Chapter 3-The attraction
Zane froze and gaped at her. This woman's beauty astounded him. The doll-like round face, the dainty nose, rosy lips, and long brunette hair... everything about her was entrancing. In that simple white gown, she looked like an angel. Zane skipped a beat when his gaze met hers.
Her sparkling amber eyes... They were the most beautiful things he had ever seen.
Eleanor was also shocked when she found out that she had run into Zane, the future alpha of the Moon Keepers.
'Do I have to run into him on the first day of work?' Eleanor grimaced inwardly, cursing her fate.
"Are you blind?" Ruby snapped angrily.
"I'm so sorry. Please accept my apology." Eleanor bowed to them before rushing into the packhouse. She feared that Zane would kick her out on the first day of her job.
Zane turned around and watched her with awe.
'Who is she?'
"Are you all right, Zane?"
Ruby's question pulled him back to reality. "Yeah. I'm fine." He pulled a smile over his face. "Come on." He walked to the backyard, holding her hand.
In the hall…
"Hahaha…" Gustav burst out laughing. "It's wonderful to see them together. They used to play in the courtyard, but they have grown up so quickly. The good thing is that they are fated to be together. We should plan their wedding."
The word 'wedding' rang like a loud bell in Dimitri's head. He directed his eyes at Gustav.
"What do you say?" Gustav asked, still donning a smile on his face.
"Zane is turning 21 in a few months," Dimitri murmured, pulling his gaze down to the papers in his hands. "We can consider the wedding after I hand over the alpha position to him. Let's continue our discussion, shall we?"
Gustav's smile vanished, and his face turned gloomy in seconds. He was dissatisfied but said nothing about the wedding. All he did was nod and continue discussing the issues of both packs.
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Zane couldn't get those lovely eyes of that woman out of his head. He grew restless. He felt awful at the same time for not being able to stop thinking about another woman when his mate was with him. He pinned her against a large tree trunk and traced his calloused finger down her cheek, his gaze fixed on her lips.
"Shall we finish what we have started in the bedroom?" He murmured.
Ruby grabbed his collar and tugged him closer, their faces inches away. "What if someone comes here?" She asked, her voice just above a whisper.
"I don't care." Zane bowed and kissed her urgently, his hands gently kneading her breasts.
Ruby coiled her arms around his neck and responded to his kiss.
"Well, well, well… I wasn't expecting to see such an erotic scene early in the morning." A crisp male voice from the right interrupted their intimacy.
When they turned right, they saw a young man grinning at them while leaning laterally against a tree trunk, arms folded across his chest.
Zane's eyes turned cold when he saw the most annoying face in the world.
"Cousin," Connor smirked and approached him. "You shouldn't make out in open space. If you want to fuck her, take her to the bedroom."
"I can make out with my mate wherever I want," Zane snarled. "I don't need your approval."
"Oops…" Connor held up his hands. "I have no intention of offending you." He leaned in close to Ruby and sniffed her. "You are free to have her wherever you want. I would like to watch the show."
"Step back," Zane growled, pulling Ruby back and taking a protective stance in front of her. "Keep your distance from my mate."
"Chill, cousin. I'm not interested in her."
"What is your interest, Connor?" Ruby snapped.
Connor gave her a sidelong glance. "To be the alpha of the Moon Keepers." He shifted his focus to Zane. "Everyone in the pack knows I'm not less than Zane. I'm more qualified to be the alpha than he is. Unfortunately, I am not Alpha Dimitri's son." He quirked his lips into a wicked grin.
"Zane is far better than you," Ruby grunted. "Everyone loves him and…"
"Ruby…" Zane silenced her. "Go."
Ruby gave Connor a loathing glare before walking away.
Zane grabbed his collar and pulled him towards him. He stared into his eyes fiercely, and so did Connor. He scrunched up his face and snarled, "The alpha position and Ruby… both are mine. Stop messing up with me."
Connor shoved his hands away and pushed him back. "I've already said that I have no interest in Ruby. She is not my type."
"Keep in mind what you said." Zane stormed away after saying that, bashing him over his shoulder.
"Hey, Zane… Are you sure she is your mate?"
Zane came to a halt when he heard his question.
"I'm just curious since you never felt the bond until you mysteriously disappeared a week ago," Connor added.
Zane spun around and growled, "She is my mate, mine. I don't care why I hadn't felt the bond earlier. What matters to me is that I can feel it now. Just stay away from us." He curled his hands into tight fists, glaring at him.
"Have fun." Connor winked at him with a sly smirk on his face. He turned around and walked away.
Zane walked back to the packhouse and encountered Lucas, his close buddy, in the hall.
"Hey, where have you been?" Lucas asked, approaching him. "I've been looking for you."
"I went for a walk outside."
"Alpha is expecting you at breakfast."
They headed to the dining hall. Everyone had already gathered for the breakfast. Even Connor was sitting in his seat. Zane's steps came to an abrupt halt when he saw that unknown, beautiful woman serving breakfast to Dimitri. His heartbeat quickened all of a sudden. He didn't like the attraction he felt for her. He didn't want to look at her. But he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Zane had no idea what she was talking about with Dimitri. He perked up his ears in an attempt to hear her voice.
"Thank you, Alpha..." He heard nothing but her thanks. He saw her bow to Dimitri and walked back to the kitchen.
"Are you coming?" Lucas's voice pulled him back to reality. Zane withdrew his eyes and strode up to the dining table.
He smiled at Ruby and took a seat beside her. He, however, couldn't keep himself from glancing at the woman in the kitchen.
"What is the matter? Why aren't you eating?"
Ruby's voice jolted him out of his trance. "Nothing," Zane mustered a smile. He cut a piece of pancake and stuffed it into his mouth.
Ruby returned his smile and resumed eating.
After breakfast, Dimitri summoned Lucas into the office.
"Alpha…" Lucas bowed to him.
"You are the future beta of the pack," Dimitri said coldly. "It is your responsibility to protect your alpha from any danger. You must always stay vigilant. But you let me down this time."
Lucas hung his head down even more, ashamed. He exactly knew what Dimitri was referring to.
"You didn't even know who and how someone kidnapped Zane a week ago," Dimitri continued with the same cold tone. "It's fortunate that Zane returned unharmed two days later on his own. What worries me is that he has no recollection of what happened to him during those two days."
"It won't happen again," Lucas asserted. He squared his shoulders and looked up at him. "I pledged to keep him safe."
Dimitri rose from his seat and walked up to him. "Your father almost lost his life in saving me from a fierce battle in the past. He is the epitome of what it means to be a beta. I believe you will follow in his footsteps."
"Without a doubt, Alpha." Lucas lifted his chin high with confidence.
"Then prove you are the best choice for Zane's beta," Dimitri growled fiercely. "I want every single detail of where Zane was and what happened to him during those two days."
"I'll soon find it out."
"You can leave now." With a sweep of his hand, Dimitri motioned him to depart.
Lucas bowed and walked out.
"Wait a minute."
Lucas came to a halt right in front of the door and turned back to him. "How can I help you, Alpha?" He stood there with his head bowed.
"What are your thoughts on Zane and Ruby?" Dimitri asked.