Page 102 of The Pack

His words hit me hard. I froze, my eyes snapping to his. “You… you were going to go after all?”

Callum nodded, his expression softening slightly. “We were. For you.”

“Because you’re one of us now,” Tobias said, his voice low, but firm. “But then you decided to run off on your own.”

My throat tightened, and I glanced between them, their expressions unyielding.

“What’s about to happen?” I asked hesitantly, my voice barely audible.

Tobias stepped forward, his dark eyes piercing. “What’s about to happen, Zara,” he said, his tone calm, but edged with authority, “is that you’re going to be punished.”

I inhaled sharply, my heart pounding as I stared up at him. “Punished?” I squeaked.

Killian crouched beside me, his grin wicked now. “You’ve earned this one, lass. Don’t fight it.”

I pulled against the ropes instinctively, my wrists burning as I struggled.

“This is ridiculous,” I said, my voice rising. “You can’t just?—”

“We can,” Tobias interrupted, his voice like steel. “And we will. You’re our mate and that’s something we don’t take lightly.”

My heart raced, the tension in the air thick and suffocating as they surrounded me.

Tobias stepped closer, his tall frame looming over me, his dark eyes fixed on mine. He didn’t speak right away. Instead, hereached out, his hand sliding up my arm, his fingers firm but surprisingly gentle as they made their way to my wrist, stretched above my head, where the ropes bit into my skin.

“You could’ve been killed,” he said finally, his voice low and tense. “If we’d been a minute later, you would have been dead.”

“I—” My voice caught in my throat as his gaze met mine, the intensity of his eyes pinning me in place. I didn’t have any real defense, so the words died in the back of my throat.

“You could’ve died, Zara,” he said, his tone sharper now. “And for what? To play hero on your own?”

“I wasn’t?—”

“Don’t,” he interrupted, his hand moving to my waist. His fingers pressed lightly against my hip, steadying me as I shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny. “I get it. You were desperate. You thought you could handle it, but you don’t know what’s out here.”

“I know more than you think,” I said, my voice trembling despite my defiance.

“Do you?” His dark eyes narrowed, his fingers brushing along my side as though testing my resolve. “Because what I saw—what we all saw—is that you had no idea what you were walking into.”

My cheeks flushed, and I looked away, unable to hold his knowing look any longer.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

His hand stilled, resting against the curve of my waist. “I believe you,” he said softly, his voice dropping. “But sorry isn’t enough. Not this time.”

My heart sank, my throat tightening as his words settled over me.

“I woke up this morning,” he continued, his voice quieter now, “and you were gone. No warning. No goodbye. Just… gone.” His fingers trailed up my side, his touch firmer as he leaned in, his breath brushing my ear. “Do you know what that felt like, Zara?”

I swallowed hard, my body trembling under his touch. “No,” I whispered.

“It felt like losing someone again, someone I care about very much,” he said, his voice raw. “And then, when we found you, tied up and about to be eaten by that… thing…” He trailed off, his jaw tightening.

“Tobias,” I said, my voice shaking. “I didn’t mean to?—”

“I know,” he said, his tone soft, but unyielding. “But that doesn’t change what happened, or what could’ve happened.”

He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, his eyes searching mine.

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