Chapter 248: The New Rule
Vivian’s POV
Before I could even finish the rest of my sentence, Zahliver let out a low, dark growl and took my chin firmly in his hand.
"The only one you will ever be jumping like that is me, understood?" he said.
I batted my eyelashes innocently up at him. "So, is that an official yes to my new rule?"
He gave a single, stern nod of his head before pulling me into a kiss so deep and completely consuming that it left no doubt at all about who I belonged to.
As we finally headed down the stairs together, I could not resist sneaking one last appreciative glance at his backside.
That ass. Those jeans. We really should be back upstairs right now, my inner wolf whined loudly.
"Because I have grieving pack members to see today," Zahliver muttered quietly, his eyes already fixed on the screen of his phone. The sudden weight in his tone brought a heavy cloud over the air around us.
"Oh." That instantly explained the dull aching in my center chest. The deep sorrow I felt was not mine at all it belonged to them. The mourning wolves. I had felt it before, faint and distant, but now it pressed much closer to the surface.
Of course. We had lost several lives during the brutal fight. It was foolish of me to think we had somehow emerged completely untouched. That sobered my thoughts right up, but it also stirred something fierce inside me. I could not just sit around doing nothing today.
"I want to go out and spend some time with the pack," I told him quietly. "Just to see if there is anything I can do to help out."
Zahliver looked up from his phone screen and offered me a faint, approving smile. I loved the fact that he trusted me to do that on my own.
A soft voice from behind us made both of us turn around quickly.
"Mind if I join you two?" Joshula stood at the top of the stairs, still dressed in his soft pajamas, rubbing the lingering sleep from his eyes.
"You definitely should come," I said, grinning up at him. "Though you are going to need some real clothes if you plan on stepping outside."
He padded softly down the steps to stand beside me. I looked over at Zahliver, who seemed to be studying his brother with a thoughtful, analytical expression.
"Joshula," he started carefully, "once everything finally settles down, I want to introduce you formally to the pack as my brother. They will "
"I would honestly rather you did not," Joshula cut in gently, but his voice was very firm.
Both Zahliver and I blinked in surprise, totally taken aback by his refusal.
"Why not?" I asked softly.
He shrugged one shoulder indifferently. "I would just prefer not to be introduced like that."
Zahliver stared hard at him for a long moment, his face completely unreadable, before he straightened his posture and cleared his throat.
"All right. If that is what you truly want."
His voice sounded perfectly even, but I could easily sense the underlying tension beneath his words. Still, he respected Joshula’s personal choice without arguing.
And just like that, the day ahead of us became much more than just a time for mourning it became about personal healing too.
"It is, thank you," Joshula replied, giving Zahliver a look that made me pause in my tracks. Huh. That was... rather odd. Why on earth would he not want to be recognized publicly as Zahliver’s only living relative and his own brother, no less? The guy was strange. Like, seriously strange. He was a real enigma.
Before I could dwell on that weird moment any further, Zahliver’s phone chimed loudly in his hand. He glanced down quickly at the screen, and instantly his facial expression shifted into that all-too-familiar Alpha scowl. Alpha matters, no doubt.
"I have to head out now," he said with a resigned sigh, glancing back and forth between the two of us. "Be careful out there, both of you. Wait for your assigned guards before you leave the house. Bye."
And just like that, he was gone, disappearing quickly through the front door with a heavy wave of natural Alpha authority.
I clapped my hands together and turned toward Joshula with a bright grin. "So, are you starving, or are you actually ready to head out right now?"
His brows lifted slightly in mild surprise. "Why do you ask? Were you planning to cook us a nice breakfast?"
I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly strained a muscle in my head. "Please. I just meant there is some top-tier sugary cereal in the cabinet, if you happen to be interested." I waved vaguely in the general direction of the kitchen.
"Oh."
Yeah, that is right, buddy. I do not even cook full meals for myself or Zahliver unless it is absolutely necessary. You really think I am about to whip up a gourmet breakfast just for you?
