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Roman directs everyone to the dining room. We usually host pack dinners here with some of the higher-ranking shifters, and while I consider them to be family as well, it’s nice to see the chairs filled with different faces tonight.
The chair at the head of the table remains empty as everyone finds a seat, but I go to the spot at the right while Dawsyn sits across from me with Cillian at her other side.
Finally, Roman joins us, taking the empty spot as the alpha. Right then, I realize this might be the last time he does so, and my breath gets caught in my throat.
I might be excited for our new future, but that doesn’t mean I won’t miss these moments.
My mate reaches under the table to squeeze my hand.You did good, My Love.
Wedid good, I correct him. I might have set things into motion, but he made sure I didn’t completely lose myself to the chaos.
Glancing around the table, I see all the people I love most in the world right here, under one roof, but then I realize one seat is still empty.
“I thought Lykem returned,” I say, my words directed to Dawsyn.
She nods but doesn’t look at me. “He did, but he’s not able to join us for dinner.”
I open my mouth to question why, but Roman’s foot nudges mine.Leave it for later.
That’s what people keep telling me, but it isn’t as easy as they make it sound.
“Thank you all for being here,” Roman announces, standing back up from his chair, then gesturing to me. “Cait and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you all in our lives. Even when you drug us.” His pointed stare falls on Beatrix who just shrugs.
“You all but begged for it,” she tells us, making us laugh all over again.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten together,” Roman continues. “Let’s make sure it doesn’t take three years next time.”
He raises his glass, and so do the rest of us. “Merry Christmas, everyone!” I say, the others echoing their own sentiments right behind mine.
“Now, dig in,” Roman says, sitting back down. The room fills with chatter that doesn’t stop even as we begin eating.
Stories are shared, memories relived, and friends reminisced over. It’s everything I hoped for and more.
Chapter18
RIVER
At one point in my life, I thought I might love Alexis. When she went missing, my heart broke, but looking back now, she was always more of a friend than anything else. Dawsyn has always been my best friend, but Alexis had been there for me when Dawsyn couldn’t be, thanks to our packs being so far apart.
Still, seeing Alexis after all this time of believing she was dead…I have mixed emotions. Lykem keeps calling her Lexi, but I know it’s the Alexis I used to know.
She has the same bright blonde hair and blue eyes with her nose that turns slightly upward. I didn’t get the best look before she was taken away, but it was good enough to feel confident about identifying her.
I’ve let dinner pass without pressing the issue, but now that the others have moved on to dessert, I can’t hold back any longer.
Our entire pack mourned for her. At least, that was how it seemed to me at only seventeen. Shortly after that is when I left for Mystics Academy, but I still remember that time in my life clearly.
“Can we talk for a minute?” I ask my dad quietly.
He looks over at me and appraises my face before nodding. “Just us?”
“Mom, too.” She’ll want to know this news as much as Dad. Alexis had been like a daughter to her.
We leave the table and head back toward the kitchen to speak. When it’s just the three of us, I look around one more time before telling them the news.
“Alexis is alive,” I say quietly. “In fact, she’s in this house.”
Mom’s gasp is loud enough that I glance around again. “Little Lexi?”
