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I shut my eyes as they started to shift back, and Ford pulled me closer, holding me tighter.
No one had given me or Teagan the details about what would happen in the forest, but I didn’t want to know. She didn’t ask, either.
One of the guys, the one who had talked to Oscar earlier with his hands raised, walked up to Rocco’s family.
There was another terrible cry as his mother threw her arms around the other man, sobbing into his bare shoulder.
The way the packs were, everyone was close. They were family.
Rocco’s dad hugged his mate and the other man fiercely, too, while Rocco just took a step back.
I could only see the side of his face, but he looked… stunned.
He clearly had known about whatever was going to happen to his brother in the forest, but I imagined that hearing the words was something else entirely.
We waited, our pack hovering closely together, as if everyone was trying to protect each other while fighting the urge to go and grab Rocco in a fierce hug.
More time passed before Rocco and his parents finally walked toward the house, Oscar’s pack members heading back in the direction they’d arrived from.
Ford let go of me just long enough to hug Rocco and his parents. Then, his arm was around me again, holding me to him.
I wasn’t sure whether I was supporting him or he was supporting me. Both, maybe.
His parents made their way into their home, and Rocco waited outside to talk to us.
“Thanks for staying, guys.” He ran a hand through his messy blond hair. “I’m going to make sure my parents eat something and then crash on their couch.”
“I’ll call the school for you,” Elliot said. “And I’ll stop by your parents’ pack’s houses to let them know what happened.
“We’ll bring food over,” Ford added, firmly. “Don’t worry about cooking.”
He nodded. “Thanks.” He got choked up for a minute, and scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand.
The other guys all moved toward him, closing in on him for a massive group hug. I’d never been a part of a group so big or so close, but it felt… special.
Important.
“We’ll be back with food in twenty,” Ford told Rocco, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Rocco nodded, visibly struggling to hold back tears.
After one last round of hugs, we all parted.
