Rina was in the room on the bed as usual. She wanted to cry but it seemed her tear ducts had dried up. So she sniffled on the bed instead.
And then her door flew open. She sighed, it was probably Rafaele with a tray of food. Why couldn't he just leave her to be depressed in peace?
"Girlfriend!" a loud voice squealed.
Rina looked up to see a group of three girls at her door. Who were these girls? She wondered.
Rina sat up.
"Darling, why didn't you reach out to us to tell us what happened?" one of them asked.
"Yes, we thought you were staying away from us because Rafaele was being grumpy, we had no idea something as tragic as this was happening." another one added.
"allow her breathe guys" the last one spoke up.
"Girl! We are surprised when Rafaele of all people reached out to us."
"I mean, he usually disapproves of us. You must have made him so scared, he reached out to us"
The one who had told them to allow her breathe was looking at Rina thoughtfully.
Rina's heart raced, these girls obviously hung out with Rita regularly. Rina didn't even know their names.
"Why didn't you tell us your sister died? We would have been there for you" the quiet one said.
"I mean, we aren't just drinking buddies, we are friends too Rita"
Rina nodded as she looked at them awkwardly.
Rafaele came into the room at that moment.
"Don't be mad but I didn't know what to do anymore so I sent a message to Silva" he nodded in the direction of the quiet one.
Thank goddess! Rina thought. She knew a name now.
"and then I reached out to Tracy and Claire. They were shocked to hear what you had been going through too" Silva replied.
Finally! She knew their names. Thank the goddess Rafaele had come in.
"i am sorry guys, I was in shock, I didn't know what to do" Rina said quietly.
"It's okay, we are here now" Silva said.
"I will be downstairs in case you guys need anything" Rafaele told them and left the room.
Claire held a hand over her nose.
"first thing first, you need to have a bath. I will prepare the bath for you" she entered the bathroom.
Soon Rina had taken a bath and she had to admit, she felt a little better.
When she came out, food was already there.
They joined her to eat.
"your mother in law is a wonderful cook, I will be visiting you more often" Tracy gushed over the food.
Rina smiled.
After eating, they selected an outfit for her, put a little make up on her.
"Where are we going?" Rina asked warily.
"shhh!" Tracy shushed her.
The four of them went downstairs.
"We will bring her back later" they told Rafaele.
Rafaele agreed and they left.
He sighed in relief. He was so happy, he could kiss Rain who had suggested this.
He had been thinking and stressing about how to make his mate cheer up when Rain had suggested he reach out to her friends she normally hung out with.
Rafaele had never approved of these friends she had. He thought they were influencing her negatively.
But when he was faced with what seemed to be a hopeless case, he had caved and reached out to them.
He was glad the plan worked, seeing her look a little happy brought him joy and hope.
....
Rina sat on the mat nibbling on the little snacks.
It turned out they had planned a picnic for her.
Looking at them, Rina felt happy that her sister had such friends around her.
She wondered if her life would be different if she had been surrounded by such friends.
"So how are you feeling?" Silva asked.
"a little better" Rina replied.
"How did she die?" Claire asked.
"Claire! That's thoughtless!" Tracy scolded.
"It's okay, I need to talk about it, maybe talking would help" Rina told them.
"Take your time" Silva told her.
"She was attacked by rogues on a research trip"
"That's so sad"
"I am so sorry girlfriend" Claire said sadly.
"I don't feel like I should be alive while she is dead. The funny thing is at the burial, I didn't feel so sad, in fact I didn't feel anything. But as soon as we got back, I crashed."
"It's guilt and it's normal. But you have to fight through it, you can't just leave yourself for it to take you whole." Silva advised.
"Thanks a lot guys, I feel a lot better now that I am with you." Rina appreciated them. They had been the nudge to get her out of her little bubble.
"Now, girl, I heard you trashed perfect Nani and her mother at the Lunas meeting. Tell us about it" Tracy pleaded, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Rina shook her head as she laughed softly. She recounted everything that had happened to them.
When she was through, they were all laughing.
And then Rina remembered the regional werewolf meeting she had promised to plan.
"Oh no!" she moaned.
"What is it?" Silva asked.
"The meeting is coming up soon and I haven't done a thing."
"well, we will help you. Just tell us what to do" Silva told her.
"Yes, just tell us what to do." Tracy and Claire agreed.
"You guys will do that for me?" Rina asked.
"of course we are friends, like we said earlier, we aren't just drinking buddies, we are close friends" Silva told her.
"Thanks a lot" Rina said, overwhelmed with emotions.
"Okay, who can handle the spa event?" Rina asked.
Claire's hand shot up. "I will do it. How many Lunas are we expecting so I know how to plan?"
"Twelve, then some daughters would tag along. Let just estimate twenty"
"Okay, I will handle it"
"a catering crew and someone who can get us good drinks?"
"I and Tracy can handle that." Silva volunteered.
The ladies went on to discuss more about the plans.
When it was getting dark, they took her back home and promised to be there the next day.