Chapter 6

Zoe

The drive back to my apartment is silent. Marcus's presence beside me is both comforting and unsettling, a constant reminder of the danger I'm in and the confusing emotions swirling between us.

As we step into my small apartment, I can feel Marcus's eyes scanning every corner, his body tense and alert.

I clench my jaw, irritation bubbling up inside me. This whole situation is ridiculous. I'm used to handling things on my own, not being babysat by some overprotective wolf shifter – no matter how annoyingly attractive he is. The fact that Marcus rejected my kiss earlier only adds fuel to my frustration. Who does he think he is, anyway? Making me feel all these conflicting emotions and then shutting me down.

I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, noting how his presence fills my tiny living room. It's infuriating how safe I feel with him here, how my body instinctively relaxes despite my mind's objections. I'm not some damsel in distress. I've taken care of myself for years, and now I'm forced to rely on someone else?

"You know," I say, unable to keep the edge out of my voice, "I've managed to survive here on my own for quite a while without a big, bad wolf watching my every move."

Marcus turns to me, his expression serious. "This isn't a joke, Zoe. Someone is targeting you specifically."

I roll my eyes, heading to the kitchen. "Yeah, well, excuse me if I don't feel like cowering in fear. I'm hungry." I yank open the freezer, pulling out a frozen pizza. "Hope you like supreme. It's all I've got."

I half expect him to lecture me about the nutritional value of frozen pizza or insist on cooking something himself. But to my surprise, he just nods. "Supreme is fine. Thank you."

As I prep the pizza, I can feel Marcus's eyes on me. It's unnerving, how intensely he watches, like he's cataloging my every move. The kiss we shared earlier flashes through my mind, and I feel a flush creeping up my neck. Damn it. I'm supposed to be annoyed with him, not... whatever this is.

We eat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound is the crunch of crust and the occasional sigh. Finally, I can't take it anymore.

"Look," I say, setting down my slice. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. It's just... this whole situation is frustrating. I hate feeling helpless, like I can't even live my own life without someone babysitting me."

Marcus's expression softens slightly. "I understand," he says, his voice low. "But you're not helpless, Zoe. You're strong. We're just trying to make sure you stay safe while we figure out who's behind this."

I nod, feeling some of the tension drain from my shoulders. "I know. It's just... hard. I'm not used to relying on anyone else."

"You don't have to do everything alone," Marcus says, reaching out to touch my hand briefly. The contact sends a jolt through me, and I pull away, confused by my own reaction.

"Yeah, well," I mutter, grabbing another slice of pizza. "Old habits die hard, I guess."

After dinner, I curl up in a plush armchair with my book, but my eyes keep drifting to Marcus. He's settled on the couch, his laptop perched on the coffee table as he works. I try to be discreet, stealing glances over the top of my novel. He looks so big, so masculine hunched over his computer. The way his muscles flex as he types is mesmerizing. I catch myself wondering what those strong hands would feel like on my skin and quickly shake the thought away.

An hour and a half passes in comfortable silence before Marcus's phone rings. He answers with a gruff, "Yeah?"

I can hear Liam's voice through the speaker, high-pitched and whiny. "Where are you, bro? I've been trying to reach you all night."

Marcus sighs. "I'm staying with Zoe tonight. There's been a threat, remember?"

"But why you?" Liam's petulance is clear even from across the room. "I could've stayed with her."

"Because I'm the beta, Liam. It's my job to keep everyone safe."

I shift uncomfortably in my chair, feeling like I'm intruding on a private moment. Marcus notices and gives me a reassuring nod.

After he hangs up, I can't help but ask, "Everything okay?"

Marcus runs a hand through his hair. "Yeah, just Liam being Liam. Don't worry about it."

"He sounded upset," I press gently.

Marcus's expression softens slightly. "Liam's my little brother. I'll always look out for him. But right now, keeping you safe is my priority. That's just how it is."

