I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, and I tried not to shrink under their curious gazes. I didn’t want to think about the days I spent in the compound, and I really didn’t want to have to explain them to everyone.

“I tried to do what I could to help you, but I only have so much leeway with Ronan.” I tensed at the sound of his name but didn’t comment. Matt was tense beside me as well, and Zoe’s eyes flitted over to him. “I’ve been undercover with the Crescent wolves for years now. It took a long time to convince Ronan to trust me, and I couldn’t compromise that.”

“I don’t understand,” Matt said, looking at Nina. “You never said she was under cover.”

Nina frowned. “It wasn’t my place. The order came from above me.”

I glanced at Matt. “The king,” he murmured. His jaw was tight.

“I’m here to warn you,” Zoe went on. “It was a risk, but I purposely got separated from my unit. I need to get back to them.”

“I don’t understand,” I said.

Her eyes met mine. “Ronan has wolves out looking for you. You’re to be brought to him.” Her eyes flicked over to Matt. “Everyone else will be killed on sight. Although it’s a bonus if we can get Matt alive, too.”

I tensed and squeezed Matt’s hand tighter.

“They’re very angry,” she went on. “After the building collapsed…” She shook her head. “I don’t know how you did that, but it caused quite the stir. Many people died.”

I hung my head.

“Jeremy among them.”

My eyes darted back to her face. Her expression was grave. I didn’t know what to do about the stab of guilt I felt.

“Alyx didn’t take it well. None of them did. It wasn’t personal with you before, but it is now. They want you to pay for what you did. If you think they were cruel before.” She shook her head. “You don’t want to know what they’ll do to you if they get their hands on you again.”

“That’s never going to happen,” Jack snarled.

“Even so, they want vengeance.” She gave Jack a pointed look. “On you especially. They believe in an eye for an eye.”

“They’re after me,” he surmised. “Because I’m her brother.”

She nodded. Panic spiked through my chest.

“And they’ve declared outright war. Regardless of whether they get their hands on Celeste or not, war is coming to you. It’s not a maybe anymore.”

Enzo frowned. Some people at the other table looked stricken, Ted included.

“I came to warn you,” Zoe said.

I looked at Matt, my eyes wide. I knew war was likely, but this was the first time it hit me what conflict could mean. We’d have to fight. Some of us would die. Maybe it would be Matt. Maybe my brother, who had a target on his back because of me.

“Be careful,” Zoe said. “They're gunning for you guys, and they’re stronger than you think. They won’t stop until they get what they want.”