Chapter 33
Zachary’s POV
The moment we reached the pack house, I couldn’t stop stealing glances at Amara. Every smile she gave, every subtle movement it stirred something deep within me. Her presence was like a soothing balm to my restless soul.
Aiden, purred every time she walked past or looked my way. “Our mate is here. She’s safe. She belongs with us” he would murmur, content yet yearning for more.
Dinner was lively, filled with laughter and banter, but my attention kept drifting to her. She looked radiant, even after everything she had been through. Her strength and compassion were unmatched and I couldn’t help but admire her even more.
Then Rose, in her usual teasing manner, decided to drop a bomb.
“So, Amara, where do you want to sleep tonight?”
I choked on my food, coughing as my face heated up. Amara’s cheeks flushed a deep red, her expression a mix of embarrass ment and surprise. Mason and Sam burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the chaos.
Rose, looking smug, held up her hands. “Relax, I was just teasing”
She quickly added, “We’ve prepared a separate room for you, Amara. It’s on the same floor as Zachary’s. He thought you’d feel more comfortable there”
Amara’s face fell for just a moment, a flicker of disappointment that she quickly masked. But I noticed. Aiden noticed too.
“She wanted to stay with us” Aden growled softly in my mind.
“She still needs time” I reminded him, though the thought of her willingly coming to my room made my heart race. “We can’t rush this”
She responded politely, her voice steady. “That’s very thoughtful. I like that”
I nodded, keeping my face neutral, though my chest ached with longing. I wanted nothing more than to tell her that she belonged by my side, but I knew better. I would give her all the time she needed.
After dinner, we all retreated to our rooms. I had asked Rose to ensure Amara’s room was comfortable and had everything she might need. As much as Aiden protested, I knew it was the right thing to do.
Once in my room, I finally let out a deep breath. It felt strange to be back in my bed after weeks of sleeping on that tiny hospital sofa. The spacious king-size bed suddenly felt foreign, almost too big.
Aiden growled in frustration. “We should check on her. Make sure she’s settled”
“She needs rest” I replied, though the urge to see her was overwhelming.
I thought about taking a run to release some of the pent-up energy, but the exhaustion from the past few weeks was catching up to me. “Tomorrow, Aiden. We’ll run tomorrow”
As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind raced with thoughts of her. She was here, in my house, where she belonged. She had chosen to stay. To me, that was the greatest victory of all.
With that hope lingering in my heart, I closed my eyes. Sleep didn’t come easily, but when it finally did, it brought a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time. All I had to do was be patient.
The crisp morning air greeted me as I stepped out of my room, already dressed in just my brown shorts. A run was exactly what I needed, not just for Aiden, but for me too. Weeks of stress had built up and I hadn’t let Aiden out after the fight.
I padded down to the kitchen for a glass of water and then headed toward the front door. As I stepped outside, a sight stopped me dead in my tracks Amara.
She was curled up on the patio, a book in her hands, draped in a soft shawl over her nightdress.
The early sunlight kissed her features, making her look serene and peaceful. For a moment, I stood frozen, taking her in. She looked so cozy, so utterly perfect.
A sigh escaped my lips before I could stop it and her head whipped around. Her green eyes widened when she saw me standing there in nothing but my shorts.
“Good morning, beautiful” I said, walking toward her with a smile.
She blinked at me, her expression shifting as a faint blush crept up her cheeks. She quickly masked it and gave me a warm smile. “Good morning”
I leaned against the railing, unable to hide my curiosity. “How come you’re up so early? Is the room not comfortable?” I asked, concerned.
She shook her head. “Not at all. The room is lovely. I just woke up early, no particular reason.
Eva’s a little restless too, so I thought I’d read for a bit before everyone woke up”
I nodded, understanding. “I get that. Aiden’s been restless too. That’s why I’m heading out for a run”
In my head, Aiden was pacing. “Ask her to join us. Eva’s wants to run too, I can feel her anxiety. I want to run with our mate”
I hesitated. The thought of running with her was tempting, but what if she refused? Would it make things awkward between us? Deciding to let it go, I turned and started toward the forest.
“Hold on!” her voice rang out behind me.
I stopped and turned to see her hurrying down the steps, her shawl trailing behind her. My heart did an odd little flip at the sight.
“What is it, Amara? Is everything okay?” I ask.
She smiled, slightly out of breath. “Yes, everything’s fine. I was wondering... Can I join you for the run? Eva’s been tormenting me ever since she heard your plan. Please?”
She just recovered from major injuries. It will be risky for her. Then, she looked up at me with those puppy eyes and I swear my resolve crumbled into dust. This girl would be the death of me.
Aiden practically howled with excitement. “Say yes, you fool! She wants to be with us!”
I smiled at her, my voice soft. “Of course, Amara. I’d love that”
Her face lit up and without hesitation, she darted behind a tree to shift. I turned away, giving her some privacy, though wolves didn’t care much about nudity. A moment later, I heard the rustle of her shift and when I turned back, Eva stood there, her white fur shimmering like moonlight.
She was breathtaking.
Not wanting to waste any time, I went behind the same tree and shifted into Aiden.
He was out and ready, bounding toward Eva with a low growl of affection.
He nuzzled her, nudging her playfully. She responded in kind, her tail wagging as she gave him a playful nip before sprinting off toward the forest.
Aiden let her go for a head start, his excitement bubbling over. “She’s adorable and she wants to play” he growled before bolting after her.
Eva ran like the wind, her movements fluid and graceful. Aiden howled, letting her know he was coming. She glanced back at us, a spark of mischief in her eyes and pushed herself to go even faster.
It only pumped up Aiden’s determination. He sprinted faster, closing the gap between us until, with a powerful leap, he tackled her. They tumbled onto the forest floor, leaves scattering around them.
Aiden nuzzled at her belly, making her squirm and coo in delight. Eva playfully nipped at his ear before Aiden licked her face affectionately.
After their playful exchange, we both got up and ran toward the lake. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the water. Aiden and Eva lay side by side near the shore, content.
In that moment, everything felt right in the world. The chaos, the pain, the uncertainty all of it faded away, replaced by the simple joy of being with her.