Gray's POV
The café was a quiet haven compared to the chaos of Zodiac's mansion. Warm sunlight spilled over the tables, catching the golden highlights in Zoey's hair and glinting off Zodiac's amber eyes. I felt trapped in a whirlwind of emotions, my pulse thrumming in my ears as I realized how fragile the boundary between safety and danger had become.
Zoey, ever the social catalyst, ordered two lattes and a small assortment of pastries without waiting for anyone else's opinion. "Trust me," she said with a grin, sliding a warm croissant toward me. "Food makes everything better. Even Alphas."
I chuckled softly, the tension in my chest easing slightly. Zoey's energy was infectious, and for a moment, I forgot the tight coil of anxiety winding in my stomach. Capricorn growled lightly in the back of my mind, reminding me not to get too comfortable, and I scolded him silently. Virgo stirred, relaxing slightly as she sensed that Zodiac's wolf was subdued—at least temporarily.
Zodiac, for his part, remained close, sitting across from me with his usual intensity masked under a calm exterior. Griffin was next to him, his posture relaxed but alert, a silent guardian with piercing blue eyes that never quite left me. I couldn't help but notice the subtle tension between the two males, like two predators cautiously circling each other while keeping an eye on their shared interest: me.
"So," Zoey said brightly, clapping her hands once, "let's get something straight. Gray, you're officially part of this… weird family of ours. There are rules. Some of them make sense. Some of them don't. But mostly, we look out for each other. Deal?"
I nodded, still wary, though her warmth made the idea more palatable. "Deal," I said softly, surprising myself with the steadiness of my voice.
Zodiac's gaze bore into me, and I flinched slightly under the weight of his stare. "Gray," he said quietly, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate in my chest, "I'm not going to pretend that the last few weeks didn't… happen. They did. And I'm not proud. But I need you to know that I won't let anything—anything—hurt you again. Not me, not anyone else."
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. The intensity of his words and the sincerity behind them struck me deeper than I expected. Capricorn hissed softly in my mind, reminding Zodiac that he was being far too vulnerable. But the honesty, the rawness of it, made my heart ache in ways I couldn't immediately name.
Griffin's presence, steady and reassuring, gave me a tether. He leaned slightly forward, his gaze flicking to Zodiac with quiet authority. "Patience, Zodiac. She's fragile right now. You want to protect her? Then respect her pace."
"I know," Zodiac admitted, his jaw tight. "But waiting is… hard."
I felt Virgo stir, a low growl rumbling beneath the surface of my consciousness. My wolf sensed his struggle, the push and pull of instincts and restraint. It was dangerous, intoxicating, and maddening, all at once. I clenched my fists under the table, forcing both of my wolves into submission, trying to focus on the conversation at hand.
Zoey, oblivious to the silent storm brewing between Zodiac and Griffin, leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Okay, so here's what we're going to do. Gray, we start slow. Little outings, little interactions. Nothing overwhelming. And Zodiac," she added sharply, her eyes flashing at him, "you're allowed to be protective, but not terrifying. Got it?"
Zodiac smirked faintly, though there was a spark of frustration in his eyes. "I can manage that," he muttered, though Capricorn groaned at the soft tone.
I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, things could be… manageable. Small steps. Controlled interactions. The thought was comforting, though the tight coil of nervous energy in my chest remained.
Griffin's gaze finally softened toward me. "Gray," he said, his voice even and smooth, "I know this is overwhelming. It's okay to be scared. You don't have to be strong all the time. That's why we're here. To help."
The sincerity in his tone grounded me. I nodded slightly, grateful for the steadiness he exuded. My wolf, Virgo, relaxed fractionally, sensing that Griffin's presence was a stabilizing force. Capricorn, meanwhile, muttered in disapproval, probably frustrated that someone else had the upper hand in reasoning with Zodiac.
Zodiac's hand brushed against mine across the table, just a light touch, enough to send warmth racing through me without igniting the firestorm underneath. My breath caught, and I forced myself to look at him, meeting his gaze. For the first time since the outburst, I felt a flicker of understanding. He wasn't just an impulsive, angry Alpha. He was… complicated. Broken in some ways, fierce in others, but undeniably sincere in his claim over me.
Zoey clapped her hands together again, breaking the moment before it became too heavy. "Okay, enough of the serious stuff. Gray, you like shoes, right?"
I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "Uh… yeah. I mean, I like them," I admitted, trying to regain some semblance of normalcy.
"Perfect," Zoey said, eyes gleaming. "We're going to do something fun tomorrow. A shopping spree with me as your guide. And Zodiac—you're staying out of it."
Zodiac's lips twitched, but he didn't argue. Capricorn hissed in frustration, muttering something about Zoey being dangerous and reckless. "Fine," Zodiac said finally, leaning back in his chair. "But Gray—" he hesitated, then sighed, "—just be careful, okay? Don't get yourself in trouble."
I nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. Tomorrow promised a brief reprieve, a chance to experience something normal while under Zoey's protective guidance. I didn't know if I'd be able to relax completely, but it was a start.
As we finished our pastries and sipped the last of our coffee, I couldn't help but notice the subtle interactions around us. Zodiac's wolf simmered beneath the surface, restrained but present. Griffin's vigilance never wavered, a silent protector. And Zoey, with her infectious energy, seemed to bridge the gap between chaos and calm.
For the first time in weeks, I felt like I wasn't alone in this. Not really.
And maybe… just maybe, I could learn to trust again.