Insight

The deaths in Kirkwood didn’t go unnoticed by the StarLight pack in GreenTree. The families of the dead felt these losses more acutely than the others, though the pain radiated through the entire mindlink.

Since Flint held the meeting in the arena, things had been tense on the mountain. Pressure from their families and peers had stifled those that wished to argue for the Alpha and the fight. Still, the missing members that had been recruited by Elijah, Joshua, and Duncan hadn’t gone unnoticed. They instinctually knew that these wolves had gone to fight for their Alpha. For the pack.

This stirred the unrest, even before the deaths occurred. Most felt like they’d made an error. It seemed like they had all attended the battle, there would have been less StarLight deaths. Possibly none. This seemed to be the main consensus. No matter how frustrated and somber the thought made them all.

Graham Monroe was walking down Main Street with a fist full of documents when the deaths occurred. He felt them, one after another. The moments between them felt like the mindlink was swelling with calamity. He had been too busy trying to maintain control of the restless pack, to notice how many pack members had left to fight.

The number of deaths surprised him. Though, not as much as the feelings of the wolves that survived. Injured or not, there were no regrets. They were confident in their decisions. Proud of themselves and the actions of the fallen. Elijah’s death hit the pack the hardest. It swept through them all, like a fist closed around the power they shared.

Pure grief could be felt. Whether they liked Elijah or not, he had been their Alpha for more than twenty years. The loss felt overwhelming. Graham scrambled to call a meeting and take control of the pack’s mentality. Though, it seemed no one was listening anymore. The birth of the new Dolans charged StarLight with the powerful feeling of possibility.

Still, this couldn’t take away from the lives that had been taken from them. Or the leader that had been taken from them. Flint and Eve were on their way back to Green Tree. Beta Graham’s words were falling on deaf ears. The pack was awaiting their Alpha and Luna, as well as the bodies of the deceased.

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When the SUV arrived in Green Tree, all of StarLight was dressed in black. The families of the dead awaited their bodies at the morgue, though they were turned away. More time was needed to examine the deceased and compile reports for their deaths. Elijah was the last to arrive.

The StarLight hospital treated the injured as they came in. Everyone knew to expect them from the mindlink. Flint an Eve were escorted to the Dolan Manor and Elijah's body was escorted to the morgue by Duncan.

Joshua was waiting for the Alpha couple on the porch. He'd brought Emily Mills, a medic, and Gracie with him. Eve had fallen asleep during the drive from Kirkwood. Flint refused to leave her side, even to treat his injuries. He had his broken arm set in the kitchen. To sew his larger, deeper wounds, the medic had to follow him into his office. He claimed he had calls to make.

The newborns were checked out by Doctor Mills, as was Eve. Both pups were healthy and the Luna was expected to make a full recovery. Ellie, Gracie, Johnny, Lynn, and Joshua stayed at the manor for hours. They took turns caring for the pups, seeing as to how exhausted and wounded their parents were.

Once Flint was treated, and he'd called in a verbal report to HQ, he returned to the bedroom. On the first floor of the house, he heard bustling steps, baby noises, and conversations. Yet, it all faded away when he saw Eve.

She was laying on the bed, wearing one of Flint's t-shirts and a warm pair of sweat pants. Her messy, blonde hair was spread out behind her like a stream of honey. She smelled so familiar and she looked as if she'd never left the Manor. As if her absence from this place, the pack, and Flint's life... Had all been a twisted nightmare.

Flint laid on the mattress carefully. He didn't want to wake her as he rolled to his side to examine her face. The color had returned to her cheeks, much to his relief. He brushed a few stray strands of hair off her forehead, causing her eyes to flutter open.

"Eve..." He breathed her name like a prayer.

"I have so much to tell you." She touched his chin with her fingertips. "I'm just so tired."

"I know, baby. There'll be time to tell me everything tomorrow." Flint wrapped his arm around her waist.

Her electricity, her presence, even the rise and fall of her chest was like comfort. The sensation that'd he'd so been longing for was here, in his arms with his mate.

Eve was puzzled by how odd it felt to be laying in their bed. It was as if a lifetime had passed since she'd seen this place. Her life before the kidnapping felt distant. Everything around her was familiar and still, somehow, strange.

As odd as it felt to have Flint so close to her, it was also all she ever wanted. She had been surviving with only this goal in mind. To lay in his arms, breathe his scent, touch him again. Just simply gazing into the emerald jewels of his eyes felt hypnotizing. As if the rest of the word faded behind him.

"Elijah..." Eve recalled the feeling of his death painfully.

Flint took a deep, centering breath before pulling her into his gentle grasp. He inhaled the smell of the hair on top of her head before placing a lingering kiss there.

"He died protecting the pack and this family." He spoke though he felt like his throat was closing. "That's how he would have wanted to go."

"Fighting." Eve spoke in a soft, sad tone as she touched his chest with her palms.

"Winning." Flint replied.

He looked down at her, examining her again. The way her glowing, sapphire eyes sparkled up at him told him everything he needed to know. Eve was his. She'd always been his. And she'd never doubted it..

"Thank you..." She murmured as her eyes once again burned with tears.

"For what?" He furrowed his brow at her curiously.

"For saving me." Eve whispered.

"Oh, Eve..." Flint leaned his forehead against hers, staring into her eyes. "I will always save you."

He pressed a light kiss to her lips. When he moved away from her, it felt like he stole the air she needed to breathe. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his urgently. Flint smiled and brushed his thumb over her cheek. When he looked at her again, his green eyes were filled with reverence.

"I love you, Eve." Flint stated in a low tone.

"I love you, Flint." The words brought a tired smile to her lips.

The Alpha hugged her once more and Eve buried her face in his chest. She allowed his scent, his warmth, and his very existence to wash over her. It carried her sleep once more.

Rest, little thing. You're home now. We will protect you. The white wolf entered her mind, helping ease even the she-beast to slumber.