Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Hunter walked back to the packhouse alone, but he wouldn’t be returning to Chasen alone.
He had already mindlinked Sam to watch over the pack for a few days while he and Chasen took time to mentally adjust. They would be staying in a visitor’s cabin that was located at the far end of the pack territory.
He told him to offer Ander and Tony his sincere apologies while they dealt with the loss of a family member.
There were still things that needed to be cleared up with the witches, and Sam would have to handle it the best he could. But for now … they needed some time.
However, he was making some changes to what Chasen had in mind.
He was bringing Jin and Freja back with him.
They were their mates, and leaving them behind would cause them pain, too—knowing they were hurting and they couldn’t do anything to help.
He knew that Chasen didn’t want Jin’s comfort, but dammit, it was only natural to seek comfort from your mate, and he knew that Jin could only help the situation.
Plus, he had spent enough time away from Freja.
He wanted her with him during this time.
The girls might not have known Brody, but he was their family, too.
At the very least, Jin and Freja would mourn knowing their mates were mourning.
When Hunter walked inside, he saw Jin and Freja sitting at the table. They both immediately stood up. Seeing the worn, worried looks on their faces, he knew he was making the right decision.
“Where’s Chasen?” Jin asked quietly, her green eyes flicking to the door and back to Hunter.
“Chasen is … he isn’t handling things well right now.
He just wants to be alone. So … we’re going to take a couple days and stay at a secluded house within the territory.
” Hunter sighed, deciding it was best to explain a bit further.
“The truth is, Chasen doesn’t want anyone around.
I told him I was staying with him no matter what, and that I was coming back to get a few things. ”
“He doesn’t want me around?” Jin bit her bottom lip, her eyes tearing up slightly.
“Like I said, he’s having a hard time. He isn’t going to like it, but I’ve decided that all four of us will be staying at the house.
It’s … this is a hard thing to deal with.
And I …” He looked at Freja for a moment.
He needed to have Freja around. He knew Chasen needed Jin, too.
“I think Chasen is just trying to punish himself and make himself more miserable. Which is why he doesn’t want you around, Jin.
But you know Chasen. You understand him.
He’s your mate. Even if he isn’t talking, I think that you just sitting by his side will be a comfort to him. Whether he says it or not.”
Jin nodded her head. “He’s carrying the weight of everyone on his shoulders.
It’s what he does. Don’t worry, I won’t take offense to his grumpy attitude.
Can’t be worse than when I first met him.
And … I’ve been through loss before, too.
So I understand.” She squeezed her fingers together, then ran up the stairs to get some things.
Hunter looked back to Freja with a small smile.
She walked up to him and leaned her forehead into his chest. “I’m sorry, Hunter.
I didn’t really know him. But from the little time I did spend with him, he seemed like a good guy.
I understand Chasen. I know how he’s feeling.
I shut out the world, too. The problem is, you only plan to do it for a day or so.
Then the days turn to weeks, which turn to months, and before you know it, you’re avoiding people.
You want nothing to do with them. You convince yourself you’re better off not allowing others into your heart again.
Then you can avoid getting hurt.” Freja pulled back and looked up to meet with his gray eyes.
“I forgot how great it is to have someone. I remember all that now. And no matter how immense the pain would be if I lost you, I would never trade loving you.”
Hunter leaned down, kissed her forehead, and wrapped his arms around her tightly. “I love you, Freja,” he whispered. “Let’s pack up a couple of things really quick. I want to get back to Chasen.”
Hunter walked into the cabin. It was a decent size, big enough to accommodate a couple of families, which was its purpose. He walked inside first, the two girls entering behind him. His eyes immediately met with the dark ones that flashed up at him from the chair he was sitting in.
You don’t want Jin to be in pain, right? She’s hurting for you. I knew I couldn’t leave them behind when I saw their faces. Hunter watched Chasen immediately look at Jin.
Chasen noticed the dull look in his mate's green eyes, the worry pooling there.
She was biting her bottom lip, twisting her toe into the floor.
He was hurting over Brody, but seeing Jin like that sent another stab of pain through him.
He didn't want her to feel unwanted. He did want her—he just didn't think he deserved her right now.
That was, until he saw her face. Hunter was right.
Chasen had only been thinking about depriving himself, not about how Jin might be hurting without him.
At that moment, he felt like a bad mate.
His eyes softened. He held her gaze and motioned her over to him.
Jin dropped her bag onto the floor and rushed into Chasen’s lap, curling into him quietly and resting her head on his chest. His arm came around her, and his other hand found hers.
She sighed into him. She would sit there quietly with him as long as he needed her to.
He didn’t have to talk to her. She just wanted to be near him.
