Gray's POV
The moment Zodiac's hand circled my waist, I froze. His proximity was intoxicating, suffocating, and maddening all at once. My pulse hammered in my ears as I struggled to maintain composure. Griffin's icy blue eyes didn't help; they were sharp, measuring, and filled with unspoken questions. I realized then that Zoey's earlier warnings weren't about childhood photos or shopping sprees—they were about the dynamic I was walking into.
"Luna," Zodiac murmured, his voice low and resonant, brushing across my mind like fire. "Relax. You're safe."
I wanted to believe him, I truly did. But my body betrayed me, trembling under his touch while Virgo's anxious whines made my chest tighten even more. I was aware of every shift in his stance, every flicker of his golden-heterochromic eyes. It was like staring at the sun and moon at the same time—mesmerizing and blinding.
Griffin, on the other hand, didn't move. He simply observed. His gaze flicked between me and Zodiac, calculating, calm. Unlike Zodiac, there was no fire in him—no visible ferocity. But I could feel it, the subtle tension of his presence, like the edge of a blade hovering just above my skin. My wolf, Virgo, growled softly, protective and wary, though she remained hidden beneath the surface of my control.
Zoey, sensing the tension, quickly stepped in, her hand still gripping mine. "Gray, it's fine. Griffin's not going to bite you," she said with a soft laugh, though her eyes didn't entirely match the ease in her voice. She gave Zodiac a pointed look, as if silently reminding him that his mate needed gentle handling.
I exhaled shakily, trying to steady my racing heart. "I… I'm Gray," I whispered, keeping my eyes low.
"Grayson," Griffin corrected gently, his voice smooth and calm, yet holding an undercurrent of authority that immediately drew my attention. "But Gray is fine."
Zodiac's lips twitched with the hint of a smile at Griffin's formality. "You're making her more nervous than she already is," he said in a low voice, almost to himself. Capricorn snorted from the back of my mind, muttering about how impatient Zodiac always was with introductions.
I wanted to pull away, but the warmth of Zodiac's hand on my lower back rooted me in place. My wolf, sensing the bond, whined softly, asking permission to interact. I resisted, forcing her back into the shadow of my mind, not ready to succumb.
"Gray," Zodiac said again, his tone softer now, coaxing rather than commanding. "I know you're scared. You have every right to be. I—" He stopped, his eyes flicking briefly toward Griffin, then back at me. "…I've been an ass. That night, I… let my instincts get the better of me. I didn't mean to scare you."
I blinked, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. Despite my embarrassment, I could sense the sincerity. Capricorn's usual playful presence in the back of Zodiac's mind was subdued, replaced by a strange tension, a quiet acknowledgment that this was serious.
"I—" I tried to speak, but my throat felt tight. Words failed me. I hadn't realized how much anger, fear, and confusion I'd been bottling up until that moment. Virgo whimpered softly, and I clenched my fists, trying to hold onto control.
Griffin's eyes softened as he stepped slightly closer. "She's your mate," he said in a tone that made it clear he wasn't asking, just stating a fact. "That's not something you can fix overnight, Zodiac. Give her time."
"I know," Zodiac said, though his jaw tightened. His wolf shifted restlessly beneath his calm exterior, sending tremors of heat through me that I tried desperately to ignore. "I'm just… impatient," he admitted, almost with a growl. "I can't stand waiting while she's… scared of me."
Zoey, sensing the tension thickening the air, squeezed my hand and whispered, "It's okay, Gray. You don't have to answer him yet. Just… breathe."
I nodded slightly, and she smiled at me, easing some of the tension. Griffin stayed still, his gaze soft but unyielding, a silent support between Zodiac's fiery intensity and my own fear.
The air between us was heavy, electric. I wanted to take a step back, but something in Zodiac's eyes—something deep, predatory, yet restrained—made my legs hesitate. I could feel the pull of our bond, a subtle vibration at the core of my being, and I realized with a pang that my wolf wasn't the only one aching for recognition. Capricorn, too, was eager, frustrated, and impatient—but aware enough to hold back.
"I'm not going to hurt you again," Zodiac whispered, his voice so low that only I could hear it, almost like it bypassed the others entirely. "I just… want to make this right. Let me try."
I swallowed hard, my cheeks burning with a mixture of shame and anticipation. Virgo shifted restlessly, sniffing the air around Zodiac, craving the connection that I wasn't yet ready to give. My heartbeat raced, and I realized that every instinct in my body was screaming at me to flee—but another part, deeper and older, wanted to stay.
Griffin finally broke the tension with a small, wry smile. "Why don't we all take a seat? Talk like normal humans for five minutes. Then we can figure out who gets to bite who," he said, the corners of his lips twitching in amusement.
Zodiac's lips quirked, a reluctant smile forming. "Fine," he muttered, finally releasing some of the tension in his stance, though his hand remained lightly brushing my side. Capricorn hissed in my mind, rolling his eyes at Zodiac's sudden civility.
Zoey, ever the energetic mediator, guided us toward a nearby café across the street. The sun was bright, casting warm light over our group as we stepped into the quiet outdoor seating area. For a moment, everything felt surreal: the chaos of the club, the heat of mating instincts, and the tension between us all replaced by an almost fragile normalcy.
Gray. Zodiac. Griffin. Zoey. Ridge waiting at home. It was a strange family, stitched together by fate, wolves, and bonds that neither time nor chaos could easily break.
As we settled into our seats, I realized that this was the first step. A small one. But it was a start. And for the first time in days, I felt… hopeful.