CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The day had finally come for Zahra to share the secrets of her world, a moment she had been quietly anticipating. For weeks, she had felt an inner pull to explain her origins, and now, surrounded by the pack, she knew it was time. The atmosphere in Emily's home was unusually serene, with a stillness that felt like everyone was holding their breath in quiet anticipation. Zahra's calm demeanour set the tone, her confidence rooted in the steady presence of Quil beside her. His subtle nod reassured her that she wasn't alone in this.

Taking a deep breath, Zahra began, her voice clear yet gentle. "I've only ever shared small fragments about my kind," she said, her gaze sweeping across the room, landing briefly on each of the pack members. "But today, I want to tell you as much as I can."

The room fell silent, all eyes on her, their curiosity evident. This was the day they had been waiting for—the day they would finally learn about the mysterious girl who had become such an integral part of their lives.

"We call ourselves Selkies," she said, her lips curving slightly as she pronounced the word, her tone tinged with a mix of pride and vulnerability. "It's a term that might sound familiar to some of you. According to the books Emily gave me, it's what the Scottish among your kind have long called us. I don't know if it's a coincidence or if my kind somehow passed the term to humans, but it fits."

Emily leaned forward, her brow furrowed in thought. "So, you're saying it's possible that others like you—Selkies—knew about the land above? About humans?"

Zahra nodded, her expression contemplative. "It's very possible. There are more similarities between our kinds than I initially thought. But much of what I know is fragmented. I wasn't raised with the full knowledge of my people. I suspect... I was never meant to know."

Her voice wavered slightly as she admitted this, and she paused, taking a steadying breath. "The place where I grew up... I used to call it a preserve. It was the only home I ever knew. But since being here, I've learned it wasn't a sanctuary at all. It was a cage."

The room tensed, her words sinking in. Jared, usually the joker of the group, spoke softly, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "Are you saying someone deliberately kept you captive?"

Zahra's lips tightened, her eyes distant as if she were piecing together a puzzle in her mind. "It's possible," she admitted. "But I can't say for sure. My memories... they're scattered, like pieces of a shattered mirror. I don't even know how I came to be here. All I remember is waking up on the beach. Before that, it's all hazy, except for flashes of my time in the preserve."

Paul, always blunt, leaned forward, his tone almost challenging but laced with concern. "Were you there your whole life?"

Zahra's gaze turned to him, and she shook her head. "No. When Momma was still alive, I wasn't confined. I remember freedom, the open water, her laughter. But after she... after she was gone, everything changed. It's like a veil dropped over my life, and I was locked away."

Quil, his voice steady but gentle, asked the question that lingered in everyone's minds. "Why do you think you were put there?"

Zahra placed a hand over her chest, her expression clouded with uncertainty. "I don't know. It's more of a feeling than a memory. But I believe someone wanted to keep me out of the ocean, away from something I wasn't supposed to discover."

Sam, the leader and often the voice of reason, leaned forward, his tone thoughtful. "If someone went to such lengths to keep you from the ocean, it must mean you learned or saw something that was meant to stay hidden."

Zahra nodded slowly, her eyes glistening as if holding back tears. "It has to be something important," she whispered. "But I don't know how to find out what it is. Every time I try to remember, it's like hitting a wall."

The room was silent for a moment, the weight of her words pressing on everyone. Emily reached out, placing a comforting hand on Zahra's knee. "We'll figure it out together," she said softly. "You're not alone in this anymore."

Quil squeezed Zahra's hand, his voice filled with quiet determination. "Whatever it takes, we'll help you uncover the truth. You deserve to know."

Zahra met Quil's steady gaze, her lips curving into a faint but genuine smile, the warmth of his hand in hers grounding her in a way nothing else could. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice carrying a vulnerability that spoke of the weight she had been carrying for so long. At that moment, as her words hung softly in the air, she felt something shift within her—a flicker of hope she hadn't dared to acknowledge before.

Though her past remained shrouded in shadows and unanswered questions, Zahra felt a quiet assurance settle in her chest. She wasn't alone anymore. The presence of Quil and the unwavering loyalty of the pack gave her a strength she hadn't realized she possessed. Their belief in her, their willingness to stand by her side, was a balm to the scars of isolation that had marked her life until now.

Quil tightened his hold on her hand, his expression a blend of determination and tenderness. "You don't have to face any of this alone, Zahra," he said softly, his voice carrying the weight of a promise. "Whatever we uncover, whatever the truth is, we'll face it together."

She nodded, blinking back the emotion that threatened to spill over. The room around them, filled with the watchful gazes of the pack, no longer felt intimidating or overwhelming. Instead, it felt like a circle of protection, a family that had chosen her just as much as she had chosen them.

Emily offered her a kind smile, her maternal instincts clear as she leaned forward slightly. "You're one of us now, Zahra," she said. "And that means we face everything as a team. Whatever answers you're looking for, we'll help you find them."

The others nodded in agreement, their expressions ranging from solemn to encouraging. Even Paul, with his usual blunt demeanour, gave her a small, approving smirk as if to say he was in her corner too. Jared and Embry exchanged a glance, their silent camaraderie speaking volumes, while Sam, ever the leader, gave her an encouraging nod.

Zahra took a deep breath, letting the overwhelming sense of acceptance and support settle over her. For the first time in what felt like forever, she didn't feel like an outsider peering into a world that wasn't hers. She belonged here, not just because of Quil but because of the bonds she had formed with each of them. It wasn't just about discovering her past anymore; it was about forging a future that felt full of possibility and light.

Quil shifted closer to her, his presence a constant reassurance. "Whatever we find out about your past," he said, his voice steady, "it doesn't define who you are now. You're here, with us, and that's what matters."

His words struck a chord deep within her, resonating with the newfound strength she was discovering. "You're right," she said softly, her gaze lingering on Quil before sweeping over the rest of the pack. "I may not know everything about where I came from, but I do know where I want to be. Here. With all of you."

Her declaration was met with smiles and nods, the weight of the moment balanced by the warmth of their collective support. As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, the tension in the room eased, but Zahra knew this was only the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

And as she sat there, surrounded by her newfound family, with Quil by her side, she felt more certain than ever that whatever truths lay ahead, she was ready to face them. Together.