Chapter 40: Guarding The Luna
The evening sun stretched across the horizon, painting the Southern skies in shades of gold and crimson. Zachary stood silently on the veranda, the breeze brushing past his face, carrying the faint scent of the nearby forest. Amber lingered just a few steps away, her calm composure and soft smile failing to ease the gnawing anxiety inside him."
His eyes, dark and stormy, lingered on her as if memorizing every detail. The warmth of the sunlight on her hair, the gentle way she hummed a quiet tune while tidying the veranda, even the slight crease of her brow as she noticed his tenseness—all of it sharpened his protective instincts.
Amber tilted her head, studying him with curiosity. "Zach... you've been... different today. Something's bothering you, isn't it?"
Zachary exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the unspoken truth pressing down. He had seen what was coming, felt the threads of danger winding toward them. And Amber, innocent and unaware, had no idea that the Ember Council's shadow had begun to stretch over their lives.
"Amber," he said finally, his voice low and deliberate, "I think... it's better if you return to the Northern Region for a while."
Her brow furrowed, eyes widening. "Northern? But... why? Everything is fine here. I don't—"
"Please, trust me," he interrupted softly, yet firmly. His gaze locked with hers, and for a moment, the world fell silent between them. "I just... need you to go. Now."
Amber hesitated, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "But... why won't you tell me? What's happening?"
Zachary's jaw tightened. Every instinct screamed at him to protect her, to shield her from a truth she wasn't ready to hear. He could not risk her knowing yet, not until they were prepared. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering a second too long, a silent plea and warning in the touch.
"Amber," he said again, voice steadier this time, "you need to go. Please."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. Something in his eyes—raw determination, unspoken fear, a depth of love she had never fully seen before—made her pause. Amber had always known Zachary was protective, but this... this was different. This was fiercer, more urgent, almost frightening. And yet, despite the unease curling in her stomach, she nodded.
"Okay... I'll go," she murmured. "I trust you."
Zachary's shoulders relaxed fractionally, though the tension in his chest remained. He couldn't explain why, couldn't let her see the storm of memories, fears, and responsibilities raging behind his calm exterior. But he would do everything in his power to keep her safe.
⸻
The drive to Northern region.
The Mercedes sliced through the winding roads of the Southern forests, headlights cutting through the deepening twilight. Amber sat silently beside him, eyes tracing the blur of trees, ears straining to catch the slightest sound. She had a hundred questions burning in her mind, yet she felt the weight of Zachary's urgency pressing her into quiet compliance.
"Zach," she said softly, breaking the silence, "you're acting... strange. More than usual. What's going on?"
He did not answer immediately, keeping his gaze fixed on the road. His hands tightened around the wheel, knuckles pale. The darkness outside mirrored the storm inside him. "There are things you don't need to worry about," he said finally, carefully measured. "Just... promise me you'll stay vigilant. Don't go wandering off."
Amber's heart skipped a beat. She had always known he was protective, but today, his intensity was... different. He wasn't just caring; he was guarding her, shielding her from something she couldn't even name. She had no idea what danger lay ahead, only that the seriousness in his eyes demanded obedience.
She sank back into the seat, watching him in silence, feeling the tension between them like a taut wire ready to snap. Every instinct whispered that he was hiding something. Something urgent. And as much as curiosity burned inside her, she knew that pushing for answers now could be dangerous. She trusted him, as she always had, even when the shadows of doubt crept in.
⸻
Zachary's thoughts
Zachary's mind was a whirlwind of memories and strategy. Reports from scouts, rumors of Ember Council activity, and every subtle movement in the region—all of it replayed in his head. He couldn't shake the memory of the Northern pack under siege, the fires, the screams, the betrayal of Lucian Conri. Every lesson his father had tried to teach him, every warning Marcus Artesian had whispered, surged forward now with renewed urgency.
He clenched the steering wheel tighter, jaw set. Amber's safety wasn't negotiable. The young wolves, the café, the territory—they were all pieces of a fragile future he could not allow to shatter. The Ember Council was patient, calculating, and ruthless. But he had something they would never understand: a heart unwilling to yield, and a bond with Amber that no power, no fire, no manipulation could sever.
"I will protect her" he repeated silently, each word a vow. "No matter what. No matter who stands in my way."
⸻
Amber's mind was restless. She had noticed the subtle changes—the way Zachary's eyes constantly flicked toward the shadows, the tension in his posture, the quiet command in his voice. Something was coming, she could feel it, though she had no idea what.
Zachary caught the flicker of unease in Amber's eyes before she even spoke. He could sense her thoughts, sharp and curious, probing for answers he wasn't ready to give. Her concern, subtle but insistent, only made the protective fire inside him burn brighter.
He stepped closer, his presence grounding, a silent shield around her. "Everything's fine," he said, voice low, calm, yet carrying the unspoken weight of his promise to keep her safe. His hand brushed hers as he handed her the keys, casual yet deliberate, and Amber's breath hitched just slightly at the heat in his touch.
He could feel her questioning him, reading the tension he tried to hide. Zachary's gaze softened but remained firm, a mix of command and care. "Trust me," he murmured, the words simple but loaded with intent. "I've got you."
She glanced at him, hesitant. "Zach... please, tell me if there's something I should know. You're... so different today. I can't help but worry."
He gave a fleeting glance her way, expression unreadable. "Nothing," he murmured, softer now, almost reverent. "Amber... I love you."
Amber felt a rush of warmth and joy at his words. It was the first time Zachary had ever spoken to her like that—soft, gentle, and surprisingly tender. She hadn't expected such sweetness from him. Her lips curved into a shy smile, her heart fluttering wildly.
"I... love you too," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath, yet overflowing with meaning.
A swirl of emotions filled her chest—confusion, curiosity, and trust all at once. She didn't understand why Zachary was suddenly so insistent, so cautious, so fiercely protective. But she had learned long ago that his instincts were never wrong. And if he said she needed to leave, she would obey—because when it came to Zachary, following him always felt like the safest choice.
⸻
Northern Borders approaching.
Hours passed, the moon climbing higher in the sky, casting silver light over the dense Northern forests. Zachary guided the car toward a familiar clearing near the borders of the Northern pack. The air grew cooler, crisp with the scent of pine and earth. Amber stepped out, her breath forming small clouds in the night.
"Thank you for bringing me here," she said quietly, still uncertain about the reasons behind his insistence.
Zachary's hand found her shoulder, firm and reassuring. "Stay safe," he said, eyes scanning the treeline as if expecting shadows to emerge. "Do not take unnecessary risks. Trust no one outside these borders until I return."
Amber nodded, her heart tightening at the seriousness in his tone. "I... will," she said softly. She couldn't shake the feeling that danger was nearer than she realized. Something about Zachary's protectiveness, his intensity, and his silence told her that she was being shielded from something she would one day understand—but not tonight.
Zachary lingered a moment, eyes fixed on her retreating figure, before finally turning back to the road. Every step she took away from him stirred a fierce protectiveness he could not contain. She was his mate, his heart, and his future—and he would not allow anyone or anything to take her from him.
To be continued