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I checked in on Alma to make sure she didn’t need anything from me, but she was now in the flow, and I knew I would just be in the way.

I walked outside to the lodge's deck area; Bram has his guitar out, and the Hounds are singing The Sound of Silence. I love Disturbed’s version.

There was no sign of Pops; I just stood watching. They always achieved perfect harmony. I wonder if Bram knows how honored he is to join something like that with them. When they were younger Nonna would make them sing together, any song, she would pick something at random and when they were finished if the disagreement was still there, they would talk it out, as time went on they would sing just for the connection it gave them, Nonna was always singing or humming if she wasn’t you knew to give her space it meant she was angry and no one wanted to be on the wrong side of Nonna.

Pops walks in with Trunk and an older version of Dominic, who must be Nikoli. Pops whispers something to Bram, and Tim McGraw’s "My Little Girl" starts to play.

Tears sprang to my eyes; I never told Bram who got me into McGraw's music. Silas is the only one aware I’m here, and he's watching me. Pops used to sing Me Back to Sleep after Bad Dreams with this song. Pops' deep croon breaks through my memories.

"Now look at you; I’ve turned around, and you've almost grown. Sometimes when you're asleep, I whisper 'I love you' in the moonlight at your door."

I take a breath and start to move towards Pops.

“As I walk away, I hear you say, Daddy love you more!”

I join in, but instead of Daddy, I sing.

“Pops, I love you more.” Which has all the Hounds spinning to gawp at me, then I walk tearfully into Pops’ now open arms. Together, we finish the song. The 'boys' are in shock; well, all but Si, who’s been filming since Pops started to sing. Pops is now holding me close and whispering various things.

“Finally.” “Thank you." "You're safe now ." in Latin.

I can feel tears falling into my hair as Ryland gets two steps from me before taking a deep breath. His head whips in Ren's direction, and then he charges at him, rugby-tackling him with a girly squeal of “Daddy.” He then starts asking what Ren wants to be called; I haven’t explained that to him yet! Whoops?

When a tortured croak behind me makes Pops pull away, as I hear a choked out,

“Bunica.” I turn to see Declan and Brayden supporting Nikoli. Mika says something, and then Pops, Trunk, and I follow them to an office I haven’t been in yet.