“f**k me,” Evan muttered, dragging a hand down his face. “Of all the people…
Elaine gave a humorless laugh that quickly faded. “Yeah. Roselyn is distraught. She thinks I’ll be angry that I’ll believe she betrayed me because of my past with Silverblade.”-
Evan’s tone softened. “Does Darius know you’re planning to go? And what about Nathan?”
“I’ll call Darius tonight. And Nathan… he’s coming with us. I can’t leave him behind.”
Evan studied her for a moment, his sharp Gamma instincts reading the tension she tried to hide. “Elaine… are you sure about this? Are you ready to see them again? Ready for them to meet Nathan?
Because once we go back, there’s no avoiding what’s coming. You’ll have to-
Elaine swallowed hard. “I don’t know if I’m ready, Evan. I don’t even know if I call when no one else I can’t abandon Roselyn now. She was there for me when I was broken stood by me. She’s not just my best friend; she’s my sister-in-law. And if she needs me, then that’s where I’ll be.” Her voice wavered with emotion, and she could feel the faint tug of Evan’s Gamma aura trying to soothe her frayed nerves.
Evan sighed, his expression softening. “Alright. I’ll make the arrangements. We’ll leave at dawn. Call Darius and tell him – maybe he can ask Alpha Blaine to oversee the pack while we’re gone.”
“Thank you, Evan.”
He gave a small nod, then turned to leave, already mind-linking someone to prepare transport.-
When the door closed, silence filled the room again. Elaine leaned against it, closing her eyes. The weight of what tomorrow meant pressed down on her chest – returning to Silverblade after everything, facing her family, her brother, her past. She wasn’t ready. But Roselyn needed her more than her fear could stop her.
She forced herself to move, to focus. Before turning in for the night, she went to check on
Nathan.
When she peeked into his room, the soft golden light from his bedside lamp illuminated him sitting cross-legged on the bed, his small fingers tracing the pages of the storybook Darius usually read before bedtime.
“What are you doing, buddy?” she asked gently, stepping inside.
Nathan looked up, his bright eyes glimmering with unshed tears. “I miss Daddy, Mommy. When will he come back? I want us to finish this book together.” His bottom lip quivered.
Elaine’s heart ached. She crossed the room and sat beside him, pulling him into her arms. His small warmth grounded her in ways nothing else could. She kissed the top of his head and whispered, “How about you bring that book when we go see Daddy tomorrow? Then he can finish reading it to you himself.”
Nathan’s eyes widened. “Really? We’re going to see Daddy?”
Elaine smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “Really. We’ll leave tomorrow morning. You, me, and Uncle Evan. We’ll see Daddy and Auntie Roselyn.
But you have to get some sleep now so you’ll have energy for the trip.”
“Okay, Mommy. I’ll sleep now. Goodnight. Love you.” Nathan whispered, kissing her cheek before snuggling under his blanket.
“Goodnight, baby. I love you too.” Elaine replied softly, tucking him in and turning off the lamp.
When she returned to her room, she dialed Darius. He answered almost immediately, his deep voice calm but edged with worry. She told him everything – her decision to go, Roselyn’s distress, and her plan to bring Nathan. Darius didn’t try to stop her, though she could hear the tension in his voice.
“Just be careful, Elaine,” he said finally. “I’ll let my father know what’s happening and to look over the pack while we are gone. We’ll be ready for your arrival here tomorrow.”
After hanging up, Elaine sat on the edge of the bed, she needs to start packing their bags for tomorrow, but she just needs a minute. Returning to Silverblade terrified her, but she’d do it anyway. For Roselyn. For family. For the bond that not even fate’s cruel games could break.-
Tomorrow, she would face the ghosts she’d long tried to bury – and hope that the past wouldn’t destroy the peace she had finally found.
After Michael and Kathy went to the Alpha’s office, Michael immediately mind-linked Calvin to meet them there. Both of them had been worried sick ever since the ball ended. After Roselyn had left the event so suddenly, Calvin followed right after, and no one knew where he went. His sudden disappearance only added to their unease.
Michael had tried to reach him through the mind link several times, but Calvin ignored him until finally-thank the Goddess-he responded, saying only that he was on his way. That single response gave them both a sliver of relief, though they could still feel his turbulent emotions through the link.
Moments later, a sharp knock echoed on the Alpha’s office door before it opened. Calvin stepped inside, his face expressionless but his aura heavy and stormy. Even without speaking, the tension he carried filled the room.
“Calvin, I’m so sorry,” Kathy said softly, immediately walking toward her brother and wrapping her arms around him. “Have you had a chance to speak with Roselyn? Do you want me to speak with her on your behalf?”
Calvin didn’t return her hug. His body was rigid, his jaw tight. “Speak with her? And tell her what, Kathy?” he asked, his voice low but laced with fury.
“You understand that the reason my mate ran away from me is because of what happened with you three, right?”
“Calvin-” Kathy started, her voice trembling, but she couldn’t finish.
“That’s out of line, Calvin,” Michael said, his tone sharp and authoritative as he frowned deeply.
“Out of line?” Calvin repeated, his voice rising slightly as his composure began to crack. “I’m just telling you the truth, Michael. The reason my mate is running away from me is because of what happened here. No wonder Elaine never wanted to come back to this pack or even speak to any of us.
If this is the kind of pain she felt when you rejected her, then I understand her completely now.”
Kathy gasped softly, her eyes filling with tears. Michael’s expression darkened, his guilt visible despite his attempt to remain composed.
“Calvin, you know I would have chosen Elaine if I had been given the choice,” Michael said, his voice steady but weary. “But by that time, Kathy was already pregnant, and my father made his decision. He ordered me-no, he Alpha ordered me-to prioritize the future of the pack over everything else. Even you, Calvin… you were ordered not to support Elaine.
You remember that.”
Michael’s tone was calm but carried a note of frustration. The memories of that painful time were heavy for them all.
Calvin stared at him for a long moment, then asked quietly, “Michael… are you like your father? Will you follow his example?”
Michael’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
“Because if the only way for Roselyn to accept me is for me to leave this pack,” Calvin said, his voice filled with quiet determination, “then I will do it.”
The room went silent. Michael’s eyes widened in shock, and Kathy froze, her lips trembling.
“No! Brother, no-please don’t say that. Please don’t leave me too,” Kathy said, tears spilling down her cheeks as she grabbed his arm.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.