I'm not entirely sure how long we all sat, silent from the shock. Zach didn't loosen his grip around my trembling body for even a second and simply whispered gently into my ear about how everything was going to be ok.
I was eternally grateful to have him by my side and had no idea what I had done to get so lucky. He was so completely perfect: constantly there when I needed him; protective but understanding of my need for independence; safe.
Finally, the immediate shock passed and after an extensive silence, Ryder, being him, broke it. "What the hell." He scoffed. "This is so messed up."
"Ryder." Both Tyler and Caroline admonished.
"What?" He defended, holding his hands up in surrender before they glanced to me and he followed their gazes. He stared at me for a while without an ounce of emotion before he rolled his eyes. "This would make such a good movie." He grinned and I couldn't help but laugh.
Despite his lack of class, I loved the way Ryder didn't sit around pitying me. I had enough self pity to revel in without adding in everyone else's. I appreciated their concern but I hated being looked at like some poor, helpless cub.
"He has a point you know. Meryl Streep should one hundred percent star in it." Liam grinned, making me laugh through my sniffles.
"Ooo! And the Hemsworth brothers. God, are they beautiful." Alexia swooned.
"They are!" Caroline agreed and soon the three girls were in a deep conversation about the Hemsworth brothers.
"Guys?" Mason snapped after a while of the guys simply staring at them. One by one, they turned to face him and then seemed to remember the pressing issue.
"Oh, right," Alexia mumbled. "Are you ok El?" She asked gently.
"Yeah." I nodded, leaning in to Zach a little more. "Just really confused."
"I'm sorry," Zach whispered to me, pressing a kiss to the shell of my ear.
"For what?" I asked him, thrown off by his apology.
"Well... for killing the only parent you had left." He sighed and rested his chin on the top of my head.
"The only reason he was the only parent left was because he killed both of mine and the only reason he is dead is because he threatened me. What the hell kind of psycho was he? He killed his ex girlfriend, the father of his child and then went after his child." I shook my head in disgust. "He's sick."
"I know someone who might have some sort of clue as to why he did what he did," Jordan piped up and I stared at her, confused.
"Who?" Zach asked before I could.
She looked to me before shrugging with a slight smile. "Your brother, or half brother anyway," she whispered and until then, I had completely forgotten about him.
"Aiden." I nodded, now realising Jordan was right. He might know something and if not, someone in his pack could. "I need to speak to him," I explained, pulling out of Zach's hold and striding across the lounge.
"Woah, woah, woah. Hang on a second sweetheart." Zach grasped my wrist and pulled me back to him. "I think you should wait, baby. You didn't sleep at all last night and its been an emotional day and I think you should get some sleep tonight and then tomorrow, we will go and speak to Aiden ok? Whatever he knows today, he will still know tomorrow." He kissed my forehead gently while he waited for my reply.
I loved how caring he was. How he knew exactly what I needed before I did and how he could rationalise anything and put it into perspective. He was right, tomorrow I could get my information but tonight I needed some rest... and maybe sex with Zach.
"Yeah, ok you're right." I nodded and kissed his lips lightly before smiling up at him gratefully.
"You haven't really eaten anything today so I am going to make some food, does anyone else want anything?" He offered.
"No thanks man, I should be going," Mason told him, rising from his seat.
"I'll walk you home," Caroline insisted more than offered and after a quick goodbye, the two of them left.
"I should go too, leave you guys alone for a bit." Alexia smiled and said her goodbyes, followed by Blake.
That left Ryder, Tyler and Jordan with the three of us so Zach started to cook us all some food. "Need any help?" I asked him from the next room.
"Nope."
I smirked, knowing if I so much as moved he would kill me. Instead, I leant against Liams shoulder and chatted lightly with my friends for a while, not really paying attention to their 'if you made a movie of your life, who would play you and the rest of the cast' game. I was too preoccupied wandering about the past.
How could my mom ever have loved him? He was a cold hearted monster who killed the woman he supposedly loved and her husband. I hated him, plain and simple. Nothing Aiden could tell me would change that.
Once we had demolished the food Zach made - which as per usual, was delicious - Ryder pulled me aside into the hallway. "Hey." He smiled down at me.
"Hey." I smiled back meekly, finding a lump lodged in my throat.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry," he whispered but I held up my hand to stop him.
"Don't," I begged. "I hate pity, you know that," I reminded him.
"Yeah I know." He grinned and kissed my cheek. "You'll always have a family El. Me, Tyler, Jordan, we all love you. You don't need some shitty dad who hurt your true parents. You don't need anyone. You're the strongest person in the world and I know you're gonna be fine, I just wanted to tell you I loved you and that I'm sorry. You deserve better."
I pretty much collapsed into his arms, feeling the familiar warmth of my best friend for a long, long time before he pulled away and gently pecked my lips. "That's mostly because I love you but also to piss Zach off." He smirked before leisurely strolling back into the lounge where Zach scowled towards the door.
"Cheek?" He snapped.
"Lips." Ryder laughed at Zach's snarl and then turned to Tyler. "We have to leave now before he kills me." He shrugged and I couldn't help but laugh at his carelessness. "See you babe." He winked before the two of them left along with Jordan.
"Lets go to bed," I suggested to Zach as soon as the front door closed.
We said goodnight to Liam and then made our way to our bedroom and closed the door behind us. "Can you make me forget everything?" I asked Zach, striding over to where he sat on the bed and straddling him.
Our lips connected seconds later, softly at first but soon, our passion and lust egged us on and before I knew it, I was lay beneath Zach's large body on the bed, tugging at his shirt. He pulled away momentarily to help me remove it before reconnecting our lips while my hands glided over every taut muscle beneath his soft, smooth skin.
When his lips left mine, they travelled gently and slowly across my jaw and down my neck towards my pulse. Pure bliss flooded through me at his sensual kisses and I immediately forgot about everything and relaxed beneath him.
"I love you baby." He spoke between peppering kisses along my collar bone. I hummed in pleasure at the feeling and fluttered my eyes closed.
"I love you too," I murmured, dazed by his hands on my hips and his lips on my chest. Suddenly, cold air gushed against me and his touch stopped. When I opened my eyes, he was stripping off the rest of his clothes.
I grinned and joined him, removing my own shirt and jeans but frowned when he tossed me one of my favourite shirts of his and then frowned deeper when I watched him slip into a pair of boxers.
"No no no!" I groaned, pouting my lips in a sulk.
"Baby, you can barely keep your eyes open and I want you to get some sleep," he told me, removing my bra only to pull his t-shirt over my head. The soft material reached my thighs and was my favourite thing to sleep in but currently, I hated it.
"No! I want you to kiss me again," I told him, reaching for his jaw. My palm brushed over his stubbled chin before he pulled away and peeled back the covers.
"Come on, get some sleep. In the morning, I promise." He smiled sincerely and it melted my heart. Part of me wanted to give in and do whatever he said when he smiled like that and the other part of me wanted to kiss him even more. "I'll wake you up with your favourite method," he told me and I was sold. There was nothing like Zach's love making to start your day.
"Fine." I pouted before hopping into bed beside him and sinking into his hold. "I love you so much Zach," I told him as his arm curled around me and our hands joined.
"So, so much."