Page 10 of Pack to the Wall

"You should have told me who she was last night." His voice was quieter now, tinged with a dangerous edge as he thought of someone hurting her.

"Would it have mattered? She's your fated mate, Zev. Nothing else will ever matter the same way again."

And there it was—the simple, stark truth. Nothing else mattered. Not her fame, not her humanity, not even his own reservations.

"She's everything," he whispered, more to himself than to Gerri. The realization settled into his bones with the weight of absolute certainty.

"Then be worthy of her." Gerri paused for a moment. "Meet me at your office. I have something for you."

Zev ended the call and headed straight to his office. His entire existence had been rewritten in the span of thirty minutes. From this moment forward, protecting Chrissy Rivera was hispurpose—not from a sense of duty, but from the deepest, most primal part of himself.

"Nothing will harm her ever again," he vowed to the island breeze.

Zev strode across the private resort grounds toward the main lodge, the tropical breeze ruffling his rolled-up sleeves and tousling his thick brown hair. His unbuttoned linen shirt revealed a tantalizing glimpse of his tanned muscular chest, but he was unbothered by his disheveled appearance right now. His mind was consumed by one thought—Chrissy. Her scent still lingered in his nostrils, making his wolf restless under his skin.

He pushed open the door to his office with more force than necessary, the wood creaking in protest. The spacious room with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the turquoise waters normally calmed him, but not today. His territorial instincts were in full swing, heightened by the knowledge that his fated mate was finally on his island.

Gerri sat perched on the edge of his desk, her petite frame somehow commanding the space. Her lavender pantsuit was immaculate despite the island humidity, not a single white hair out of place in her perfect bob.

"You certainly took your time getting here," she remarked, her blue eyes sparkling.

Zev's jaw tightened. "I needed an extra moment."

"To pull yourself together?" Gerri's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Fated mates tend to have that effect."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "I still think you should've warned me, Gerri."

"And miss seeing the mighty Alpha Zev Landon struck speechless by a slip of a human woman?" She chuckled. "Some things are still worth witnessing firsthand."

Zev growled low in his throat, but there was no real threat behind it. They both knew he respected her too much for that.

"Unfortunately, I can't stay to watch this delightful courtship unfold." Gerri stood, smoothing her already-perfect pantsuit. "I have another urgent appointment. Love never seems to wait for the ideal moment."

"You're leaving? Already?" Zev frowned. He'd expected Gerri to at least stay the night.

She waved a dismissive hand. "Don't look so worried. I've done my part by bringing your fated mate to you. The rest is up to you." She reached into her designer handbag and pulled out a sealed manila envelope. "Before I go, this is for you."

Zev took it, feeling the substantial weight. "What is it?"

"Information on Marty Shriner—Chrissy's manager." Gerri's playful demeanor shifted into something more serious. "I've given Ewan a copy as well. He's already working on it."

Zev's fingers tightened around the envelope, crinkling the paper. "Tell me."

"He's powerful, connected, and furious that his star performer has vanished." Gerri's eyes flashed golden for a brief moment. "And he's a wolf without a pack, which makes him dangerous."

A primal rage surged through Zev's body. His eyes darkened to midnight blue, almost black at the edges. The wolf inside him clawed to the surface, demanding retribution against anyone who would dare threaten what was his.

"Only a fool would make a move against my mate now," he growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave that made even the air in the room seem to still. "If he comes near her, I'll tear out his throat."

Gerri nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response. "Good. Channel that protective instinct, but don't let it control you. Chrissy needs safety, but she also needs space to heal."

She patted his arm as she walked past him toward the door. "Good luck, Alpha. Your mate needs you, whether she knows it yet or not."

"Gerri," Zev called after her. "Thank you."

She smiled over her shoulder. "Just name your firstborn after me," she winked, then disappeared through the doorway, leaving Zev alone with the weight of his newfound responsibility.

The door had barely closed behind Gerri when Ewan strode in, his navy resort polo stretching across his broad shoulders and his cargo shorts revealing legs honed by years of military service. His purposeful gait and tense jaw told Zev everything before he even opened his mouth.

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