AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll be here, Des, if...when...you need me. That’s a promise, too. I’ll give you all the moments and then some.”
His promise sank into my bones, into my blood, and I knew he would always give me what I needed.
Moments of silence.
Moments of peace.
I squeezed his hands in mine, then walked away, my head hanging, my arms wrapped tightly across my chest holding my heart inside, so afraid if I let go, it would burst out from behind my ribs to lie there on the snow, leaving a gaping hole inside me, raw and bleeding.
No one stopped me as I’d wandered off into the forest. The others were busy packing up personal belongings and removing all traces of the people who had lived—and died—there.
My feet carried me to where I needed to go—the safe tree—where the twins had always hidden in emergencies. The long boughs hung low, weighted down with a blanket of snow. I slipped beneath them and leaned my back against the rough bark of the massive trunk. With a long, shuddering sigh, I let go of my tight hold.
Seff found me later and held me together while gut-wrenching sobs racked my entire body. It took a while, but eventually, I cried myself out. Seff wiped my face, placed a kiss on my temple, and then, without a word, led me back to my family.
––––––––
Staring down at thestoneware mug between my hands, I couldn’t remember who’d given it to me. The once-hot tea had gone cold while I’d been lost inside my head. My eyes felt gritty, my throat tight and raw, and a hard knotted ball had formed in my stomach.
I had no idea how long I’d been gone, hiding beneath the safe tree, or how long I’d sat in the cookhouse. Quiet voices surrounded me as the others filed in to warm up and settle with a drink of their choice. Seff took the seat next to me, his warmth wrapped around me like a thick blanket. His lips touched my temple, and I let out a sigh. The oversized dining room filled up with people, some sitting, some standing, but all silent, as if they were waiting for someone to speak.
Ralph took the seat across from me and set a large manila envelope on the table. Nereida and Arteisma squeezed in between Seff and me. Two nights in a row with little sleep, and it showed on their precious faces.
“What are you two doing up already?” I asked as I ruffled Nereida’s newly cut hair.
“Jessy woke us up,” Arteisma answered. “She said we needed to be here.”
I looked over at Jessy, who had taken a seat on her mate’s lap. There was a serious look on her face. Something was about to happen.
“What’s going on?”
Ralph slid two sheets of paper from the envelope, then slid one toward me. “I’ve talked with your parents and Viveca regarding her claim on Arteisma and Nereida Lillie.”
She was going to take them from me.
“The reason I didn’t consult with you is that your parents are the oldest members of this pack and without an Alpha, they’re the representatives for the remaining pack members, including you.”
I gave him a shaky nod to let him know I understood.
“Though Viveca isn’t the head of her line, she is blood-related. Until we can square the custody of the twins up with their great-grandpa, Einar Ulven, she may have the right to claim them. For now.”
My heart felt as though it had ripped in two as a new flood of tears trickled down my cheeks.
Ralph went on. “I’ve written up an agreement. Viveca will be responsible for the care and keeping of her sister’s offspring, Arteisma and Nereida, and will bring them to the tribunal once a time and place is set.”
I nodded my understanding.
“Dain and Jessy have agreed to take her and the twins to her car over in Billings and then escort her to Aneta, where they’ll make sure the twins are settled.”
I glanced over at Jessy. She cocked an eyebrow and grinned. Jessy and Dain would oversee the care of the twins. That fact eased some of the tension I’d felt.
I looked back at Ralph and said, “I understand.”
He handed me a pen. “I want you to read through this, but I’ll give you the short version. By signing this agreement, you only agree to allow Viveca to care for themtemporarily. You are not giving up any claims to them. You agree to adhere to the tribunal’s decision on who will assume full custodial and adoption rights.”
I took the pen and stared down at the paper. Three-quarters of the sheet had been handwritten in a fancy, swirling scroll, reminiscent of colonial times.
“Wow.” I glanced up at Ralph. “You wrote this? By hand?”
