Chapter 118: Two Peas In A Pod
Zayn’s torso was a roadmap of scars. Jagged lines crisscrossed his skin, some were old and fading but others were still pink. Burn marks dotted his ribs. A particularly brutal scar ran from his collarbone to his hip, thick and ropey.
Lily’s eyes widened. Her fingers hovered over his chest, not quite touching. She’d seen glimpses before, but never like this. Never the full extent of what he’d endured.
“Every scar tells a story,” Zayn said quietly. “Like yours.”
He pointed to a circular burn mark near his shoulder. “Your father liked his cigars. This one was for trying to escape the first month. He mixed in silver leaves to ensure they left marks on my skin.”
Lily’s face crumpled. She knew her father’s cruelty firsthand, but seeing it etched into another’s flesh made her stomach turn.
Zayn traced a long, thin line across his abdomen. “Xavier’s favorite silver knife. He used to make small cuts, just enough to bleed but not enough to heal quickly.”
Lily flinched at the mention of her brother, Zayn noticed it immediately.
“I used to think I could overcome anything. Physical scars were nothing,” he lamented, voice dropping lower, “But I forgot how it affects our hearts and minds.”
Lily nodded, her eyes glistening with fresh tears. She understood too well.
Zayn took a deep breath, “The day your father attacked my pack, was like any other day.”
Lily tensed but didn’t look away. This was something she had to hear.
“Irene...my mate, was pregnant with our child. The attack was brutal. I told her and some others to run for safety but they got caught,” Zayn’s voice was strained.