Chapter 31
31
Amir
I carry Anora into the cabin, the door shutting behind us with a quiet click of magic. She turns her head, her eyes sweeping the room, taking it all in. The cabin isn’t huge, but it’s comfortable—cozy even. Thick wooden beams line the walls, their texture worn by time.
It reminds me of simpler times, before the burden of immortality and power rested on my shoulders.
A stone fireplace takes up most of one side of the room, unlit for now, but stocked with fresh firewood. There’s a small kitchen in the corner with dark wood cabinetry and a butcher block counter, and the furniture is simple yet sturdy, covered in warm, earthy tones.
Anora kicks her feet, twisting in my hold. “Put me down, Amir,” she says, her voice soft but firm.
“No,” I reply, holding her tighter. “Not yet.”
The memory of Aya flashes through my mind—seeing her claws at Anora, the terror of almost losing her. It claws at me, deep and raw. I can’t let her go, not even for a second. The fear eats at me, filling every corner of my thoughts. I’ve felt this dread before, this madness that sinks into my bones.
It’s the same madness that made me destroy an entire bear shifter clan with my own hands. Men, women, children—I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I thought they had taken her from me, and it shattered me completely. By the time I realized I was wrong, the forest was silent, soaked with blood.
The metallic scent still haunts me, mixing with the pine needles and earth, a smell that’s burned into my memory forever. Sometimes I still feel the warmth of their blood on my hands, see the horror in their eyes as they realized what I was capable of.
How could I explain this to her? How could she ever look at me the same when she finds out what I’ve done? She’s the only one who doesn’t know why the entire supernatural community trembles when they see me. They know the truth. They know I only need to lose her once to set me off again, and this time? I won’t stop with one clan. The thought alone scares me, but it’s the reality of what I am.
“Amir?” Her voice pulls me back. She’s looking at me, her brows pinched in worry, her hand brushing lightly against my cheek. “Where did you go?”
I force a smile, swallowing the turmoil in my chest. “Nowhere, angel,” I answer. She doesn’t look convinced, but she doesn’t push.
I carry her up the stairs, navigating the layout easily. I know this place—it’s built with the same design as every village the House of Zorah constructs. The master bedroom is spacious, with dark wood walls and thick rugs covering the floor. There’s a bathroom attached, and the bed is large, draped in warm blankets. I set her down gently on the mattress, but her focus isn’t on the room. Her eyes lock on her hand, as though she can’t quite believe how quickly she’s healed.
The sound of the cabin door opening downstairs pulls me from my thoughts. Kane and Tami enter, carrying supplies. I sigh, frustrated by the interruption, but I don’t move. They mean well, bringing clothes and toiletries for Anora. It would be rude to send them away, even though I badly want the time alone.
Dropping to my knees, I reach for her hands and bring them to my lips, kissing each one softly. “I hate that you were hurt,” I say, my voice low. “But I swear this won’t happen again.”
She pulls her hands back, shaking her head. “Amir, stop. This isn’t your fault. But I need you to tell me more about the key. Why is Aya after it?”
I nod, ready to respond, but Kane and Tami enter the room before I can. Kane’s carrying two bags—one full of clothes and the other filled with fresh toiletries. Anora notices Tami immediately and smiles, some of the unease fading from her expression.
Tami waves awkwardly. “Hi,” she says, her voice unsure. She glances at Kane, then bows her head slightly.
Anora looks startled. “No, don’t do that,” she says quickly. I stand, bowing slightly in return to reassure Tami and Kane.
“She’s right,” I say. “We are your guests here, not royalty. Please, no need for formalities.”
Tami seems flustered, glancing at Kane, who shrugs as if to say, “Don’t look at me.” She sighs and straightens up, her expression firm. “I’m Tami, Luna of the House of Zorah,” she says, placing her hand on her chest. “You probably already knew that.”
She shifts the topic almost immediately, her confidence growing. “We’re having a family breakfast tomorrow morning in my cabin,” she announces, pride in her voice. “The entire pack will be there. It’s a new tradition I’m starting.”
