Chapter 11

Zoe

The basement air grows thick with tension as Mark's footsteps echo down the stairs. My heart races, and I can feel Chloe trembling beside me. We're both frozen, our eyes fixed on the doorway, dreading what's about to come through it.

Mark appears, his face twisted into a cruel smile. He saunters into the room, exuding an air of sick satisfaction that makes my stomach churn.

My fists clench at my sides, a burning desire to wipe that smirk off his face surging through me. But I force myself to stay still. As much as I'd love to land a solid punch, I know it's futile. He's a shifter, with strength that far outmatches my own. One wrong move and he could easily overpower both Chloe and me. The thought of being at his mercy makes my skin crawl, but I have to play it smart for now.

"Well, well, well," he drawls, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Looks like we're all settled in for a nice little chat."

I swallow hard, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "What do you want from us?" I demand, proud that my voice doesn't waver.

Mark's smile widens, revealing teeth that seem too sharp, too predatory. "Oh, it's not about what I want from you, sweetheart. It's about what I'm going to take from them."

"Them?" Chloe whispers beside me, her voice barely audible.

"The Whispering Pines pack," Mark spits, his face contorting with rage. "Those self-righteous bastards who think they're better than everyone else. Who think they can just take whatever they want."

He begins to pace, his movements jerky and agitated. "You know, I had it all planned out. Sarah was supposed to be mine. We were perfect together. But then that arrogant professor had to swoop in and steal her away."

"If I can't have Sarah," Mark continues, his voice dropping to a menacing growl, "then they can't have you. Any of you. I'm going to take away every unmated female in that pack, one by one. They'll learn what it feels like to lose everything they care about."

My blood runs cold at his words. The threat isn't just to us anymore; it's to every woman in the pack. I think of Hannah, of Jenna, of all the others who have no idea of the danger they're in.

"You're insane," I spit out, anger momentarily overriding my fear. "You can't possibly think you'll get away with this."

Mark whirls on me, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Oh, but I will. You see, I've thought of everything. By the time they figure out what's happening, it'll be too late. I'll have—"

Suddenly, a loud crash echoes from upstairs, cutting off Mark's villainous monologue. His head snaps towards the ceiling, his face contorting with fury.

"What the hell?" he snarls.

My heart leaps into my throat. Could it be a rescue? Hope surges through me, tempered by a fresh wave of fear. What if it's just someone else working with Mark?

Another crash, followed by the sound of splintering wood. Mark's face contorts with rage. "No!" he snarls. "Not yet! It's too soon!"

He turns back to us, his eyes wild. "This isn't over," he hisses. "You hear me? This isn't over!"

As Mark rushes towards the stairs, I exchange a quick glance with Chloe. Her eyes are wide with a mixture of hope and terror that I'm sure mirrors my own expression.

"What's happening?" she whispers.

I shake my head. "I don't know, but—"

My words are cut off by a deafening roar that shakes the very foundations of the house. It's a sound that vibrates through my bones, primal and terrifying. A wolf's roar, but amplified beyond anything I've ever heard before.

Before Mark can reach the top of the stairs, the basement door explodes inward, showering the room with splinters. And there, silhouetted in the doorway, stands a man.

I don't recognize him, but I hear Chloe gasp beside me. "Theo," she whispers.

The man—Theo—is all raw power and barely contained rage. His clothes are torn and disheveled, and there's a wild look in his eyes that speaks of violence barely held in check.

Mark recovers from his surprise quickly, his shock morphing into a sneer. "Well, well. If it isn't the big bad alpha of Howling Pines. Come to play hero, Theo?"

A sly look crosses Mark's face as he gestures towards me. "You know, Theo, I thought you of all people would understand. After all, you're not exactly fond of humans yourself, are you? Look, here's one right here. Why don't we join forces? We could cleanse both our packs of this... infestation."

I feel a chill run down my spine at Mark's words, my eyes darting nervously between him and Theo. For a moment, Theo's expression is unreadable, and I fear he might actually consider the offer.

But then Theo's eyes narrow, his lip curling in disgust. "You're right, I'm not overly fond of humans," he growls, his voice dripping with contempt. "But you know what I despise even more? Cowards who abuse women, regardless of their species. You disgust me, Mark."

Theo's gaze sweeps the room, taking in me and Chloe before settling on Mark with laser-like intensity. "Let them go, Mark," he growls, his voice low and dangerous. "This ends now."

Mark's laugh is harsh and bitter. "Oh, it's ending alright. Just not the way you think." In a lightning-fast move, he grabs Chloe, yanking her in front of him like a shield. His arm wraps around her throat, and I see the glint of a knife in his other hand.

The change in Theo is instantaneous and terrifying. One moment he's standing there, coiled tension in human form. The next, he explodes into motion, his body blurring and shifting as he leaps towards Mark.

Where Theo stood a heartbeat ago, there's now a massive wolf, its fur a deep, rich brown shot through with streaks of gold. It—he—is easily the largest wolf I've ever seen.

Mark barely has time to react before Theo is on him. Chloe stumbles away as Mark is forced to release her, desperately trying to fend off Theo's attack. The knife clatters to the floor, forgotten in the chaos.

I scramble to Chloe's side, pulling her away from the fray. We huddle together against the wall, watching in horrified fascination as the two shifters battle it out.

Mark manages to shift as well, his form twisting and contorting until a sleek black wolf stands in his place. But even in wolf form, he's no match for Theo's raw power and fury.

The basement is suddenly full of snapping jaws and slashing claws. Furniture is overturned, and the air fills with growls and yelps of pain. I can barely follow the action; it's all happening so fast.

Suddenly, I hear someone yell, "Zoe!"

My head whips around at the sound of my name. There, in the doorway, stands Marcus. His eyes are wild with worry, darting between me and the fighting wolves.