His loyalty is admirable, even if it makes me feel a little conflicted. I nod, not trusting myself to say more, and return to my book. The words blur on the page as my mind wanders, unable to focus on the story. The tension in the air is palpable, and I can feel Marcus's presence acutely, even as he busies himself across the room. After a few minutes of pretending to read, I clear my throat.

"So," I say, trying to sound casual. "About sleeping arrangements..."

Marcus straightens, his expression guarded. "I can take the couch," he says immediately.

I snort. "Have you seen that couch? You'd be folded up like origami." I pause, then add with a smirk, "You know, you could always shift. I've had shifter friends crash here before in their animal forms."

Marcus blinks, looking taken aback. "I... that's not really..."

"What, afraid you'll shed on my carpet?" I tease, enjoying his discomfort. "Or are you one of those wolves who snores in their sleep?"

He frowns, his brow furrowing. "Wolves don't snore."

"Oh really?" I raise an eyebrow. "And you know this from personal experience, do you? Do you record yourself sleeping?"

A hint of a smile tugs at Marcus's lips. "I'll have you know I'm an excellent sleeper in both forms."

"Uh-huh," I say, grinning. "Sure you are, big guy."

For a moment, the tension between us dissipates, replaced by something lighter, almost playful. Then Marcus nods. "I'll be fine on the floor. I've slept in worse conditions."

I roll my eyes. "Of course you have, Mr. Tough Guy. Let me at least get you a blanket and pillow."

As I rummage through my linen closet, I can't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Here's this guy, assigned to protect me, and I'm making him sleep on the floor. But another part of me, the part that's still stinging from his rejection earlier, whispers that he deserves it.

I return with a spare blanket and pillow, tossing them onto the sofa. "There," I say, gesturing vaguely. "Put it on the floor or whatever. I'm going to bed."

Marcus catches my arm as I turn to leave, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through me. "Zoe," he says softly. "Thank you. And... I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to hurt you."

I swallow hard, torn between the urge to lean into his touch and the desire to pull away. "It's fine," I say, my voice coming out more strained than I'd like. "We both got caught up in the moment. It won't happen again."

Something flashes in Marcus's eyes—regret? Longing?—but it's gone before I can be sure. He releases my arm, nodding. "Right. Goodnight, Zoe."

"Goodnight, Marcus," I reply, retreating to my bedroom.

As I close the door behind me, I lean against it, letting out a shaky breath. This is ridiculous. I shouldn't be feeling this way about Marcus. He's Liam's brother, for crying out loud. And he made it clear that nothing can happen between us.

But as I crawl into bed, I can't help but be acutely aware of his presence just beyond my bedroom door. The memory of our kiss replays in my mind, the feel of his lips on mine, the heat of his body pressed against me. I groan, burying my face in my pillow. This is going to be a long night.

In the quiet of my room, I can hear Marcus moving around in the living room, the soft rustle of the blanket as he settles on the floor. Part of me wants to call out to him, to invite him in, to hell with the consequences. But I resist the urge, squeezing my eyes shut and willing sleep to come.

As I drift off, I can't shake the feeling that everything is about to change.

???

I'm jolted awake by a firm hand on my shoulder, my heart racing as I blink away the remnants of sleep. Marcus looms over me, his expression tense in the dim light filtering through my curtains.

"Wha—" I start, but he cuts me off with a gesture.

"I got a call," he says, his voice low and urgent. "There's an emergency at the construction site. I need to go."

I sit up, suddenly very aware that I'm wearing only a thin tank top and shorts. Marcus's eyes flicker over me for a moment before snapping back to my face, his jaw clenching.

"Okay," I say, running a hand through my tangled hair. "So... go?"

He shakes his head. "I can't leave you alone. You'll have to come with me."

I blink at him, incredulous. "Are you serious? It's the middle of the night!"

"I know, but it's not safe for you to stay here unprotected," he insists, his tone brooking no argument.

