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Chapter 213
~Zara’s POV~
The moment Snow arrived, his presence swept away every trace of the oppressive fear Kaid had instilled. His strong arms wrapped around me tightly, bringing me into the safety of his warmth.
"Zara." Snow’s voice was laced with concern as he pulled back to cup my face. "What happened, love? Are you hurt?"
I shook my head quickly, my hands clutching his jacket. "No... I’m okay now." My voice trembled slightly, betraying the emotions I tried to hide. "I just... needed you."
Snow’s expression softened, though Glacier’s growl echoed faintly in my mind, his anger simmering beneath Snow’s protective demeanour. "Let’s get you into the car," he said gently, leading me to the passenger side.
Once inside, the familiar scent of Snow and the enclosed space brought a fresh wave of comfort. As soon as he settled into the driver’s seat, I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned over, throwing my arms around him again.
"Zara," he whispered, his hands instinctively wrapping around my back as he held me close. "You’re scaring me, love. Tell me what’s wrong."
"I just needed to feel safe," I said, my voice muffled against his chest. "I needed you."
His hand moved up to cradle the back of my head, his thumb tracing soothing circles against my scalp. "I’m here. I’ve got you. Nothing and no one will hurt you."
I felt the faint tug of his mind link reaching out to mine, gently and patiently. "Zara, please," his voice came through softly in my mind. "What happened? Was it him? Did Kaid do something?"
The mention of Kaid made me shudder, and I tightened my hold on Snow. "It was his allure," I admitted through the link, my thoughts spilling over like a dam breaking. "He tried to manipulate me, Snow. But I fought it. I fought him."
Glacier’s growl reverberated sharply, a mix of pride and anger. "I’ll kill him," Snow’s voice came, low and deadly, though his physical touch remained gentle.
"You don’t need to," I said, pulling back enough to look into his eyes. "I won. He didn’t take anything from me. I’m here, with you."
Snow’s eyes softened, though the tension in his jaw didn’t ease. He exhaled heavily, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "You’re incredible, Zara. Stronger than I’ll ever be."
"No," I said firmly, my hand coming up to rest on his cheek. "It’s because of you. Because of us. Our bond is what saved me."
His expression cracked slightly, the vulnerability in his eyes stealing my breath. "I couldn’t protect you," he admitted quietly, his voice laced with guilt. "You faced him alone, and I wasn’t there."
"You were there," I whispered, leaning forward to press a kiss to his lips. "In my heart, in our bond. You’re always with me, Snow. Always."
"Uh... and did you just forget about me?"
Snow and I heard her loud and clear, and Snow’s brows creased slightly.
"Astrid?"
"Yeah. I helped her and ignited the mate mark," she explained and I smiled.
"Fine girl. Thank you greatly."
I rolled my eyes, and Snow shook his head at me before pressing his forehead against mine. "Thank you, Astrid," he mind-linked her. "Thanks for taking care of my woman for me."
Just watching him speak to Astrid like that filled my heart with so much joy and before I knew what I was doing, I was pressing my lips to his.
Snow’s eyes widened slightly before closing and kissing me back. Glacier growled in approval and I felt him be happy.
Our kiss deepened, a quiet reassurance passing between us. It wasn’t desperate or rushed but filled with the unspoken promise of never letting anything come between us.
When we finally pulled apart, Snow rested his forehead against mine. "I swear, Zara," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "No one will ever hurt you. Not while I’m breathing."
I nodded, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. "I know," I whispered. "I trust you."
The drive back to his mansion was silent, but it wasn’t tense. Snow’s hand never left mine, his thumb tracing idle patterns as if grounding us both.
Once we arrived, he helped me out of the car and didn’t let go of me as we walked inside.
"I want you to rest," he said as we entered the living room. "You’ve been through enough for one day."
I nodded, exhaustion tugging at me now that the adrenaline had worn off. Snow guided me to the couch, and as soon as I sat down, he kissed the top of my head.
"I’ll make us something warm to drink," he said, brushing his fingers lightly against my cheek before disappearing into the kitchen.
As I leaned back against the cushions, Astrid stirred softly in my mind. "He’s good for us," she said calmly and full of approval.
"He’s everything," I whispered back.
When Snow returned with two mugs of steaming tea, his smile was small but genuine. He handed me a mug, sat beside me and pulled me into his side.
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