Twenty-nine

When I wake up and leave Roan's shelter, I am surprised to see the boy, Damon, waiting for me. His eyes aren't as cruel and his stance isn't as defensive, but he doesn't let me get within arm's reach of him. I give him a smile, hoping he will relax. "Hi Damon."

He gives a barely audible greeting then flinches. I want to reassure him, but don't. Instead I wait for long moments as he regains control. Finally, he says, "Can I talk to you? On a walk?"

"Sure. Lead the way."

He nods and turns. We go into the forest and I whisper for Finx to listen just in case. Not completely sure he heard me, I walk with Damon and try to not worry about what might happen this time.

"I'm sorry," he says after a long time. "For everything."

"Unlike the others, I understand why you did the things you did." I say. "I would do the same if I were in your place."

He looks at me, gives a shy smile. "So you don't hate me?"

I give a soft laugh. "No Damon." Turning serious I say, "I am sorry about your family. If I could go back and stop myself, I would."

"Did the bad man really have control over you?"

"Yes," I reply, memories flashing in my mind. "I regret every murder I committed. I regret being so helpless to do anything."

Before he could say anything, there was a low growl, so menacing, it sent chills up my spine. Damon went wide-eyed and took a step back. I did the same as a massive brown bear glared at us with beady black eyes. My heart raced and my throat closed on a scream. Beside me Damon started to tremble and I saw how his body tensed to run.

"Don't move!" I hiss.

"But…"

I put a hand out to grab him, but he was just out of reach. The bear stepped toward us, another growl coming from its throat. I begin to remember words from June during our training session.

"Fear will make you stupid and get you killed. Don't give in. Calm yourself and try to figure out a way to either escape or defeat the danger." I inhale and clear my mind. I remember I have gifts I can use, weapons at my belt, and a child to protect.

"Damon, get behind me, slowly."

I hear his feet begin to move and see the bear narrow his gaze on him. But I snap my finger so it's attention returns to me. After a few more minutes, Damon is at my back, his little arms around my waist.

"Close your eyes. We're going to slowly move backwards. But if it charges, I am going to have to use my fire and it won't be pretty."

The boy's head presses against my back and I step back. The bear growls. I take another step. It raises on its hind legs and roars, then lunges for us. I throw my hands forward and fire shoots out, scorching the beast and making it scream in pain. Damon's arms tighten around me as I continue to burn the animal until what feels like hours later, it falls to the ground, charred and dead.

It takes both me and Damon a long moment to move. When we do, it's to run back to the village together, me holding his hand so I don't lose him. There's tears in his eyes, but he doesn't notice as he runs with me.

When we arrive, we head straight for Roan, who's with Raven, Sorrel, and Cat. His face turns to one of worry as we tackle him: me in his arms as Damon wraps himself around my brother's legs like a toddler.

"What the-"

I don't let him get any other words out as I tighten my arms. "Roan!" I gasp.

"What's going on?" he asks, gently putting me down and prying Damon off. "What happened?"

I tell him what happened with the bear, and how Damon apologized, then embrace him again. "We didn't want to stay and came here," I finish.

Damon is now in Raven's arms and is crying. Roan let's me go to take the boy, soothing him with soft words as I see Aspen approaching. I run over and hug him as well, burying my face in his shirt. He is stiff for a moment.

They're fi a moment then relaxes and holds me. "I'm not sure if I should be worried," he said to my brother.

"Just got attacked by a bear." Roan explained.

I don't protest when Aspen lifts me up and takes me away. A few minutes later, we're in his shelter, sitting on his bed. "Zahra, please look at me."

I do as he says and wipe my tears away. "I'm sorry," I say shyly. "I didn't mean to do that."

He chuckles. "I don't mind. You just surprised me." I smile and take a deep breath. Aspen tucks a lock of hair behind my ear and leans close. "You're alright?"

I nod.

"Want to go back to your brother?"

