Chapter 32
Amara’s POV
I lay in my hospital bed, exhausted but surrounded by warmth as my parents, Ethan, his mate and everyone from Night Blood filled the room. Zachary had stepped aside to give my family some space, though his watchful gaze never left me.
Mason was the first to speak, his grin wide and filled with relief. “Welcome back, Luna. You gave us quite the scare”
I can’t get used to that title. I smiled faintly. “Thank you, Mason”
He shook his head, his voice confident. “You’re the strongest she-wolf I’ve ever seen. We’re lucky to have you as our Luna. Thank you for fighting for us.”
I glanced down, feeling a little overwhelmed. “It’s nothing much. I just... I care about you all.
You’re my friends. That’s all”
The room went silent for a moment. Then I whispered, “Don’t call me Luna. I’m just Amara for you all. Besides, I have not accepted the title myself”
The tension was instant. I knew they’d all heard it. I wasn’t bonded to Zachary, not officially. The words hung in the air, and when I glanced at Zachary, the hurt in his eyes pierced through me.
Sam broke the silence by clapping Zachary’s shoulder. “Well, we’ll leave her to rest. Right, Mason?”
Mason nodded, giving me a small wink before walking out. “Take care, Amara. You’ve got the entire pack rooting for you”
The others began filing out as well, leaving only my parents, Ethan, Dr. Smith and Zachary.
Mom hugged me tightly, her voice trembling. “I missed you, sweetheart. Don’t scare your poor mother like this again”
Dad stepped closer, his expression soft but firm. “You scared me princess. Come back home with us, Amara. It’s safer there. Your mom and I will take care of you”
Before I could answer, a low growl echoed through the room. All eyes turned to Zachary, who was stiff with tension. Dr. Smith quickly stepped in.
“I think it’s better if she stays here, Alpha Greg. Amara needs regular care, she is in no position to travel and it’s best she remains where we can monitor her closely”
Ethan nodded in agreement. “I’ll stay with her, here. You don’t need to worry. She’ll be fine”
Dad looked hesitant, his concern evident. He turned to me. “Are you sure about this, Amara?”
I reached out and squeezed his hand. “I’m okay, Dad. I want to stay here. I’ll be fine, I promise”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zachary release a breath he seemed to have been holding. His shoulders relaxed and I caught a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“Alpha Zachary, we will staying at your pack house, till Amara get’s better and discharged. If that’s okay with you” Dad asks Zachary.
“Of course Alpha Greg” Zachary says with confidence.
Mom was still reluctant, but Dad wrapped his arm around her. “Alright, let’s go honey” he said, giving Zachary a meaningful look. “Take care of her”
“Always” Zachary replied, his voice steady and resolute.
As my parents left, Ethan gave me a reassuring smile before following them. Dr. Smith excused himself shortly after, leaving me alone with Zachary.
He stepped closer to my bed, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he looked at me. “Thank you for choosing to stay”
I tilted my head at him. “I hope that’s okay with you, Alpha. I made the decision to stay in your pack without asking for your permission”
A growl escaped his lips and he leaned down slightly. “This is your pack too, Amara. You don’t need my permission for anything. After everything we have been through... And for the sake of goddess stop calling me Alpha”
He closed his eyes for a second to compose himself. He opened them, his voice softened as he added, “Please, get better and come home, with me”
Before I could respond, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. Then, without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving me with a mix of emotions and wide eyes.
Over the next four days, the hospital room became a revolving door of visitors. Bethany and
Rose would burst in, their laughter lighting up the room.
Rose teased me endlessly. “If you didn’t want to be called Luna, you should’ve thought twice before leading warriors into battle. It’s pretty much what a Luna would do, if you ask me”
I laughed. “I think it’s just called being reckless”
Bethany chimed in. “Well, reckless or not, we’re glad you’re okay. You’re kind of the glue keeping our favourite Alpha together” I blushed at her words.
Sam and Mason visited every day too, bringing stories and lighthearted banter. Mason was the worst of them, always teasing.
“You know” Mason said one evening, leaning casually against the wall, “we were starting to think Zachary would never smile again until you woke up”
Sam smirked. “He still doesn’t smile. He just growls less now”
I glanced at Zachary, who was sitting silently in the corner, watching the exchange with a stoic expression. His lips twitched, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he stood and muttered, “I’ll be back later” and went out.
Sam snorted as he left. “See he’s hopeless”
Every night, Zachary stayed on the small sofa in my room. Despite his tall well built figure, he somehow managed to curl up there, looking impossibly uncomfortable.
