Lincoln's POV
I settle back with Sam to watch the next round of fights. It’s always smart to scope out potential opponents. When Zahra’s name is called, my attention snaps to her ring. She’s up against Jaxx Northwood from Eclipse, and my instincts immediately flare. I lean forward, a protective urge surging through me. She’s so small—she barely comes up to Jaxx’s shoulders. He’s an 18-year-old Alpha male from a renowned warrior pack. She doesn’t stand a chance!
My gut twists as I watch them step into the ring. Lex whines in my head, his unease mirroring mine. I glance at Delta Baxter, who’s refereeing the match. If things get out of hand, he’ll step in, but that doesn’t stop the sick feeling in my stomach. Still, it’s impossible to look away, like watching a train wreck you can’t stop.
Jaxx begins to circle Z
Zahra's POVMy nerves creep back in as I look up at the imposing building. There’s no one around — no welcome committee, no activity outside. I know I’m technically a day early, but still… theydidsay we had to be here before tomorrow. I expected more people, if I’m honest.Zach grabs my bags from the boot, Alison wraps an arm around my shoulder, and Alpha Lucas leads us up the concrete steps to the front door. Xander’s hand is wrapped around mine — big and warm and steadying.Zanthe is pacing inside my head, doing the occasional skip like a damn kid in a candy store. Her excitement is starting to bleed into me now.Lucas pushes open the door and steps back to let me, Alison, and Xander walk through into the foyer.There’s a small threshold bef
Zahra's POVI wake to someone gently shaking my knee.“Zahra, honey, we’re nearly there,” Alison says softly.I blink my eyes open and realize we’re still in the car, driving. There’s a warm weight wrapped around my waist and pressure against the side of my head. It takes me a second to register: Xander is holding me against his broad chest, his head resting on top of mine, his breathing deep and even. Zach is slumped against the door on my other side, totally out cold. My face, however, is stuck to Xander’s t-shirt. With drool.Lovely. Goddess, I hope that won’t stain.I slowly sit up, limbs stiff, but surprisingly rested. Four hours of sleep in a weird position, but I feel decent. As I shift, Xander stirs, his face creasing into a frown before his eyes flutter open. Goddess, those eyelashes should be illegal.He smiles when he sees me watching him. “Hey,” he croaks, voice low and gravelly.Oh fuck me. That voice should be illegal too.“Hey,” I huff out, trying to sound casual. “We’r
Zahra's POVToo quickly, way too quickly, the meal is over. The Plates are cleared, and Lucas and Alison are gathering their things, getting ready for the four-hour drive.I hug Greg and Lauren first, holding on tight. Then Austin and Claire. My tears are falling again, hot and shameless. I’m pretty sure my nose is running like a busted faucet. Goddess, please don’t let me look blotchy and hideous when I arrive, that's not the first impression I'm going for!Abby and Sienna are next. They grab me in a hug so tight I think my ribs shift.“We’re going to miss you, Za. So, so much,” Abby whispers, her voice breaking.“I’ll miss you both too,” I manage to croak out.“You better FaceTime us at least once a week,” Sienna order
Zahra's POVI run a bubble bath. No idea if I’ll even see a bath at Night Howlers, so this might be my last one for a long while. I take my time, soaking in the hot water until I prune. I wash my hair, apply a mask to both face and strands, and let the endorphins from my run keep my nerves at bay.Zanthe, sulking from the lack of bacon, has gone back to sleep. I think she’s giving me space to process. But I know she’ll be there if I need her.Afterward, I towel off and slip into a fresh pair of jeans and one of my new tops—a soft blouse in deep blue, covered in tiny pink flowers. It’s got a modest V-neck and floaty, ruffled sleeves. Slightly sheer, but not scandalous.Underneath it I’ve got on one of my new bras, the ones Alison insisted I needed now that I’ve “filled out properly.” Apparently, even my baby boobs deserve support. She showed me how to measure myself too, in case I have another growth spurt and need to order more. Because apparently, that’s a thing.I blow-dry and strai
Zahra's POV2:15 a.m.3:45 a.m.5:00 a.m.5:45 a.m.All night, the glowing digits on my alarm clock have been mocking me. Every time I look, it feels like time is either sprinting ahead without me or refusing to move at all. I’ve spent the last five hours lying here, stuck somewhere between dreading the morning and being desperate for it to arrive already.Zanthe passed out around midnight, completely useless as usual. I stayed upstairs with the guys for a while, but the vibe was off. Too quiet. Off-kilter.We had a lovely dinner, filled with polite conversation and laughter, but Xander wasn’t there. Alison said he had “other plans,” and the fact that he made those plans on my last night? That hit me somewhere I’m not sure its supposed to. It felt wrong. The whole dynamic shifted without him. Even more so wit
Max's POV 🌶️🌶️The bedroom is dark and quiet when we enter, the moonlight filtering through the curtains casting a soft glow over the room. Xander turns to me, his eyes blazing with hunger, pupils blown wide. He doesn’t give me a chance to speak before he’s on me again, pushing me back onto the bed. I go willingly, his hands tangling in my hair as he straddles me.“My turn,” he says with a wicked grinXander grabs my hands, pinning them above my head, My breath hitches. Xander’s eyes are locked on to mine, dark and hungry, he grazes his teeth against my neck and I can feel my heart kicking up a notch, as he kisses up and down my neck and behind my ear. Goddess, he’s driving me wild. “I want to feel you inside of me,” I growl out, my voice raw with need.Xander responds with a low growl of his own, that s