Page 118 of The Pack

“Cozy,” I said, glancing around.

“Beggars can’t be choosy,” Magnus replied curtly.

Zara sank onto the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumping as she let out a soft sigh. “This is way better than the ground,” she murmured.

“Right,” Callum said, clapping his hands together. “Who’s first for the rain barrel?”

“You mean the ice bucket,” I quipped, earning a chuckle from Thorne.

The setup was rough, but functional. A spout jutted from the wall of the apartment’s small bathroom, connected to a rain barrel perched on the roof. The water was icy and came down in a steady stream when the lever was pulled. It wasn’t luxurious, but after the day we’d had, it felt like salvation.

Magnus went first, his quick movements efficient as he rinsed the blood and grime from his body. Tobias followed, muttering grumpily about how cold the water was.

When it was Zara’s turn, Callum handed her a clean towel he’d pulled from a cupboard. “It’s freezing,” he warned her. “But you’ll feel better after.”

“I’ll manage,” she said, her voice was soft now, the fight drained from her and exhaustion filling in.

She stepped under the stream, a yelp escaping her as the cold water hit her skin. I leaned against the doorframe, watching as she tilted her head back, the water streaming down her face and shoulders, rinsing away the blood and dirt that clung to her.

“Not bad, huh?” I teased, though my voice was gentler than usual.

She shot me a look, her eyes sparkling despite her exhaustion. “It’s freezing!”

“Good for the soul,” I said with a grin.

Once we were all cleaned up, Zara all but collapsed onto the bed, her damp hair spilling over the pillow. Callum pulled the blanket up over her, tucking it around her shoulders as she closed her eyes.

“Rest,” Magnus said quietly. He was standing by the window with his arms crossed, but his expression was soft as he looked at our girl.

She murmured something in response, too quiet to hear, before her breathing evened out. She was out in seconds. The room was quiet, save for the soft rhythm of Zara’s breathing as she slept in the corner bed, curled into a cozy little ball. She looked peaceful now.

I breathed a sigh of relief. We’d gotten her to Dublin and found her brother. We’d done that. The only question now was what next.

I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, my gaze resting on Magnus, who was pacing near the window, clearly lost in thought. Callum sat at the table, spinning a knife between his fingers, his usual easy smile replaced with a furrowed brow. Thorne was near the door, silent as always, while Tobias sat in the shadows, his dark eyes forever watchful.

“We can’t stay here long,” I said finally, breaking the tension. “You all know it.”

Magnus stopped pacing, his locking onto mine. “No one said anything about staying.”

“But Zara’s going to want to,” I pressed, jerking my chin toward her sleeping form. “You think she’s going to walk away from her brother? Not a chance.”

“She’ll fight us on it for sure,” Callum said quietly, glancing toward her.

Thorne, who hadn’t said much all night, finally stepped forward, his eyes hard. “He’s got a pack of his own. This city isn’t a home. Staying here is a death sentence.”

“But try telling that to her,” Callum said softly. “She’s been looking for him since she found herself dumped here. Now that she’s found him, she’s not going to want to leave him.”

“Then what do we do?” I asked, glancing between them. “Drag her out kicking and screaming? Tie her up and throw her over a shoulder?”

“No one’s tying her up, although the idea certainly has its appeal…” Magnus said. “But we’re not letting her stay here, either. It’s too dangerous.”

For a moment, no one spoke.

“She’s going to choose him,” I said quietly. “If it comes down to it, she’s going to stay.”

“Not if we make her see reason,” Tobias said, his dark eyes narrowing. “She’s part of this pack now. We don’t leave her, and she doesn’t leave us.”

“She’s not going to see it like that,” I shot back. “Not when her brother’s right here.”

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