𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞 ⸙

1.55𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

After all that was said, Zayn needed fresh air. He sat on some wooden steps by the back door, staring out to the horizon. In the distance, a rough tide smashed against rocks. Seagulls circled and screeched above, and the cold breeze twisted through trees nearby.

The sky was blue, and the sun was bright but not warm. The breeze was nice and cool for Zayn but freezing for Liam as he watched his mate from the doorway. Liam pulled sleeves over his hands and approached Zayn.

He sat next to him on the steps. Zayn wasn't surprised to see him because Liam's sweet scent had been blowing in the wind.

Zayn's arm automatically wrapped around Liam's shoulders. "It's too cold outside for you."

"I just wanted to see if you were okay."

Zayn studied Liam's brown eyes, dazzling in the sun, honest and beautiful in the morning light. "I don't know when I was last okay."

Liam's arm coiled around Zayn's back. They sat close, so the wind couldn't squeeze between them. Zayn's warmth was like wearing a jumper straight from the dryer.

"O-Out of all the things Junes said, I'm least surprised about Jaiden being the enemy."

"Really?"

"Jaiden was horrible, so I guess it makes sense that he was a part of a plan to, um, get your Packhouse. A-And also, I understand now why he hated me so much and tried to kill me. He must have been desperate to be back with his mate and wanted you to lose your wolf, so they could attack."

"So fucked up," Zayn mumbled. "All of this is just... why didn't I see any of this coming?"

"They wanted you to blame yourself" Liam shivered and Zayn's arm tightened around him. Even in an unfamiliar place surrounded by unfamiliar people, Liam felt safe with Zayn.

"They wanted you to blame yourself for everything. So when they attacked, you'd feel like you deserved it."

"But they didn't think I'd meet you."

Liam smiled. "You can stop blaming yourself now."

"I am still partly to blame. I still tried to challenge the southern pack by taking the bait of their fake Alpha mate. If I had just left it alone-"

"They would've found another way in." Liam could see Zayn beating himself up again. "Jaiden was already in your Packhouse. They would have thought of another way to kill your father. Viktor's right, you're the victim in this."

"I feel pretty guilty for a victim."

"Because you're still alive"

"I thought my dad died protecting me from something I foolishly started."

"Now you know that your dad was the one they were after all along. They had taken advantage of the fact you were his son and could be easily blamed because of the way you were last year. Your dad's death wasn't your fault." Liam had talked with Solana before finding Zayn by the back doors. He now had a pretty good understanding of what happened with Zayn's father, especially now that Junes laid the truth out for all to see.

Zayn sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I just want my bed."

"Do you think they'll trash your Packhouse?"

"They can if they want. It needed decorating anyway"

Zayn grumbled, suddenly fearing that they'd get into his father's office, the same office his father died in, and the same office that had been locked since the tragedy.

Liam chuckled, seeing the anxiety behind Zayn's eyes, and choosing not to point it out. He followed Zayn's gaze to the trees. Snow coated each branch and thickly blanketed the field. A bird landed on one of the thinner branches and snow fell like a white sheet to the wind, scaring the bird back into the sky.