Chapter 12

Zahra's POV

We chatter and banter catching up on three years of pack gossip, while I much my way through a stack of sandwiches almost as tall as I am. Afterwards, I head up to my room, planning to shower and get ready for the gathering. However, when I get into my quiet old room, I’m unable to settle, I fail at finding a phone charger, so my phone remains blank and silent. That combined with not training today or properly yesterday, I’m feeling fractious.

I can’t sit still. My skin feels too tight, nerves fizzing under it. If I don’t move, I’ll climb the walls. I’ve got an hour before everyone else arrives, so I pull on a training set, twist my hair into a messy bun, and take the stairs down to the basement gym.

The space smells faintly of rubber matting faint citrus cleaner, and Alpha Lucas. A few machines face the mirror and the old punch bag hangs in its usual corner. I shove in my earbuds, put my iPod onto random shuffle and set the treadmill to a brutal incline and a pace that borders on punishment, then I just run.

My footfalls thud steadily on the belt, and the mechanical wiring is lost under the music blaring into my ears. I Breathe in, out, in. Zanthe dozes in the back of my mind, paws tucked, tail flicking. I let my thoughts wander where the rhythm lets them. The guys have almost all found their mates. Ralph and Noah too. Since I last saw Brant, his whole unit has apparently mated up as well. Lincoln’s unit found theirs, although he’s still waiting for his Luna. As for the royals… no one said much. Every time Tobias’s name brushes my thoughts, my stomach drops like I missed a step in the dark, so I don’t press.

Time slides as I lose myself to the monotony of the run, and my thoughts. I’m aware of the sticky heat, and lack of a breeze in here, and subconsciously wish I’d run outside. I’m so deep in the bass of the track and the thud of my shoes that I don’t hear the door until a noise cuts through the music. I glance up and see Xander reflected in the mirror in front of me, as he stands beside the rack behind me, arms crossed and an amused look of confusion on his handsome face. 

“Wow, Zahra, you’re not hanging around, are you!”

I hop onto the side plates, and hit the stop button on the treadmill, then I pause my music and pull out an earbud. Xander leans against the rack opposite,

“Well, I’ve not got long,” I say, grinning despite myself. “And I needed to burn some energy after today.”

He nods. “I can imagine. After a quiet few years, it’s probably been pretty overwhelming.”

“Ha. You could say that again.”

I grab the towel I brought with me, and swipe at my face. Then hop off the treadmill, heading toward the punch bag.

‘He’s staring,’ Zanthe murmurs, awake now, stretching like a cat. ‘Don’t you dare blush.’

‘I’m not blushing.’ I absolutely am.

Xander joins me at the bag.

"Want help wrapping your hands?" he asks, voice gentler than I remember.

I shake my head. "We don't wrap at the academy. If you're in a fight, you don't have time to protect your hands. Better to toughen the knuckles in training."

Xander's brows lift. A slow grin spreads. "You're so hardcore now."

He steps behind the bag, palms flat to steady it. I bounce on my toes once, twice, then let the punches roll. Jab. Cross. Hook. Elbow. Leather thuds under my fists and the chain creaks. Xander takes the drive of each hit in his shoulders without a word. He just holds for me, bracing when I switch angles, adjusting when I change tempo. My wrists sting in a good way. Heat blooms across my shoulders and down my back. I know he came down here for his own session, but he stays put.

When my alarm blares, I drop my hands, breathing steady, a light sheen of sweat cooling on my skin. Satisfaction settles low and warm.

"Goddess, you're a beast now, Titch. You're not even winded and you're barely sweating." Xander gives me an exaggerated up‑and‑down. He is almost as sweaty as I am just from anchoring the weight.

"I think I had more of a workout than you did, and I was only holding your bag," he adds, laughing.

I grin up at him. He scrubs a hand through his hair and the humour in his eyes thins into something else. I feel the shift and wait, giving him space to find words.

Instead, he steps in and folds me into his arms.

"It is fucking amazing to see you, Zahra. I have missed you so much."

I squeeze him back before I can think better of it. "I have missed you too. You have no idea." His scent hits me, cedar and bergamot, clean and grounding. Someone should bottle this. I’ve not felt this relaxed in three years.

To my horror I realise I am breathing him in like a creep, and then realise he is doing the same.

"Goddess, Zahra, you smell good," he murmurs against my temple.

I snort. "I smell gross. I really need a shower."

"Just a sec. I really need this right now." The quiet in his voice drags at something in my chest.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

He shakes his head once. "So much has happened. I don't know where to begin. This is the closest to alright I have been since the day we left you at the academy."

‘He means it,’ Zanthe purrs, pleased. Warmth spreads along my ribs, the last ache easing as she finally bothers to finish healing me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I ask.

"Honestly, yes. But we don't have much time." He pulls back. His face looks tired and a little hopeless. It makes my chest ache.

We look at each other. I realise I don't have to tip my head back as far to meet his eyes. A soft smile quirks my mouth.

"You've grown so much. You're not so titchy anymore." His smile is still sad. "Just as beautiful as ever, though." He kisses my cheek, lingering a second longer than is customary.

"Xanny, where are you, babe?" Helena's screech cuts across the quiet from the corridor.

My hackles rise. Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard.

Xander exhales a quiet groan and lets me go. We turn as the door swings open.

"There you are, babe. It's time to get ready. Your mum says the guests will be here soon." She holds out a hand and crooks her fingers at him like he is a toddler. Then her gaze lands on me, taking in my flushed, sweaty face. Her nose wrinkles. "I am sure Zahra will want to make herself presentable as well."

Xander's jaw ticks.

"I am just on my way to shower actually. Thanks for the reminder, Helena." I grab my towel and water bottle, shoulder past her without touching, and take the stairs two at a time. My pulse settles only when the gym door closes behind me.