Chapter <b>25 </b>
Aria’s POV
“AHHH–T
Screams rang out all around me as I fell. My wolf saved me at thest second, but <b>I </b>stillnded <b>hard </b>and twisted my ankle badly.
“Arial” 1 heard <b>Jace </b>shout, panicked.
In a sh. Zane <b>was </b>already at my side. He gently scooped me <b>up </b>in his arms.
“Are you <b>okay</b>?” he asked.
I was trembling from the pain. “<b>Yeah</b>…No God it hurts…I t
I think 1 I twisted my ankle.”
“Twisting your ankle from ten<b>–</b>meter fall? Did you forget you’re a werewolf?” he teased.
“Not a goddamn warrior, okay?” I muttered.
Jace came running over too, visibly freaked out. He reached for my foot to check the injury. “Fuck… are you okay?”
But Zane blocked Jace’s hand
“Did you try to kill her?” he asked sharply.
I froze. So did Jace–his face twisted in shock and fury. “WTF did you just say?!”
<b>“</b>Lasked if you pushed her on purpose and tried to kill her.”
“NO!” Jace shouted. “God, <b>what </b>the hell is wrong with you?! Why would I <b>want </b>to kill her?!”
Zane stood up straight, eyes locked on Jace. That usual yful grin was gone–his expression turned cold. Almost scary. “You <b>said </b>yourself this deal meant everything. Aria got it <b>and </b>you didn’t. Maybe you wanted to get <b>rid </b>of the obstacle.”
“For fuck’s sake. She’s a <b>damn </b>werewolf! If I wanted her dead, I’d poison her drink, not push her off a fucking balcony!” Jace
snapped. Zane turned to <b>nce </b>at the edge where I fell “Shended barely half a meter from <b>that </b>statue. One wrong angle <b>and </b>she’d be skewered like <b>a </b>kebab.”
I followed his gaze and shivered.
He was right. Less than half a meter away was a decorative statue holding a sword. If I’dnded on that. I’d rather not to think <b>about </b>it.
Jace snarled, “OK, but still! I wouldn’t kill <b>someone </b>over a <b>damn </b>contract! Do you really think I’m some kind of psycho?!”
“I saw you push he. I would nevery hands on a girl like that. So why did you do it, <b>Jace</b>?<b>” </b>
<b>Jace’s </b>face went red. His nostrils red.
He was quiet for a moment, then finally muttered through gritted teeth<b>, </b>“Whatever <b>man</b>. Believe whatever the fuck you want. But seriously, Zane? What’s with the white knight act? She’s Grayson’s bitch, not yours. You just met her. What’s in it for you to defend her like that?”
“I felt like it,” Zane shrugged. “Honestly, just stay away from her, okay? Or I might just go have a <b>chat </b>with Grayson about all <b>this</b>—even if thinking about that makes me wanna puke.”
Jace looked like he <b>was </b>about to explode from pure rage.
“You ready for the <b>hospital</b>?” Zane bent down to <b>ask </b>me. I nodded and tried to push myself up, but he just scooped <b>me </b>into <b>his </b>arms again like it was nothing.
<b>“</b>Wait! You don’t <b>have </b>to
“Rx. This isn’t the first time I’ve carried a girl like this. Just <b>a </b><b>shame </b>it’s not to the bedroom.” He smirked.
040 AM
<b>? </b>
He carried me outside. A spons car <b>was </b><b>already </b>parked at the entrance. He slid me into the passenger <b>seat </b>before jumping into the
driver’s seat.
“Buckle up. We’ll be at the hospital in 107 And with that, the car sped off,
“And hey, thank you. For <b>the </b>contract. <b>And </b>for standing up for me back there,” I said sincerely,
“No big <b>deal</b>,” he shrugged,
There was our question I couldn’t stop myself from asking “Aren’t <b>you </b>and Jace… friends? Weren’t you worried what you said back there might ruin things between you two?”
Hewcoffed. “Friends? Please, 1 don’t have as many friends as you think, And Jace’s certainly not one of them.”“
<b>Ok </b>then. Poor Jace. He probably thought he was best buds with a rich heir, but turns out the guy never respected him at all
“Besides,” Zame added, “even if he was my friend, I’m not gonna stand by and watch him try to kill you.”
I blinked. Thenughed. “Come on, Jace would never. You totally got it wrong
“You sure? Half a meter, <b>Aria</b>. That’s all it would’ve taken.”
A chill crept up my spine, but I shook my head. “No. Not a chance, Jace might insult me, set me up, <b>make </b>up lies, but murder? He isn’t capable of something like that,”
“Underestimating the people you think <b>you </b>know is dangerous. They’re the ones <b>who </b>know where to hit hardest,” Zane said quietly and nced at me. “How can you be so naive? I thought Grayson’s girl <b>should </b>be at least half as hypersuspicious <b>as </b>he is
“Stop the car?” I suddenly shouter.
“What! What’s wrong?”
<b>“</b><b>Alpha </b>Grayson! I was supposed to have dinner with Alpha Grayson tonight. Oh my god–Ipletely forgot!” I cried in panic.
I checked the time. It was almost 9 pm. I was over an hourte.
<b>Zane </b>burst outughing. “Holy <b>shit</b>, you stood up Grayson! That’s a first.”
I grabbed his <b>arm</b>. “Forget the hospital–take <b>me </b>to the restaurant now!”
“No can do. I’m not your personal chauffeur,” he grumbled.
“Then I’ll jump out here and walk.” I reached for the door.
<b>Okay</b><b>, </b>okay! Geez, you’re insane. Finel <b>Give </b>me the address.”
I did. Then I spent the entire ride begging him to go faster. But of course, we <b>hit </b>traffic, and it took nearly an hour to get
By the time <b>we </b>arrived, <b>it </b>was <b>almost </b>10.
<b>there</b>.
I hopped out on one foot and rushed to the restaurant entrance. But when I gave the receptionist the name of the reservation, she <b>gave </b>me an apologetic smile.
“He already left a long time ago.”
Of course he did.
I was <b>two </b>hourste–why would he still be waiting <b>for </b>me?
This was something I’d been looking forward to for so long. And Ipletely blew it.
I walked out of the restaurant, devastated, Zane <b>was </b>leaning against his car, arms crossed.
“No luck, huh?” he smirked.
“God, I’m so stupid,” I mumbles. I <b>was </b><b>almost </b>too <b>miserable </b>to speak. “He must be so pissed.”
<b>0:48 </b>AM
Zane snorted. “Grayson? Please. That guy doesn’t have <b>actual </b>emotions. He’s not wasting energy being mad at you. You <b>think </b>he
heartbroken or angry or something? More likely he’s already moved on to the next ten hot girls waiting in line.”
<b>I </b>shook <b>my </b>head, not even bothering to answer.
站
he’s
He suddenly moved closer, throwing an arm around my shoulder with a huge grin. “Hey, since we’re both free now, how about I take <b>you </b>on a date instead?”
“Get off me, Mr. Elrod”
Come on, soon you’ll see that <b>I’m </b>a <b>lot </b>more fun than Grayson-
That’s when it happened.
Suddenly, a car across the street roared to life and swerved toward us, tires screeching. It skidded right up to Zane’s car and mmed the brakes, blindin
us with its headlights.
“WTF! What’s wrong with you?!” Zane shouted.
The driver’s door mmed open and a tall figure emerged
<b>Aria</b>. Get in the car,” Grayson said coldly, dark eyes locked <b>on </b>Zane.
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