Their Hidden Princess (Zora and Maximus) novel Chapter 252

Chapter 252

Maybe…

Maybe there were a few holes around Zora that only Thorne could fulfill. He could face outward in Zora’s protection, while the others swarmed around her. He could be patient with her when she made mistakes, as he had made plenty of his own and understood better than most the struggles with regret and self-hatred.

She could teach him too, about kindness. Softness. Forgiveness.

“She needs you,” Max said, spitting the words out like he hated saying them. “She needs you in every way two mates can need each other.”

Thorne looked down at his hands. Hands that had already done so much harm. “What if I only held her back? I’ve already hurt her so much…”

“I don’t really want you around her. You don’t deserve her at all, and you’ve made stupid choices the whole time you’ve known her,” Max said plainly. “But… Whether any of us like it or not, you are one of her mates. We all need you to help protect her, and help her get stronger.”

“You’d rather I wasn’t?”

“I’d give anything to be able to throw you over the nearest cliff,” Max grumbled. “But I love Zora more than I hate you. And I think…” He sighed, hesitating. “You aren’t worthy of her as you are, but you could be. You could actually start doing something about that. She’d forgive you. Redeem yourself and become the kind of man that would deserve her.”

His wolf stirred inside of him, and Thorne could feel its agreement.

We could be better if we tried.

The house came into view before long. As they drew closer, Kairos and Valentin stepped outside of it, as if to greet them. Yet as they approached, both men were blocking the door.

Max and Thorne stopped.

“Stand aside, Max,” Kairos said.

Max did without question. When had he come to trust Kairos so much? Was that part of being one of Zora’s mates? As Thorne puzzled that out, Kairos’ cold gaze shifted to him. They had been friends once, but right now he looked at Thorne like an enemy. Since Thorne’s return, they hadn’t really had time to talk things out. Thorne knew he was angry, but for Zora’s sake, he thought Kairos would be supportive, like Max.

Instead, Kairos took two steps toward Thorne and then punched him straight in the face.