赤裸裸的滑稽故事

After a few more days, Axel was released from the hospital and immediately got back to work. Saul was sent to spend a few days with his family before formally accepting the Frostbite wolves into Winter and beginning the preparations to move the pack into the territory.

Richard remained in Winter until Axel woke. Then, after taking another couple of weeks to visit his remaining daughter and laying a stone for Penelope and Mateas, he decided to return to Broken Crag. But, unfortunately, his wife was unable to return to Winter.

Her heart had suffered at Granger's betrayal and death. When news came of Penelope, she was inconsolable.

He thanked Axel and Corrine for allowing him the chance to aid Winter a final time and then revoked his place as a Winter wolf. Jonas had offered him and his wife a position in Broken Crag, though he too was gone, Liara had already extended the same invitation. It was a chance for Richard and his wife to start over.

"I'm glad," Corrine whispered as the door closed behind Richard.

"For what?" Axel asked.

Corrine turned to face her son, a warm smile on her lips.

"If Richard chose to stay, we would welcome him. We have no reason not to," she said. Axel nodded. "But there are still those that feel the sting of Granger's betrayal, even more now after the war. Granger played a larger part in this than any of us knew. If they came back, I suspect they would never quite feel at home again."

"You're probably right," Axel sighed. "But I'm sure that losing Penelope is the real reason they can't return."

Corrine nodded.

"She was making a name for herself. So many cared a great deal for her," she said.

"Dad..." Axel smiled.

Corrine chuckled.

"He saw some of Ashleigh in her," she sighed. "The fighting spirit, determined to prove herself no matter who or what she faced."

Axel nodded and then looked away. They both took a quiet moment to think of Ashleigh. She was struggling. Every day she was at the mountainside trying to find a way to open the gate or make contact with the ley line.

She was hardly sleeping and barely ate. Angry, bitter, heartbroken. She would listen to no one, talk to no one.

Axel took a deep breath.

"I am talking with Galen and Fiona about my plans to approach the smaller packs today," he said quietly.

Corrine let out a gentle sigh and nodded.

"It's a good plan," she said.

"But you think I should wait," Axel said.

Corrine shook her head.

"No," she said. "Now is the right time. We are all rebuilding. Recovering from our losses and realizing our weaknesses. Now is when all the packs will understand where you are coming from and why we need to take this step together."

"I agree," Axel said, "But, Ashleigh—"

"Ashleigh," Corrine interrupted, reaching out to touch Axel gently. "Will do what she needs to do. But the rest of us cannot stop moving forward to spare her feelings."

Axel raised his brows and took a deep breath.

"I didn't expect you to say that," Axel said. "I thought you would tell me that I needed to be more sensitive to what she is going through. That I can't understand how she feels. That I am being selfish by not waiting at least a few more months like she asked me to."

Corrine smiled.

"Axel, darling," she said softly. "You are far more sensitive and understanding than you give yourself credit for. But, unfortunately, there is nothing any of us can do for her now. Only time can heal her. But for the rest of us, time is a resource in short supply.

"The longer you wait to begin, the harder it will be to make the smaller packs understand. You also have only two more months until your family doubles in size. Ashleigh will be upset, not at you, Galen, or Fiona, but at life. But eventually, she will understand, and she will know that you did the right thing."

Axel listened to his mother. He nodded and swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. He wanted to help his sister heal, to help her accept the hard truth of her loss. But his mother was right. They couldn't stand around and wait for her to be ready. Life had to continue.

"Besides," Corrine continued with a smile. "Caleb would have approved of your plan without question."

Axel let out a soft chuckle.

"I know," he said. "We talked about it a few times, nothing too serious, just the concept. But neither of us thought it would be possible with how little trust there was between packs."

"That was before," Corrine said. "Now, things have changed."

Axel nodded.

"Having to huddle together in the dark just hoping to survive has a way of bringing people closer," he said.

"So does opening your doors, offering sanctuary, and putting your own life on the line for them," Corrine said. "You, Ashleigh, Galen, and Caleb all did that. You did everything, sacrificed everything, to ensure the survival of the most people."

Corrine paused, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

"You have earned this peace, this trust," she continued. "I am so proud of you, of all of you."

Axel pulled her into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Mother," he whispered.

He held her close for a long moment. Then, finally, she patted his back and pulled away.

"All right," she whispered. "I need to go. I promised to stop in and see Myka and Peter this afternoon."

"Is everything all right?" Axel asked.

"Yes," she nodded. "But I have been working with Blue Reef children through their grief for a while. They know that Stefan trusts me. They plan to ask him today and thought he might be more at ease with me there."

Axel smiled.

"They're overthinking it," he said. "Stefan already has his hopes set on it."

"That may be true, but I think it is good that they are being cautious," Corrine smiled. "It shows that they truly care about him and his needs."

"You're right," Axel said.

"Are you surprised?" Corrine asked, raising a brow at her son.

"Didn't you say you needed to go?" Axel asked, rolling his eyes.