I want to protest, to tell him I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself for a few hours. But the memory of that threatening note flashes through my mind, and I find myself nodding reluctantly.

"Fine," I sigh, throwing off my covers. "Give me five minutes to get dressed."

Marcus nods, retreating from my room. As I pull on jeans and a sweater, I can't help but feel annoyance and... something else. The way he looked at me when he woke me up, that brief moment of heat in his eyes before he masked it with his usual stoic expression – it's doing things to me that I really don't want to examine too closely.

We're in his truck within minutes, the pre-dawn streets empty and quiet. Marcus drives with intense focus, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. I stifle a yawn, still groggy from being woken up so abruptly.

"So," I say, breaking the silence, "what exactly is this emergency?"

Marcus glances at me briefly before turning his attention back to the road. "There's been a critical malfunction in the security system at the site. It's causing cascading failures across multiple systems. If we don't get it under control quickly, it could lead to significant delays and potential damage."

I nod, impressed despite myself. It sounds serious, and I can see why it couldn't wait until morning. "And they called you because...?"

"I'm the site supervisor," he explains.

We pull up to the construction site, and I'm surprised by how massive it is. Skeletal structures of half-finished buildings loom against the night sky, surrounded by a maze of equipment and materials.

As we approach the main office trailer, a harried-looking man hurries out to meet us. "Thank god you're here, Marcus," he says, relief evident in his voice. Then his eyes land on me, and his expression turns quizzical. "Who's this?"

Marcus's jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "Did you try calling Liam?" he asks, his voice low and controlled.

The man nods, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Yeah, several times. He's not picking up."

I watch as Marcus's shoulders slump slightly. He takes a deep breath, and I can almost see him mentally shifting gears, pushing aside whatever feelings Liam's absence has stirred up.

"This is Zoe," Marcus answers his earlier question. "She's with me. What's the situation?"

As the man – Jim, I learn – explains the technical details of the malfunction, I find myself zoning out. It's all a bit over my head, to be honest. But watching Marcus take charge, his voice firm and authoritative as he starts issuing orders, is... well, it's kind of hot.

I shake my head, annoyed with myself. Now is not the time to be ogling my supposed protector. Especially when he's been perfectly clear that nothing is going to happen between us.

"Zoe," Marcus's voice snaps me back to attention. "I hate to ask, but since you're here... would you mind helping out?"

I blink, surprised. "Uh, sure. What do you need?"

He gestures to a bank of computers. "We need to reset these systems manually. It's basically just turning them off and on again in a specific sequence. Think you can handle that?"

I nod, oddly pleased that he's including me rather than just leaving me to sit around. "Yeah, I can do that. Just show me what to do."

During a lull in the action, Marcus makes his way back to me. "Sorry about this," he says, running a hand through his hair. "I know it's not how you wanted to spend your night."

I shrug, surprised to find I'm not as annoyed as I thought I'd be. "It's actually kind of interesting. I've never seen a construction emergency up close before."

For the next hour or so, Marcus and I work side by side, resetting systems and troubleshooting issues as they arise. As we wait for one particularly stubborn system to reboot, Marcus leans against the desk next to me, running a hand through his hair. He looks tired, but there's a spark of satisfaction in his eyes.

"You're good at this," he says, nodding towards the computer I've been working on. "Quick learner."

I shrug, trying to ignore the warmth that spreads through me at his praise. I find myself hyper-aware of his proximity. The memory of our kiss flashes through my mind, and I have to resist the urge to lean into him.

"So," I say, breaking the silence, "is this a typical night for you? Dashing off to save buildings in distress?"

Marcus chuckles softly, the sound warming me more than it should. "Not typical, no. But it happens. Part of the job."

"Must be tough," I muse. "Always being on call like that."

He shrugs. "You get used to it. It was the same in the military—you learn to be ready for anything."

I nod, recalling he'd mentioned his service before. "That's right, you were in the military. How long did you serve?"

