Page 66 of The Pack

More… with her by our side.

Magnus’s sharp voice broke through my wayward thoughts.

“Time to get moving,” he said.

I glanced up to see him standing near the fire and watched him for a moment as he scanned the camp as the others finished packing up. Zara stiffened slightly beside me, her gaze darting to him before returning to her hands, which she twisted nervously in her lap.

“Come on,” I said, rising to my feet and sliding the knife into its sheath. “We’ve got a long day ahead.”

She followed me without a word, pulling the cloak tighter around her shoulders as the morning chill lingered. She seemed nervous, and I wondered what was bothering her. Was she thinking about her brother? Or was she just worried about another day heading out into the unknown?

I stepped closer to her, feeling protective. I’d stay closer to her today just in case she needed someone to talk to, but I wouldn’t push her. I wanted her to come to me.

As my mate.

The pack fell into step as we moved out of the clearing, Magnus leading the way as always.

“So,” Killian drawled, his Irish lilt thick with amusement. “Anyone else lose sleep last night thinking about Zara and her…discipline sessionwith Thorne?”

Callum let out a low laugh, his gray eyes sparkling. “Careful, Killian. You keep pushing, and she might turn her sights on you next.”

“Wouldn’t mind it,” Killian replied, shooting Zara a wink.

She turned bright red. “Oh, my God,” she muttered, covering her face with her hands.

“Leave her alone,” Thorne growled from the back of the group, his icy blue eyes narrowing. “You’re just jealous.”

Magnus glanced back, his silver eyes flashing with faint amusement. “Can we focus on the task at hand?”

“You mean walking?” Killian shot back. “Because we’re already doing that.”

“Killian,” Magnus warned.

“Fine, fine,” Killian said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “No more talk about Zara’s…lessonsand how fucking hot it was to see her bare ass turn bright red under Thorne’s hand and how delightful her moans were when?—”

Zara cut him off with a surprising smile. “You know, that’s what good boys get, and Thorne was a very good boy. You should try it sometime, Killian,” she said, her tone teasing, though her cheeks were still pink.

The words hung in the air for a beat, and I felt the atmosphere shift.

Magnus stopped mid-stride as he glanced over his shoulder, his expression filled with amusement. Callum choked back a laugh, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck, and even Killian’s ever-present grin faltered for a moment.

Thorne muttered something under his breath as he turned away, and I found myself feeling… flustered.

Zara’s laugh was soft, but genuine, and despite myself, I felt a flicker of warmth spread through my chest.

She was more dangerous than she realized.

CHAPTER 15

Magnus

The pack moved in quiet unison, each of us settling into our usual rhythm, but my thoughts were anything but orderly.

I couldn’t stop thinking about last night.

Watching Thorne haul Zara over his knee, hearing her breathless protests turn into soft, broken moans—it had been impossible to look away. The firelight had danced over her flushed skin, illuminating every tremble, every gasp as his hand came down on her bare ass and then when his tongue was working her sensitive little clit. It had stirred something primal in me, something I’d kept tightly controlled for years.

My cock was hard just thinking about it.

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