Page 117 of Manic

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. "Meghan, I?—"

She cuts me off with a shake of her head. "No, Tor. You know better than this. We both do."

I close my eyes for a moment, feeling the weight of her words.

She's right, of course.

In our world, promises are as fragile as glass, easily shattered by the harsh realities of life.

"I just... I couldn't bear to see her scared," I admit, my voice low. "I wanted to protect her."

Meghan's expression softens slightly. "I know, babe. But lying to her isn't protection. It's setting her up for heartbreak."

I nod, knowing she's right.

The clubhouse bustles around us, but in this moment, it's just me and Meghan, navigating the treacherous waters of parenthood in a world that's anything but safe.

"What do we tell her then?" I ask, genuinely at a loss. "How do we prepare her for... this?" I gesture vaguely at my bandaged arm, at the chaos that surrounds us.

Meghan's fingers intertwine with mine, her touch grounding me. "We tell her the truth, Tor. As much as we can. We teach her to be strong, to be smart. And we show her that no matter what happens, we can count on this together."

CHAPTER TWENTY

Meghan

The pool area is a symphony of laughter and splashing.

Kids dart around, their shrieks of joy echoing off the water's surface.

Even the usually stoic club members are letting loose, their tough exteriors softening in the warm afternoon sun.

I lean against the edge of the pool, my eyes scanning the crowd.

That's when I spot them—Skadi perched on Logi's lap at one of the picnic tables.

They're wrapped up in each other, oblivious to the chaos around them.

A pang of... something... twists in my gut.

Are they reveling in their child-free bliss?

Or is there a hint of longing in Skadi's eyes as she watches the kids splash around?

I can't help but wonder if they're missing out on something, or if they've found the perfect balance.

My thoughts are interrupted by an arm snaking around my shoulders.

I tense for a split second before recognizing Starla's familiar perfume.

"It looks like everyone's having a blast," she says, her voice warm with happiness.

I nod, forcing myself to relax. "Yeah, it does. I'm glad. We all need a little bit of this, you know? A break from how intense life can be sometimes."

Starla squeezes my shoulder. "Ain't that the truth. It's nice to see everyone let their guard down for once."

I turn to look at her, noting the rare softness in her usually sharp eyes. "Even you?"

She chuckles. "Even me. Don't tell anyone, though. I've got a reputation to maintain."

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