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The girl’s fear had controlled her life for too long, making decisions after a lifetime of abuse and neglect. Because of that, she’d let fear of rejection, fear of pain stifle the woman she should be.
“No more,” she said softly just as another Therian ambled by the window and cast what seemed to be a casual look toward her.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
The man paled and jerked his gaze from her, hurrying away.
“Enough.”
Slowly, carefully, she lowered the blinds, using the manual control rather than the automated, watching as the narrow slats slowly blocked away the view from outside. That task done, she caught the curtains and tugged them closed over the windows.
The outside world temporarily blocked from view, she went into the bathroom and studied the woman in the mirror.
It was strange, the difference a few days could make.
The shadows that had taken up residence under her eyes for so long were gone and now nothing took away from the vivid bright green of her eyes.
After her earlier shower, she’d pulled her hair back into its normal braid, an old habit, left over from childhood. Long hair was a weakness, something the cruel wolves from the Greylock pack could grab onto when she went to run.
When she’d come to Durham Starfell, she’d worn it down. Not at first—it had taken a while to relax in her new surroundings... to learn to trust.
After Niko had thrown her out of his life all those years ago, those deeply hidden fears had rushed back to the surface. She’d regressed, retreated back into a shell, pulling her hair tightly back, hiding inside dull, loose clothing, lingering on the outskirts of life.
Merida had pulled her back away from the edge more than once and eventually, Zee relaxed enough to let her hair down some of the time, to wear slim-fitting jeans and cuter tops when she went to the pub in P-town.
On the inside, she’d still been that scared girl, though.
It was time to put that girl to rest once and for all.
Reaching for the tie on the end of her braid, she pulled it free and began to unravel that tightly wound skein of her hair.
Task done, she combed her fingers through the loose waves, watching her reflection.
Her phone vibrated with a notification and she read it, smiling a little as she typed back a response.
Zee: Are you psychic now, Meri?
Meri: Nope. Just really good at reading between the lines. Your belongings will be there within the next three days. If he ever makes you unhappy, Zee, you have a place here with us. Don’t forget that.
Zee: I know. Thank you.
Meri: And keep in touch. Just because you’re crazy enough to love a mangy wolf doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends.
Zee: You were crazy enough to take a mangy wolf in, Mer. It’s probably why we got along so well.
Zee sent a couple of hearts along with the message before putting the phone down.
It was more or less official.
She was staying.
She should probably let the wolves loitering outside know.
And it would be a good idea to let the Prime know, too.
With a smile, she unearthed the small bag of cosmetics she’d packed and went to work.
Ten minutes later, she found Etan waiting for her in a small nook off the main hallway of the Big House.