I glance at Kane. He’s standing quietly, a faint smile on his face, but I can tell it’s forced. He doesn’t love the idea of a big gathering, not when his favorite moments are the quiet ones with just his mate and their children. But I know Kane. Keeping Tami happy is his top priority, even if it means putting his own wants aside.
I take the bags from him, nodding in gratitude. “Thank you,” I say.
As they settle in and chat briefly, my mind wanders again—this time to Gabriel. The image of Hazel keeping him in check flashes through my head, and I can’t help but smirk at the thought of his bruised ego. Being bested by a Bailey witch isn’t something his wolf will forget anytime soon, and honestly? He deserves it.
This is what I admire most about The House of Zorah. Their loyalty is unmatched, and their instinct to care for their women and families is undeniable. It’s in their blood. They do it effortlessly, without complaint. If more men operated like this pack, the world would be a paradise. They’ve set the standard, the blueprint of what family should be.
It doesn’t mean they’re perfect, but they’ve built a damn good example. One I intend to follow. To provide for Anora. To protect her. To love her.
“Thank you for the offer,” Anora says, her hand still rubbing at the faint reminder of her injuries. Tami’s eyes catch the movement, and her scent shifts slightly. I pick it up immediately—understanding. She knows what Anora feels. She experienced the same pain, though hers was far worse, and she carried that suffering while pregnant.
I take a deep breath, pulling my thoughts back under control. Thinking about what Anora went through ignites a rage I keep tightly locked away, a beast constantly pacing its cage. I focus on Kane as he steps forward, his arm brushing Tami’s lightly as he glances down at her.
“There’s no pressure to attend,” he says, his tone calm but steady. “We understand what you’ve been through. My mate just wants to make sure you know you’re welcome.”
I nod to him, appreciating his consideration. “I want to make sure Anora is properly fed, cleaned up, and rested first. If she feels up to it, we’ll make an appearance in the morning.” Tami nods, clearly nervous but smiling all the same.
Her smile holds strength and beauty. The glow in her olive eyes speaks volumes about how well Kane takes care of her. That man would burn the world down to keep her happy. It’s clear in everything he does.
“We also have a greenhouse behind Gabriel and Olivia’s cabin,” Tami says suddenly. “We grow all our fresh produce there.”
Anora’s eyes immediately snap up at the mention of Olivia, and I catch the hopeful gleam in her expression.
“Olivia?” she says, her voice lifting with excitement. “I finally get to see her again.”
Tami’s brows knit together in confusion. “You know Olivia?” she asks.
Anora nods quickly. Tami exchanges a look with Kane, who gives her a shrug, clearly not connecting the dots.
Tami presses further. “Do you know Nia? She also knew Olivia from the human world.”
Anora shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. ”
Tami taps a finger against her lips thoughtfully, then shrugs again. “Well, that’s nice. I’m sure it’ll be good for you to have a familiar face nearby. I’ll make sure Olivia knows you’re here, if Gabriel hasn’t already mentioned it.”
Kane reaches over and pulls Tami closer to his side, his arm circling her waist. He’s ready to leave, but Tami keeps talking, smiling at Anora.
“There’s some lasagna and a fresh salad downstairs,” Kane offers, his voice polite but direct. “I can plate some and bring it up to you if you’d like.”
I shake my head, putting my weight behind my answer. “No, I’ve got it from here. Thank you.”
Kane smirks slightly, catching the tone in my voice, probably noticing the shift in my scent. He knows I want to be alone with Anora. I can tell he sympathizes, though he doesn’t say it outright. Instead, he tugs at Tami gently, signaling it’s time to go.
Tami pouts a little but gets the hint. “Okay. Please let us know if you need anything. We’re just across the way.”
I bow my head in acknowledgment. “Thank you,” I say.
Anora smiles warmly and waves, her voice soft but cheerful. “See you in the morning.”
