“I think his father already?—”
I don’t hear the rest. I’m already running.
Jeremy’s voice rings in my head. “Owen is losing his shit, and no one can stop him. We need your help.”
Everyone crowds in the hall. Items crash, and angry cries come from Owen’s room. No one helps him or stops him. Anger surges within me at their lack of support. He’s hurting. He just lost his mother, and they stand around, snickering like children.
“Move!” I yell.
Heads whip around to look at me.
“Move!” I repeat, my voice reverberating off the walls. I have never seen the recruits move so fast. When the path clears, I rush into Owen’s room. He picks up a lamp and throws it across the room. I duck as it whizzes past my head and smashes against the wall. He just stands there, tears streaking down his face. He’s breathing hard, hands fisted at his side. If he wants to fight, I’ll fight him, if that’s what he needs. I take a few cautious steps forward. He swipes at his face.
“My mother died. Do you know how my father told me? He sent me a text—a fucking text, Jess!” He pulls at his hair and screams. “How the fuck can someone do that to their own son?!”
My own tears start to fall for him. I go to him, wrapping my arms around his middle, and let him bury his face in the crook of my neck. We fall to our knees. I cry with him.
“I hate him! I fucking hate him!” he shouts, fisting the back of my jacket in his hands. His body shakes with long, racking sobs.
Jeremy and Odyssey arrive, crunching glass as their footsteps come closer. They don’t speak, just place a comforting hand on Owen’s shoulder and head.
Little by little, every recruit enters the room. They all place a gentle hand on him or on the person standing before them. Surrounded by friends, we stay with him in silence and allow him to mourn the loss of his mother.
Ean raps softly at the door. “Owen, your car is here.” The same way the recruits came in, they leave, one by one.
Owen pulls back and wipes his face. “I need to pack my things—all of it. I’m not coming back.”
I want to contradict him, that maybe his father will change his mind after things settle down. I decide not to give him false hope. From what he shared with me, I know better. His father isn’t mean or cruel, just emotionally unavailable as a parent. He values business and treats Owen more like a client than a son.
It was his mother who supported his decision to join the guard because his father thought it was a waste of time. I stand and offer my hand to help him to his feet. Odyssey, Jeremy, and Alexis busy themselves by packing his belongings.
Alexis looks around the room one last time. When he’s satisfied they have everything, he zips the last bag, and the three of them leave the room.
“We’ll give you two a few minutes and meet you downstairs,” Jeremy says on his way out.
Once we are alone again, Owen reaches for me and wraps his arms around me. “I want this to be a bad dream, Jess. Please tell me this isn’t real.”
“I wish I could. I really wish I could.”
He rests his forehead against mine and squeezes his eyes shut.
“I wanted you to meet her. She would have loved you.”
I gently step out of his embrace and mumble an excuse that I need to check he has everything. He pulls me back and kisses me.
I don’t have the heart to hurt him. When he deepens the kiss, I don’t stop him, even as the coil of guilt unfurls deep within my core. He breaks our kiss and entwines his fingers with mine.
“I know it’s bad timing. I’m not sure if I will ever see you again.” He looks down at our hands and smiles sadly. “I better get going.” He glances around his room, and we leave hand in hand.
Every recruit lines up on either side of the walkway to give Owen an honorary sendoff. Anders, Chris, and Elias stand at the front.
I squeeze Owen’s hand one last time before I release him to stand next to my brothers.
He thanks the Leads and asks that they pass on his gratitude to Shadow for giving him the opportunity to be here. Alone, he walks down the path to the car.
It breaks my heart that his father couldn’t be here to pick him up. Anger rolls through me for him, and fresh tears fall. I think if I ever met the man, I would punch him for being such a heartless bastard.
Owen stops just before he reaches the car. His driver gives him a brief hug. He turns around to look at everyone, and his shoulders sag in defeat. “It has been a great honor training alongside all of you. Especially you three.” He points at the twins and me. “You’ve been more of a family to me than my own. Thank you.” He meets my eyes and then climbs in the car.
