Chapter 52 Very Zen

Chapter 52 Very Zen
INDIE
       My alpha was sitting on the edge of the bed when I walked in with coffee and the pouch of brown powder after preparing breakfast. His hair was a wreck, dark strands sticking to his damp forehead, and his towel had slipped low enough that the sexy groves of his lower abdomen were visible. The IV line tugged as he moved. He winced but didn't stop.

"I have a meeting with the elders," he rasped. "I can't miss it."

I set the tray down hard enough that the mug rattled.

"You can barely sit up without passing out, and you want to play Alpha politics?"

He gave me a look that said arguing was pointless and that he was going to do it anyway. Well, at least he had managed to take a shower on his own. That was good, right?

"Help me get dressed."

I sighed, but I was already moving. The powder had done something overnight. His colour was marginally better, his pulse steadier, but his eyes still had that glassy edge, and every movement looked like it took a ton of effort.

Leon appeared in the doorway as if he'd been summoned by the word "dress." He'd clearly been waiting outside. His red hair was tied back messily, his shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows, and the bracelet was still glowing that faint, angry red.

Zade's gaze snapped to him, darkening.

"You're not needed," he said flatly.

Leon lifted both hands in mock surrender but stepped inside anyway.

"Morning, sunshine. You look like death warmed over. Want help or not?"

Zade's jaw ticked. "I said—"

"I heard you," Leon cut in cheerfully. "But Indie's hands are full with the coffee and the murder glare she's giving you right now. So unless you want to show up to the elders looking like a half-drowned cat, let me grab a shirt."

Zade glared harder.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from laughing.

Leon sauntered over to the wardrobe, pulled out a black button-down and dark trousers, and tossed them on the bed. Then he grabbed a pair of socks from the drawer and dropped them beside Zade's feet.

Zade stared at the socks like an angry kitten. It was actually cute. Way too cute.

I knelt in front of him, lifting one foot to slide the sock on. His calf muscle jumped under my fingers, still tense, trembling faintly from whatever the powder was doing to him.

Leon crouched on the other side, mirroring me, and reached for the second sock.

Zade's glare could've melted steel.

"Don't," he growled.

Leon ignored him, sliding the sock up with exaggerated care.

"Relax, Alpha. I'm not groping you. Yet."

Zade's nostrils flared.

I shot Leon a look. "Behave."

Leon grinned, all teeth and mischief. "I'm behaving. I'm being helpful."

Zade's hand shot out weakly, but he was fast enough to grab Leon's wrist mid-motion. The bracelet glowed brighter for a second. Leon hissed softly but didn't pull away.

"If you touch me again without permission," Zade said, his voice low and lethal, "I'll rip that bracelet off with your hand still attached."

Leon's grin didn't falter. "Kinky. Noted."

I smacked Leon's shoulder. "Stop."

Zade released him, but the glare stayed locked on Leon as I helped him into the trousers. We manoeuvred him carefully, Zade bracing on my shoulders while Leon steadied his hips from behind. The whole thing was awkward, intimate, and ridiculous. Zade's bare back pressed against Leon's chest for a moment too long, and Leon's breath hitched. Zade's shoulders stiffened as if he'd just been electrocuted.

I buttoned the shirt next, my fingers brushing over the hard planes of his chest. Zade's eyes stayed on Leon the whole time, tracking him like prey. At this point, I had a feeling that he was seconds from jumping him. I wanted him to. I needed the entertainment.

Leon leaned against the bedpost, his arms crossed, smirking like he was enjoying the death stare.

Zade finally broke the silence.

"How did the training go yesterday?" His voice was rough, but the question was, well...awkward. "While I was... out."

My fingers froze on the last button. Leon's smirk vanished, and I swallowed hard.

"Fine," I said quickly. "It was normal. We did the whole flame channelling. The proper steps."

Zade's gaze slid to me, then back to Leon.

"Normal," he repeated flatly.

