Chapter 27
Amara’s POV
The dining hall buzzed with energy as everyone gathered for dinner. Debby had outdone herself, preparing a feast featuring dishes from her renowned restaurant. The room was filled with the sounds of clinking plates and casual chatter as everyone settled in.
The men returned from their training and meetings, their laughter and conversation adding to the atmosphere. As Zachary walked in, his gaze locked onto mine and he gave me a soft smile. My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly looked down, focusing on cutting my steak.
Zachary moved toward the chair beside me, but Nathan stepped in.
“Let me help you with that” Nathan said, taking the seat instead.
He took my plate and began cutting my food.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the flicker of disappointment in Zachary’s face as he reluctantly took the seat directly across from me, next to Mason.
Mason gave him an apologetic look but stayed quiet.
Ethan and Bethany joined us a few moments later and the room erupted in cheers for the new mates. Ethan looked radiant, his happiness contagious. Everyone raised their glasses to toast the pair. Ethan’s mom and dad seemed so happy and proud of their son and their daughter in law.
Just as the meal settled into comfortable conversation, Dad’s deep voice cut through.
“Everyone, may I have your attention?” The chatter stopped immediately. He looked at me, his tone softer now. “Amara, my love, I know this might seem sudden, but Nathan here has asked for my permission for your hand in marriage”
The air in the room grew heavy and I froze.
Dad continued, “Nathan’s mate cheated and rejected him, also your mom and I are worried about your future. We think it’s time for you to consider settling down. A chosen mate isn’t unheard of it’s common in many packs nowadays”
Silence engulfed the room. All eyes turned to me. My mind raced, but my gaze instinctively sought Zachary. He sat rigid, his jaw tight, his fists clenched on the table. His golden eyes burned with fury, though he said nothing.
I couldn’t stall this any longer. I determined to tell everyone about me and Zachary.
“I...” I started, my voice trembling. “Dad, I want to”
“I’m sorry, Alpha Greg” Zachary interrupted, his voice firm yet laced with desperation. “I don’t think it’s possible for my mate to marry someone else while I’m still alive, I will not allow it. You might have to kill me before taking her away from me”
The room erupted in gasps.
“What did you just say?” William demanded, rising from his seat.
“I am Amara’s mate” Zachary declared, his gaze unwavering as it locked on my father.
Tears welled in my eyes as the room erupted into chaos.
Zachary’s voice rose above it all, explaining how we met four years ago.
He confessed to rejecting me, believing at the time that a mate bond would weaken him and his pack.
He detailed the years of regret and torment he endured, and how fate brought us together again when he sought medical aid for his pack.
Dad sat back, his face unreadable but tense, like a storm barely contained. William, however, shot out of his chair and landed a solid punch on Zachary’s face.
“How dare you do this to my sister?” William bellowed, striking him again and again.
Mason made a move to intervene, but Zachary raised a hand, stopping him. He stood firm, taking every blow without defending himself until Ethan finally stepped in, pulling William away.
“Enough!” Dad’s voice thundered, silencing everyone.
Dad sighed heavily, his tone calmer but still sharp. “I suspected something was off. The way
Zachary watched you when he first arrived, the way he reacted at the ball when Nathan danced with you, I had my suspicions from the start. But I waited, hoping you’d come to me first, Amara”
Tears streamed down my face. “I’m so sorry, Dad. I should have told you sooner. I just...“Mom and Rebecca rushed over, pulling me into a hug. They sobbed quietly, their emotions spilling over as the room settled into an uneasy quiet.
Zachary, bruised and bloody, stood tall, his gaze fixed on me. His vulnerability was clear, but so was his determination.
This was far from over. But for now, I leaned into my mother’s embrace, letting her comfort me as I braced myself for the storm ahead.
----
Zachary’s POV
I stood before Alpha Greg, my heart racing as he asked the question that had been looming over me since I arrived here. “What’s your take on your relationship with Amara, Alpha Zachary? Do you want to reject the bond officially?”
The words felt like a knife to my chest, but I answered with unwavering resolve.
