Sky's P.O.V.

At night, as I lie in bed, my mind swirls with thoughts of how to keep Zoe away from Liam. Every time I close my eyes, I see Liam trying to kiss her, and it makes my blood boil. I can't let that happen. I won't.

Liam should never come to know the taste of Zoe's lips. Every inch of her body belongs to me, and I can't let anybody take that right away from me.

I have to think of something because I can't be with Zoe twenty-four hours a day to keep her away from Liam.

Running my fingers through my hair, I sit up, trying to think of a plan. I can't physically hurt Liam because that would only make things worse. But maybe I can scare him enough to make him back off.

An idea strikes me, and I grab my phone and download a voice-changing app. I know what I'm planning to do is wrong, but desperate situations require drastic actions. I can't let Zoe get close to Liam, not when I've accepted my desire for her.

Right now, I may not be able to tell Zoe how I feel and how much I desire her, but that doesn't mean I'll let her be with anyone else. Sooner or later, she'll discover how deeply I long for her. Until then, I'll do everything in my power to keep her from getting close to other men.

I use the app to disguise my voice and dial Liam's number from a new phone number.

"Fuck! What am I doing? It's wrong," I murmur and hang up the call.

Sky, if you don't take action, Liam will win Zoe over. Do you really want that to happen? How long can you keep them apart? You must do this—it's the only way to ensure Liam doesn't snatch her from under your nose.

Yes, I must do this.

After encouraging myself, I dial his number again, and my heart pounds in my chest as it rings. After a few moments, he picks up.

"Hello?" Liam's voice is confused and slightly annoyed.

Clutching my phone, I deepen my voice, making it sound menacing. "Liam, this is a warning. Stay away from Zoe, or you'll face the consequences."

I've crossed a line I never thought I'd breach. However, the intense desire to make Zoe mine has unleashed a fierce passion within me. If someone had told me a few weeks ago that I'd be threatening someone like this, I would have thought they were crazy. But I've changed—the sleeping beast within me has awoken, and I'm now willing to go to great lengths to fulfil my desire.

"What the hell? Who is this?" Liam demands, his tone filled with anger.

"That's not important," I reply, keeping my voice steady. "What matters is that you stay away from Zoe. If you don't, you'll regret it."

There's a brief silence on the other end before Liam speaks again, his voice shaky. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"No joke, Liam. This is your only warning. Leave Zoe alone."

I hang up, my hands trembling. I know what I've done is wrong, but I feel a bit relieved. Hopefully, this will be enough to scare Liam away from Zoe for good.

As I lie back down, I feel a twinge of guilt deep within me, but I push it aside. I did what was necessary to keep her away from Liam. Zoe belongs to me, and I'll stop at nothing to keep her mine.

***

Zoe's P.O.V.

Liam: I need to tell you something important. Meet me now.

As I enter the college in the morning, I receive a text from Liam. I wonder why he wants to meet me so urgently.

Zoe: Okay. I'll see you in the cafeteria in a minute.

I head straight to the cafeteria, curious and a bit apprehensive. My sixth sense tells me there is something serious.

As I walk in, I spot Liam sitting at a corner table, his face pale and tense, and my worry deepens. I hurry over and take a seat across from him.

"Liam, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." I jest, trying to lighten the mood.

He doesn't smile. "Zoe, I got a really strange and threatening call last night. It was about you."

A threatening call about me? What is he talking about?

My brows furrow in confusion. "What do you mean, Liam? What kind of call?"

He leans in closer, lowering his voice. "The caller warned me to stay away from you or I'd face the consequences. It was really creepy, Zoe."

My heart skips a beat, a chill running down my spine. Who could possibly want to threaten Liam because of me?

"Liam, this is serious. Did that person say anything else?"

He shakes his head, his expression grim. "No, he didn't say anything. Just that I should stay away from you."

A shiver runs down my spine. "This is insane. Why would anyone threaten you over me?"

He looks at me, his eyes filled with concern. "I have no idea. But it's serious, Zoe. I don't want you to get caught up in something dangerous."

I nervously fiddle with my pendant. "I'm afraid. What if someone is following me?"

He takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out."

"But how?" I stare at him, my face etched with fear.

He suggests, running a hand through his hair, "We'll see, but for now, it's best if we stay away from each other for a while."

I nod, feeling a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. "I think you're right. We shouldn't meet."

As I stand to leave, he instructs, "Be careful and if anything feels off, you need to tell me right away."

"Okay." I nod and leave the cafeteria, still in shock.

I can't believe someone would go to such lengths to keep Liam away from me. Who could it be? And why?

What if someone is stalking me?

The thought sends a shiver down my spine, and I look around, anxious.