Chapter 15 #2
I wiped at my cheeks. “My parents watched me almost die because of heartbreak. Because of you leaving. So yeah, my dad’s still mad. And I don’t know if he’ll ever fully forgive you for that.”
For a long moment, Ryder just stared at me, tears rolling down his face. His whole body was shaking now, and I could feel his wolf clawing at the surface, desperate to break free.
Then he let go of my hands.
He stood up without saying a word and walked out of his office.
“Ryder—”
But he was already gone.
A moment later, I heard it—a howl so full of pain and anguish that it made my chest ache. Even without a wolf of my own, I could feel the agony in that sound. The grief. The guilt.
He’d shifted. His wolf had taken control.
I sat there on the couch, my own tears still falling, reliving those dark months. Remembering the hollow emptiness, the crushing weight of depression, the moment I’d decided I couldn’t take it anymore.
Remembering my parents’ faces when they’d found me. The terror. The helplessness.
I’d survived it. I’d gotten better. But the scars were still there, hidden beneath the surface.
And now Ryder knew. Now he understood the full weight of what his leaving had done.
I waited for him to come back, but he didn’t. Minutes ticked by, then an hour. I kept checking the bond, feeling for him, but all I could sense was overwhelming grief and self-loathing.
Finally, I realized I couldn’t wait any longer. My parents would be expecting me for lunch, and this was their first day here. I couldn’t let them worry.
I rushed upstairs to our apartment and quickly freshened up, washing my face and fixing my makeup. Then I headed to my parents’ room and knocked.
Mom opened the door, smiling. “Perfect timing! We were just about to come find you.”
“Great,” I said, forcing brightness into my voice. “Ryder got pulled into some work he couldn’t escape, but he’ll join us later.”
I saw Dad’s expression darken slightly, but he didn’t comment.
We headed down to the dining room, and I gave them a quick tour on the way, pointing out different areas of the packhouse. Mom was genuinely impressed, asking questions about the history and the architecture. Dad remained mostly silent, his expression neutral but not hostile.
When we reached the dining room, I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
Tina and Greg were already there, and the moment Tina saw my parents, her face lit up.
“Lisa! Robert!” She rushed forward, pulling my mother into a warm hug. “It’s so wonderful to see you again!”
“Tina!” Mom hugged her back just as enthusiastically. “You look amazing!”
Greg shook hands with my dad, and I saw some of the tension ease from Dad’s shoulders. He’d always liked Greg—they’d bonded over sports and grilling techniques back when Ryder and I were kids.
We all got food from the buffet that had been set up and settled at one of the large tables. Tina immediately launched into a million questions about my parents’ travels, and I was grateful for her ability to fill any silence.
“So you just got back from Thailand?” Tina asked, her eyes wide. “What was that like?”
“Incredible,” Mom said, her face glowing. “The temples, the food, the people—everything was just beautiful.”
“I’m so jealous,” Tina said with a dramatic sigh. “I’ve been wanting to travel for years, but I’ve been helping Ryder with pack business since he hadn’t found his mate yet. But now that Emily’s here—” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “—Greg and I can finally retire and see the world!”
“You should definitely go,” Dad said, and I was surprised to hear him engage. “Travel while you’re still young enough to enjoy it.”
“What was your favorite trip?” Greg asked.
Mom and Dad exchanged a look, and Mom smiled. “Probably when we took the kids through Europe after Emily graduated high school. We spent six weeks just exploring—France, Italy, Spain, Greece. It was magical.”
I felt my throat tighten. That trip. The one they’d planned as a way to help me heal, to get me out of Pinewood and away from all the memories. I’d been so broken then, still recovering from everything that had happened after Ryder left.
“That was a good trip,” I said quietly, managing a small smile. “It helped me...find myself again.”
Mom reached over and squeezed my hand, understanding in her eyes. Dad’s expression softened too, just slightly, and I knew they were both remembering how fragile I’d been back then. How scared they’d been that they might lose me.
An awkward silence fell over the table.
Tina, bless her, smoothly changed the subject. “Well, we’re so excited for the ceremony in two days. The whole pack is buzzing about it.”
“We’re excited too,” Mom said, shooting me a warm smile. “Our little girl, all grown up.”
We finished lunch with easier conversation, and when Tina suggested showing my parents around town, I was grateful for the distraction.
The five of us walked through Edgewood’s main street, and I found myself relaxing as Tina and Greg pointed out different shops and landmarks. Mom was delighted by everything, and even Dad seemed to be warming up slightly, especially when Greg started telling stories about the town’s history.
But then Tina gently pulled me back, letting the others walk ahead.
“Is everything okay, bunny?” she asked quietly, her face full of concern.
I gave her a sad smile. “I don’t know.”
“Ryder?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
Tina squeezed my hand. “I’m sure he’s okay,” she said, but I could see the worry in her eyes too. She gave me a reassuring smile. “He just needs some time to process. Whatever it is, you two will work through it.”
I wanted to believe her. I wanted to trust that Ryder would come back, that we’d be okay.
But that howl—that broken, anguished howl—kept echoing in my mind.
And I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just broken something between us that might not be fixable.