I wince at her words but don’t say anything. I’m in no mood to socialize or sit down with an entire pack, but I know there’s no avoiding it now. Just like Kane bends for Tami, I’ll bend for Anora, no matter how much I don’t want to. Whatever she needs, whatever makes her happy, I’ll do it. Every time. Without question.
Kane and Tami finally leave the room, closing the door behind them. I look over at Anora, and her eyes immediately drop to her hand again, tracing over her fingers like she’s reliving everything that happened. It hits me hard seeing her like this, that haunted look still lingering. I hate it. I can’t stand it.
I head straight into the bathroom and start drawing a bath. The water steams up quickly, and I grab fresh towels, setting everything in place. Once it’s ready, I walk back to the bedroom. Anora looks up at me when I step inside, her expression a mix of exhaustion and unease. She swallows nervously, and it hits me hard.
“You’ll soak in the bath, and I’ll prepare your meal,” I tell her. She doesn’t argue, just nods.
“How long can we stay?” she asks, her voice soft. “And I want to check on Hazel. Make sure she’s okay.”
“She’s with Jacob and Angie. She’s fine,” I reassure her. “You’ll see her tomorrow at breakfast, I’m sure.”
She draws in a breath, hesitates, then gives me another nod. I close the space between us and pull her into my arms, holding her close. Her body is warm against mine, and for a moment, everything outside of us doesn’t matter. I press a kiss to her forehead, but she tilts her head back, her big eyes searching mine. I know what she wants, what she’s looking for.
I smile briefly before leaning down, pressing my lips against hers. Her breath catches, but she melts into the kiss, her lips soft and inviting. Slowly, her mouth parts, and I take it as an invitation I can’t resist. My tongue finds hers, tasting her, tangling with her own.
The kiss deepens, pulling me in, and everything about her consumes me—the sweet heat of her breath, the slight shiver that moves through her, the softness of her skin brushing mine.
Then it hits me—her arousal. It’s like a wave, crashing into me, intoxicating and impossible to ignore. It smells sweet and heady, wrapping around me, stirring everything primal inside me. I grip her tighter, feeling the need for her twisting and burning in my chest.
My hands move on their own, sliding from her waist upward, cupping her breasts. She gasps softly against my lips, and I’m so lost in the moment that I don’t realize what I’m doing until she lets out a light, playful giggle.
It pulls me back, snapping me out of the haze. I force myself to stop, quickly dropping my hands and stepping back as if the distance will somehow help. My chest rises and falls with deep, uneven breaths, and I catch the faint pout on her lips. She’s disappointed. That much is obvious.
“I’m supposed to be taking care of you, Anora,” I mutter, feeling my cheeks heat. “Not... fondling you.”
The embarrassment creeps up hard and fast, but the hunger for her hasn’t gone anywhere. If anything, it’s getting worse. Each passing moment, the need to claim her, to be inside her, to sink my teeth into her delicate skin grows stronger. I want to mark her, to let the world see the proof that she belongs to me and me alone.
It’s primal and consuming, different from any desire I’ve ever known. This isn’t just lust - it’s a bone-deep need to make her irrevocably mine, to bind her to me in every way possible.
I run a hand over my chest, trying to steady myself, but it doesn’t help. She doesn’t make it any easier either, flashing me a wicked grin.
“There’s nothing wrong with doing both,” she says teasingly.
Before I can respond, she turns and walks toward the bathroom, confidence returning to her step. Her smile over her shoulder is enough to send a fresh wave of heat through me, and when she brushes past me, the faintest touch of her skin against mine almost cracks my control .
I don’t wait around. With a shaky exhale, I teleport immediately to the kitchen, because if I stayed any longer, I’d have torn off her clothes and dragged her back to the bed. I don’t trust myself right now.
Staring at the food doesn’t help much either. I narrow my eyes at it, silently wishing I could just hand her a salad and call it done. But I know better. She needs strength, a full, proper meal. I exhale sharply, steeling myself, and start searching the cabinets for plates, cups, and utensils.
I focus solely on preparing her food, letting the routine distract me as much as possible. Anything to stop the relentless urge bubbling under the surface.