Elle pulled away abruptly, the raw emotion seeming to catch up with her. She swiped at her face, looking overwhelmed.
"I need some air," she muttered, turning on her heel and hurrying out of the room. She left the precious album on the table in her haste.
Nathan watched her go, his jaw tight, eyes unreadable. After a beat, he glanced at me, something indecipherable in his expression, before turning to follow his daughter out the back doors.
I stood frozen, unsure if I should go after them or give them space. My heart ached, seeing the impact of Mira's loss still so raw. I hoped the album could bring them some healing, even if it hurt right now.
Gavin stepped up beside me, nudging my arm lightly. "That was a good thing you did, Ris."
I let out a shaky breath. "I wasn't sure if it would be too much," I admitted, watching Nathan’s and Elle's retreating backs as they disappeared into the forest.
"Nah." Gavin shook his head. "She just needs time to process. You gave her something really special today."
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. He was right, but part of me still worried. Had Ioverstepped? Brought up memories they weren't ready to face?
"I hope so," I said quietly. "I just wanted her to have a piece of her mom, you know? To feel connected to her."
"You did good, kid." Gavin squeezed my shoulder. "Trust me. That album is going to mean the world to Elle. To both of them."
I met his gaze, seeing the sincerity and shared understanding of loss. Gavin had been close with Mira, too. This couldn't be easy for him either.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to let his reassurance sink in. I glanced back at the album, sitting alone on the table. It held so much love, so many precious moments. I had to believe it would bring more light than pain in the end.
All any of us could do was hold tight to the memories of those we'd lost and keep moving forward.
The party went on for a bit longer, with Elle and Nathan soon rejoining. After a while, people began to drift out. As the last of the pack members trickled out, their laughter and chatter fading into the evening air, I picked up a stack of plates, carryingthem to the kitchen, my mind still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster of the day.
As I scraped cake crumbs into the trash, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Nathan standing in the doorway, his posture more relaxed than before. “That was really thoughtful of you, Rissa." He hesitated as if wrestling with his next words. "Mira would've liked you."
The breath left my lungs in a rush. I stared at him, stunned by the weight of his words, the unspoken emotion behind them. This man was beginning to mean the world to me.
Somehow, it wasn’t nearly as scary as it had been.
Chapter 30
Rissa
The pack housebuzzed with anxious energy as we gathered around the sturdy wooden table, trying to figure out our next move. Nathan stood at the head, his brow furrowed in concentration. Gavin paced near the windows, casting worried glances outside at the darkening sky. The enforcers, Marcus, Caleb, and Kendrick, huddled together, speaking in low, urgent tones. Ula sat perched on a stool, her keen eyes studying each of us intently. Krystal bounced her leg restlessly while Elle tried to distract Bryce with a video game in the corner.
From the looks of it, Bryce was sufficiently distracted, but Elle needed some help.
"We need to do another sweep of the town," Nathan said firmly, breaking the tense silence. "After dark, in our wolf forms. We'll cover more ground that way."
I exchanged a glance with Krystal. We both wanted to go, to help protect our pack. I cleared my throat.
"Krystal and I are good trackers, too," I pointed out. "Maybe not as good as Ula, but better than some." I looked pointedly at Nathan and Gavin.
Krystal nodded vigorously. "We want to help. We should go with you."
Nathan shook his head. "It's too dangerous. If we come across this guy, Gavin and I are the better fighters."
Gavin nodded in agreement. "You two should stay here, where it's safe. Help watch over the little ones."
I bit back a retort. They meant well, but it still stung. We weren't helpless.
The enforcers approached the table. "We can't all go," Marcus said gruffly. "One of us needs to stay behind and guard the pack house."
"Let's settle this the old-fashioned way," Kendricksuggested with a grin. "Rock, paper, scissors. Loser stays behind."
