38 Confused
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CHAPTER 38
~Snow’s POV~
*Earlier That Evening At the Event*
Glacier growled, his instincts screaming to protect what was ours.
Ours.
The word repeated in my head as my gaze locked onto Zara standing across the room–too close to Ivan.
I clenched my fists, fighting to keep control. This wasn’t the time to lose it. Not here, not now.
Not when everything was riding on this deal with Marcus. But seeing Ivan’s smug face, watching the way his eyes lingered on her, it was taking everything I had to keep my wolf at bay.
Focus, I reminded myself and turned to Marcus, but to my surprise, he too had slipped away.
Tsk.
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I scanned the room for Marcus. By the far wall,
surrounded by a few investors. If Ivan had already gotten to him, I needed to know.
My father had warned me about him, but he was
needed in this business deal and I couldn’t let another
company beat us to it.
Squaring my shoulders, I moved through the crowd, forcing Glacier down. Business came first. This was about securing control and keeping what mattered.
“Snow,” Marcus greeted me with a tight smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes as the last of the patrons with him walked away. “Enjoying the evening?”
I nodded coolly, matching his tone. “It’s going well. How about you? Anything intriguing tonight?”
Marcus chuckled, swirling his wine lazily. “You could that. Opportunities are everywhere, but you
say
already knew that, right?”
Glacier stirred again, the warning in his growl was
unmistakable.
He’s playing us.
I kept my voice neutral. “Opportunities come and go.
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The trick is knowing which ones are worth the risk.”
Marcus’s smile tightened, not quite hiding the calculation in his gaze. “True. But sometimes, Snow, it’s who you’re betting against that makes the difference.”
The implication was clear.
Ivan.
The bastard had already gotten into Marcus’s ear.
I took a step closer, dropping my voice. “Let’s not waste time, Marcus. You want a partner you can trust –someone who’s not going to turn on you when things get tough,” I reminded him.
Marcus raised an eyebrow, swirling his glass thoughtfully. “And are you that partner, Snow?”
Before I could answer, my attention flickered to the side and caught sight of Zara.
She was still talking to Ivan, arms crossed, a deep frown etched on her face. Ivan was smiling that same manipulative smirk I knew all too well.
Dammit, Zara.
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Glacier snarled inside me, the need to pull her away- to claim her–built with every second we were apart. I couldn’t think straight, not with her standing so close to that demon’s spun.
“Excuse me,” I muttered, not waiting for Marcus’s reply before striding across the room.
Every step I took toward them felt like a battle. The struggle between Glacier and the need for control was
almost unbearable.
“Zara.” My voice was sharp, cutting through their
conversation as I reached them.
Her eyes widened slightly as she turned to me, but I didn’t give her a chance to explain. I shot Ivan a warning glare, my jaw clenched.
We had our arguments, which seemed to have been
what Ivan wanted, and I hated that she couldn’t see it.
All she thought about was that I used her. I hated seeing the hurt in her eyes. Things moved too quickly, but we did not stay at the party after that and left.
The goal was Marcus. With Ivan playing with our heads, I couldn’t afford this.
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We didn’t speak as we made our way out of the event, and as we walked through the parking lot toward the car. Glacier was pacing in my mind as my thoughts churned with the image of Ivan standing too close to her.
‘What the hell is happening to me?‘I wondered.
I’d never been this affected by anyone before, and yet Zara had gotten under my skin so quickly, it was unnerving. She wasn’t just a pawn in a business deal anymore. She was… more.
I glanced at her as we drove home, her gaze fixed firmly out the window.
I couldn’t tell what was in her mind. My mind raced, trying to make sense of it all.
When did this happen? When had Zara become something I couldn’t control–someone I couldn’t let go?
The silence between us stretched all the way to the
house and when we arrived, she did not utter a word
to me and went straight for her room.
Later That Night
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I retreated to my study, after checking in on Storm, my mind still clouded with everything that happened. Glacier had finally calmed, but the frustration was
there.
Would I lose her? I couldn’t, right? We had a contract binding us. Sadly, it was more than that. I couldn’t get the image of Ivan and Zara out of my head.
A buzz from my phone pulled me from my thoughts. I picked it up, glancing at the screen. It was a number I hadn’t seen in a while. My jaw tightened.
‘Her‘
“I answered, keeping my voice neutral. “Yes… What is
it?”
“Alpha Snow…” The voice on the other end was soft and
hesitant. “It’s about Storm’s mother.”
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. I should have known but I hoped it would be her usual check up on Storm.
I gripped the glass of whiskey tighter, my knuckles turning white.
“What about her?” I asked, trying to keep my cool.
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I
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could hear the faint sound of papers rustling.
“She… she’s been found,” the voice continued, “but there are complications. We believe you should come to the hospital immediately.”
My heart thundered in my chest, and I stood up abruptly, the chair screeching against the floor.
“Complications?” My tone was harsher than I intended, but Glacier wasn’t in the mood for patience.
“Yes, sir. There’s a lot we need to discuss in person.”
I hung up the phone without another word. Storm’s
mother? How could she-? No.
This couldn’t be happening now. We’ve searched for her in the past three years after she ran away and I
hadn’t heard from her since.
But now… she is back and with complications…? What
bastard did that?
I grabbed my coat and hurried out of the study, ignoring my chauffeur’s call as I left the house, my gaze momentarily glancing at Storm’s window before entering my car.
‘She’s back.”
