Page 22 of Eternal Mate

"Never,” I said. “I'll never stop looking for him."

The promise cracked the rest of her resolve to be strong, and she all but collapsed against me in a hug, finally succumbing to the sobs she'd been swallowing.

I couldn't guarantee to bring him home, but I could find out what had happened and where he'd ended up eventually. The not knowing would eat my sister alive, even if the answer was simply that he had died during the attack on the compound.

She deserved that closure. If not for herself, then for their kids.

So far, they’d been resilient. Rebecca was waiting for the inevitable meltdown, hurting for them even more than her own loss. I couldn't even begin to imagine what that was like for her, though I could empathize with my nieces. If I had my way, they would never know what it felt like to lose both parents.

"Are the girls napping?" I whispered, just in case, and Rebecca nodded against my shoulder, trying to stifle her crying. Rubbing her back, I rocked her a bit as I held her tightly, sad for her and the twins. My own eyes stung with unshed tears. Seeing my sister in so much pain was difficult, and I wished there was more I could do to ease her burden.

I gently kissed her head, silently vowing to protect and support her through this. Together, we would navigate the uncertainty, the fear, and the grief. We were stronger together. While I wasn't well-acquainted with how it felt to lose a mate, I knew grief intimately.

After a few minutes, she pulled away, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She sniffled and gave me a watery smile. "I'm sorry for falling apart like this. I just... I can't help but feel helpless sometimes."

I shook my head, reaching out to cup her face in my hands. "Don't apologize, Becca. It's okay to feel overwhelmed."

Goodness knew I was.

"Mama?" a small voice asked.

Rebecca hurriedly sat up, swiping at her face and giving Caiya a beaming smile. "Did you have a good nap, baby?"

They hadn't been napping recently, but the mounting tension was just as exhausting for the kids caught up in the crossfire as the rest of us. Caiya clamored into my sister's lap, rubbing at her eyes. Obviously, she was still trying to wake up, because she didn't even acknowledge I was there as Rebecca cradled her into a hug.

Rebecca held Caiya close, gently rocking her back and forth as she whispered soothing words. The little girl curled up against her mother's chest, finding comfort in her embrace.

I watched them with a bittersweet ache tugging at my heart.

"Hey, Caiya," I said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. She blinked sleepily, looking up at me with her big, innocent eyes. "It's good to see you awake."

Caiya's tired gaze shifted between me and her mother, her tiny hand rubbing at her eyes. "Mama sad?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rebecca's lips quivered, but she managed a small smile. "Mama's okay, sweetheart. Sometimes grown-ups get sad, but we're going to be alright. We have each other."

She looked dubious as my sister managed to warble out her reassurance, petting her daughter's hair back with her free hand. I smiled, then glanced down the hall as another soft patter of feet caught my attention.

"Hey, Mia."

My other niece was more awake, beaming at me as she wandered into the room. Doing a quick survey, she must have been satisfied with the scene from the way she bobbed her little head in a nod before climbing into my lap.

I welcomed Mia into my lap, wrapping my arms around her small frame. She nestled against me, her warmth and presence providing a soothing comfort amidst the heaviness of the room.

Rebecca's gaze shifted between her two daughters, a mixture of love and concern evident in her eyes.

No parent wanted to be the source of their child's pain. Knowing that Caiya had put it together, she was devastated, and it was probably eating Rebecca alive.

"Why don't we take a walk?" I suggested, and both girls perked up immediately, scrambling down to get their shoes on. My sister smiled gratefully as they hurried to get ready before we both joined them at the door.

9

INNER STRUGGLES

SARIEL

Auren’s room was dark.

My brother didn’t even look up when I crept inside and made myself comfortable at the foot of his bed, leaning against the ornate bedpost.

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