Page 39 of Forbidden Virgin Mate

"You're going to be okay," he replies, cupping my face.

"What time is it?" I ask, needing to know.

I see confusion cross his handsome face. "I think it's just after eleven. Why?"

"No!" I cry out, suddenly fighting to stand. My leg gives way, and the nausea rises again. I scream and fall back, Zack catching me in his arms.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I sob as the pain becomes too much, as I fight the nausea before passing out. The last thing I remember is the confusion and worry on Zack’s face.

***

"She's pretty out of it," a man's voice says quietly, almost too quietly. "But we've got her, man. She'll be okay."

I hear the shuffling of footsteps, doors opening and closing, a chair being moved. I'm awake, not out of it, but I’m taking time to figure out what to do. The pain has subsided, but I don’t dare try to move my leg just yet. I don't know if it's been fixed or if I'm just on some really good painkillers.

I know I'm in a bed, and I've never been so grateful for a warm blanket. I thought I was going to die out there. My heart clenches as I remember it was Zack who saved me. I try to fight the tears threatening to escape my eyes as I consider the depth of my betrayal.

The transfer was complete before he even found me. I have no idea if it's already been discovered. Presumably, the security team or hacker they were using will be monitoring the accounts. They're probably tracing it right now, if they haven't already.

It's over.

I can feel Zack's presence in the room. Or rather, my wolf can. I was so driven to stop the transfer this morning that I could ignore the burn and pull of our bond. I wanted to save him more than I wanted to stay with him. But now, in the calm of this room, the gentle beep of some sort of machine in the background, all I can think about is the depth of our bond.

My desire to be with my mate feels like an anchor I can't bear to pull away from. I know that as soon as I open my eyes, reality will come pouring in, and I'll be unable to stop what happens next.

I hear a phone ring. "Hey," Zack answers. "She still hasn't woken up."

There's silence as he listens to what’s being said on the other end of the line. My wolf becomes increasingly distressed, as if she can pick up on his emotions. Whatever he's hearing, he doesn't like it.

"Can you at least tell me what it's about?” he asks. “I can't leave Tanya right now. Tell Mateo I'll be there as soon as I can."

As soon as he mentions Mateo, I know what it's about. They must have traced the transfer and told him to come in. He'll probably be arrested or challenged as soon as he does. How will Diego be able to stand with him at that point?

As he hangs up, I finally test moving my leg. I can't flex it, but it doesn't hurt as much as before. My hands are by my sides, and I slowly reach with my fingers to touch the side of my thigh. I can feel some kind of dressing, but no sharp bone.

I open my eyes a fraction to see Zack standing with his back to me, sending a message on his phone. His body looks wrecked with tension, and he runs an exasperated hand through his hair.

I know what I have to do.

A tear falls from my eye as he turns back to me. His face transforms when he sees that I'm awake, and he rushes to my side.

"Thank god," he says, taking my hand. "How are you feeling? I-I just..." He trails off, clearly not knowing what to say.

My tears begin to fall freely as I grip his hand. How do I find the words to explain my betrayal? I can't believe how everything was when I arrived in town. I thought I was the avenging victim, but in reality, I became the worst kind of perpetrator.

I’m about to break his heart. And in the process, destroy my own.

“I’m so sorry, Zack. I’m so sorry.” I sob. “And I’m sorry about your truck.”

I start to ramble, but he stops me, wiping away my tears. “I don’t care about the damn truck, Tanya. I’m just glad you’re okay. If we hadn’t found you...”

“I didn’t deserve to be found,” I weep.

“What are you talking about? Because you left?” Zack asks, gently cupping my face. “I get it, okay? You don’t want to be with me. Why would you, with all this going on? I think there’s even more happening now, so you probably shouldn’t be with me, anyway. You deserve so much better.”

With that, I completely break down. I try to sit up and move away from him, but he holds me close as I cry. I can feel the confusion coming off him in waves, our mating bond only growing stronger despite our words. I brace myself for what is to come and try to slow my tears so I can speak properly.

“You have to get Diego,” I say, and Zack looks at me questioningly. “And Mateo. Both packs. I have to speak to both packs.”

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