LOGINMax's POVI wake slowly, aware of warmth before anything else.Zahra is curled into my side, her body tucked tight against mine, her head resting on my chest and one hand fisted in my shirt. It’s where she’s been since she finally stopped crying, and fuck, her tears almost broke me.I don’t know how to fix this.I hate seeing her like this, so broken, so small. So not herself. What did I expect, though? Somehow, in all my fantasies of having her back and rescuing her, I never stopped to think about the aftermath, or what state she would be in. I always imagined we would find a healthy Zahra, her normal, happy self, ready to come home. Not a broken shell of herself.I don’t move. I just stare down at her profile, at the gentle curve of her cheek, the sharp, unnatural angle of her cheekbones, and the prominent line of her jaw that you usually can’t see. The gentle slope of her nose. Her blonde hair falling slightly over her face, her lashes fanning across her cheek as her eyes move gent
Xander's POVA surge of white-hot fire lances down my ankle.“AGH!” I exclaim, clutching at it. I pull back my jean cuff to look, certain there’s going to be blood or something, but there’s nothing.Confused, I turn and see Max doing exactly the same.Then searing heat blooms over my ribs, the pain almost blinding me. Max groans and doubles over.“What the fuck?” I exclaim.The tension in my chest intensifies, like an elephant has suddenly sat down on me, and with the constricted feeling, fear blooms hot and fast. I smell Max’s fear at the same time.“What’s going on?” His voice comes out choked.'Zahra. Get to Zahra. This isn’t your pain or fear.'Atlas surges forward, wanting to take over and get me there himself. I scramble up, my feet barely staying under me, and tear out of the room towards the stairs. Max is at my side, jostling for the lead, but we bolt down the corridor side by side.I don’t bother knocking. I twist open the door, and we shove our way inside.Zahra is wrapped
Xander's POVI’m not sure this was a good idea.I’m watching Zahra as she eats her lunch, but something feels off. I’m getting this strange, swirling sensation in my stomach, like panic and worry tangled together. She looks calm on the surface, but her eyes keep scanning the garden, and her heartbeat is too fast.I don’t know how to help her.Atlas is watching her through my eyes. Ever since she freaked out over us not taking her to our house, Zanthe has been unsettled. Apparently, she shouted at him and Medus that we were hiding she-wolves from them, that we were ashamed to have her in our space.Atlas did his best to comfort her, but I’m not sure it worked completely. She calmed down after Max told her it wasn’t like that, but I’m still not getting a relaxed feeling from her.She’s quiet.I don’t like it.Once lunch is finished, I help Max clear the table and load the dishwasher, both of us keeping a close eye through the window on Zahra outside. I don’t know what to say to Max. He
Zahra's POVI stare up at the front of the house, unmoving. Was it always this big?I’m trying to work out how long it’s been since I was last here. I was back for a few days last June, and before that, it was three years ago. Five days in nearly four years.In that dungeon, when I thought of returning home, this is all I pictured. Warm lights in the windows. The smell of food drifting out. Safety.But now I’m here... it doesn’t feel like home anymore.The house looks the same, but it feels different. Bigger. Quieter. Like I’m standing outside somewhere I used to belong, instead of somewhere that’s mine.'You’re being ridiculous.' Zanthe huffs at me. 'I bet the training centre will feel like home.' She paces closer in my mind, her tail flicking. 'Home is a feeling anyway, not a place. You just haven’t found it again yet.'Excellent. Really helpful.“You okay, sweet girl?” Alison asks, turning back to me.Xander and Max are standing on either side of me, just waiting, while Alison and
Zahra's POVMax stands and starts helping, and within moments the bags are repacked. Xander folds the last few items of their clothing while Max clears the bathroom of toiletries.It’s oddly domestic.And it sends me spiralling.My chest tightens, my breathing coming too fast, too shallow. My heart starts pounding, far quicker than it should, and my vision begins to tunnel at the edges.“Hey.”A deep voice, close, grounding.I’m pulled into warm, solid arms, and instantly the world steadies. Xander’s heat and scent wrap around me, and I find myself pressed against his chest, tucked into his massive frame as his hands move slowly up and down my back.“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”“What happened?” Max asks, his voice slightly muffled from the other side.“I’m not sure. I think she’s just a bit overwhelmed,” Xander replies quietly.I still can’t form words, but he’s exactly right.“Here, let me—” Max starts.“I’ve got her,” Xander cuts in, a slight edge to his voice.Oh fuck. Here we go.Th
Zahra's POVMy ears are ringing by the time the girls finally leave, Zach kindly escorting them back to the Crescent. Max and Xander have been eating for most of the time I was chatting with them. I assume Zach brought a care package from Alison, because the burritos looked familiar.Xander is on his phone now, his expression focused, while Max is gazing out of the window as though he is lost in thought.I watch them both properly, letting myself really look at them. They are both objectively gorgeous, but it is more than that. They are kind, caring, and protective, and they clearly care for each other too. If they are both my mates, what would that even mean? How would that work? And if only one of them is, then how destroyed will the other one be? The more I try to think it through, the more impossible it all seems, and I find myself wishing, not for the first time, that I simply knew.'There’s no point trying to untangle the Goddess’s plans. What will be, will be.' Zanthe intones.
Edwardo's POVI sigh, rubbing my eyes. Then I swig down my now-cool coffee and head back into the living area of the house.The others are all here, some working and others watching TV. Zahra is sitting at the dining table with Morgan and Bastion doing homework. It makes me smirk to see Bastion stu
Zahra's POV“Come on then,” I call as I set off through the trees ahead of Levi. He scrambles to catch up with my sudden departure.“Hey, no fair!” he yells, and I laugh.“Come on, slowpoke. You won’t learn anything from back there,” I call over my shoulder.“Maybe not, but the view is astounding.”
Zahra's POV“Ready?” Levi calls, and everyone agrees.“After you then, Bastion.” He waves his hand in the direction of the start of the trail and Bastion sets off.Feet pounding, it’s a good pace. Comfortable, and consistent. His pacing seems good, but I could push it a lot more.‘That all you have
Zahra's POV“So then, Zoe, when are you free for a run?” Levi asks an hour and a half later as we walk out of the lecture hall, Anton and Jonah slightly ahead of us with Corrine and Briar. Seth stays beside Levi.“Well, how about tonight? I was going to run as part of my training anyway.” Levi’s ey