Leon cleared his throat. "Yeah. Super normal. We, uh... meditated. A lot. Deep breathing. Focus on the core. You know, spiritual shit."

Zade blinked slowly.

"Meditated."

"Yep." Leon nodded with far too much enthusiasm. "Cross-legged. Eyes closed. Very zen."

I stared at Leon like he'd grown a second head.

Zade's expression didn't change, but something dark and amused flickered in his eyes.

"You meditated," he said again, slower. "With Indie. On the floor. For hours."

Leon nodded again, doubling down like a man walking into quicksand. "Exactly. It was very productive, I can assure you. She's getting stronger. The flames are brighter. And that means the venom is retreating."

Zade looked at me. I couldn't meet his eyes. My face was burning.

"You're a terrible liar," Zade said to Leon.

Leon shrugged, his grin sliding back into place. "I'm an excellent liar. You're just... unusually perceptive for a half-dead wolf."

Zade's lips twitched. And there it was. The ghost of a smirk.

I finished the last button and smoothed the shirt over his chest. "Enough. Both of you."

Zade caught my wrist, his thumb brushing over my pulse. "You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"You are." His voice dropped. "And he's lying through his fangs."

Leon laughed aloud, unapologetic. "Guilty. But in my defence, the real version would've killed you faster than the powder."

Zade's eyes narrowed, but there was no real heat behind it anymore. Only exhaustion and something softer. That in itself was shocking! Perhaps he was warming up to the idea of having Leon around faster than I thought.

"Next time," he said softly, "I watch."

I tried not to smile too widely.

Leon's grin turned wicked. "Deal."

Zade’s gaze travelled past me towards the mirror across the room.

"...My hair," he muttered.

I blinked. "Your hair?"

He exhaled quietly, as if the effort of even caring annoyed him. "It's a mess."

I glanced up at it… and yeah... it kind of was. It was damp and tousled, falling into his eyes in uneven strands. But it looked incredibly sexy on him.

"It's fine," I said automatically.

Zade gave me a look, clearly unconvinced.

I huffed softly. "Okay, sit still."

I moved closer, lifting my hands to his head. His hair was still slightly damp from the shower, soft between my fingers as I pushed it back from his forehead, easing it into something more intentional. His eyes tracked my face closely, making my face burn.

I adjusted a few stubborn strands, and then I lightly brushed my thumb along his temple without thinking.

"There," I whispered. "Better."

Zade held my gaze for a second longer. Then, he spoke in a soft voice.

"Do I look... unwell?"

The question hit me harder than it should have.

My chest tightened. I was struck by the sudden urgency to just… take care of him.

Before I could answer his question, Leon's voice cut in.

"If anyone told me you were a vampire," he said lazily from the side, "I'd believe them."

I froze.

Zade's eyes slid to him slowly.

"Pale, brooding, one step away from the grave... it's a strong look. Very on brand,” Leon continued, unfazed.

Zade narrowed his eyes, irritation sharpening his features. "Careful."

Leon grinned. "What? You asked."

"I didn't ask you."

"No, but you should've. I give honest reviews."

Zade's jaw ticked, a mild annoyance flashing in his eyes. I stepped in before it could spiral.

"You don't look unwell," I said firmly, reaching up to straighten his collar. "You look... tired. But still very much like yourself."

Zade's gaze dropped back to me, searching. Then, almost reluctantly, he gave me a small nod.

"Good enough," he said.

Leon snorted under his breath. "Debatable."

Zade didn't even look at him this time.

"Next time," he said flatly, "I'll ask the mirror."

I helped Zade stand. His legs shook, but he locked his knees and straightened. Sweat was already beading on his upper lip again.

He looked between us—Leon on one side, me on the other.

"Let's go," he said. "Before the elders decide that I'm already dead."

We walked him to the door, one on each arm.

The elders were waiting.

And so was whatever came next. I had a feeling that shit was about to go down.