Zayn’s body was trembling with rage, he growled low in his throat. But he didn’t strike her. He didn’t move.
Then, his grip loosened slowly.
Ezra collapsed onto the ground, coughing and choking. He rolled onto his side, clutching his throat, gasping for air like he’d been drowning.
Zayn’s gaze had already moved, locked on Lily.
“Zayn,” he rasped, voice hoarse. “Stop...”
But Zayn didn’t hear him.
Lily stood frozen for half a second, naked and trembling. She backed away in quick, unsteady steps. Her heel bumped the wall, back pressed hard against the wall. She squinted her eyes closed, paralyzed in fear.
Zayn took a step forward.
Lily shook her head violently, panic flashing in her wide eyes. Her lips parted, but no sound came. Just a shallow breath, then another.
“Zayn,” Ezra said again, coughing as he tried to push himself upright. “You’ve got to snap out of it! She’s terrified.”
But Zayn didn’t look at him.
His gaze stayed fixed on Lily.
He moved closer, slow and steady, like a predator who’d chosen his prey.
A shiver ran down her spine. Lily pressed herself tighter into the corner, fingers digging into her arms. Her entire body shook. Her lips moved—’ please’—but still no voice came.
She winced, expecting pain. Expecting claws.
But there was only silence and the sound of heavy breathing that grew louder with each passing second.
Zayn stared at her. Then he leaned in and... sniffed her.
Long and slow. Right by her neck.
Lily’s breath hitched, her heart slamming into her ribs.
She didn’t move. Her eyes darted up—just a glance. But what she saw made her freeze.
His eyes were changing.
Red—wild and violent—flickered like embers behind the gold. Then slowly, they started to fade. The red dimmed. The gold softened and remained.
Lily swallowed hard. His breathing slowed.
Ezra, still on the floor, watched carefully. “Zayn... can you hear me?”
He just stared at Lily, but something in his gaze was different now. He seemed to be regaining control.
Slowly and gently, Lily reached her hand towards him.
Her fingers trembled, but something in her chest told her to try. He was in there somewhere.
But Zayn’s eyes flashed red again. A snarl tore from his throat. He moved swiftly.
Before she could react, his arm swiped across her body, sending her flying across the room like a rag doll.
Ezra shouted, “Zayn, no!”
Lily crashed against the stone floor, her head smacking hard. She gasped sharply, then choked.
Blood spilled from her mouth, and her vision began to blur. She collapsed on her side, no longer moving.
Ezra staggered to his feet, frozen.
Zayn’s whole body stiffened.
The scent of her blood... was different this time. Not the alluring kind. His wolf went still, then—
Zayn’s breath caught in his throat.
Lily was bleeding out. She wasn’t moving.
[We weren’t supposed to hurt her—]
The voice in his head wasn’t snarling now. It was scary. Desperate.
He thought she was going to hurt him.
But now—now her body was limp. Her blood pooled beneath her. Her eyes were half-closed, unfocused.
Something broke inside him. The wolf’s emotions crashed into his own...He let out a deafening howl that shook the walls of the room.
Chains groaned, then snapped—runes glowing brightly before bursting into sparks. The metal chains that held him back clattered onto the floor.
He dropped to his knees and scooped her into his arms, cradling her fragile form.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her chest rose—but just barely.
[Do something. Save her!]
His breathing hitched. He looked down at her face—too pale, lips slightly parted.
Zayn’s chest heaved, his vision cleared—and just like that, control snapped back into place.
His claws retracted. The snarl in his throat faded.
And the beast pulled away.
He fell forward, shifting with a gasp. Bones cracked, reshaped. Fur receded. Skin returned. In the space of a few breaths, the monstrous form was gone.
All that was left was Zayn.
Bare, sweating, and horrified.
Her head lolled to the side, blood trickling from her lips. She was still breathing, but barely.
Ezra stood frozen behind him, eyes wide. “Zayn...”
Zayn didn’t hear him.
His eyes were on her.
Without thinking, he brought his wrist to his mouth and bit deep. Blood poured instantly, hot and fast.
He brought it to her lips, cradling her head with his free hand.
“Drink. Please, even just a little,” His voice cracked.
She was so still. fr\eewe.bn(o)v\el.c(o)m
Victoria lay slumped against the wall close by, pain etched across her bloodied face. Her dress was torn, soaked in red, her arm hanging limp at her side. She watched from where she sat, her breaths shallow and ragged.
The physical pain of her injuries was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.
Zayn was cradling Lily. The mute pathetic she-wolf.
His arms were wrapped tightly around Lily’s limp body, his hands stained with blood. His jaw clenched in panic.
“Zayn...” Victoria rasped, reaching a shaky hand out toward him. “Zayn, I’m—”
He didn’t even turn to look her way.
She blinked, stunned.
“Zayn,” she tried again, voice cracking with something more than pain now—desperation. “I’m hurt... I need—”
“Ezra! Get a healer. Now!” His voice was sharp and anxious.
Ezra jumped into motion, already halfway to the stairs. “On it!”
Zayn adjusted Lily in his arms, holding her gently. Her head nestled against his chest.
He turned and started walking, steady but fast.
“Wait—Zayn,” Victoria said, dragging herself a few inches forward.
He didn’t even stop to look at her.
He walked past her like she was nothing.
Victoria’s mouth trembled, lips pulling into a shaky snarl. Her chest rose and fell with uneven, shallow breaths as her eyes followed Zayn’s retreating back.
Victoria let out a guttural cry, a sound that tore from her throat and echoed off the stone walls. Her hands slapped the ground as she tried to push herself up, but her arm gave out, shaking from pain and fury.
“You bastard!” she screamed after him. “After everything I’ve done for you!”
She slammed her fist against the floor, hot tears streaming down her cheeks.
“You pick her over me?” she choked, voice breaking. “The mute freak?”
Her scream cracked the silence again.
“I gave you everything!” she shouted. “Everything!”
“I bled for you, I lied for you!”
She broke into a fit of sobs, but even through the tears, the rage didn’t stop burning.
“I’ll make her pay,” she hissed, barely audible now. “I swear it.”
She dragged herself across the floor, leaving a smear of blood behind her, teeth clenched tight.
“She doesn’t get to waltz in and take what’s mine,” She muttered, eyes wild.
“You’ll regret this,” she spat. “Both of you will.”