**************
Chapter 70
~Zara’s POV~
By the time he emerged, both of us were refreshed and dressed. Snow was in his usual dark jeans and fitted shirt, and I opted for a simple single-strap summer dress that flowed easily around my legs.
We headed downstairs, my heart a little lighter than it had been in the last few weeks. That lightness, however, quickly disappeared when we stepped into the dining hall.
The large table was set for breakfast, and to my horror, the entire family was present. Instinctively, I glanced at my watch to check the time. It was already 10:43 a.m., but none had eaten.
Snow’s parents, Alpha Storm and Luna Star, were seated at the head of the table, while Aira and Tempest sat beside them, their heads leaned close together, whispering and giggling. But the moment we walked in, all eyes turned toward us.
Aira and Tempest exchanged knowing smirks, and I felt my cheeks heat up immediately. But it was little Storm sitting between them that broke the silence.
"Daddy Snow! Zara!" he called out, his innocent eyes wide with curiosity. "Why do you both have matching scattered marks on your necks? I want one too."
My heart stopped, and I could practically feel the blood rush to my cheeks. I instinctively raised my hand to my neck, fingers brushing over the scattered marks left from last night’s activities.
Oh, God.
Tempest burst into a fit of giggles, nudging Aira, who tried and failed to stifle her laughter.
I caught sight of Luna Star chuckling as she smiled at me.
"You two decided to keep everyone awake all night, huh?" Alpha Storm questioned.
I bit my inner lips, but Snow, however, was completely unfazed. He smirked, pulling me into the seat next to him at the table.
"It was the mating season, was it not?" he said casually, leaning back in his chair. "It’s only right I show everyone how it’s done, Father."
Alpha Storm, who had been sipping his coffee, nearly choked, setting his cup down with a glare directed at Snow. "You could’ve shown them a little quieter."
The entire table erupted in laughter, except me. I was busy trying to sink into my seat, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.
"Ignore them, dear," Luna Star said softly from across the table, her warm eyes on me. "Just happy you had a nice time, Zara."
I managed a small smile, thankful for her kind words, though I could feel Snow’s gaze still burning into me. "They get wild, I know," she continued, glancing at her son with amusement. "He is, after all, his father’s son. Welcome to the family."
I blushed even more as Snow chuckled, leaning in to whisper in my ear, "See, even my mother approves."
Before I could respond, Aira’s soft voice cut through the laughter, and the mood in the room suddenly shifted.
"You’re lucky to have someone," she said quietly, her eyes distant as she stared down at her plate.
The playful atmosphere evaporated, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Tempest’s face hardened immediately, and I saw her fists clench on the table.
"If you gave up on that jerk of a mate, you’d have found someone deserving of you," Tempest snapped sharply.
Aira’s expression faltered, a mix of sadness and defence crossing her features. "He’s not a jerk. He was just... scared," she tried, her voice trembling.
"Scared?!" Tempest’s voice rose, her fists slamming onto the table, rattling the silverware. "That jerk already did enough! Look at what he put you through!"
Aira opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. The tension quickly escalated in the room and I felt a knot tighten in my chest.
Luna Star’s face turned serious as she watched her daughters, her eyes filled with concern, but she said nothing. Alpha Storm, on the other hand, placed his cup down gently with an unreadable expression.
Tempest stood up, her body shaking with barely contained rage. "I will not sit here and let you defend him again. He rejected you, humiliated you, and you still have the nerve to protect him?"
Aira’s eyes welled up with tears. "Tempest, stop—"
"No! I won’t stop!" Tempest shouted, her voice cracking as her wolf surged forward.
"Tempest, keep Summer in check and control your rage," Snow warned.
But his words had only provoked Tmpests. Left with no choice, Aira let out her wolf’s aura, sending a sickening dread and sadness everywhere.
Snow’s eyes glowed red as he glared at his older sister. "Aira, control Autumn. This is not the place for this.
"No. You tell her, Snow. She doesn’t understand."
"I don’t?!" Tempest hollered. "If anyone understands you in this life, then it is me. I freaking love you, Aira. But you need to stop lying to yourself. That bastard didn’t deserve you then, and he sure as hell doesn’t deserve you now."
The room fell into an eerie silence. I could see the pain etched across Aira’s face, her eyes glassy as she held back the tears.
I looked at Snow, unsure of what to say or do. His jaw was clenched, his fists tight as he watched the scene unfold, but he didn’t intervene further.
Both sisters clearly needed to talk things out. And as much as Tempest was a hot head, she cared about Aira with all her heart.
"Aira—"
Aira stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. Without a word, she hurried out of the dining hall, leaving everyone behind.
Tempest, still trembling with anger, tried to stop her sister but Aira was far gone. Instead, she stormed out a moment later.
I sat there, frozen in place, my heart aching for Aira.
"Well," Alpha Storm finally said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "That went... well."
Luna Star sighed, shaking her head as she looked after her daughters. "It’s been hard on her. I just hope one day she’ll realize her worth."
Snow’s hand found mine under the table, giving it a comforting squeeze. I looked up at him before retracting my hand slowly and eating.