Page 45 of The Pack

“Zara,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

I opened my eyes to find him watching me, his eyes soft but intense. His hand lingered, his fingers tracing the curve of my jaw before cupping my cheek.

My breath hitched, my heart pounding as he leaned closer. His lips brushed mine, and the world seemed to stop as he kissed me.

When he pulled back, his gaze held mine, searching.

“I just want you to know that you’re stronger than you think,” he said softly.

Before I could respond, Callum’s warm laugh broke the quiet. “Magnus always gets the first move, doesn’t he?”

I turned my head to find Callum watching me with a playful grin, though there was a softness in his eyes I hadn’t noticed before.

“Callum,” I started, but he reached out, his fingers tilting my chin toward him.

“Relax, Zara,” he said, his voice low, but teasing. “It’s just me.”

And then he kissed me too.

It was different from Magnus’s—lighter, sweeter, but just as devastating. His lips curved into a smile against mine, and when he pulled back, his gray eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Goodnight, Zara,” he said, settling back against the moss with a satisfied sigh.

But I wasn’t ready for this moment to end.

My heart raced, my breaths shallow as I glanced between the two of them. Magnus, commanding and kind, still watching me like he could see through to my very soul. Callum, warm and inviting, his easy smile lingering like the promise of something lighter, something softer.

Before I could think better of it, I turned to Magnus.

“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice quiet in the crackling hush of the firelight.

His silver eyes softened. “For what?”

“For this.” I gestured vaguely at the makeshift sleeping mat, at the way he’d positioned himself beside me, close enough to keep the cold at bay. “For everything.”

Magnus didn’t respond right away. Instead, his hand came up again, cupping my cheek like before. The warmth of his palm sent a shiver through me, and I found myself leaning into the touch.

Then, acting on instinct, I tilted my face toward his and pressed my lips to his.

The kiss was tentative at first, soft and searching, but the moment his lips moved against mine, it deepened. His hand slipped to the back of my neck, holding me in place as his thumb traced a slow, steady line along my jaw.

By the time we pulled apart, my cheeks were flushed, and my heart pounding so loudly I was sure the others could hear it.

I turned, my breath still shaky, to find Callum watching us with a grin that could only be described as smug. I shifted toward him, my pulse thrumming as I leaned in. His grin faltered slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes, but it disappeared the moment my lips met his.

Callum’s kiss was everything Magnus’s wasn’t—light and playful, with a hint of mischief that made me smile even as my chest tightened. His hand found my waist, holding me steady as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss.

When we broke apart, Callum’s grin returned, but there was something softer behind it now, something quieter. My cheeks were burning, my thoughts a chaotic swirl, but for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t care.

I spotted movement toward the edge of my mat and turned to see Tobias climbing over me. In seconds, he was crouched over me, his dark eyes searching mine. The entire time, he was careful, as though he were giving me time to stop him if I wanted to.

I didn’t.

“Tobias,” I whispered.

His gaze softened at the sound of his name. “May I?” he asked, his tone rough, but gentle.

I nodded, unable to form the words.

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