Chapter 172
Promise Me You Will Get Those Bastards
Ayla
“I want you to be prepared.” Thane states softly as he rubs my hand with his thumb.
“I’m not sure how to prepare for any of it.” I’m sure my tone reflects the dread I feel deep within me,
“Some families may be agreeable, appreciative even. Some may be angry or in denial. There are different stages of grief, and we don’t know what stage we will see until we start interacting with them. Don’t take anything personally today, is all I mean, Little Wolf p>
“I won’t. Or I will try not to. There is still a guilty feeling there. That I could have done something.” I admit, the feeling of guilt refuses to leave
“We all feel that way Ayla, it is part of this process. If you didn’t, I would be concerned you completely shut your emotions off.” Thane turns down a side street and I can just feel in my soul that we are close to our first family.
“Will you do the talking. If I have anything to say I will just interrupt you.” I try to lighten the mood and give him a soft smile.
“I’ll do anything you want, Little Wolf. Don’t forget that.” Thane asserts and I believe him. He parks in front of a beige townhouse with a stone
accents.
“Okay. Mind–link if we need to leave.” Thane tells me before leaning over and giving me a kiss and squeezing my thigh. He gets out and holds my car door open for me and takes my hand as we walk up to the porch and ring the bell.
“Oscar Blackrock. Thirty–five years old, widowed with no children. This is his parents‘ house. He manages his father’s hardware store. His mate died in a car accident five years ago. He has one sister who may be here. Her name is Mandy.” Thane gives me the run down on this victim’s information.
“Mandy as in Raven’s p>
“Yes.” Thane interrupts as the door pulls open. A tall male stands in the doorway. He appears tired and his shirt is half untucked from his pants. Oscar’s grieving father I suppose.
“Alpha, Luna. You will have to forgive me…” he trails off looking behind him as who I can only presume is his wife, walks up next to him. She looks the same. Clothing wrinkled, her long blonde hair a mess. She has mascara smudges are under her eyes, and they are red from tears,
“No, please don’t apologize for anything to us. “I speak up giving them the best reassuring smile I can force.
“ Yes … please come in. Excuse the mess. I’m sure you understand.” Oscar’s mom states as she leads us to the living room and gestures toward the
coach.
Thane and I sit, declining refreshments from Oscar’s mother as she and her mate take the love seat and chair opposite us in the living room.
We spend the time talking about Oscar and listen as his parents share memories of him. They shed tears and rightfully so. Their stories and grief are palpable, and I soon find myself tearing up with them. Thane answers their questions to the best of his abilities, and I can see his devotion to his pack all over his features, in his words and in his actions. They are lucky to have him, and I can tell they trust him and believe the promises
he makes to them.
Oscar’s parents, Francis and Peggy, agree to a joint ceremony and will let us know when they have the mementos they want displayed picked out, We get back in the car and the sense of relief is short lived as we must head to three more families. One of them will be much harder than the
others.
Our next family is that of Adrian Nicolas, mated with three children. He was taken from his mate of 15 years. A loving father, hard worker, and a member of the pack border patrol. His mate was angry and emotional. His children were confused and unable to understand fully the extent of what was happening to them. She too agreed to a combined ceremony and will pick out items, but she seemed too angry to listen to Thane’s promises. She barely made eye contact with me. I don’t blame her.
Nora Wolfrang was a 19–year–old studying to be a teacher. She was said to smile 24/7 and she never knew a stranger. Nora loved children and according to her mother, the world will be darker without her. I agree.
The last stop will be the hardest. I know that, but I also feel like I can’t cry any more. Thane and I make promises, but they barely register with them in the emotional haze they are trying to function in. We arrived outside Monica’s parents‘ house and I can feel Thane watching me intently. In my head I have backed put of this several times already. I don’t know why other than I don’t want to face the reality that she is gone.
1/2
Promise Me You Will Get Those Bastards
I have met June and Logan a few times through Monica at pack functions and my mating ceremony. They were lovely shifters, and it felt good to be introduced to them as her friend. Now, it feels like our friendship ruined their lives.Thane squeezes my hand tight as I take a deep breath while he rings the doorbell. I run through fake scenarios in my head, questions they may ask etc. I hate all of it.
The door starts to open, and I am met with June’s big brown eyes and the same pointy nose Monica had. June’s lips start to tremble and her eyes water as she attempts to form a smile.
“Hell Ju…” I don’t get to finish because she pulls me into her, hugging me tightly and holding the back of my head. This hug reminds me of my
and I didn’t realize how badly I needed it.
June starts to sob into my hair as Thane pulls Logan into him, and they share a hug as well. I’m not sure how long she holds me for, but crying with her feels right. At some point start to quiet down and pull away from each other and Logan holds the door open and gestures for us to come into their home. I can immediately smell her everywhere.
I love it.
1 hate it.
Her parents‘ home is warm and inviting. Well loved and full of that love as well. There are pictures of her everywhere. Family portraits on the mantel and hair ties and hair clips scattered throughout the home. Thane pulls me close to him on the sofa, and I brace myself for what is to come. I am concerned by the quietness and lack of eye contact from her father that he may blame us to some degree he has a right to do so. We do lead this pack now. He clears his throat,
“Tell me you’re going to get those bastards Alpha Thane.” Logan clenches his jaw as his wife rubs her hand on his shoulder.
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Cedella
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