Short chapter, and sort of a filler. I know it's been a hot minute but I wanted to make sure y'all get an update!

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT | AMARA POV

Ezra immediately stoops down, pressing a hand to Archibald's neck. There's a pause as his eyebrows furrow with concentration. 

"He's alive." 

I let out a sigh of relief. Ezra carries Archibald over his shoulder and lays him onto the back seat of the limo, "Get into the passenger seat quickly." 

I waste no time, briskly moving over into the passenger side. 

As soon as he's seated in the drivers seat he locks the doors and buckles his seatbelt. 

"What happened?" I dare to ask. My mind is spinning from the events of tonight. 

"He was knocked out, it looks like they didn't get what they've came for. But luckily he's still alive. We'll bring him to the doctor as soon as we get back to the pack house." 

I can only nod at this, as we make our way back to the boarder. Ezra's hand encloses around mine, his gaze still firmly on the road as he rubs reassuring circles onto the back of my hand. 

"Keep your head down please." 

I raise an eyebrow in confusion, "I don't want the doctor to have to see two patients tonight if you start feeling ill looking at the boarder." 

I let out a dry laugh at this, but look down onto my lap to humor him. "That should be the least of your worries." 

"Contrary to anything and everything, you are always who I'd worry about most." 

I smile softly at this, and shake my head. "I didn't know you had it in you for jokes." 

"Don't tell the pack, they'll start thinking that I'm soft." He jests. 

This time I laugh fully, with my chest. So much so that a slight snort slips out. 

Ezra pauses at this, from the corner of my eye I see his widen in surprise. 

"Was that a--." 

"Don't." I warn, jokingly. 

"I was just going to say that's the highlight of the evening for me." He advises, feigning innocence. 

"Oh yeah? Better than the meal we've had?" 

"A thousand percent, I'd take hearing you laugh over dinner there any day." 

We roll in towards the driveway of the pack house, Ryder stands at the driveway with Dr. Ramsey and Troy at his side. Just like that the lightness from our earlier conversation rolls away, there's only a lingering warmth on my chest as a reminder. 

"Wait here." Ezra advises and leaves without wasting a moment. 

Troy immediately goes to the backseat and retrieves Archibald. Ezra speaks with Ryder and Dr. Ramsey. I can't make out their conversation, but I seeing their body language alone tells me enough. 

Their conversation lasts for a tense few moments before they disburse on their separate ways.  

Ezra makes his way back to me. He opens my door, holding a hand out for me. "Let's go back inside." 

I take his hand, gladly stepping out the vehicle. "The car?"

"Someone will get it shortly." 

We walk in silence into the pack house. "Are you okay?"He asks, softly.

I take a moment to find my words, am I? I'm relieved that Archibald is okay, but seeing Aura after all these weeks. And Griffin? I thought I knew him. 

How is he tangled in this mess?

Ezra walks silently beside me, patiently awaiting my response. 

"I'm not sure." I admit, candidly. 

He looks over to me, an understanding expression washed over him. The silence feels long but comfortable.

He stops in his tracks, I snap out of my daze, and realize that we're now at my door. 

"This is not something I want you to get used to, so please don't." 

I look up to him now, meeting his earnest gaze. "I'll try not to, but you're making it a little tough for me." I joke, dryly. 

However, his face remains sullen despite my feeble attempt. He extends an arm and wraps it around my shoulders, gently pulling me into his chest. His other arm, snakes around my waist, before resting on the small of my back. 

I take in his smell. The bergamot and cedar wood, still lingering nicely on him. I feel my body relax, and lean naturally into him. 

In an unspoken agreement, we stay in this embrace. 

Maybe he needed this as much as I do.

Almost reluctantly, we pull away from the hug but remain in close proximity. His eyes linger momentarily on my lips, but he takes a steps back. 

"Rest well, if there's anything you need you know where I am." He says, with a small smile. 

"Okay." 

I watch him turn on his way, then I open the door to my room. 

Once inside, I immediately kick off my heels, releasing a sigh of relief. Then wasted no time shedding my clothes, making my way towards the shower. 

Seeing the side of Ezra I've seen today, leads me to believe that maybe he's human. Of course- 

that's wishful thinking.