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Chapter 181
~Aira’s POV~
The evening had been unexpected in every way. From the moment Zade picked me up, his teasing smile and easy confidence had been hard to ignore.
And now, as we stood outside the gates of Snow’s mansion, I found myself wishing the night wouldn’t end.
"Admit it," Zade said, his deep voice tinged with amusement, "you enjoyed yourself tonight."
I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. "You’re assuming a lot, don’t you think?"
He leaned casually against his car, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. "I don’t need to assume. You laughed—twice. Hard by the way. I counted."
Heat rose to my cheeks. "You’re imagining things."
"Am I?" His smirk deepened, his voice dropping just enough to make my pulse quicken. "I didn’t realize I was that entertaining."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t fight the small smile tugging at my lips. "You’re insufferable, you know that?"
He stepped closer, slowly closing the space between us. "I’ve been called worse but compared to your brother, I think I am the better version," he added with a smirk.
The air between us shifted, the playful banter giving way to something heavier, something magnetic. My heart raced as his gaze softened, his flirtation fading into something deeper.
"You know," he said, his voice quiet now, "it’s nice... talking to you."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Talking to me?"
"Yes." He nodded, his expression sincere. "You. Not your past, not your reputation—just you."
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. His words disarmed me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. It wasn’t just what he said—it was the way he looked at me, like I was someone worth knowing, someone worth seeing.
"That’s..." I started, but my voice faltered. "That’s rare."
"It shouldn’t be." His eyes never left mine, and I felt the pull between us intensify.
I tried to laugh, to break the tension, but it came out shaky. "You’re awfully bold, aren’t you?"
Zade grinned, a flash of mischief returning. "It’s only bold if it doesn’t work."
"You’re impossible."
"And yet, you’re still here."
I shook my head, but the smile wouldn’t leave my face. The more I talked to him, the more I realized how dangerous he was—not because of his reputation or his strength, but because of how easy he made it to forget the walls I’d built around myself.
"I should go," I said, glancing toward the gate.
"I’ll walk you to the door," he offered, but I quickly shook my head.
"No," I said, a bit too quickly. "Tempest or Zara will start asking questions, and I’m not in the mood to explain anything tonight."
He chuckled softly. "Fair enough. But you’d have to trek. How else are you going to get in without them noticing?"
"I’ll manage," I said, even though I wasn’t entirely sure how.
He leaned against the car again, his gaze studying me. "You’re stubborn."
"You’re just figuring that out?"
He laughed heartedly and I felt my resolve waver again. "I thought your twin was stubborn and the exact opposite fo you but I am beginning to see why you two are alike. It’s good. It suits you, stubborn, maybe feisty, who knows."
Zade shrugged but I caught his gaze on me from the corner of his eyes.
"You’re..." To my surprise he moved closer, placing a hand on top mine, with his car acting as our support.
"I am...?"
I swallowed, unsure fo what I was going to say. The conversation lingered, drawing us closer. I wasn’t sure how it happened, but suddenly we were only inches apart, the world around us fading as the pull between us grew stronger.
His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought he was... we were going to—
My phone buzzed loudly in my bag, shattering the moment.
Zade took a step back, clearing his throat as his usual confidence returned. "You should get that."
I hesitated, giving him an apologetic smile before pulling out my phone. The call had already ended, and I didn’t bother checking the caller ID. "Ignore it," I said, slipping the phone back into my bag.
He smirked, shaking his head. "You’re full of surprises, Aira."
"Am I?"
"Very much so." His voice softened. "When do I get to see you again?"
I blinked, caught off guard again. "I... don’t know."
"Think about it," he said, his smirk returning. "This time, we’ll make it official. Maybe even bring Storm along."
I bit my lip, unsure how to respond. The thought of him meeting my son felt like crossing a line I wasn’t ready for. "I’ll... consider it."
"Good enough for me."
Zade’s phone buzzed this time, and he glanced at the screen, his smirk fading. "My Beta," he muttered.
"You should go," I said quickly, motioning to his car. "I’ll be fine."
Zade hesitated, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer. "If you’re sure."
"I’m sure."
He nodded, giving me a soft smile before stepping into the car. As the engine roared to life, Zade rolled down the window. "Tell Zara I said hi."
I laughed lightly. "I will. Drive safe."
His eyes lingered on me one last time before he drove off, the car disappearing down the dark road.
I turned toward the gate, taking a deep breath as I prepared to slip inside unnoticed. But then, I felt it—a presence.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as a cold shiver ran down my spine. My heartbeat quickened, and I clenched my fists, my palms suddenly slick with sweat.
Slowly, I turned, I could already tell but the world around me seemed to slow.
He was there.
The same eyes that haunted my nightmares stared back at me, their forest green depths filled with cruel amusement.
"Hello, Aira," he breathed, his deep voice laced with malice as the sound reverberated in my mind.
His lips twisted into a wicked grin as he took a step closer, his broad frame enveloping my view, keeping my eyes grounded on him. "Or should I say... hello, mate?"