“You know” I said one night, my voice soft, “you could go back to your own bed. You don’t have to stay here”
He glanced at me from the sofa, his expression unreadable. “I’m not going anywhere. Just rest, Amara”
With that he just closed his eyes and fell asleep. And so, did I.
A week later...
I sat on the hospital bed, dressed and ready to leave. My parents stood beside me, their expressions a mix of pride and sadness. Ethan and Bethany were there too, saying their goodbyes.
Mom took my hand, her eyes brimming with tears. “Amara, you’ve decided to stay and I respect that, but it’s hard for me to leave you behind”
I squeezed her hand gently. “Mom, I’m fine. You and Dad have done so much for me already. It’s time for me to take my own steps now”
She sniffled and continued, “One thing I’ve noticed during our time here, Zachary has changed. He’s not the same Alpha who hurt you before. Amara, he loves you. There was no life in him while you were in a coma. He took care of you like no one else could.
Your dad and I believe he deserves a second chance. But the decision is still yours”
She kissed my cheek, her words sinking deep into my heart.
Dad nodded, his expression solemn but supportive. “I was against him before, but he’s proved me wrong. Whatever you decide, we’re with you, as always”
Ethan stepped forward, his brows furrowed. “Amara, are you sure I should leave? I can stay for a little longer if you need me”
I smiled at him, shaking my head. “Ethan, you’ve already spent so much time here taking care of me. It’s not fair to Bethany or to your dreams. Blue Moon needs you. The pack hospital needs you. You’re meant to be there”
Bethany, standing beside him, nodded with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Amara. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he doesn’t overwork himself”
Just then, Zachary and Mason walked in. Zachary’s sharp eyes scanned the room, his tone casual but curious. “What did I miss?”
Ethan replied in a low voice, “Nothing, we were just saying our goodbyes”
Zachary greeted everyone with a soft smile. Mason, ever the helpful one, gestured to the door. “I’ll drop them off at the pack border”
One by one, my family hugged me. Mom whispered in my ear, “Take care of yourself, sweetheart. And think about what I said”
Dad’s hug was firm and reassuring. “Remember, no matter what, we’re just a call away”
Ethan gave me a knowing look. “Don’t forget what you’re capable of, Amara”
As they left, a wave of sadness washed over me. Eva stirred in my mind, her tone soft. “They’re right, you know. Our mate has won over everyone. He’s... so cool and hot at the same time”
I sighed and shushed her, not wanting to think too much about my mate’s hotness right now.
Zachary moved closer to me, his voice low and steady. “Don’t worry. I’ll always be here for you”
He picked up my bag and gestured toward the door. We thanked Dr. Smith before heading to Zachary’s SUV. The ride to the pack house was quiet, but I could feel his eyes on me every few seconds.
I finally broke the silence. “You’re going to crash if you keep looking at me instead of the road”
His lips twitched into a small smile. “I’m a better driver than that, but noted”We reached the pack house quickly. Rose and Sam were waiting outside, their grins wide as they greeted me.
Rose hugged me tightly. “Finally, out of that boring hospital! You’re back where you belong”
Sam added with a chuckle, “And just in time for dinner. Let’s go inside”
The living room was warm and inviting and I felt a sense of peace for the first time in days. A few pack members stopped by to thank me for my help during the rogue attack, their gratitude overwhelming.
“You’re the hero of this pack” one of them said.
I smiled, feeling humbled. “I just did what anyone else would’ve done”
I saw Zachary beaming with pride and joy.
Dinner was lively, filled with banter and laughter. Mason joined us midway, his mood as light as ever.
Rose, of course, couldn’t help herself. “So, Amara, where do you want to sleep?”
I nearly choked on my food, coughing as Zachary froze, his eyes wide. Mason and Sam burst into laughter, their amusement echoing through the room.
Rose smirked, holding up her hands in mock innocence. “Relax, I was just teasing you”
She sobered slightly and added, “We’ve prepared a room for you. It’s on the same floor as Zachary’s. He thought you’d feel more comfortable there”
I felt a strange twinge of disappointment but pushed it aside. “That’s thoughtful. I like that” I said, glancing at Zachary.
He nodded, his expression unreadable.
The rest of dinner continued with more jokes and stories. Afterward, I settled into my new room. It was cozy, but I couldn’t shake the mix of emotions stirring within me.
Eva broke the silence in my mind. “He loves us. You know that, right?”
I sighed, recalling my mom’s words and the look in Zachary’s eyes. “Maybe, but why didn’t he ask us to move to his room?” I whispered, closing my eyes.
“You would have declined it anyway. So why bother” Eva huffed.
With that thought lingering, I drifted off to sleep.