Marcus's expression softens slightly. "Six years. I enlisted right out of high school."

"What made you leave?" I ask, genuinely curious.

His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "My parents died in a car accident. Liam was only fifteen at the time. I had to come home, take care of him."

The weight of his words hangs in the air between us. I can't imagine shouldering that kind of responsibility so suddenly, especially at such a young age.

"That must have been hard," I say softly. "Taking on that responsibility so young."

Marcus nods, his expression thoughtful. "It was. But Liam... he needed me. And in a way, I needed him too. Gave me something to focus on, you know?"

I do know. I think of all the times I threw myself into my work, into building my career, as a way to avoid dealing with the loneliness of growing up in the foster system.

"Yeah," I say. "I get that. Sometimes it's easier to focus on taking care of others than dealing with your own stuff."

Marcus looks at me then, really looks at me, and I feel like he's seeing right through me. "Is that why you got into beauty work? Taking care of others?"

I blink, surprised by his insight. "I... yeah, I guess so. I never really thought about it that way. But there's something satisfying about helping people feel good about themselves, you know?"

He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "I can see that. You're good at it, too. Making people feel comfortable, I mean."

I feel a blush creeping up my neck. "Thanks," I mumble. "I guess I'm just more used to helping others. That's why... well, that's why this whole situation is so frustrating. I'm not used to needing protection."

He's quiet for a moment, then says, "Needing help doesn't make you weak, Zoe. It makes you human."

His words hit me harder than I expected. I blink rapidly, surprised by the sudden sting of tears in my eyes. "Yeah, well," I say, trying to lighten the mood, "some of us are more human than others, Mr. Wolf."

Marcus laughs, a real, genuine laugh that transforms his face. "Fair point."

His laughter fades, leaving a warm echo in the air between us. The silence stretches between us, comfortable yet charged with unspoken emotions. I can feel Marcus's gaze on me, thoughtful and intense. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, almost hesitant.

"Zoe," he says, "can I ask you something? About Liam?"

I tense slightly but nod. "Sure, what do you want to know?"

Marcus takes a deep breath. "Why did you date him? I mean, what drew you to him in the first place?"

I let out a slow breath, considering my answer. "Honestly? It was... a bit of chaos, I guess. Liam can be charming, you know? And adventurous. After everything I've been through, the idea of something casual, something fun and uncomplicated... it was appealing."

I pause, gathering my thoughts. "I've always had to be so serious, so responsible. Liam felt like a breath of fresh air. And... I was lonely. The attention, the validation... it felt good."

I study Marcus's face as I speak, watching the play of emotions across his features. There's understanding there, but also a flicker of something else—concern, maybe even a hint of jealousy.

Marcus shifts, creating a small but noticeable distance between us. His brow furrows as he processes my words. "I appreciate your honesty, Zoe," he says, his voice low and conflicted.

I can't help but feel a twinge of disappointment as I watch him pull away. There's something about Marcus that draws me in—his unwavering loyalty, his quiet strength, the way he carries the weight of responsibility on his broad shoulders. I find myself admiring the sharp line of his jaw, the intensity in his hazel eyes.

A sigh escapes my lips before I can stop it. It's a shame, really. Marcus is everything I never knew I wanted in a partner. His commitment to family, to duty, speaks to a part of me that craves stability after years of uncertainty. And let's be honest, the man is unfairly attractive. Those strong hands, the hint of a smile that rarely graces his lips—it's enough to make my heart race.

I catch Marcus's gaze from across the room, and for a moment, the air between us crackles with unspoken tension. His eyes darken, and I see a flicker of desire that mirrors my own. But as quickly as it appears, it's gone, replaced by a look of resignation. I know what he's thinking—Liam.

His commitment to his brother is both admirable and frustrating. It's the very thing that draws me to him, yet it's also the barrier that keeps us apart. The irony isn't lost on me, and I have to stifle a bitter laugh. Who knew that finding someone so perfectly suited to me would be so complicated?