Chapter 57

I merely nod rather than speak. Still present, painful, and piercing is the sensation that they are not there. When I think about them, my breath will frequently twitch in my throat, and my heart will often feel heavy. I often worry how long it will be until I can eventually breathe properly. Chris was the one who notified me; he also noted that you haven't discussed what happened with anyone, according to Chris. Amanda, why are you keeping things inside? I shake my head and chuckle inanely. "I don't have anything under wraps. Just the fact... I'm at a loss for words.
"What use is it to tell anyone how I truly feel when neither I nor anyone else can take action to bring them back?" "I was shackled at the time my parents sadly died. The news didn't strike me like a bombshell until I left a year following their passing. I put myself into locating my siblings and rebuilding our pack instead of wallowing in my loss. I fell into sadness once I had everything figured out. I isolated myself from everyone and limited my communication to pack-related matters. I can see why I behaved in that manner, but you...
With our hands firmly clinging onto one another for support, I lifted my eyes to see him. "What?" I pause at what he says, nod nervously, and turn to face the trees. "Your parents passed away soon after." Is it painful? You should have been ripped apart after seeing a murder and losing your parents, but instead, you're still with me. I shrug as I see the warm glow that the windows' projected light has cast over the lawn in front of us. "Yes, it hurts. When I watch other children with their parents, it makes my heart hurt because I know that if the crash hadn't happened, I might have had that as well. The previous summer I spent here, Nina was murdered. When Nina locked me in the basement and forced me to swear I wouldn't leave until I heard Chris' voice, I believed one of us was likely to die. I made her promise that I wouldn't assist her while she struggled for survival; nonetheless, I did, and she died defending me. On certain days, it may be incredibly difficult to put on the facade that everything is OK when, in reality, I'm not, but I promised my parents I would make them happy, and I want to do so.
I tighten my grip on his hand and give him a trembling grin before slowly exhaling. My weight has been taken off my shoulders as a result of admitting that, and I now feel lighter. I suppose I was holding things in, but I'm pleased Gabriel was the one to whom I finally opened up.
"I simply want them to come back." I want to experience their hugs once again, cook with my mom, and yell at the TV with my dad when our beloved team loses. I want to go somewhere with them, sing along with the radio and my mom, go to my dad's dull corporate meetings with him, complain about how unfair it is that they're banning me for something I'm completely at fault for, anything! " I take a deep breath, recognizing that I've simply rambled and expressed my true sentiments in their absence. Once more, we have stopped, but this time we are at home. On the stairs leading up to the entryway, Gabriel lifts me up into his lap.
"I thought-I hoped they'd be at my graduation, watch me go to college, and be around till I got married, but now... they're just gone," she said. I stutter as tears start to rise up in my eyes and spill out of the corners of my eyes down my cheeks. Oh, my darling. When I shake my head and let out the first sob, he quiets me. "They may not be here, but their memory lives on in your heart." I stare up at him as I nod, a trembling breath exiting my lips. "Okay." "Okay," he confirms while squeezing me closer to him.
We remain silent for a while, simply staring out at the woods in front of us and the building off to our left. "Perhaps alright will be our forever," As I laugh, Gabriel grunts angrily and rests his head on my shoulder. Before getting up and dragging me inside, he backs away, then rolls his eyes. He complained as I followed him upstairs while shutting the door. Just because I said yes doesn't mean you may cite The Fault in Our Stars. I scream and grab his arm. "So, you actually read it?"
"When I could've just watched a movie or whatever, Valeria and Isabella made me. Sometimes I detest having sisters." He mutters, holding my hips to prevent me from jumping up and down in ecstasy. "We will definitely be viewing the film, cute little ducklings! Let's go!" He curses loudly as he chases me up the stairs, although a little more slowly this time. I shout and sprint up the stairs.

*******
It's now March after some time has gone. We're being blessed with sunshine this spring, and I'm enjoying every moment of it. I constantly want to be outside. Philip and I had also reconnected before he was moved to a different position. Gabriel returning to his natural self rather than the excessively guarded Alpha mate he became anytime Philip was around makes me relieved, even though I shall miss him. I groan as I leave the school and make my way to the car because of what I see. There are roughly eight bodyguards who are escorting me back to my house after surveying the area. I'm getting prepared for the baby shower for Gabriel's closest buddy, Alpha Nicholas, who just had a baby. I do not wish to travel. I've been staying at Chris' place for a few days when one of the bodyguards called Bernett brings me back there. It's been so long, and I had finally persuaded Gabriel to allow me go see them. He firmly rebuffed the notion and, clearly, yelled out "No" a million times until I finally used blackmail to persuade him to let me go.
The trip back to the home is brief and swift, and when I arrive, Chris and his dad are yelling at a soccer match on television, while Linda just rolls her eyes in amusement at their antics. As I go closer to them, I giggle, but I have to stop when Linda sees me and gets up from her couch. ''Amanda! I started to fear that you might arrive home after dark. Linda yells as I rush myself onto the couch and dump my suitcase on the ground. "We need to get ready." I manage to take a handful of popcorn from Chris' bowl and whisper, "Isn't there any way I can...stay at home?" Chris grabs me by the head and ruffles my hair.
''Why? Everyone is welcome, even you," I murmur, taking a sip of water. "Every werewolf is invited but I am just a human in case you forgot." "Rory, you are Luna, the mate of King Gabriel Silva. Chris yells, "This is the ideal opportunity to make your debut!" before raising his fist in the air after his preferred team wins a point. I'd much rather binge watch Netflix and consume my body mass in food than dress up and attend a ball, you know. I grumble, wanting the sofa would take me whole as I bury myself even deeper. I'll at least have a good excuse for skipping the event.