I open my mouth to say yes, then close it again. For the first time, without the use of summoning, I see Aspen and feel safe. I also notice he is handsome and so unlike his father. "Can I stay here with you?" I ask.

He smiles. "If you want. We can also go somewhere else alone if you want."

Shyly I shake my head, then my arms wrap around him again. "I just want to stay here for now."

The next few days, I spend more time with Aspen, walking with him and going to his shelter. He is polite and generous. Sometimes, we play in the grass, pretending to wrestle, but end up laughing and gazing up at the sky.

Two weeks after the attack, I am with Aspen in the meadow when he kisses me on the lips. I'm stunned at first, never before experiencing something so intimate, then I relax and begin to enjoy it.

When he pulls away, he's watching me, blue eyes wary. I sigh and say, "Do that again?"

A smile lights up his face and he pulls me closer until I'm on his lap, and he kisses me again. He kisses my lips, then goes to my cheeks, my nose, my eyelids, my ears. He kisses me until night falls and we're hungry.

The next day, I can't look my brother in the eyes as we sit for a morning meal. So when Aspen comes up and tips my head up for him to kiss me, I'm horrified to think of how Roan will react.

But I needn't have worried because Roan is grinning at us, eyes dancing. "I thought you would never do it!"

Aspen shrugs. "How did you know?"

"You two have been attached to each other for weeks! You can't get your head out of the clouds and Zahra isn't paying attention to anything anyone tells her when you're in sight."

I blush as Aspen sits beside me. "So, you're okay with it then?" he asks.

Roan rolls his eyes. "Aspen, I've been hoping for someone to give her more for years. No one could be better than my best friend."

Aspen smiles, nods, then turns and kisses me again. I giggle and hug him tight.

Damon appears and goes over to Roan, whispering something in my brother's ear. When Roan nods, Damon smiles and runs away. When Roan looks at us again, he says, "I've decided to take Damon for my own. The boy is fine with it, and seems happy."

"Roan, that's wonderful!" I gasp and run over to hug him.

He laughs and holds me as I sit beside him. "I think he's liking it here."

Aspen nods. "He seems to be."

A howl breaks the calm morning and I jump to my feet, glancing towards the wonderful noise and return the sound.

Loki bounds into the village and up to me. I knelt to embrace him, laughing as he licks my face. Suddenly, he's sniffing my belly, his nose pressed into me as a growl emanates from his throat. I push him away to stare at him, seeing his amber eyes narrowed and menacing. "Loki?"

He snaps his head up and sees my worried expression and softens his gaze, nuzzling me before turning to run into a shelter to turn into his human form. I sit back beside Aspen and put a hand to my belly, wondering what made him angry. Was I too skinny? Did I eat something bad? Did I get poisoned?

Loki comes back and smiles at me. "Hello pack-sister!"

I return the gesture, forgetting about his actions for now. "Loki! I am so happy to see you! How are the pups? How is your mother and father? What about your brothers?"

He laughs and pulls me in for a hug. "Everyone is good. What about you?"

I pull back and smile. "I'm doing really good. I'm happy and doing better than ever."

Loki looks down at me with warm eyes. "Good. I'm glad to hear that." I smile and rest my head on his shoulder as he looks to my brother. "Can we talk sometime?"

Roan shrugs. "Sure. Spend time with Zahra and I'll meet up with you later."

For the next few hours, I get caught up with Loki and take a walk in the forest. He and I play around like when I was at the den, and by late afternoon, we return so he can talk to Roan. Before he goes to find my brother though, he cupped my face and looks deeply into my eyes. "Zahra, if you ever need my mother's advice, you can come to the den. If you ever need one of us, don't hesitate to walk up to the den. We are always there to help a pack member."

I smile. "Loki, you're all too sweet."

He shakes his head. "I'm serious, Zahra. We won't turn you away. For any reason at all." He kisses my brow and embraces me. "Just remember that."

I hug back, worried by his tone. "I will."

He nods, looks me over again, then smiles and goes away to find Roan.