Chapter 26

Anita’s Pov

As I was walking down to the car, I noticed the driver's seat opening revealing Zach who came out immediately.

I smiled as he did and for a moment, the tension in the air seems to rise.

I could see the smiley face he had when he came out of the car, slowly fading away. And this happened when he saw the way Alpha Hades was watching us. His eyes became dark and sharp.

But Zach, ever the one to lighten the mood, walked over with a confident stride, giving a quick nod to Alpha Hades before turning his attention fully to me.

“You look like you’ve been through the wringer,” Zach said as he gently took my arm. “Are you okay?”

I forced a smile, hoping it would be enough to reassure him. “I’m fine, really. It’s just been… a long day.”

Zach didn’t seem convinced. His eyes scanned my face, lingering on the fatigue I knew was there. “You don’t look fine,” he said with a concerned look in his face. “What happened?”

I hesitated, not wanting to go into the details in front of Alpha Hades, who was still standing there, watching us with an unreadable expression. But Zach was relentless when it came to making sure I was okay, and I knew he wouldn’t let it go until I gave him something.

“I had a little… incident,” I finally admitted, glancing down at the ground. “I almost drowned earlier, but I’m okay now. Just a bit shaken.”

Zach’s grip on my arm tightened and his eyes widening in surprise. “What? You almost drowned? Anita, you can’t just brush that off like it’s nothing now!”

“I didn’t brush it off,” I protested, pulling away slightly. “I handled it, and I’m fine now. You don’t need to worry. Okay?"

Zach’s face hardened, changing into a more frustrated look on his face.

“You shouldn’t have to ‘handle’ things like that on your own. You know that, right? You’ve been through enough already. Risking your life for a job or for a pack that’s barely treated you right—what are you thinking?”

“I have to,” I said with a firmer vouce than I intended.

I could feel Alpha Hades’ gaze burning into the side of my face, but I kept my eyes on Zach.

“This is my chance, Zach. I’ve lost my pack, my status… everything. If I don’t stand up for myself now, I’ll never be able to. Joining this pack is my only shot at regaining some control over my life.”

Zach sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. “You know you don’t have to do this, right? My sister and I—we’ve got your back. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone, least of all to these people. You could come live with us, and we’d take care of you. We could be a family, the three of us. You wouldn’t have to go through any of this alone.”

The sincerity in his voice almost broke me. Zach had always been there for me, and his sister had been like the sibling I never had. The thought of living with them, of leaving all this behind, was tempting—so tempting that it hurt. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t run away from my problems, not again.

“I appreciate it, Zach, I really do,” I said with a soft tone. “But I need to do this for myself. I can’t keep relying on others to protect me. I need to learn how to stand on my own two feet again.”

Zach stared at me for a long moment. It was as if his eyes were searching mine for any sign that I might change my mind. But when he didn’t find it, he sighed deeply and finally nodded, though I could tell he wasn’t happy about it.

“Alright,” he said with a voice tinged with reluctance. “But promise me you’ll be careful. And if things get too tough, you’ll call me. No matter what time it is, no matter what’s going on, I’ll be there.”

I smiled at him, then replied, “I promise.”

He gave me a small, hesitant smile in return before opening the car door for me. “Come on, let’s get you home. You need rest.”

I climbed into the passenger seat, grateful to finally be off my feet. The moment I settled in, exhaustion washed over me, and I leaned back against the headrest with a sigh.

As Zach rounded the front of the car to get in on the driver’s side, I caught a glimpse of Alpha Hades, still standing in the same spot, his eyes locked on us. There was something in his gaze that made my heart skip a beat.

It had a mix of frustration, concern, and something else I couldn’t quite place. But before I could dwell on it, Zach got in the car and started the engine, pulling my attention away from my glance at Alpha Hades.

As we drove off, I couldn’t help but glance back through the rearview mirror. Alpha Hades was still standing there, watching us go, his figure started growing smaller and smaller until we turned a corner and he disappeared from sight.

Zach didn’t say much as we drove, which I was grateful for. My mind was too full of conflicting emotions to make much conversation anyway. Instead, I let the familiar hum of the car’s engine and the rhythmic passing of the trees outside the window lull me into a state of calmness.

After a few minutes, Zach broke the silence. “You know,” he said, “I never really liked that pack. Too rigid, too many rules. I get that you want to be strong, but… don’t let them change who you are, okay?”

“I won’t,” I murmured, though I wasn’t entirely sure if I believed it myself.

We drove in silence for the rest of the trip, Zach occasionally glancing over at me as if checking to make sure I wasn’t about to fall apart.

When we finally pulled up in front of my house, he turned off the engine but didn’t move to get out.

“I’ll walk you in,” he said, not giving me a chance to argue.

I didn’t have the energy to protest, so I nodded and let him help me out of the car.

The night breeze blew gently across my feet as we walked up the path to the front door, I felt a pang of guilt for putting him through all this. Zach had always been the one to take care of others, and I hated that I was adding to his burdens.

When we reached the door, I turned to him, offering a small smile. “Thank you, Zach. For everything.”

He smiled back, though there was still a hint of worry in his eyes. “Anytime, Anita. You know I’m always here for you.”

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I know. And I appreciate it more than you can imagine.”

For a moment, we just stood there, neither of us knowing what to say. Then, finally, Zach pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me in a comforting embrace.

“Take care of yourself, okay?” he whispered.

“I will,” I whispered back, squeezing him tightly before finally pulling away.

Zach gave me one last lingering look before turning and heading back to his room. I watched him go, my heart heavy with a mix of gratitude and sadness. Once he was out of sight, I turned and entered my room, closing the door behind me with a soft click.

---

The Next Morning,

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window, the morning sun casting a warm glow across my room. For a moment, I just lay there, staring up at the ceiling as the events of the previous day came rushing back to me.

The near-drowning, the encounter with Alpha Hades, Zach’s concern… It all felt like a strange, disjointed dream, but the lingering ache in my chest told me it was very much real.

With a sigh, I forced myself out of bed and got ready for the day. There was no point in dwelling on what had happened. I had a job to do, and if I wanted to prove myself, I couldn’t afford to let my emotions get in the way.

As I walked into the packhouse, I was greeted by the familiar hustle and bustle of morning activity. The members were going about their usual routines, and for once, it seemed like no one was paying me any particular attention. It was a relief, really. I wasn’t in the mood for any more confrontations.

But just as I was about to make my way to my quarters, Beta Damian appeared at the end of the hallway, his gaze locking onto mine. He made his way over with quick strides and a folder tucked under his arm.

“Anita,” he greeted, “How are you feeling this morning?”

“I’m fine,” I replied, offering a small smile. “Just a bit tired, but nothing I can’t handle.”

He nodded and then he handed me the folder. “Alpha Hades asked me to give this to you. It’s your first task. He hopes you’ll complete it well and not disappoint him.”

I took the folder, my fingers brushing against the smooth surface as I opened it. Inside were several documents, all neatly organized with instructions written in Alpha Hades’ precise handwriting.

The task seemed straightforward enough—something about organizing a report on the pack’s recent activities and preparing a summary for the council.

“I’ll get started on this right away,” I said, closing the folder and holding it against my chest. “Thank you, Beta Damian.”

He nodded again, then gazed at me for a moment longer than necessary before he finally turned and walked away.