"Marcus," I breathe, relief washing over me in a dizzying wave.

He's at my side in an instant, his hands working quickly to undo my bonds. "Are you hurt?" he asks, his voice rough with concern.

I shake my head, wincing as the circulation returns to my arms. "No, I'm okay."

Marcus ushers us towards the stairs. His movements are swift and efficient, speaking to his military training. "We need to get you out of here," he says urgently.

I hesitate, looking back at the fight. Theo has Mark pinned now, his jaws closing around the other wolf's throat. "But what about—"

"Theo can handle himself," Marcus cuts me off, his tone brooking no argument. "Our priority is getting you two to safety."

As we climb the stairs, I hear a final, agonized yelp from behind us. Then silence.

I shudder, knowing what that silence means. A small part of me feels guilty for not being more upset about Mark's fate, but I quickly push that thought aside. He was a monster who kidnapped us and threatened the entire pack. The world is safer without him. Still, the violence of it all leaves me feeling hollow and shaken.

We emerge into the main floor of the house, and I blink against the sudden brightness. Everything looks surreal – the ordinary furnishings a stark contrast to the violence we've just witnessed.

Marcus guides us outside, where several cars are parked haphazardly in the driveway. I recognize some of them as belonging to pack members.

"The others are securing the perimeter," Marcus explains, noticing my questioning look. "Making sure there are no other threats."

As if on cue, Ryan appears from around the side of the house. His face is grim, but it softens with relief when he sees us.

"Thank the Moon," he says, striding over. "Are you both alright?"

Before we can answer, Theo, as a wolf, emerges from the house. He slowly pads over, his gaze fixed on Chloe. To my surprise, she steps forward, her hand outstretched.

"Thank you," she whispers, her fingers sinking into Theo's thick fur. The massive wolf leans into her touch, a low rumble that sounds almost like a purr emanating from his chest.

In a fluid motion, Theo shifts back to his human form. One of the Whispering Pines pack members quickly tosses him a pair of sweats, which he catches and swiftly pulls on. His eyes never leave Chloe as he dresses.

"Are you hurt?" Theo asks, his voice gruff but laced with concern.

Chloe shakes her head, her eyes wide as she stares at Theo. "No, I... I'm okay. You saved us."

Theo nods, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Mark won't be a problem anymore," he says.

An uncomfortable silence falls over the group as the weight of Theo's words sinks in. I shiver, remembering the final yelp we heard in the basement. The air feels heavy with unspoken questions and barely contained emotions.

After a moment, Ryan clears his throat, his face grim. "Theo, we need to talk about what happened here."

Theo straightens, his expression becoming serious. "I didn't know someone was targeting women until your pack infiltrated us last night," he explains. "Once I heard about the threats, I had my security company look into Mark's activities, just in case."

Ryan's eyebrows rise. "You've been investigating this?"

Theo nods. "We found out he had rented this cabin. I came to confront him about not leaving the area and to see if he was behind the threats." His gaze flicks to Chloe and me before returning to Ryan. "When I got here, I could smell the women. That's when I knew things were worse than we thought."

"So you didn't know about his plans before tonight?" Ryan asks, his tone cautious but less hostile than before.

"No," Theo says firmly. "I may have issues with your pack, Ryan, but I'd never stand by while innocent women were being targeted. As soon as I knew there was a real threat, I acted."

The tension between the two alphas is palpable, and I find myself holding my breath. Then, to my surprise, Ryan extends his hand. "Thank you," he says simply.

Theo hesitates for a moment before clasping Ryan's hand. "Don't mention it," he says gruffly.

My attention is drawn away by a small sound from Chloe. She's staring at Theo, her eyes wide. Theo turns, catching her gaze, and for a moment, the world seems to narrow to just the two of them.

I feel like I'm intruding on something private, so I look away, only to find Marcus watching me intently. The intensity in his eyes makes my breath catch in my throat.

"We should get you home," he says, his voice low and rough. "You've been through enough tonight."

I nod, suddenly feeling the weight of everything that's happened. Exhaustion crashes over me like a wave, and I sway slightly on my feet.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Marcus asks, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

I nod, then realize he can't see me in the darkness. "Yeah," I say, my voice sounding small and far away. "I'm just... processing, I guess."

He tightens his arm around me, and I feel a rush of warmth that has nothing to do with his body heat. "That's understandable. You've been through a lot."

Marcus guides me towards his truck, his hand a steady presence on the small of my back. The night air is cool against my skin, and I shiver involuntarily. Marcus notices immediately.

"Hold on," he says, opening the passenger door for me before moving to the back of the truck. He returns with a thick, soft blanket, which he wraps around my shoulders with gentle care. The warmth of the blanket and the lingering scent of pine and Marcus on it brings a small measure of comfort.

As we drive through the quiet streets of Whispering Pines, my mind races, replaying the events of the night. The terror of being kidnapped, the confrontation with Mark, Theo's dramatic rescue—it all swirls in my head like a chaotic whirlpool.

But as the adrenaline begins to fade, another memory surfaces. What feels like a lifetime ago, I was leaving Marcus' house in an Uber, my heart heavy and confused. He and Liam had been fighting. I remember the hurt and anger in Liam's eyes, the frustration etched on Marcus' face.

I glance at Marcus now, his profile illuminated by the dashboard lights. His jaw is set, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Despite everything we've been through tonight, despite him coming to my rescue, I realize that nothing has really been resolved between us.

The blanket suddenly feels heavy on my shoulders, a physical reminder of the complicated tangle of emotions surrounding Marcus and me. As we pull up to my apartment, I find myself hesitating, unsure of what to say or do next.

The night's events may have pushed our personal drama to the background, but it's still there, waiting to be addressed. And I have no idea where we go from here.