CHAPTER TWENTY

Zahra's heart sank as the weight of her words began to settle on her. In her attempt to help Sam, she had inadvertently crossed a boundary she hadn't even known existed. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks—she had just lectured the Alpha wolf, the very leader of their pack, and in doing so, invaded his privacy. It was a mistake, and the guilt washed over her almost immediately. Her eyes widened, and she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Oh no, she thought to herself, What did I just do?

"Sam, I'm so sorry," she blurted out, her voice filled with genuine concern. "I didn't mean to—"

Before she could finish her apology, Sam surprised her. He threw back his head and let out a soft chuckle, his deep voice filling the truck's cabin. Then, in one swift motion, he ruffled her hair with a warm, reassuring hand. "It's okay, Zahra," he said, his tone light and almost teasing. "I think I've always needed someone to tell me that, honestly."

Zahra blinked, still not quite believing what she was hearing. She had expected him to be angry, maybe upset, but instead, he was... laughing? His easygoing response caught her off guard, and a small sigh of relief escaped her lips. Despite the initial tension, Sam seemed genuinely unbothered by her words, almost as if he'd been waiting for someone to say what she had said all along.

"Are you mad?" she asked quietly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She couldn't help but wonder if she had overstepped and if there was a deeper consequence to her unintentional intrusion.

Sam, however, shook his head, his expression softening. "No, not in the slightest," he said with a genuine smile as he shifted the truck back into drive. "You were right, Zahra. I think I've spent so much time alone with my thoughts, and I've never really had someone to speak the truth to me like that. I made a choice, and I knew the consequences. I just have to live with it—whether I like it or not."

Zahra nodded in understanding, her heart lightened by his words. She had expected a different reaction, but Sam's willingness to face his past, even in the face of so much pain, was both surprising and admirable. The two of them lapsed into a comfortable silence, the air in the car now filled with a sense of trust, something unspoken but deeply felt. It was a connection that had been forged through honesty, and in that moment, Zahra knew she had done the right thing.

The rest of the drive back to the house was filled with light, easy conversation. They talked about nothing in particular—just small talk that passed the time. But for Zahra, it felt different. There was a warmth between them now, a quiet understanding that hadn't been there before. She found herself smiling more, the earlier tension fading away with every passing mile. It wasn't just the conversation that had changed; it was the space between them, now infused with a deeper sense of camaraderie.

As they finally pulled up to the house, Zahra's excitement bubbled over. She could hardly wait to tell Quil and the others what had happened. Sam, ever the considerate protector, waited for her to unbuckle her seatbelt, though Zahra barely gave him a chance before she threw herself at him in an enthusiastic hug. She didn't know if it was the warmth of the moment or just her excitement over the news, but she wrapped her arms around him tightly, grateful for the support he had shown her. "Thank you, Sam," she whispered, though he couldn't hear her words over the rush of her excitement.

Without waiting for him to respond, Zahra hopped out of the truck, her feet practically skipping as she ran toward the house. She opened the door with a burst of energy, and her eyes immediately landed on Quil, who was sitting on the couch chatting with Embry and Jake. She didn't hesitate for a second—she sprinted over to him and, without a second thought, tackled him right off the couch. Quil caught off guard, let out an exaggerated grunt as they both tumbled to the floor.

Embry and Jake burst into laughter at the sight, their teasing voices echoing through the room. "Quil!! Guess what?" Zahra shouted, unable to contain her joy.

Quil, still trying to catch his breath from the sudden tackle, grinned up at her, slightly amused but clearly happy to see her so excited. "I take it things went well?" he asked, slowly sitting up and helping Zahra to her feet, though they both remained sitting on the floor.

Zahra beamed, practically glowing with happiness. "Papa Quil and Momma Joy said I can live with you guys!" she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, her words tumbling out in a rush.

Embry, still lounging on the couch, reached over and ruffled Zahra's hair with a soft chuckle. "That's great, Zahra," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

"That's amazing!" Quil echoed, his face lighting up. He pulled her into a brief, one-armed hug, a proud smile stretching across his face. Zahra giggled in response, still brimming with happiness at the news.

Soon, the others filtered in—Jared, Emily, and Paul—all of them coming over to congratulate her. It was a moment of pure joy, one that felt like everything was falling into place for Zahra. But then, as the group continued to talk, Jacob suddenly interjected, his voice loud and somewhat incredulous.

"Is no one going to point out the fact that she just said, 'Papa Quil'?" he asked, eyes wide in mock surprise. The group fell silent for a moment, all eyes turning to Zahra, who only huffed in response.

"Papa Quil said to call him that," she explained matter-of-factly, clearly not seeing the big deal. "I don't see why it's such a big deal."

Paul, not missing a beat, shoved Jacob playfully to the side. "Just ignore him, Zahra," he said with a grin. "We're all happy for you."

Zahra's grin widened as she turned back to Quil. "That means I get to see you more every day!" she exclaimed, bouncing slightly on her feet. "And guess what? Momma Joy said I can still come back here since Emily is still teaching me how to cook."

Emily, who had been standing with Sam, smiled warmly at the exchange. She looked over at Zahra with a mixture of happiness and affection, grateful that the younger mermaid was finding her place with them. Emily then leaned into Sam, who had been watching the scene with a quiet smile. She took the opportunity to whisper to him, her voice soft and filled with a hint of longing. "I'll miss having her stay with us," she said, her eyes wistful.

Sam, who had been feeling the same bittersweet tinge in his heart, sighed softly. He was happy for Zahra, but he had grown accustomed to having her around. It wouldn't be the same without her staying with them. "I know," he murmured, his voice filled with both pride and a hint of sadness. "But she can always spend the night here if Old Quil allows it."

The two shared a quiet moment as they watched Zahra and the others celebrate, the realization settling in that, although change was inevitable, they would always be there for Zahra, no matter where she lived. The bond they had formed wasn't going anywhere, and that thought was enough to bring a sense of peace to both of them.