She wanted to go through this with him and was glad that he was letting her.
All this time, she was afraid he would ask her to leave.
She squeezed his fingers, trying to show him she was here for him.
Hunter smiled as he looked at his brother and Jin.
He could see how his brother’s shoulders instantly relaxed when she curled up into him.
Her presence, her scent, and her touch would be very healing.
And that was okay. It was okay to heal eventually.
Brody wouldn’t have wanted them to lock themselves away from the world. He wasn’t that type of person.
“Freja and I are going to fix something to eat.” Hunter looked at Freja and nodded toward the kitchen.
He and Chasen hadn’t eaten all day, and neither of them were in the mood to eat.
But the girls needed to eat something, so he would help prepare them dinner.
Maybe he could pick at it a little, just so the girls would eat something.
Freja wasn’t super handy in the kitchen, but she was learning.
She worked alongside Hunter, quietly stirring a bowl, watching him closely.
He was putting on a brave face, maybe for her benefit or for Chasen’s.
But she could see the strain in his eyes.
More than once, he dropped something while they were cooking.
His mind was obviously not in a good place.
He’d always had to be strong for the pack as their alpha, and had to be strong as the Alpha King.
He was used to putting up a front, so he probably didn’t even realize he was doing it.
Freja peered down at the sad-looking omelet she was making, wincing a bit at her pathetic cooking skills.
She pulled a piece of it up to her mouth and shrugged, satisfied.
At least it tasted good. She cut it up and placed it onto a few plates.
She turned to see Hunter had also finished cooking the bacon.
Yes, they were having breakfast foods for dinner, but it was something easy to make.
She looked back at her deformed omelets …
well, they were supposed to be easy to make.
She and Hunter set the plates down on the table, and she got drinks while he brought Chasen and Jin in.
Hunter walked into the living room and motioned toward the kitchen when Chasen looked at him.
He watched his brother frown a bit, showing he wasn’t interested.
But the moment Hunter looked at Jin and back at him, his eyes widened in acknowledgement.
He nodded and stood up, slowly dropping Jin to her feet.
“Let’s get something to eat,” Chasen said softly.
His mind kept playing over all of his childhood, how the four of them all played together.
He even had a few memories from when it was just him and Brody in Elysia.
His thoughts were entirely focused on his brother.
While he wasn’t hungry, he understood Hunter’s intentions.
It was to make sure that the girls ate. He took a seat at the table and Jin took one next to him while Hunter and Freja sat across from them.
Freja watched how the guys were just poking at their food, never once actually putting any into their mouths. She knew what she was about to do was a dirty tactic, but they needed to eat.
“I understand if you don’t want to eat it. I’m not used to cooking. It looks horrible, doesn’t it? Probably tastes bad, too.” Freja frowned as she poked her fork at her omelet.
“It’s fine, Freja. It’s great,” Hunter said, giving her a smile.
She tilted her head to the side. “It’s okay. You don’t have to eat it. I know you’re just being considerate.” Her eyes flickered as she watched both men fork some into their mouths.
“See, it’s good,” Hunter said, giving her a crooked smile.
She looked at him and then at Chasen. “You don’t have to force down more than one bite. I’ll work on getting better at cooking.” She was making herself cringe, but it was working. Both men quickly shoveled the food into their mouths.
Jin looked at Freja and took a small sip of her drink, glancing over at Chasen’s empty plate. She knew Freja well enough to know she wasn’t bothered about the food and was proud of herself for catching on to what Freja was doing. And hey, it worked.
She quietly watched everything play out, feeling helpless, wanting to help but not knowing how. So, she did the only thing she could, and that was just to stay by Chasen’s side. If he wanted to talk to her, she would be there, and if not, she would still be there.
Two days had passed since they felt Brody’s light diminish.
Chasen had remained fairly quiet, but he’d been keeping Jin close.
Hunter had allowed himself to break down the first night when he was alone with Freja, finally letting his grief run freely.
Since then, though, he’d also been quiet, often deep in thought and looking out a window.
Sometimes it felt like he was waiting for something, but he wasn’t sure what.
Today, he had a weird urge to return to the field, though …
the one where the fairies were usually found the most. The same field where his mother got her memories back.
He stood up at the same time Chasen did, the two men finding each other’s gaze.
“I’m going to the field,” Hunter said quietly. Freja walked up to his side and linked arms with him.
“Strange. That’s where I felt like going, too.” Chasen didn’t understand the sudden urge but just felt like he needed to go there. Jin was already at his side, so the four of them slowly set off toward the field.
The two men didn’t understand the strange urge they were feeling. Maybe it was their way of finally accepting Brody’s death. It was the place they could feel closer to him, so they could say goodbye.