You survived

“Why on earth did you risk your life?!”

Amarok’s voice boomed across the quiet tent as Tara sat between her sisters, changing into something more comfortable. Her old clothes—torn, blood-stained were now stuffed in a corner. Vera had helped her slip into a soft floral gown, the hem brushing her thighs, her hair let down in soft waves over her shoulders.

Tara didn’t look at him at first. But Amarok was already pacing in the far corner, fists clenched at his sides, the muscle in his jaw ticking hard.

“I had to do something,” she said finally, her voice low but steady.

“That something could have gotten you killed,” he snapped, stepping closer. “If you always throw yourself in to save others, one day—” his voice caught, thick with tension, “—you’ll end up losing your own damn life.”

“That’s what we keep telling her,” Vera mumbled under her breath.

Tara glared at her and Vera, wide-eyed, quickly tugged Taylor to her feet. “Come on, let’s go.”

Taylor opened her mouth to protest but Vera dragged her out of the tent.

Tara let out a breath. “It’s no big deal. After all, you risked your life to save me too.”

“That was different, Tara,” he said, stepping in front of her now. “You shouldn’t be careless.”

“I wasn’t careless,” she shot back. “I did what any sister would do. If it were me unconscious in that cage, Stone wouldn’t have thought twice before jumping in. I know that.”

Amarok’s jaw clenched harder. She was arguing with him, again, and the damn fire in her eyes only made his wolf stir harder beneath his skin. He growled, dragging a hand down his face.

He wanted to throw her over his shoulder, drag her back to his tent, and punish her in the most delicious ways for what she’d done, but instead, he clenched his fists, trying to calm the urge.

“Just… don’t do that again,” he said tightly. “Please.”

Tara tilted her head, her eyes softening a little. Her gaze drifted slowly, from his face, down his chest, to the sharp dip in his pants. Amarok caught her staring. A smirk teased his lips.

She blushed and looked away.

The festival night went on.

Bonfires burned bright across the clearing, music drifted through the night air, and laughter filled every corner. People gathered in clusters around flames, drinks in hand, food on their laps, celebrating the last night of the Moon Festival.

Amarok walked beside Tara as they made their way to the Frost camp. A huge bonfire blazed in the center, and his men were already seated—some drunk, others singing wildly off-key.

Taylor and Vera were already there, sitting with Geri and Gary. Laughter echoed as Gary told a joke that made Taylor slap her thigh, champagne spilling from her glass.

“Hey, baby! So glad you made it,” Geri called, grinning from ear to ear.

Tara smiled softly at him. That bond—it tugged at her. She didn’t fight it tonight.

“Well, I’m sure Amarok would never let her miss this,” Taylor slurred dramatically.

Tara rolled her eyes and let Amarok guide her to the space between him and Geri. She sat down quietly, her bare legs curling to the side as she tucked her gown around her thighs.

But as she glanced around the circle, something stirred inside her. The men around her, the warriors from the Frost pack, they didn’t say anything. But their eyes said plenty.

She saw it. That quiet judgment.

That flicker of doubt in their gaze.

Like they couldn’t quite believe that she and her sisters belonged here, as mates to Alphas.

Like they were falling blindly into something none of them truly understood.

“Hey,” Amarok said gently beside her. “You alright?”

She blinked, startled out of her thoughts. “Uh… yes. Yes, I’m fine.”

Gary leaned forward, smiling. “Your mate just asked you a question, and you completely zoned out.”

Before she could speak, Taylor giggled. “He was asking who taught her to fight like that!”

“I would answer,” she said with a dramatic swing of her arm, “but I don’t wanna spoil the fun, right Vera?”

Vera clapped and nodded, clearly tipsy too.

Tara gave them both a look. Great. Now they’re drunk.

“We’re just curious,” Geri added with a grin. “It’s not every day you meet a Gen Z girl who fights like a trained warrior.”

All eyes landed on Tara.

She cleared her throat softly. “I grew up watching my father and Stone train. I used to follow them to the field… every single day. And I’d try to copy the moves. My dad never stopped me. He taught me. So did my brother.”

“She always came back with bruises,” Taylor said, suddenly more serious. “But she never stopped. And the first time her skills actually saved her—” she paused, glancing at Tara.

“No,” Tara warned. “Taylor, don’t—”

“It’s okay,” Taylor said. “You never tell it. But you should. People should know how strong you are.”

Amarok’s brows rose. “What happened?”

Tara’s eyes widened. “No—Taylor, I said drop it.”

But the brothers weren’t letting this go.

Geri leaned forward. “Let her talk. We’re listening.”

Taylor took a breath.

“It happened in high school. One of our teachers… he was a mated wolf. Had a family. But… he was obsessed with Tara. He followed her, watched her, and one afternoon, he lured her into an empty classroom.”

Tara looked down, fists clenched.

“He tried to force himself on her,” Taylor continued, voice tightening. “But Tara—thanks to her training, fought back. She kicked his balls so hard he dropped. But he got up again, and this time tried to choke her. She had no choice…”

Taylor swallowed.

“She killed him.”

Silence fell like a blanket.

Even the fire cracked quieter.

“I had never seen Stone that mad,” Vera added quietly. “He fed the man’s body to the dogs. Said someone like that didn’t deserve a funeral.”

Tara didn’t meet anyone’s gaze.

But Amarok’s voice broke through. Low. Deep.

“You don’t know how proud I am that you survived… then and now.”

Tara finally looked up. Their eyes met. And in his, she saw everything—respect, pride, pain.

“When our father died, we had no one. Curtis took us in, and his kids treated us like family. It meant everything. I swore I’d protect Taylor with my life. If it meant learning how to fight, then so be it.”

“And now it comes in handy!” Taylor squealed beside her.

She slumped into Geri’s chest, snuggling like a lazy kitten. He held her close, chuckling under his breath.

“It sure does,” Amarok murmured, still looking at Tara.

She could feel it. Their eyes. Both men watching her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Even their men, those warriors who once doubted, were looking at her differently now.

“You were amazing tonight, Tara,” Gary said suddenly, raising his glass.

She turned to him and smiled. “Thank you, Gary.”

“No,” he replied. “Thank you for surviving. And for winning—for their sanity.” He pointed to the brothers and laughed when they growled at him.

“What the fuck, Beta?” Amarok barked, but even he was smiling.

The whole circle erupted into laughter.

Tara sat back, watching it all, her sisters, her mates, this strange but warming circle. A flicker of peace settled over her chest.

It had been so long since she’d felt this.

Safe, Happy, and Whole.

Her gaze drifted to the stars above, and she wondered quietly wherever they are… please let Salem and Orson be safe.

Because she couldn’t shake the feeling…

That the worst hadn’t even begun.