CHAPTER ELEVEN

The third person in the pack to imprint was Jared Cameron. Unlike the explosive reactions that often came with such an event, Jared's imprinting had been met with a sense of inevitability. After all, it was Rachel Black, Jacob's older sister, who had just returned home from college. Jared had carried a quiet crush on Rachel for years—a sentiment that, unbeknownst to most, Rachel had reciprocated since their childhood. The age difference between them hadn't mattered back then, nor did it now. The two had often been seen sneaking off together as kids, their bond strong even before fate intervened.

At the dinner table in Emily's cosy kitchen, Paul snorted between bites of Emily's home-cooked roast. "So, Jared finally got tied down," he teased, his voice thick with amusement. The pack erupted into laughter, except for Zahra, who was still carefully learning the intricacies of human conversation and customs. She looked up from her plate, her delicate fingers clutching a fork as she tried to process Paul's words.

Zahra had come a long way since her arrival, but the complexities of human idioms still eluded her. It had been only a few months since her world had turned upside down, and while she had made great strides, she still had much to learn. Under Emily's patient guidance—and occasionally with Sue Clearwater stepping in as a maternal figure—Zahra had started to find her place within the pack. Even something as simple as feeding herself was a skill she was mastering, though she still fumbled now and then.

"Tied down? Like with human-made ropes, Quil?" Zahra tilted her head toward Quil, her expression innocent and sincere. Quil, unfortunately, had just taken a massive bite of food and immediately began choking, causing the rest of the table to burst into laughter.

"Not exactly," Jared interjected between chuckles, raising his hand to explain. "I mean, I'm not into being tied with ropes or—"

"Jared!" Quil interrupted, glaring at him. The pack was used to Jared's irreverent humour, but someone always had to step in before his jokes went too far, especially around Zahra. She was still learning, and filling her mind with Jared's off-colour humour would only complicate things.

Embry leaned in, patting Zahra gently on the back as her confusion deepened. "What Paul meant," he said with a kind smile, "is that Jared found his soulmate."

Zahra blinked, her expression softening as she nodded in understanding. "Oh," she said after a moment, her voice light, "so, like Quil and I?"

The room fell into complete silence. Jared choked on his drink, his laughter abruptly cutting off, while Quil froze mid-motion, his wide eyes locking onto Zahra. His mouth hung open as if he were about to say something, but no words came out.

Embry, caught entirely off-guard, looked around the room, trying to gauge if anyone else had spilt the truth to Zahra. All the pack members wore the same dumbfounded expression, silently swearing their innocence.

Emily, who had been drying dishes at the sink, set the plate down with a soft clink. She took a steadying breath before turning to Zahra, her maternal instincts kicking in. "Zahra, sweetie," she began gently, her tone calm and warm, "could you explain what you mean by that?"

Zahra nodded, her innocence shining through. "Momma always told me," she began, her voice light and musical, "that when I saw the person I was destined to be with, I'd just know it. She said it didn't mean I had to choose them—if I didn't want to, I could deny it—but when I saw Quil..." She paused, her gaze shifting to him, her smile growing brighter. "I didn't want to deny him. I knew he'd be someone I'd like to see my future with."

The weight of her words hung in the air, and for a moment, no one spoke. Quil, whose initial shock had melted into something softer, found himself smiling. Her declaration wasn't something he had expected, but it touched him deeply. His heart swelled with an overwhelming mix of emotions—gratitude, affection, and awe at her simple yet profound understanding of their connection.

"I think," Quil said at last, his voice steady and filled with emotion, "it's time I told you about imprinting, Zahra."

The pack exchanged quiet glances, sensing the gravity of the moment. Zahra's pure-hearted honesty had disarmed them all. Quil reached across the table, taking Zahra's hand in his. The look in her eyes, so trusting and earnest, reminded him that this was the right moment to share the truth with her—not just about imprinting, but about what it meant for them.

"It's a bond, Zahra," Quil began, his voice soft but firm. "A connection that goes deeper than anything you can imagine. It's not something we choose—it's chosen for us. When I saw you for the first time, everything in my world shifted. It wasn't just about love; it was about protecting you, supporting you, and being whatever you needed me to be."

Zahra's gaze never wavered, her attention fully on Quil. "So," she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of realization, "it's not just about being together. It's... more?"

Quil nodded. "Exactly. It's about being there for you, no matter what. It's about your happiness, and your safety. And it's okay if you don't feel the same way. That's the thing about imprinting—it's not about making you feel obligated. It's about giving you the choice."

For a moment, Zahra said nothing, her eyes glistening with emotion. Then, with a small, radiant smile, she squeezed Quil's hand. "I think," she said softly, "that I've already made my choice."