Chapter 59: Unexpected Gestures

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Unexpected Gestures The walk back to the main packgrounds was filled with uncomfortable silence. Lily kept a careful distance from Zayn, still processing their conversation about his scars. She’d seen a glimpse of vulnerability in him she hadn’t expected, and now she didn’t know how to act around him. Zayn strode ahead, his broad shoulders rigid with tension. He hadn’t spoken a word since they left the vault. The night air was cool against Lily’s skin, a welcome relief after the intensity of their conversation. When they reached the fork in the path, Lily found herself rooted to the spot. She looked at both paths nervously, knowing where they led but unsure which to take. Zayn had already gone down the path towards the main packgrounds. When he noticed her absence and turned. “What’s wrong?” Lily pointed nervously towards the other path, then back at herself. Zayn’s brow furrowed. “Would you prefer to sleep out there instead?” She considered it for a moment but shook her head. “Then follow me,” he said, firmly but not unkind. Entering the packhouse the floorboard creaked beneath their feet. It was late in the night, there was no one else, only them. Lily could not help but tremble. They walked through the corridors where she had once been forced to scrub floors until her hands bled. Every corner held a memory of humiliation or pain. Together, they went upstairs. Lily’s steps grew even more hesitant. Zayn continued forward, seemingly unaware of her distress until they reached his room. He turned to find Lily frozen several paces behind him, her entire body trembling. Her eyes were wide with undisguised terror. “Lily?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft. She snapped to attention, forcing herself to step forward. She tried to push past him into the room, accepting whatever he intended to do with her. But before she could enter, he caught her arm. “What are you doing?” he asked, genuine confusion in his voice. Lily couldn’t meet his eyes. She gestured vaguely toward the room, then at herself, resignation in every line of her body. Understanding dawned on his face, followed quickly by something that looked almost like hurt. “I’m not... That’s not what I...” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “You’re not sleeping in my room.” Relief flooded her face so obviously that Zayn’s expression darkened. “Come,” he said coldly, turning and walking a few doors down. He pushed open the door to reveal a spacious guest room with a large four-poster bed. The windows looked out over a small garden. “You’ll stay here,” Zayn said. Lily stepped inside cautiously, unable to believe this beautiful room was meant for her. She turned to Zayn with questioning eyes. “It’s all yours,” he confirmed. “You can change into–” Zayn frowned, taking in her appearance more carefully. “Is that all you have to wear?” Lily looked down at her tattered clothes, cheeks flushing red as she nodded. “Wait here.” He left abruptly, closing the door gently behind him. Lily looked around the room while he was gone, running her fingers over the smooth wooden furniture and soft bedding. She’d never been allowed in rooms like this except to clean them. Zayn returned minutes later with a folded black garment. “Here. It’s one of my shirts. You can sleep in it until we get you proper clothes tomorrow.” He handed her the shirt, careful not to let their fingers touch. Lily accepted it with a small nod of thanks. “There’s a bathroom through that door,” he said, pointing. “Get some rest.” Zayn turned to leave, but paused when he saw Lily kneeling on the floor beside the bed, arranging the blanket on the carpet. “What are you doing now?” Lily looked up, confused by his question. She pointed to the makeshift bed she’d created on the floor, gesturing that she was going to sleep there. “You’re sleeping on the bed,” Zayn said firmly. “Not the floor.” She shook her head and mimed sleeping, then pointed again at the floor. “Why?” he demanded to know. He closed the distance between them, casting her in his shadow. Lily hesitated. She glanced at the bed, then back at the ground. She did a series of hand gestures, insisting that she preferred to sleep on the floor. “Did someone hurt you for sleeping in a bed?” Zayn asked, his voice suddenly hard. She bit her lip, jaw clenched. Her hands were beginning to feel clammy from sweat. “Don’t lie to me,” He warned sternly. Without any other choice, she nodded. “No one is going to hurt you,” He said, pausing before speaking again, “I won’t hurt you for sleeping in the bed. The bed is for