Free Web NovelChapter 32: Chapter 32 Zane
Sylvia’s POV
The moment Caesar walked out, the alcohol-induced haze lifted completely. The night air was cool against my flushed skin, sobering me up instantly.
Must be his precious first love calling him away.
Fine. Whatever. Our arrangement was purely physical anyway.
When my alarm blared the next morning, I reached across the bed instinctively—only to find cold, empty sheets. Caesar hadn’t come back. A strange tightness coiled in my chest before I shoved it down.
I dressed mechanically—cream knit sweater, black slacks—bare feet padding across the hardwood. Breakfast was a mindless ritual before I headed to Frostline Enterprises.
But focus eluded me. The way he’d left without a second glance. I drowned the memory in bitter coffee and forced myself to work.
Then my phone lit up.
Selene: Don’t forget Mother’s birthday next Saturday. Bring that mysterious mate of yours. Hugo’s been swamped with pack mergers—such a burden, leading the Eastern Ridge alliance.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
Me: How fortunate for you, landing an Alpha heir. My mate may not run empires, but he’s eager to meet the family. fгeewebnovёl.com
I exhaled sharply. This farce with Caesar was supposed to be temporary.
Selene’s reply came instantly: Of course! We’ll give him a proper welcome.
I slammed the phone down. Let her try. By the time I was done, Selene would regret ever opening her vicious mouth.
The rest of the day crawled by in a blur of spreadsheets and conference calls. I threw myself into work, burying myself in quarterly reports and merger negotiations, anything to keep my mind off Caesar’s empty side of the bed that morning.
By the time I finally left the office, the sun had long since set. The parking garage was eerily quiet, my heels echoing off the concrete as I made my way to my car.
That’s when his voice cut through the shadows.
"Sylvia. Stop."
Zane.
I turned slowly, arms crossed. He looked furious, golden eyes blazing as he stalked closer.
"Look at you," he sneered, scanning my designer clothes. "All polished and pristine. Who’s bankrolling this upgrade? Some desperate Alpha sniffing after scraps?"
I arched a brow. "Did you hunt me down just to whine? I have places to be."
His growl vibrated the air. "Cut the act! You think I don’t know how you clawed your way back into Frostline? Spreading your legs for—"
Zane’s words hit me like a chill wind. I felt the familiar mask slip over my face—calm, cold as winter glass.
I stared Zane down, unblinking, my voice as sharp as shattered ice. "Watch your mouth, Zane. My life isn’t any of your business. What I do, who I see—none of it has anything to do with you. Not anymore."
The flash of anger on his face almost made me smile. For one fleeting moment, he looked startled—caught off guard, as if he’d never known I could talk back.
He stepped closer, his chest puffed out in the way Alpha males thought made them imposing. "Really? You think you’re somebody now? Without me, you’re nothing, Sylvia. Just a useless little Omega clinging to scraps. You’ve always needed someone to save you."
I looked him up and down, deliberate and bored. "Zane," I said, my voice low and even, "if I ever loved you, it was just a moment of blindness. I see you now—and you’re nothing to me. I am not someone you get to insult or control ever again."
For a moment, something flickered behind his eyes. Maybe hurt, maybe rage. But vulnerability and Zane Thorne wouldn’t ever be caught in the same sentence. He stepped forward, the motion quick, and reached for my wrist.
I shifted just out of reach, jaw tight. "Don’t touch me."
His lips curled in a mockery of a smile. "You really think you’re above me now? Stop pretending. You can’t fool me, Sylvia."
He pushed forward, close enough for me to catch the sharp scent of his cologne and something deeper—his wolf hovering at the edges, restless and frustrated.
His next words dripped venom. "Nice car, Sylvia. Must be expensive. Who bought it for you, huh? Found yourself a new Alpha to pay your bills, or did you just up your game and catch a real sugar daddy?"
I fixed him with a flat glare, distaste curling in my gut. I wanted to back away, to get his toxic energy out of my orbit, but I refused to give him the satisfaction. "You know, I used to think you just didn’t understand loyalty. Now I see you’ve never respected a single thing you didn’t own."
He ignored me, mouth twisting as he raked his gaze over the car and then back to my face. "Don’t give me that sanctimonious crap. This car, your clothes—don’t try to sell me on that self-sufficient ’Alpha princess’ nonsense. The last time I saw you at the hotel, you were all over some guy. Don’t pretend like you’re above getting paid."
The urge to slap him was physical, consuming. My chest tightened, but I pressed my nails into my palm and held onto my control.
I took a slow breath, angling my body so he couldn’t pin me against the wall. My voice cooled another few degrees. "If you say one more word, I swear you’ll regret it, Zane."
He hesitated, eyes narrowing, a muscle ticking in his jaw. But then he smirked, shaking off the warning like it was nothing but static between us.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve? Maybe you’re not as cold as you pretend to be. You want respect—you have to earn it, not buy it with someone else’s credit card. But we both know what you really are, right? You’d sell anything for a little power."
I rolled my eyes at him, half-amused, half-exhausted. "You know what’s pathetic? You chase after me with all this bluster, trying to convince yourself I matter. The last time I checked, you had your happily-ever-after. Go to her, Zane. Leave me alone."
He lunged, grabbing my wrist, fingers digging in painfully. "Sylvia, you loved letting me take care of you, didn’t you? All that money, those favors... You owe me, don’t you think? Maybe it’s only fair I collect a little interest."
He pressed me suddenly against the car, breath coming fast, hand reaching for the collar of my sweater, fingers tugging at the fabric.
My heart hammered, rage and revulsion flooding every nerve. I locked eyes with him, refusing to give him a single inch of fear.
"Let go of me, Zane," I growled, voice steady, hands braced. "Touch me again and I swear, you’ll wish you hadn’t." freeweɓnøvel.com
My head spun with adrenaline, muscles coiled. I’d spent years learning how to act weak, how to bite my tongue and wait for permission to breathe. Not anymore.
Zane’s grip faltered, just for a fraction of a second, but the malice in his gaze burned hotter.
