Chapter Fifty-Nine

Sullen

Sullen stared out at the sun as it began to set. The wolves were starting the bonfire, while others readied the seating and music. It seemed like an odd time for this type of celebration, but Sullen knew it was a chance for Roan to see his wolves.

For the pack to interact after such a hard trauma.

For the pack to see one another and feel the support.

But Sullen’s mind had turned toward her mother and father. They were both in the same pack at the moment, and her mother was getting married to Kevin in a few short weeks.

Roan’s arms wrapped around Sullen from behind, and he buried his face into her neck. “What are you thinking about?”

She sighed. “My parents. I’m afraid that this won’t end well. I don’t know your dad well enough to say if he’d back down if my mother went back to her mate, or if my dad and mom would even make it.” She turned to stare at him. “Won’t it hurt them to not be together?”

Roan nodded. “If your dad stays here in this pack, it will kill them both. But if he leaves, it will fade with time and distance.”

Knowing how it felt to have her mate, Sullen didn’t want to think about the pain that losing him would inflict. “But I don’t want you to think about that right now, little fox. I want you to come down and enjoy the night with me. Enjoy the night with the pack. We’re all mourning, and this will help cure us. Help us heal as a pack.”

Sullen patted his chest with her palms. “Let’s go then.”

They walked down to the backyard. The bonfire was growing, sending sparks into the darkening sky, and warming the atmosphere. Some of the wolves were already making their s’mores, and others were sitting around the fire, staring into the flames.

Roan pulled Sullen down into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She watched the interactions between the wolves and the pain that was hidden in the group.

“Do you want a s’more?” Roan asked in her ear.

“Duh,” she whispered.

He laughed and scooted out from under her. “I’ll go make us a few.”

Roan jogged toward the marshmallows, and Sullen tucked her legs to her chin. Her father sat beside her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “Are you okay?”

She glanced at her father and his brooding eyes.

“I’m alive.”

“Not what I asked,” she whispered. “Are you okay? You’re here with Mom and Kevin. I know your wolf is hurting. Are you hurting? Or are you numb to us?”

Her dad grabbed her chin lightly and turned her to face him. “Sullen. I never got over leaving you both. Now you see why I had to. This pack would have torn ours to shreds. They would have hurt you both if I went against them. And if you’ll let me, I would like to be in your life now that the pack has been dismantled.”

“I never wanted you to leave,” she whispered. “I missed you so much, Dad.”

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. She pushed back her tears because she’d cried over him for years in the past. He was there and explained his disappearance. She wasn’t sure how she would move forward and past the part of her that still resented him, but she’d try.

“I know you did, Baby Girl. It was so hard to stay away.”

She listened to the sound of his heart beating, and when it began to beat fast, she realized her mother was near. Leaning up, she looked around, and there she came. Kevin was with her, his arm protecting wrapped around her.

“Dad, what are you going to do? Don’t torment yourself.”

He turned his gaze toward hers and smiled. “I’ve been tormenting myself for years. It’s fine.”

He leaned back against his palms on the ground and closed his eyes.

Roan came over with a plate of s’mores several seconds later. Sullen snagged one, her body needing something sweet to end the night.

Roan whispered in her ear, “Did I miss anything?”

She let the marshmallow drip from her mouth. “Not really.”

Roan chuckled. “I have a surprise for you.”

“More s’mores?’ she asked.

He shook his head and hopped on top of a nearby chair. “Attention, everyone. I wanted to thank you all for fighting your hardest today. I’m sorry that we lost some of our pack members. I’m sorry that this happened. I had no idea that Ridge held such hatred toward me, or that he would hurt his own pack. But I’m proud of you all for fighting them unexpectedly. I’m proud that we pulled together. We have a long road ahead of us, but I want to take time out in the next week to officially welcome Luna Sullen into our pack. Things haven’t been conventional for us, but I want to do things right. Next Friday we’ll welcome her into the pack. I’ll invite the neighboring packs, and we’ll celebrate her.”

Sullen felt warm embarrassment roll over her skin as the pack stared at her. She smiled nervously and chuckled. She’d never wanted to be in a pack, especially not be someone's Luna. There were responsibilities, and baggage that came along with it.

But it didn’t matter. She’d be Roan’s Luna any day of the week. She shoved another s’more into her mouth to keep from talking to them, and Roan smiled.

Some of the wolves yelped, and the others clapped at her induction. It was … strangely perfect.

Roan jumped down and walked over to her. “I’m assuming that you’re still agreeing to be my Luna. Hopefully, there won’t be any more fights with deranged brothers.”

Sullen lifted her brows. “Do you have any more brothers?”

Roan bent down in front of her. “Do you have any more ex-boyfriends?”

“Touché,” she mumbled, fiddling with his t-shirt's top. “Now, about this ball. Do I dress to impress? I have nothing to wear.”

“You don’t worry about a damn thing,” he whispered, leaning her to her back. “I meant that I would take care of you, and buying you things is one of my duties.”

“Tell me more,” she whispered into his ear, loving the way his wolf growled at the sound of her voice.

“How about you finish those s’mores, and we’ll talk about it inside?”

Sullen’s dad cleared his throat. “I may be old, but I haven’t lost my hearing. Damn, wait until I get pissing distance before you take each other’s clothes off.”

Sullen hid her head against Roan’s neck. “I’m nervous about the ball.”

“Don’t be.” He kissed her softly. “Everyone will get so drunk they won’t remember if you trip.”