Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

Zara's POV

I felt his body tense as I wrapped my arms around him for a while before he slowly adjusted and embrace me too. His scent filled my nostrils; it was overwhelming and stirring something deep inside me.

Magnus had just ended his relationship with Nerissa. I couldn't help but feel like it was actually because of me. Nerissa had always been difficult and condescending but I never expected him to break up with her like that.

I could feel the pain and anger pulsating through him as he took in my fragile sight. Did he care so much that he doesn't want anything to do with Nerissa? I had thought he wouldn't mind when he wakes up or he would say I deserved It but him caring this much filled with so kind of relief.

I didn't even realised when I hugged him. Maybe it was relief, or maybe the realization that despite everything, he was the only person who had truly made me feel safe.

I exhaled in relief. I had been scared that he wasn't going to survive, thought that he wouldn't wake up but here he was in my arms.

"I don't want to go back," I whispered before I could stop myself.

Silence.

Then Magnus pulled back, surprise flicking in his eyes. "What?"

I swallowed hard, knowing I should take back my words, tell him I had made a mistake before I didn't. Instead my eyes meet his and I repeated, "I don't want to go back to my Pack or Ashen's pack. I can't."

I expected him to demand for the reason why I changed my mind when I was so desperate to leave before. Instead his eyes searched mine with a quiet intensity that made my heart raced. "You have to leave, Zara. You don't belong here," he said, his voice soft but also firm. "You should be free, belong to a pack and you can do that by Ashen side."

A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat. "Free? Ashen's side? Do you really think I can do that?"

Hid jaw clenched. I was right. Nightshade pack had never been home. No one wanted me or is waiting for me there, and Ashen...... Ashen would never let me be free. Besides I don't want to be by his side anymore, not after all his cruelty that I have witnessed and heard.

After a long pause, Magnus said. "I can't let you stay here by my side. It's not safe, specially not now that Ashen is hell bent of ruining me. I don't want to drag you further into my mess."

His rejection cuts than I cared to admit and anger surged through me. "Not safe? Because of Ashen, or because of you?"

He didn't answer. The realization that I had been caught between two men hit me, and whether I liked it or not I knew I couldn't return to the carefree life I had led in Nightshade pack. Everything has changed and I am not the same timid girl anymore. Now, I had to take charge of my own destiny, I have to create my own path unless I'm going to be miserable than I was before.

Straightening my shoulders, I stood up. "Then tell me what to do, Magnus. Because running or leaving isn't an option."

He also stood up slowly, the pain from his wound still hurting him. “If you stay,” he said slowly, “you’ll have to fight for your place here. My people won't accept you easily because you're Ashen's bride."

I fellsilent as his words settled in. I had almost forgotten that somehow I'm still connected to Ashen. Although we aren't married yet, but it doesn't changed the fact that he had claimed me in front of everyone. And that, I can't ignore.

Before I could say something, Viktor walked inside the room, his eyes shifting between us for a moment before he finally spoke. "Magnus.... we are ready to leave."

Magnus nodded, before turning towards me. "We have to leave now, Zara. We can talk more about this later."

I forced a smile at him, and together we walked out of the room.

*****

The journey to the apartment in town was longer than I expected, and heavy with unspoken words. I sat beside Magnus, feeling the heat that radiated off him. Every few minutes, I could feel his eyes on me like he wanted to say something. But he didn't.

Finally, we got to the apartment. It was smaller, more human in design, blending into the structure of the humans that surrounded it. I thought the place was nice, nice in a way that the humans doesn't even notice us. It was perfect for a hideout.

As I sat on the bed in the room Magnus had shown me to be mine, I overheard the whispers of his guards from outside.

"She’s the reason Nerissa left."

"Magnus turned his back on his own woman for her?"

"If he’s already this weak over a woman, how can he possibly lead us as Alpha?"

Their whispers were too loud. Or maybe they had purposely said it loud so I could hear. The words were like a dagger to my heart. They didn't trust Magnus because of me. I might have weaken Magnus position by staying? I hadn't wanted any of this to happen, but it doesn't changed the fact that I had become a problem to him.

My heart sank as I realised that his people might turn their back on him. Maybe I should leave. Maybe staying by his side was so selfish.

Still, as I made my way to his room, a part of me wanted to stay and fight this.

I knocked softly before pushing the door open. The room was dimly lit, and Magnus sat on the bed, his shirt off, revealing the angry, still-healing wound on chest. He was trying to bandage himself, but his hands were clumsy with exhaustion.

I quickly stepped closer and reached for the clothes.

He stared at me. "You don't have to do this," he murmured.

I ignored him, dipping the cloth into the bowl of warm water, before dabbing at the wound. He tensed under my touch, a painful sigh slipped past his lips.

"Sorry," I whispered.

"It's fine," he replied softly. "I'm only worried about you."

I paused, my fingers still on his broaded chest. "Don't be worried about me, Magnus. If anything, I should be the one apologising."

"Why?"

"I'm sorry for the times I spoke harshly to you when you've been nothing but kind to....me." my voice broke, tears forming in my eyes. "I'm sorry for constantly making you feel less of yourself all those times I compared you with Ashen." A tear slide down my cheeks. "I'm sorry you're in this situation because—"

"It's okay, Zara." He cuts in smoothly. His hand reached out, and he wiped my tears with his thumb. "I kidnapped you, so I deserved everything." Then he took my hand in his, squeezing it softly. "And stop crying. You look so terrible when you do," he teased.

I could only nod and manage a small smile.

I don’t know what came over me then. Maybe it was the exhaustion, or the weight of everything I had been carrying. Or maybe it was the way Magnus looked at me—like I was something he wasn’t sure he deserved.

Before I could stop myself, I leaned in and kissed him.