An Enemy Called Mate

ZIVA

I stayed in the bushes, hiding from any angry-looking wolves that might attack me.

Strangely, I wanted to survive. Perhaps that should be because I wished for my mother’s release from that cold cell. I don’t know how long I hid in the bushes, but I’m certain it took a long time.

Crunch!

Crunch!

The crunching of footsteps echoed in my ear, and my ear rang at the sound of different voices.

Voices… People!

If people are here, I’ll be able to reach the Alpha’s mansion safely. There are no growling sounds either, so this place should be safe.

Cautiously, I reached out my hand and moved a branch aside, peering through the gap to see what was happening.

Luckily, there were no wolves in sight. Everyone was human, and they all seemed to be normal. I decided to come out of the bushes!

As I tried to come out, I found myself caught in the branches. I pushed and shoved, but the leaves and sticks kept hitting my face, blocking my path.

For a minute, it felt like the bushes were conspiring to keep me trapped, stopping me from moving forward.

Then, I gathered all my strength and jumped forward, breaking free from the clutching vines and leaves. I moved out of the bushes, panting heavily.

Almost stumbling, I regained my stamina and stood upright, only to spot a man with golden hair standing next to Alpha Xander who was… NAKED!

“AH!” I blurt out a continuous scream, as I continued to stare at him. I could not take my eyes off him.

Lol, who in their right mind would avert their gaze away from that well-built body?

He had a broad back, and his muscles were visible. I could feel the urge to approach him and squeeze his muscles like a softball.

With my loud, uncontrollable, continuous scream, the man with golden hair and Alpha Xander turned around, facing me.

“Ah!” I screamed again since he was facing me this time. Now, I could analyze his dark hair properly. But this time, his hair was not slicked back or tousled. Instead, it fell just above his shoulders, with the front hanging in his face and the back being messy.

Then, my gaze slid down, but thankfully, he wrapped a black blanket around himself before I could see anything.

“Lady Ziva, you’re here!” The man with golden hair exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

I felt a bit taken aback that he knew my name. “Hi,” I replied, mustering a nervous smile.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Incrociaami nella mia ufficio.” I heard Alpha Xander say as he walked away without turning around, just like Alpha Darwin did.

“What is wrong with him?” I muttered under my breath, not daring to say it out loud.

“Alright, Alpha!” The man with golden hair replied, and I approached him quickly.

He seemed to be close to the Alpha with the way they spoke and he might know the way back to the Alpha mansion.

“Hi, you are…” I uttered, breaking the silence between us.

“I’m Lance, Alpha Xander’s Beta,” he replied in a soft tone.

No wonder he sounded so close to Alpha Xander.

“Great, I guess you are walking back to the mansion,” I spoke quickly.

“Yes, I am. But are you alright? I mean… After you hid in the bushes,” Lance asked, with concern filled in his tone. No one has ever spoken to me that way, with true concern.

“Yes, I’m perfectly fine, especially after I was miraculously saved by a dark-furred wolf,” I replied, walking as he walked by my side.

A chuckle echoed instantly. I turned to my side and Lance was chuckling.

“Why are you laughing?” I asked, with curiosity tinged in my voice.

“Haha, didn’t you realize that Alpha Xander was the dark-furred wolf?” Lance replied, causing my eyes to widen in shock.

Does that mean that ruthless Alpha Xander was trying to protect me from those angry-looking wolves?!

Gasp!

XANDER

[I am not to blame. You were the one who looked so dazzling and hot, whatever it was. Don’t blame me now and then – it annoys me too.]

I find it a bit funny… I mean annoying with whatever Ziva said. How dare she call me hot and dazzling after walking slowly!

Fortunately, the welcoming ceremony ended well without Ziva doing anything disastrous.

“I wish you a happy married life together,” the sorceress spoke, sprinkling some glittering sand on me and Ziva.

However, Ziva seemed to be frustrated and annoyed whenever it hit her. It’s just a welcoming ceremony anyway.

Then, the sorceress assistant ushered Ziva out of the room, while I was alone with the sorceress.

The sorceress turned to me after Ziva left, “You seem disturbed. Is there anything wrong?”

“I wanted to speak with you,” I replied, “Is it possible for someone else to make me feel pain? Like the person was inflicting pain on me.”

A puzzled look crossed the sorceress’s face.

“That is not possible, except the person is a master in sorcery.”

“Can Ziva be a master in sorcery?” I asked inwardly. My wolf who seemed to be active after I had eaten replied, “Possibly.”

“Perhaps you feel pain because there’s something about that person that reminds you of past pain,” the sorceress suggested. “The pain seems to be triggered by this person, even if they’re not causing the pain directly.”

Just then, I recalled how Ziva tugged me closer while she was lying on the bed. I was gazing at her hazel eyes, maybe that reminded me of past pain.

“I should get going now.” the sorceress spoke, and I nodded in response. “Sure.”

After the conversation I had with the sorceress, I realized that the Ziva girl wasn’t the one who caused the pain I felt. She was just what made me recall the pain.

Just then, I perceived a rogue scent from my office. Without wasting time, I mind-linked Lance and rushed to the source of the rogue’s scent.

Surprisingly, they were around that little Ziva girl and they tried to attack her. I transformed into my wolf self quickly, letting Maz take control as I saved Ziva.

Also, the rogues were a piece of cake. I handled them swiftly, and my men locked them up in the cell.