“No, Alpha. I’d rather die than reject my mate. I want Amara. I understand now, truly understand the importance of the Moon Goddess’s blessing. I was foolish before, thinking I could live without her. Now, I can’t imagine my life without Amara by my side. I will wait for her to forgive me,
even if it takes my last breath”
Amara was silent, her gaze locked on me, her eyes filled with a mixture of pain and confusion. I felt Aiden howl in my mind, the deep sorrow of our wolf echoing in my chest. We have hurt her so badly, Aiden mourned and I couldn’t agree more.
Alpha Greg looked at Amara, his voice soft but firm. “What is your decision, Amara?”
She stood, her gaze still unwavering. “I need some time, Dad” she said, her voice trembling. “But Nathan... he’s just a friend. I don’t want to hurt him, but I will not consider any chosen mate, sorry Nathan” She said looking at Nathan, he nodded in response with slight smile.
With that, she turned and fled the room, running to her chambers. I wanted to follow, to beg for her forgiveness, but I stayed rooted to the spot, my heart breaking. She still needs time.
Mason was at my side in an instant, his strong arms supporting me as I collapsed onto the floor. I had never felt more broken.
William’s furious voice echoed in the room. “Dad, Why are we even asking this guy? How can we forgive him? How?”
Alpha Greg’s response was calmer, but no less firm. “William, it is Amara’s decision, not yours”
He turned to Mason. “Take Zachary to his room. Get those wounds cleaned up”
Mason guided me through the halls, his presence a quiet comfort in my turmoil. I collapsed onto the bed in my room, the pain from William’s punches setting in fully. Each blow had been brutal and for a regular wolf, this could have been fatal. But I deserved every hit, every bruise and every insult.
I had caused this. I had hurt Amara. And now, all I could do was wait.
Wait for her to find it in her heart to forgive me.
After a while, I heard a knock on the door.
Mason opened it, and Amara stepped in with a first aid kit.
I sat up, my heart racing as I saw her, her beautiful face, the softness in her eyes.
She approached me slowly, the scent of her filling the air, making it hard to think straight.
“Hi” I managed to say, my voice hoarse.
“Hi” she responded quietly, setting the kit down beside me. Mason, sensing the moment, excused himself and left, leaving us alone.
She sat next to me on the bed, her eyes full of sadness as she inspected my wounds. I saw the hurt in her gaze and it only made my guilt worse. She apologized for her brother’s actions, but I quickly shook my head. “I deserved every hit, Amara. If I were him, I’d have done the same or worse”
She didn’t argue. Instead, she began cleaning my wounds, applying ointment gently. The stinging pain made me wince, but the way she cared for me, so close, was both agony and bliss.
The tingles from her touch spread through me and Aiden purred in approval. Our angel, he whispered in my mind.
“All done” she said softly, handing me some medicine. “Take these and you should feel better by tomorrow”
I watched as she started to rise, ready to leave and my heart sank. I grabbed her hand, the tingles flowing through me. She stopped and I gently turned her to face me, my bruised face no doubt looking like a battered mess.
“Amara, give me a chance. Please” I pleaded.
She hesitated, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “I don’t know. Also, I think you should leave tomorrow for your pack. It will give me the peace of mind and time to think. William will keep tormenting you if you stay more. Can you do that for me?”
I opened my mouth to protest, but realised she is right, I tried to hold onto what little hope I had.
“If that’s what you want, I respect that. I’ll ask Mason to make arrangements for our departure. Anyway I can’t stay away from my pack for too long there’s still rogue danger lurking. I’ll wait for you, Amara. Take all the time you need”
I leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. She froze, her eyes wide with shock, then she quickly pulled away and left the room. My heart ached for her warmth with every step she took.
Mason entered moments later and I filled him in on everything.“What do we do now?” He asked with concern.
“Make arrangements for our departure in the morning, we will inform Alpha Greg and William about this” I told him. “Also, we’ll leave some of our warriors to finish their training here, but we both need to go. It’s better for Amara”
“Yes, Alpha” Mason nodded. “You should rest now”
With that, he left, and I lay back on the bed, feeling a small sense of peace from Amara’s visit. But as sleep claimed me, I was determined about one thing, I would wait for her and in a small corner of my heart I knew, she will come to me.