赤裸裸的滑稽故事

“When my father died,” he said, “my mother, even as injured as she was, just stepped in and ensured that the people were cared for. She kept us all together and safe. Even though she had suffered worse than any of us could understand.”

Ashleigh turned so she could lay her head on Caleb’s chest.

“She led the wolves of Summer through their darkest hour,” he continued. “Losing my father took a heavy toll on all of them. I couldn’t help them… I was still too angry and hurt. I couldn’t focus on the people because I was to upset about losing my father.”

Caleb let out a heavy sigh.

“Without her, Summer would have fallen apart,” he said.

Ashleigh nodded.

Caleb took a deep breath.

“Is she okay?” he asked quietly. He paused and swallowed. “When she lost dad, she was strong… but it hurt her to be. I can’t imagine how she must have felt when I…”

He trailed off and then stopped, sniffling.

Ashleigh took a deep breath and then turned so she could look at him.

“I’m sure losing Alpha Cain was painful for the Summer wolves. It was clear how much they loved him,” she said. “And Fiona indeed led them through their darkest hour, but that hour, for her and them, was when they lost you.”

Caleb swallowed and turned his head down.

“Fiona is amazing,” she smiled. “One of the most formidable people I have ever known.”

Caleb smiled and nodded.

“She tried to help me way more than I deserved,” Ashleigh said. “When I was being bratty, cruel, ignorant. She still tried, and when I failed to do what I had promised, she didn’t get angry or make a fuss. She kept going, always ensuring that no matter what happened, Summer never suffered for it.”

“That’s mom,” he said. “A Luna through and through.”

“A mother, through and through,” Ashleigh corrected. “A mother to all of Summer.”

Caleb took a deep breath and nodded.

“Summer is in good hands with her,” he smiled.

Ashleigh licked her lips and took a deep breath.

“Summer is in good hands,” she said. “I promise.”

Caleb looked at Ashleigh, narrowing his eyes just slightly.

“What does that mean?”

***

The door to the office burst open. Galen stood from his desk as Fiona walked in angrily.

“Is it true?” she demanded.

Galen licked his lips and nodded.

“It’s true,” he said softly. “Alice just confirmed it, Ashleigh… found Caleb.”

Fiona stopped in her tracks; her jaw was clenched, and she took long, deep breaths through her nose. The muscles in her face twitched as she tried desperately to keep herself in control.

She closed her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. She took a deep breath and slowly released it.

“Did you know that she was still looking?” she asked.

“We all knew she never gave up,” Galen said. His voice was quiet. “It was never a secret.”

Fiona opened her eyes and looked at him carefully. She tilted her head to see how he avoided meeting her gaze.

Only now did she realize that Galen had not called or responded to her email. She had left Broken Crag as soon as she had sent the message and run straight here. She didn’t have time to think about it until now. But, if he had been as surprised by the image as she was… he would have called.

“Then what was?” she asked.

Galen swallowed and clenched his jaw. Fiona nodded and took a step toward his desk. She took a deep breath.

“There was a secret,” she said, “wasn’t there?”

Galen licked his lips but didn’t respond.

“Galen,” she called to him softly. “I have raised you since you were a boy. I may not know all your secrets, but I know when you’re hiding something big.”

Galen took a shaky breath as he looked down toward his desk.

“She isn’t the only one that has been looking,” he said.

Fiona’s eyes widened, and then they narrowed on him as she clenched her jaw tightly.

“Alice and Myka, they took up the search on their own at first,” he said. “And then Axel, and eventually… me.”

“You,” Fiona said with a nod and an angry smile. “And how long have you been searching?”

Galen took another deep breath.

“Two years, a few months,” he replied softly.

“And why was I not informed of this?” she asked.

Galen swallowed.

“We all agreed, you and Ashleigh… you didn’t need to know unless there was proof that we were close or had found him.”

Fiona let out a low growl.

“How dare you keep this from me,” she growled.

“I didn’t want you to get your hopes up,” he said. “There was nothing solid, nothing that really pointed us in any direction... not until a few days ago.”

Fiona’s chest heaved in anger, her heart was aching, and a strange numbness was moving across her body.

“Fiona, I’m sorry, I—” Galen began, moving around his desk toward her.

He stopped when she put her hand up to silence him. He saw how her body was shaking, the anger building in her pain.

“You told me he was never coming back,” she whispered, her jaw shaking as she stared at him.

Galen swallowed and looked away, clenching his jaw as each word cut into him like a dagger.

“I know,” he whispered.

“You told me to move on… to let it all go. You!” Fiona shouted, pointing her finger at him. “You told me!”

“I know,” he said again.

She moved across the room to stand before him.

“Look at me.”

Galen swallowed and turned to face her. He looked into her angry, tear-filled eyes for a moment before his cheek burned as she slapped him with a heavy hand.

“Fiona!” Bell shouted as she entered the room.

Galen put his hand up to stop her before she could reach them. He swallowed and turned back to Fiona.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I thought…”

Galen paused and sniffled. He smiled sadly.

“I was trying to help,” he said. His voice cracked, and he fought to hide the tears threatening his stability. “I wanted you to be happy… You were so sad, but you just kept moving forward. Trying to get as far from the past as you could.”

Fiona’s lip began to quiver as her anger began to be consumed by the guilt in her heart.

“You weren’t you anymore,” Galen continued. Tears now fell freely from his eyes. “You were here and working, but the light in your eyes was almost gone. I know I was wrong to lie. I shouldn’t have said those things… but I didn’t know how else to help you.”

Fiona let out a sob and sniffled.

“It felt like I was watching you slowly kill yourself… and I couldn’t do it anymore," Galen whispered through tears. "I’m sorry, Mom. ”

Fiona brought her hands to her face and fell to her knees.