Zen's Gift
CQ 2024 entry.
Lithe smiled reassuringly and gave Estella an affectionate pat, “I’ll be in good hands, Zen won’t let anything happen to me, leave the worrying about the family journal to us. Soon I’ll retrieve the family journal and this will all just be a distant memory someday. Trust me, Estella.”
“I trust you Lithe if I’m being honest it's Zen Starke I don’t trust.”
“What do you mean?”
“What if he takes you with him to the Starke Tribe and you are never seen again,” said Estella dramatically, with a teasing expression on her face she continued, “everyone knows that the Starke was obsessed from the moment he laid eyes on you."
Not sure why Lithe felt the need to defend himself but feeling slightly flustered he said, “Estella you couldn’t be more wrong, this is just a working relationship nothing more.”
“You can lie to yourself but not to me Lithe. The Starke would not be so taken with you if he didn’t see you as a potential mate, he must have approached you with an offer by now.”
Before Lithe could stop himself he admitted, “yes. He did.”
Estella grinned, “I knew it! So when's the wedding date?”
“Don’t get too excited, it wasn’t a real proposal, he just wants me to be his fake mate.”
Estella cocked and perfectly lined brow at lithe, “he said that!”
“He wants me to pretend to be his mate, so that I can travel with him to the badlands and have the protection of his name if we encounter any trouble along the way, that’s all,” Lithe blurted out.
His friend puzzled over his words and for a second Lithe swore Estella’s countenance stiffened before she relaxed again as if choosing her next words carefully.
“Lithe, you might be naïve but you're not dumb, the Starke is definitely attracted to you and with the two of you alone on that trip. I’m pretty sure something is going to happen between the two of you. So take my advice, have the affair, get him out of your system but remember that your home is here with us.”
When Lithe Hildebrand hires Zen Starke to retrieve stolen property belonging to the Maximillian Tribe nothing goes according to plan.
Lithe, a workaholic and perfectionist, convinces Zen to let him go on the dangerous mission with him for fear that if mishandled it could ruin his reputation and career.
Intrigued, Zen is determined to keep his potential mate by his side at all costs.
For he’s never met anyone as captivating and sensuous as Lithe.
When Lithe’s life is threatened, Zen makes a bargain to protect Lithe if he pretends to be his fiancé.
Pressed for time, Lithe agrees since Zen is nothing like the media portrays him to be.
As a recessive omega he finds the dominant alpha irresistibly charismatic and fiercely loyal.
The problem is the feelings are mutual.
Despite their differences, the lovers embark on a dangerous quest that gets them more than they bargain for when they encounter murder, deception and the gift of everlasting love.
NixOrtikal · LGBT+
