Chapter 4 — Zachary
The forest was quiet except for the whisper of the wind through the leaves. Shadows stretched long across the ground, shifting with the swaying branches.
Zach lingered there—half-hidden in the dark—his broad frame blending seamlessly with the trees. He wasn't even sure why he stayed. Wolves were intuitive creatures, and Amber… she could probably sense him from the moment he arrived.
But still, he didn't leave.
Something about her kept him rooted in place. Watching her, even from a distance, stirred something deep inside him—a strange, unspoken satisfaction he didn't know how to name.
Amber lay on the grass below, her golden-brown fur catching threads of moonlight. Her chest rose and fell in slow, steady breaths. In that moment, she looked almost fragile—though he knew she was far from it. There was strength in her, quiet but fierce, and it was that balance—serenity mixed with fire—that both fascinated and unsettled him.
A flicker of warmth rose in his chest, creeping up his throat until it settled in his cheeks. The heat was unfamiliar, unwelcome. He forced himself to take a step back, to put space between them before he did something reckless—
Crack.
The brittle snap of a dry branch cut through the stillness.
Amber's ears twitched instantly. Her eyes snapped open, glowing faintly under the moonlight. She stayed still for a beat, her body low to the ground, listening.
The wind shifted, carrying with it the faintest trace of another presence. She knew she wasn't alone.
"Who's there?" she called softly, her voice laced with tension.
Her form shimmered, bones shifting until the wolf within her stood tall and alert. Her senses sharpened; every rustle, every flutter of leaves seemed louder. Her gaze scanned the treeline until it caught on a shadow that moved with purpose—not like prey, but like someone who belonged to the night.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, his stance exuding strength and authority. Even without seeing his face, she felt the weight of his aura.
"Show yourself," her voice echoed in thought, her mental tone low and edged with a growl.
From the darkness, Zach stepped forward, the moonlight spilling over him in silver streaks. His black coat caught the glow, and his sharp sapphire eyes met hers without hesitation.
Easy… I'm not here to harm you, his voice brushed against her mind—calm, steady, unthreatening.
Amber blinked, startled. "You?" she exclaimed aloud. "What are you doing here?"
Zach's expression was unreadable, his voice still low and even.
"I was walking. You showed up. You seemed… distant. So I kept to myself and watched."
She tilted her head, uncertain. His tone was softer than she expected, nothing like the cold, arrogant Alpha she had heard about. She narrowed her eyes slightly, studying him.
He seems… normal. Kind, even. Is this the same man everyone warns me about?
Zach's eyebrow quirked upward. "Don't look at me like I'm your prey," he said with a faint smirk, the corner of his mouth lifting just enough to hint that he'd heard her thoughts.
Her ears pinned back in embarrassment. She turned her gaze away, a quiet, low moan rumbling in her throat.
The silence stretched between them—not awkward, exactly, but charged with something neither wanted to name.
Finally, Zach spoke again, his tone softer.
"I should go. I'll see you at the house later. Don't forget."
Amber looked at him, catching an expression she wasn't prepared for—there was no arrogance there, only a kind of honesty she rarely saw in people. And for reasons she couldn't explain, that honesty made her feel… safe.
What is it with this guy? Why does he make me feel this way? she thought, her mind a whirl.
Zach, of course, caught the thought again. His lips twitched in the faintest smile, but he didn't comment. Instead, he removed his hat with a small, respectful bow before melting back into the shadows.
Amber stood there long after he was gone, her mind spinning.
⸻
3:00 AM
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound jolted her from a half-sleep. She had been sitting on the edge of her bed for what felt like hours, her suitcase already packed beside her. The air in her room was still, the faint scent of pine drifting in through the slightly open window.
Amber rose and opened the door to find Liza standing there, eyebrows raised in mock surprise.
"Well, look at you," her stepmother said with an arched brow. "All ready to leave without saying a word? How very considerate."
Amber didn't bother answering. She stepped past her without so much as a glance, the burn of resentment in her chest keeping her silent. Liza didn't deserve her words—not tonight.
It wasn't just that she was being sent away. It was the knowledge that Liza had wanted this. She had pushed her father into agreeing, dressed it up as "necessary," when Amber knew it was nothing more than control disguised as concern.
At the main door, a man waited. Tall—easily over six feet—with the kind of presence that made you instinctively straighten your posture. His clean, sharp features were softened by the glasses perched on his nose, giving him an air of quiet intelligence. But the stillness in his stance carried weight, the kind of weight only a wolf of high rank possessed.
Amber's gaze flicked over him.
He looks like a secret mafia boss… what is it with North Tribe wolves? Why are they all so ridiculously good-looking?
Even Zach, she had to admit—reluctantly—was unfairly attractive.
"Good morning, Miss Amber," the man greeted, his voice brisk but not unkind. "Apologies for the early pickup."
Amber managed a polite smile. "Good morning, Mr. Bri."
Behind her, Liza's voice dripped with false warmth.
"Well, well. Off you go then. No need for introductions—you'll have time to get to know each other later." She waved dramatically, like an actress bidding farewell to her audience. "Take care of our unica hija, Mr. Bri!"
Her laughter rang in the hallway, grating and hollow.
Amber's jaw tightened. She didn't trust herself to speak without her voice shaking—not from fear, but from the effort of keeping her temper in check.
Bri, unfazed, simply picked up her suitcase and gave Liza a courteous nod.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ferrera. We'll be on our way."
Outside, the chill of early morning wrapped around them. Parked by the curb was a sleek black limousine, its polished surface reflecting the glow of the streetlamps.
Amber stopped in her tracks. "A limousine? Seriously?"
Bri allowed himself a small chuckle. "That's only the beginning, Miss Amber. You'll discover much more once you step into his world."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't press. Her curiosity was already burning hot enough to keep her awake.
Sliding into the plush leather seat, she was immediately enveloped by the faint scent of cedar and clean linen. The city outside was still half-asleep, the streets nearly empty.
Amber leaned back, her mind wandering to the man she had seen on the hill earlier. The way he had looked at her—not with pity, but with something steadier, something that felt like recognition—played over in her mind.
There was so much she didn't understand. About Zach. About herself. About whatever this was that was slowly pulling her toward a life she hadn't chosen.
But one thing was certain—she wasn't going to let herself be swept along blindly. She would find out the truth. About him. About her mother. About everything.
And she was determined to uncover it all.