Fiona's POV
The halls felt too quiet without Xaden and Erik.
Too still.
The kind of stillness that made your skin crawl, like the walls themselves were waiting for something to happen.
Especially after what had happened.
I pushed the feeling away as I opened the small wooden door to Jade's room.
Warm candlelight painted the walls golden, and the little girl sat cross-legged on her bed, hugging her faded brown teddy bear to her chest.
Her curly hair was a soft cloud around her face, her eyes droopy with sleep.
"Time for bed, little wolf," I whispered gently.
She looked up at me, blinking slowly. "Aunty Fiona?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
She lifted her arms wordlessly, asking to be carried.
I smiled and scooped her up, feeling her tiny fingers curl around my dress. Her weight was small, comforting.
Her mother, a black omega from the southern pack, murdered years ago by Bale.
Erik had never recovered.
