From The Ashes.

Chapter 29

That night Cody slept in my bed as Zak said he wanted to get some work done. I felt like I was hugging a warm teddy bear as I drifted off to sleep. I was in a very deep sleep, dreaming of hot chocolates, marshmallows and something white and fluffy when a scream wrenched me awake.

"Mum, no!" Slowly, I slipped out of bed, careful not wake Cody as I sneaked out the door. "Mum, run!" The darkness wasn't helpful as I made my way into Zaks room. I almost fell on him when I walked straight into his bed but I managed to catch myself before attempting to shake him awake.

"Zak, Zak, you're dreaming." I muttered. I flinched as a growl ripped through his throat and he jolted upright as I just managed to get out of the way of his fist that went flying through the air.

"Really Zak?" I cried as he groaned and held his head.

"Sorry, I didn't see you." Zak muttered, rubbing his eyes.

"No wonder, you were having a nightmare." He leaned over his bedside table and turned on his lamp so that the dull, flickering light made it easier to see each other. Zak rubbed his face again before looking at me.

"Did I wake you up?" He asked and I nodded, wrapping my arms around my waist. I'd forgotten to grab a jacket in my haste to wake up Zak.

"You were screaming for your Mum." I muttered as my teeth began to chatter. He groaned, looking out his balcony doors at the snow falling outside.

"I haven't had a nightmare like that since I was a teenager." He said before eyeing me. "You're shivering." I smiled, trying to rub the goose bumps from my arms as I nodded.

"Yeah, now that you're awake, I'm going back to my nice warm bed." I chuckled as I moved towards his door. Maybe Rachel had a point with how well I handled the cold.

"Wait." I blinked and turned to look at Zak who was now sitting up in bed. "Can you stay with me for a bit? I don't want to be alone right now." My fingers slipped from the door knob as I considered. Cody was still asleep so it should be fine to stay for at least an hour or so. Still shivering violently I made my way back over to him.

"Here." He said before yanking me beneath his covers and wrapping his arms around my waist. "Just so you don't die of hypothermia." He laughed and I slapped his arm as his chest pressed into my back. I felt like I aught to complain or reject him somehow but I could sense no ulterior motives and his arms around me were warm and, dare I say, comfortable. So, I just pulled his doona closer and relaxed into his pillow.

"What were you dreaming about?" I asked when the silence seemed to stretch on forever. Zak sighed, his breath tickling my ear as his arms tightened around me.

"My Mum. The day I lost her." I swallowed and turned over in his arms so I could see his face.

"Would you like to talk about it?" I asked. He was silent for several seconds. It was like I could see the gears turning behind his bright blue eyes. Eventually, his eyes narrowed and he laid his head down beside mine so we were only inches apart.

"Yeah, I think I would." Zak looked at me and I smiled encouragingly. There was something about being alone in a dark room that gave the illusion we were the only two people in the entire world so when Zak paused, I felt as though I could wait an eternity to hear his story.

"My Dad says he met Mum at a Summer Solstice Festival where, in more peaceful times, all the packs in the forest would gather would gather to celebrate together." He swallowed and I nodded to show I was following. "Apparently she didn't like him at first. Dad says she thought he was a pompous brat." I chuckled.

"Like Brian?"

"Hey, no comparing my father to that dick!" He cried, poking me in the ribs. I laughed and he settled again. "But Retria kept bringing them together and slowly my Mum fell in love with my Dad. Apparently, her old pack doesn't live in a structure like Fortitudine and even though she knew she had to join Ossian because Dad was next in charge, she still missed the openness of her old pack." A darkness dulled the blue in his eyes. I twisted my hands around his forearms and squeezed in encouragement. He smiled gratefully at me before sighing.