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I know she’ll be safe with Avery, Rosie, and Dante taking care of her.

I know the Bear won’t let anything happen.

But it doesn’t stop the way my soul splinters as she walks away.

As she walks away from me.

It takes both Max and Zeke to hold me back.

And even then, I can’t look away. I don’t stop watching.

Because in that moment, I come to terms with the hardest fucking thing I have ever had to acknowledge and feel.

And that is genuine despair.

I might’ve just lost the only thing that ever truly mattered.

Please don’t let her go.

And for the first time in my life, I understand the Rut isn’t the worst thing that can happen to me.

Chapter Sixteen-Arliss

“So, are you okay? Do you wanna talk?”

Avery’s voice is soft, careful.

Not like she’s afraid of me, but like she knows I’m holding on by a thread.

She turns in her seat to look at me, concern written all over her face.

I shake my head.

Too fast.

Too automatic.

“No.”

But even as the word leaves my lips, I know it’s a lie.

Maybe I should talk. Maybe keeping it all locked inside is just going to make me combust.

Because something’s tearing me apart from the inside out.

“You’re the pretty lady in Uncle Kian’s cabin!”

Rosie’s voice pipes up from the back seat, where she’s securely buckled in her booster like the cutest damn chaos gremlin I’ve ever seen.

“Rosie,” Dante rumbles in that deep, Shifter growl tone that makes me wonder if it’s possible to be scared and comforted by a man at the same time.

He’s trying to hush her.

But she doesn’t care.

Kids don’t give a damn about adult tension.

“What? When did you meet Arliss, baby?” Avery asks, amusement and curiosity dancing in her voice.