Chapter 107
PART 2
The sun filtered through the trees, casting golden rays over the pack’s main courtyard. Laughter echoed in the air—soft, light, and innocent. It came from Logan and Lily, my twins, as they toddled around, supervised by Sophie, their aunt and my sister. She knelt by the fountain, encouraging them to walk toward her with outstretched arms.
Logan, always the more adventurous of the two, took shaky steps forward, his tiny legs determined to conquer the small patch of grass. Lily, quieter and more cautious, crawled her way toward Sophie, her little eyes focused and wide with wonder.
Watching them, my heart twisted. They were so full of life, so blissfully unaware of the gaping hole in our family. A year had passed since Priscilla died...since she gave everything to protect them.
I leaned against the porch railing, cradling a mug of coffee that had gone cold. My chest ached—not from exertion, but from carrying the weight of a shattered heart. Every day, I woke up to their smiles, and every day, I grappled with the guilt of not being enough for them.
“Jake.”
Sophie’s voice drew me out of my thoughts. She stood a few feet away, holding Lily on her hip while Logan wobbled at her leg. The twins had their mother’s eyes—that brilliant shade of brown that had once filled me with joy and now only reminded me of what I’d lost.
“You should come play with them,” Sophie urged, her voice gentle but insistent.
I shook my head. “I’ll join in later. I just—”
“Need a moment. I know.” She sighed, brushing her free hand through her hair. “But you can’t take too many moments, Jake. They need you.”
Her words cut deeper than she probably intended. But she didn’t press further, instead turning her attention back to Logan, who had decided to crawl over to the fountain instead of walking. Sophie’s laugh echoed as she scooped him up, kissing his chubby cheek.
Their giggles filled the air, and for a fleeting moment, I let the sound soothe me.
That evening, the house felt unusually lively. Uncle Jonas and Aunt Lydia had come for dinner, bringing with them a sense of familiarity and tradition. Jonas, my father’s older brother, was a retired Alpha, his years of experience etched into his strong features. Lydia, his mate, radiated a quiet kindness that reminded me of a gentler time.
Dinner was a feast—roasted meat, fresh bread, and vegetables from the pack’s gardens. Lydia had insisted on helping Sophie cook, and their teamwork had filled the house with a warmth that had been missing for too long.
Logan and Lily sat in their high chairs, their small hands eagerly grabbing at pieces of bread. Jonas entertained them with exaggerated faces, eliciting squeals of laughter. For a brief moment, the weight on my shoulders lightened.
But as the evening wore on, I noticed Jonas’s lingering glances. The way he studied me, quiet and contemplative, as though waiting for the right moment to speak. Lydia, too, seemed more subdued, her eyes flicking between us.
After Sophie had taken the twins upstairs for bed, Jonas cleared his throat.
“Jake, we need to talk,” he said, his voice calm but firm.
I leaned back in my chair, bracing myself. “I figured this wasn’t just a social visit.”
Jonas offered a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’ve always been perceptive. It’s one of the things that makes you a strong Alpha.”
“I’m doing my best,” I replied flatly.
“We know,” Lydia said gently. “The pack is lucky to have you.”
I looked between them, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Jonas didn’t waste time. “The council has concerns.”
My stomach tightened. “Concerns? About what?”
“About the state of the pack,” Jonas said carefully. “It’s been a year, Jake. The pack is holding on, but it’s not thriving. You know as well as I do that every pack needs a Luna.”
The words struck me like a physical blow. I clenched my fists on the table, my jaw tightening. “Don’t,” I said quietly.
“Jake—”
“I said don’t,” I snapped, my voice cutting through the room.
Lydia placed a hand on Jonas’s arm, but he pressed on. “I’m not saying this to hurt you, Jake. I’m saying it because it’s the truth. The council is worried, and frankly, so am I. Without a Luna, the pack will fracture. You know that.”
“She was my mate,” I said, my voice cracking as I turned to face him. “My true mate. Do you have any idea what it feels like to lose that?”
Jonas’s expression softened, his voice quieter now. “I do.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“She wasn’t my first mate,” he admitted, the weight of his words surprising me.
I stared at him, stunned into silence.
“My first mate died in childbirth,” he continued. “I thought I’d never recover. But the pack needed me, and I knew I couldn’t let them down. Years later, I met Lydia. It didn’t erase the pain, but it gave me a reason to keep going.”
“This isn’t the same,” I said, my voice trembling.
“No,” Jonas agreed. “It’s not. But if Priscilla’s sacrifice meant anything to you, then you owe it to her to lead this pack. To give them the future she wanted for them.”
Lydia spoke up then, her voice soft but steady. “We’re not saying you have to decide now, Jake. But you need to think about it. For the pack. For Logan and Lily.”
That last part hit me harder than anything else. Logan and Lily.
I thought about their tiny hands reaching for me, their innocent faces blissfully untouched by the burdens of this world. They deserved more than a grieving father who could barely hold himself together. They deserved a pack that could provide them with the love and stability Priscilla would have wanted.
“I don’t think I can do it,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Even if I wanted to, I don’t think I’m capable of loving anyone else. Not like I loved her.”
Jonas sighed. “It’s not about love, Jake. Not right away. It’s about stability. And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll find someone who surprises you.”
I shook my head, burying my face in my hands. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
Jonas and Lydia exchanged a look, but they didn’t press further.
“We’ll give you time,” Jonas said finally. “But don’t wait too long. The council won’t be patient forever.”
After they left, I sat alone in the living room, staring into the dying embers of the fireplace. My mind raced with conflicting thoughts—anger at the council, guilt for even considering their words, and the relentless ache of grief that refused to let go.
Upstairs, I could hear Sophie humming softly as she tucked the twins into bed. Their laughter earlier had been a balm to my soul, but it also made the loss sharper.
Priscilla should have been here to see them grow.
I closed my eyes, letting the silence engulf me. “I’m sorry, Pris,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I’m trying. I promise I’m trying.”
But deep down, I knew that trying wouldn’t be enough forever.
The pack needed more. My children needed more.
And I didn’t know how to give it to them.
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