"Well, I am ready to go whenever "
"Not looking like that, you are not," I interrupted him quickly, gesturing rudely down at his pajamas.
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to argue, then thought better of it and turned back toward the stairs. "Very well. I will be down shortly."
Once he finally disappeared upstairs, I wandered casually into the kitchen. We had eaten a big meal not that long ago, sure, but I was still craving something sweet.
"Let us see what is hiding in cabinet number one today..." I murmured quietly as I pulled the wooden door open.
My eyes lit up with pure joy when I spotted my secret hidden treasure Pop-Tarts and fruit snacks, blissfully untouched right behind Zahliver’s neatly stacked organic protein bars and high-protein nonsense. Absolute jackpot.
I snagged a package of each and leaned my back against the counter, taking a bite like I was indulging in some grand, illegal secret. This? This was pure luxury.
But just as I started tearing into the fruit snacks, I heard the sound of footsteps returning down the stairs. Crap.
If he saw me eating junk food right now, basic social pressure would demand that I offer him some. And if he actually accepted? That would be a tragedy I was not emotionally prepared to handle.
In a sudden flash of pure survival instinct, I stuffed the half-eaten bag deep into the pocket of my cardigan, schooling my facial expression into something pure and innocent just as Joshula walked into the kitchen.
Sorry, Joshula. No sharing today.
No, you are definitely not sharing, my wolf chuckled in agreement.
Ignoring her smugness, I grabbed my purse and car keys, stepping out of the kitchen to meet him properly. He had changed into a pair of clean black pants and a dark green button-up shirt. The fit was a bit loose on him it definitely had to be one of Zahliver’s old shirts. The dark green color caught me completely off guard.
My eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Note to self," I muttered under my breath. "Raid Zahliver’s side of the closet later. Seriously, where on earth has he been hiding all the non-black clothing?"
Finally, some color, my beast added happily, eyeing the shirt with just as much suspicion. I could practically feel her mental checklist forming in my mind.
I turned to face Joshula fully. "Are you ready to head out now?"
He clasped his hands neatly behind his back, eyeing me with mild curiosity. "Where are we going?"
I paused for a second to think. "First stop is the local mall. You desperately need proper clothes, personal items basically a whole new wardrobe. After that, I will ask one of my guards to give you a proper tour of the island, since I am still getting the hang of navigating things here myself. After that, we will just wing it."
He raised an eyebrow. "Guards?"
"Yeah," I said, trying my best to sound casual about it. "Zahliver insists on having guards follow me around anytime I leave the house. I mean, I can easily handle myself, but he is just... overprotective." I smiled a little at the thought, a warm feeling stirring inside my chest.
"Mmm." He tilted his head slightly, watching me closely. "I am sure they are... capable."
Just then, the sound of a loud car horn followed by a distant playful slap definitely one of my guards trying to be funny cut right through the quiet morning air. Speak of the devil.
"They are here," I said, nodding toward the front door.
Joshula frowned slightly. "How on earth could you possibly tell that from in here?"
I tapped my ear with a smirk. "Enhanced werewolf senses. Just one of the fun perks of being who I am."
His expression sharpened ever so slightly. "You are just as strong as Zahliver, then? You share the exact same... special abilities?"
There it was again that probing, testing tone. Like someone gently fishing for something hidden deep beneath the surface. It was not just idle curiosity; it felt deliberate.
"Yup," I said lightly, but added a subtle warning edge to my voice. "So do not even think about testing me."
"I would not dream of it," he replied smoothly. "It is just good to know."
I opened the front door wide and gestured for him to go first, locking it securely behind us as we stepped out into the morning light.
My guards were already waiting by the vehicle, all four of them standing near the car. Their expressions shifted the exact second they laid eyes on Joshula their eyes narrowing, muscles tensing slightly, a clear ripple of instinctual protectiveness passing between them.
I did not even try to hide my knowing smile.
Whatever today held in store for us, spending it with Joshula might just give me the vital insight I needed. There was clearly a lot more to him than he was letting on. And I intended to find out exactly what.