My heart feels like it's breaking, but not because of Aiden's death. Sure, it's a sad thing that he's gone but I didn't know him nearly as well as the other people here. My heart is not breaking for Aiden, though it is saddened by it. No, my heart breaks for the people here, the people I know and care about, the people who are sobbing uncontrollably and falling apart because their alpha, their best friend, brother, boyfriend, etc. is gone forever. I may not know Samantha but I know her feelings are pure and true and that she is in so much pain because the love of her life is gone. I know Raven is falling apart not just because her friend and alpha is gone but because of what it is doing to Tobias.

Tobias is her other half, her mate, her forever, and he is breaking, shattering into a thousand pieces. His wails tear at me. I know I'm still not over the fact that he shot a harpoon gun at me that day on the dock but I would never wish this pain on him or anyone. I also know that Raven's power is to feel the emotions of others so strongly and she will be drowning in not just her own grief right now but Tobias' as well. It must be killing her and that in turn is killing me.

A single brow rises in surprise when Tobias suddenly wipes his eyes and leans away from Raven and toward the woman I don't know. He reaches out, his hand caressing her leg though I know it's not for any intimate reason. I can smell Aiden's scent on her as well and I know it must be that he is clinging to. She smells strongly of him, like they were just together. She must have been with him when he died. Tobias is clinging to the last known scent of his alpha and best friend. Tears sting at the back of my eyeballs just watching this scene unfold.

Just as suddenly, Tobias stands, a flash in his eyes, a change. I have never seen a change in alphaship in my old pack but I know the confident stance of an alpha and I know that Tobias is evolving, ranking up in the pack as I watch. He is no longer the Beta of the Nightshade pack but Alpha now and he knows it. His words to the girl is swift and to the point, telling her that it's not her fault and she's welcome in the pack. I blink a few times, unsure of how to react.

As Tobias steps past me, I tense a little instinctively. I've been avoiding most of the pack since Aiden told me I could stay, not ready for the confrontation just yet and this is my first time being in his presence since that day on the docks. He brushes past me though, even giving me a nod as he goes to what was once Aiden's room. I watch with a saddened expression as he disappears into the room and never re-emerges.

My gaze then shifts to Raven, knowing that she's not taking this well either. She gets up after Tobias leaves and I can tell she's not happy about something but I don't know what. As she turns her gaze on the girl though, her eyes narrow and my brows furrow in puzzlement. I loo down at her hands, surprised to see them balled into tight fists. I inhale, wondering what I'm about to witness. Her words to the girl are sharp and without mercy. I know that she's grieving and of course, as the fairy was the last one with him, it fits that she would take some of the guilt but I feel Raven's words as if she's spitting them directly at me.

I bite my bottom lip, knowing that I have no right to encroach on this since I have no pack bonds or knowledge of the situation but it just seems a little harsh, putting blame on the girl who's sobbing for her dead boyfriend. Couldn't it have waited till everyone had a little time to grieve and get over the loss? It almost seems heartless. Then again, who thinks clearly when it comes to losing someone?

My heart still aches for them as Raven follows after Tobias, though I'm shocked by her head nod for me and the fairy to follow. I figured they would want their own privacy. I still almost feel like an intruder on this. I tuck hair behind my ear and start toward the door but as I look back at the redhead on the floor, I feel something for her. I try to imagine myself in her place, that someone like Alexander was gone and it happened right in front of me. I know that we're not nearly as close as I'm sure her and Aiden were so I'd have to take how I feel and multiply it by one thousand. It hurts just to think about.

I hold out my hand to the girl, offering a small smile that I hope is enough to reassure her that I'm friendly. "I'm Alexis. Need a hand?"

alexis wilde