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Chapter 140
~Alpha Storm’s POV~
As I placed the receiver down, I leaned back in my chair. Snow was as stubborn as ever, but there was a conviction in his voice that I hadn’t heard in a long time.
"Zara," I muttered to myself as the name lingered on my tongue.
I didn’t know the woman well, but from what little I’d seen and heard, she was sharp and capable. But would that be enough?
My wife, Luna Star, stepped into the room, her elegant presence filling the space. "He said no, didn’t he?"
"He did," I confirmed, glancing at her. "Stubborn as ever."
She smiled faintly, sitting across from me. "That’s our boy. But maybe he’s onto something."
I raised an eyebrow. "You think Zara could be Luna?"
"She’s proven herself resilient, hasn’t she?" Star replied. "She’s handled Snow, and that alone is a feat."
I chuckled despite myself. "True. But the pack won’t accept her easily. You know how tradition runs deep."
"Tradition isn’t everything," she said firmly. "If Zara’s the one who makes him happy, then perhaps it’s time we adapt."
I found myself nodding slowly. "Perhaps."
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~Snow’s POV~
I leaned against the window, the city lights casting a faint glow across the room. My thoughts churned as I replayed the conversation with my father.
Zara.
She was everything I didn’t know I needed, and while I hadn’t planned for this marriage to mean anything, it was becoming harder to deny what I felt.
My phone buzzed on the desk, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Zara: "Meeting with Taylor went well. Anything else you need me to handle?"
I smiled faintly, typing back, "No. Come back to the office when you’re done. We’ll discuss the next steps."
As I set the phone down, I couldn’t help but wonder what Zara would think if she knew how much she’d come to mean to me.
But for now, there was work to be done.
Just as I reopened my laptop, a thought crossed my mind. Immediately I went to my email and typed the name Jupiter in it.
The sent mail opened and I scanned through the details.
Finally, my eyes landed on the attached files and downloaded them before opening them. I realised that the one person I needed now the most was Jupiter, especially with this new threat and Zara.
I was losing it. I was already falling and he warned me.
I clicked on the attached files, and the details laid out on my screen like pieces of a puzzle waiting to be solved. The name Marcus Devereaux stared back at me, an unwelcome ghost from my past.
"This doesn’t make sense," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Marcus is dead."
But if that were true, who was orchestrating this? And why now?
Leaning back in my chair, I picked up my phone and dialed a familiar number. The call rang twice before a smooth, deep voice answered.
"Snow Zephyr," Jupiter drawled, his tone carrying a note of amusement. "It’s been a while. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I need your expertise," I said, cutting straight to the point.
Jupiter chuckled lightly. "Always business with you. Alright, let’s hear it."
"There’s been a breach at my company," I began, "sensitive designs leaked. The name Marcus Devereaux has surfaced in connection to it."
There was a brief silence before Jupiter responded, his tone sharper now. "Devereaux? Didn’t you—?"
"I did," I interrupted, my voice tight. "I killed him. And Zara witnessed it."
"Interesting," Jupiter murmured. "So, what do you want from me?"
"Find out who’s behind this," I said firmly. "If Marcus has a ghost, I want to know who’s pulling the strings. And if it’s someone else entirely, I need their identity."
"You’ve got it," Jupiter replied. "I’ll dig into it. But Snow," he added, his tone shifting, "you sound... tense. More than usual."
I exhaled, trying to steady myself. "This isn’t just about the company. It’s personal. They’re targeting me, my family, and Zara."
"Ah, Zara," Jupiter said, his voice laced with intrigue. "The contract wife who’s managed to entangle herself in your cold, Alpha heart."
"Don’t start," I muttered, rubbing my temple.
"Oh, but I will," Jupiter countered, clearly enjoying himself. "Have you told her yet?"
"Told her what?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"Don’t play dumb with me, Snow," Jupiter said sharply. "You’re falling for her. Anyone with eyes can see it. So, have you told her?"
"I don’t have time for this," I said, attempting to steer the conversation back on track.
"You’re deflecting," Jupiter pointed out. "Look, Snow, I’ll handle your Marcus problem. But let me give you some advice—if you keep avoiding your feelings for Zara, you’re going to lose her. And that would be the biggest mistake of your life."
Jupiter’s words were heavier than I wanted to admit. I leaned against the edge of my desk, staring out the window at the sprawling city lights, their usual comfort feeling distant tonight.
"She doesn’t see me like that," I said quietly, breaking the silence.
Jupiter chuckled softly. "Oh, Snow. That’s where you’re wrong."
"She’s..." I hesitated, searching for the right words. "She’s been spending more time with Zade lately since that big fur returned. They’re close. Too close."
"Zade?" Jupiter said, his tone sceptical. "Your best friend, Zade?"
"Yeah," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "What happened to best buddies and catching up? I see how she smiles at him and how at ease she is around him. It’s different from how she is with me."
"Snow," Jupiter began, his voice turning serious, "you’re one of the smartest people I know, but when it comes to emotions, you’re blind as a bat. Zara’s close to Zade because she feels safe with him. But safety isn’t love."
"And what makes you so sure she feels anything for me?" I asked, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
"Because I’ve seen you two together," Jupiter replied without hesitation. "Even from a distance, it’s obvious. The way she looks at you—like you’re the only person in the room. And don’t think I’ve missed how you look at her. Snow, you’re a man who can command armies, but you’ve never looked at anyone the way you look at her."