Page 30 of Absolute Devotion

I slide the gun into the back of my waistband, covering it with my sweater. My hand hovers there, fingers grazing the cool metal as I close the safe and push the closet door shut.

And then I hear it. The soft, hesitant footsteps against the wood, followed by a quiet voice.

“Zahria?”

I turn to see Nala standing in the doorway, her eyes wide, her brows furrowed in concern. The faintest quiver runs through her, a mirror of the worry she can probably feel radiating from me, from all of us. I curse myself internally—I forgot that she would be able to sense our emotions through the bond, that she’d feel my fear like it was her own or her other mates' anger as it rages.

“Nala…” I say softly, my voice wavering. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

She steps closer, her gaze shifting from me to the hallway beyond, as if searching for whatever threat might be lurking there. “What’s going on?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I walk over to her, gently pulling her into my chest and placing a soft kiss to her lips. She shudders as I brush across my bite before she meets my gaze. “Nothing you need to worry about, alright? We’re just taking extra precautions, just in case.”

Her eyes flicker with unease, and I know my answer isn’t enough to reassure her. “You’re afraid. Everyone’s afraid. What’s going on?”

I bite my lip, wrestling with how much to tell her but there’s no hiding it now. “Montgomery called. He said one of the men who wants to take you back might be headed this way.”

Her face pales, and she grips my arm, her fingers trembling slightly. “One of the Alphas?”

I nod, feeling my stomach twist at the fear in her eyes. “But we’re not going to let him take you, Nala. You’re safe here. We’ve locked everything up, and Montgomery is on his way home. Bear and Xylo are safe, too, and the police are watching them.”

She takes a shaky breath, her fingers loosening slightly on my arm. “What if he gets here before Montgomery?”

“Then he’ll have to go through me first,” I say, my voice harder than I intended.

Her eyes widen, a hint of surprise mingling with the fear, and I realize she’s never seen this side of me before. I’ve always been the one to comfort her, to keep her calm and grounded. But right now, there’s no room for softness. Not when her safety is on the line.

I take her hand gently, guiding her back toward the nest where she was resting before. “Stay here,” I say. “I’ll be right outside, alright? I’ll be watching everything.”

Nala nods, but she doesn’t let go of my hand. “Zahria, please… don’t let them take me back. I can’t… I can’t go back there.”

My heart clenches, and while I know we don’t have the time, reassuring her is a priority. I take her face in my hands, waiting until she meets my eyes. The tears glazing there pain me but until this nightmare is over, all I can hope for is that she stays safe. “No one is going to take you. Not while we’re here. We promised you that, Nala, and I’m not about to break that promise.”

She looks at me, a faint spark of hope in her gaze, but the fear is still there. “I believe you,” she whispers. “But I’m still scared.”

“I know. But you’re stronger than they think. And you’re not alone. You have us now.”

She manages a small, shaky smile, and I give her hand one last squeeze before slipping out of the room, my senses on high alert as I move back down the hallway. Hoping to see her smile, I rush to the kitchen and grab a pan before darting back to the nest and handing it to her. Nala pushes out a laugh, gripping the handle of the ironcast skillet. I hope she doesn’t have to use it but maybe the memory of her strength when she swung it the first time will give her a little more confidence that we’ll come out of this alright.

I close the door and then station myself by the house's entrance. My hand hovers near the gun at my waistband, fingers twitching slightly as I scan the darkness beyond the windows.

The minutes tick by slowly, each one dragging on longer than the last. I replay Montgomery’s words in my mind, knowing he’s on his way and won’t let us face this threat alone.

But the silence stretches on, every sound, every faint rustle outside, making my heart race. Nala’s fear pulses through the bond, mingling with my own, a shared current of dread and determination.

She’s counting on us. Counting on me. And I won’t let her down.

A noise outside snaps me to attention. I press myself against the wall, my breath held as I strain to listen. The sound is faint, but it’s enough to send a jolt of fear through me. I reach for my phone, my hand shaking slightly as I text Montgomery, my fingers tapping out a quick, urgent message:

He might be here.

A few seconds later, his reply flashes across the screen:Stay put. I’m almost there.

Just a few more minutes,I tell myself. I just need to hold on a little longer.

Another noise, closer this time, like a faint scraping against the side of the house. My hand tightens around the gun, a surge of cold determination settling over me.

As the silence stretches on, I remind myself of one thing: Nala is ours to protect. And I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

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