Chapter 20

Xander's POV

Once we all head back outside into the large tent in the quad, I am anxious to see Zahra again. After what Henry told us, I need to see her more than ever. The others are scanning the crowd as well, all of us eager to catch sight of her. I feel a tingle run down my spine, and Oscar and I turn in the direction I am already looking. There she is. Fuck. Every time I see her, I am stunned. She is so fucking beautiful, so strong, and confident. Before, the only time she was confident was when she was training. The rest of the time her shoulders were slightly stooped and rounded, as if she was always hoping to fade into the background and avoid notice. But now she holds herself with such poise, her head high, she stands tall like a warrior.

“Titch! Over here!” I call, as Oscar and I push our way towards her.

“Hey,” she says, her smile wide but a little forced. She’s standing tall, but I notice her fingers clenching and unclenching at the side of her dress. She’s nervous, though I have no clue why. Wanting to ease her in any way I can, I reach out and take her hand. Her fingers are small and soft in mine, and I can feel her pulse racing beneath her skin.

“Come on, the others are over here,” I say, turning to lead her back to the group. Her hand fits in mine so perfectly that for a moment, I forget where we are. It feels right—like something inside me just snapped into place. My whole body relaxes, the restless tension that’s plagued me since we arrived melting away. Goddess, I’ve missed her. More than I realised.

Then she wriggles her fingers free, and the loss is instant. The absence of her touch leaves me unbalanced, raw. If it were up to me, I’d still be holding her close, just like before, back in the entrance hall. Without thinking, I place my hand on the small of her back instead. She shivers at the contact, and Atlas gives a low, approving chuff in my mind. For once, he’s paying attention to something other than his usual brooding.

Mum spots us and beams. “Zahra, darling, Congraduation!” she exclaims, pulling her into a hug before Zahra can react.

I groan, dragging a hand over my face. “Seriously, Mum?” I mutter. “That was awful.”

But Zahra giggles, and the sound hits me like a punch to the chest. Fuck, that laugh could bring a dead man back to life.

“It’s so lovely to see you, precious girl. I can’t wait to have you home this summer,” Mum gushes, still holding her by the shoulders.

But Zahra’s smile falters. Her fingers fidget again, and I catch the faintest edge of anxiety in her scent. Her eyes flick toward Henry, who winces. Something’s wrong.

“What?” Dad asks, his posture straightening as his Alpha instincts kick in.

Zahra flushes, the pink rising up her neck. “Well,” she says hesitantly, “I’ve been invited to a training course this summer. Edwardo personally put me forward. Apparently, it’s a really rare opportunity, so…” She trails off.

She’s going to be at Night Howlers for the summer. Or maybe the Elite Task Force. My heart leaps. That means she’ll be close—within reach again. We might see her at camp, maybe even train together like before. Fucking yes.

But Mum’s face softens with disappointment, her shoulders drooping slightly. “Oh, I see. How long are you home for?” she asks gently. She’s been looking forward to having Zahra back as much as the rest of us.

Zahra takes a small breath. “I need to report to the Task Force training centre on the morning of the tenth, so… a few days.”

Mum forces a bright smile, ever the optimist. “Excellent. A week is nothing to sniff at. We’ll make up for lost time. And once you’re back at the academy, you’re allowed home on weekends and at Christmas in your fourth year, aren’t you?”

Weekends. Christmas. That’s better than I dared hope for. After three long years of no visits, the thought of her being home more often makes something fierce and hopeful burn in my chest. We could actually make plans—weekends at home, maybe even visits to the AC campus. And Christmas. We’ll all be together for Christmas. For the first time in years.

But then I remember her boyfriend, and my mood nosedives. She’ll spend her weekends with him. That fucker. My vision darkens at the thought, and Atlas starts pacing again, snarling low in the back of my mind. I can feel the same tension radiating from Max, Oscar, and Zach too—we’re all thinking the same thing. And none of it is good.