“There are a few more,” Fi says. “They come and go, but those four always stay.”
A loud thump on the metal door behind us causes me to jump. “Hey,” Wes shouts. “Shut the fuck up before I serve you to your father.”
I glare at him over my shoulder, choosing to keep my mouth shut.
“I’m watching you, Vella,” he spits through the railings.
My wolf growls in protest as I move to get up, but Fi’s hand reaches out to grab my wrist to stop me. I look back at her, and she shakes her head. I regretfully settle back onto the floor.
Wes snorts. “That’s what I thought.”
When he stalks away, I tighten my fists.
“I’m getting out of here,” I grumble quietly. “He’s not getting away with this.”
Fi smiles softly, reaching for my hand again. She gives it a gentle squeeze.
“This is going to sound cheesy, but the second I saw you come into this room, I saw something,” she says sincerely.
I blink back at her, confused. “Saw what?”
“Hope.”
56
EVAN
It’s been three weeks of hell.
Three weeks of heartache.
Three weeks of emptiness.
I was only discharged from the infirmary a few days ago. Ryker broke my ribs and my arm. The bruises on my body are finally starting to turn yellow in a sign of healing, but I’m in pieces inside.
Ava, Kayleigh, Jaxon, and Kayden have been nothing short of supportive. Felix and Zara have popped by every now and then to check in, too.
But it’s hard to be present when there’s nothing in my heart. Caleb left with it. And I haven’t heard from him. Of course, I haven’t. No one knows where he is, if he’s coming back, if he’s okay, and that destroys me all over again.
Now that I’ve moved back to Jaxon’s pack, he's had me under supervision. I can’t go anywhere without a chaperone for the sake of my mental health.
They’re worried about me, I get it, but I need a second to breathe. My wrists have itched in ways I can’t even explain. I’mnot proud to say I gave into those thoughts when I was alone for a few minutes, it’s haunted me ever since.
This isn’t what Caleb wanted for me, but I’ve never felt so lost.
How can I go on without him?
He sacrificed himself, and I know why he did it, but it still butchers me.
I’ve been sitting out on the patio steps for what feels like hours. It’s been raining since the second I stepped out here. The droplets sink into my skin, leaving my clothes soaked through, yet I’m still numb as hell.
My fingers latch onto Caleb’s necklace, and it makes me feel somewhat closer to him, but it’s not enough.
“Evan,” Ava murmurs as she steps outside. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”
I don’t even care anymore. What’s the fucking point?
She perches beside me, but I don’t turn to look at her. I can’t.