sleeping, the floor is not.” When Lily still didn’t move, Zayn stepped forward. Before she could react, he bent down and lifted her into his arms. She was so light, it barely required any effort. He placed her gently on the bed. “You’re sleeping here tonight. Alpha’s orders,” He declared. Lily sat frozen in the center of the mattress, clutching his shirt close to her chest. Her heart pounded in her ears. Zayn moved the blankets and pillows back onto the bed. Once he was satisfied, he walked towards the door. “Goodnight, Lily,” He said softly, his expression a little softer, as he closed the door behind him. Alone in the room, Lily looked towards the door, listening to Zayn’s footsteps as he walked away. Finally, she relaxed a little. She changed into Zayn’s shirt. It hung down past her knees. It smelled like him, fresh pine and morning rain, a scent unique to him. It was oddly comforting. She slipped under the covers, sinking into the softest mattress she’d ever felt. Despite her intention to stay alert, her eyelids quickly grew heavy. The combination of comfort, exhaustion, and Zayn’s scent surrounding her quickly pulled her into a deep, dreamless sleep. Persistent knocking woke her the next morning. Lily blinked in confusion, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. Sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the room in warmth. The door creaked open, and Martha’s face appeared. Her eyes widened when she saw Lily in the luxurious bed. “Lily? Is it really you?” Martha rushed to her side, tears forming in her eyes. “They told me you were here, but I could hardly believe it.” She pulled Lily into a tight embrace. “Look at you! In a real bed, in the packhouse!” Lily smiled, genuinely happy to see the older woman, the only one who truly cared for her since the beginning. She quickly noticed that Martha was holding a package in her hands. When she gestured to the package, a smile formed on Martha’s face. She laid it down gently on the bed, unwrapping it as she spoke, “Alpha Zayn requested that you attend the send-off ceremony of Alpha King Dace and the other visiting Alphas. This is what you’ll be wearing.” She unfolded a beautiful blue dress with delicate embroidery around the sleeves and neckline. Lily’s eyes widened with recognition. She touched the fabric, then looked questioningly at Martha. “No, it’s not the same one I made you before,” Martha explained. “That one was lost during the rebellion. But when I saw this fabric, I knew it would suit you perfectly.” Martha helped Lily out of bed. “Come now, let’s get you bathed and dressed. We don’t have much time.”) They hurried into the bathroom. Lily removed the shirt she wore while Martha prepared her bath. Once the water began to steam up the bathroom, she helped Lily to unwrap the bandages. She even unwrapped the one around her neck. “Alpha Zayn instructed that the mate mark must be visible today,” She explained to Lily with a small smile. An hour later, Lily was transformed. The blue dress hugged her figure perfectly, making her look like a proper Luna rather than a former slave. Martha helped style her hair so that it framed her face while leaving her neck—and Zayn’s mark—clearly visible. Looking into the mirror, Martha could not help but praise, “You look perfect. Just like a Luna.” A knock at the door announced Ezra’s arrival. He walked straight into the room, dressed smartly for the occasion too. “I’m here to escort you to the send-off,” he said. He didn’t notice how different Lily looked until he took a closer look. His eyes grew wide with surprise. “You look... different,” He muttered candidly. Lily followed Ezra through the packhouse. The streets were packed with cheers and jovial music. The crowds pushed eachother, trying to get a better view of the send-off. “Stay close,” Ezra reminded her before heading deeper into the crowds. Lily tensed as she did her best to follow. But the crowds were suffocating and dense. Lily kept her eyes on Ezra’s back. But as people pushed from all sides, she quickly lost sight of him. Panic rose in her chest as she looked around for him frantically. He was nowhere to be found. The tight spaces and loud noises suffocated Lily, causing her to hyperventilate. She felt as if her world was spinning and there was no way out. Overwhelmed, she stood frozen, about to be consumed by the crowd. Just then, a strong hand grabbed onto her arm. It pulled her out of the crowd. Lily found herself pressed against a solid chest. Strong arms helped steady her. Finally able to catch her breath, Lily breathed. She looked up, only to meet Zayn’s piercing gaze as her heart skipped a beat.