Page 11 of The Beta's Heart

Bram, Yolanda, and Sophia were already there when I arrived, their faces somber but supportive. We had become a tight-knit group over the years, and we weren’t going to let the twins suffer alone and in silence.

Keeley answered the door, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

“Hey, Peri,” she greeted weakly, forcing a small smile.

“Hey, Keeley.” I stepped inside and pulled my friend into a hug. “I brought cookies. I thought they might help a little.”

“Thank you. You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to. We’re all here for you.”

As we walked into the living room, Callie looked up from where she sat on the couch, all wrapped up in a blanket.

“Hi, Peri.”

“Hey, Callie.” I moved over to sit beside her and gave her a gentle squeeze. “How are you holding up?”

“I don’t know. It still doesn’t feel real.” Callie shrugged, her voice barely a whisper, and I nodded, understanding all too well the feeling of loss and disbelief.

“It’s going to take time, but we’re here with you every step of the way.”

“That’s right. We’ve got your backs, no matter what.” Bram sat down on the floor in front of them, pushing out waves of comfort and care, and Yola and Sophie nodded in agreement, their quiet presence like a comforting balm.

“Why don’t we do something to take our minds off things for a bit?” I suggested, trying to inject some lightness into the heavy atmosphere. “How about a movie or a game?”

“A game sounds good. Something silly and fun.” Keeley managed a small laugh.

“I’ve got just the thing.” Bram pulled out a deck of cards. “Uno, anyone?”

As we played, the mood in the room lightened, the laughter and teasing providing an escape from the twins’ pain, even if it was only temporarily. Keeley and Callie relaxed a bit, the tension in their shoulders easing, and the rest of us made it our mission to keep them smiling for as long as we could.

“You’re such a cheater, Bram,” I grumbled as he tried to sneak a peek at Yola’s cards.

“Hey, I play to win,” he shot back.

We played for hours, losing track of time until the sun began to set. As the others packed up to leave, Keeley and Callie both seemed more at ease, their smiles genuine, and as Yola drove off with Bram and Sophie, I allowed my thoughts to drift to my own worries.

My older brothers especially were weighing heavily on my mind lately. Mase and Jay were growing more and more depressed without their luna, and Cole’s temper had been flaring unpredictably. Ash’s impulsivity and hyperactivity were becoming more pronounced, and Wyatt was retreating further into his wolf, avoiding reality.

I worried about them constantly, knowing Mom and Mase’s mother did, too. We all feared what might happen if they didn’t find their luna soon. The bond they shared as found brothers was strong, but even that had its limits. They needed their mate to balance them, to bring them back from the edge they were all teetering on…

“Peri?” Callie’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I realized we were still standing on the front porch, waiting for my dad to pick me up, and I’d been staring at the sky as it darkened with the onset of evening.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for being here,” Callie said, her eyes filled with gratitude. “We don’t know what we’d do without you and our other friends.”

“You’ve got such a good heart.” Keeley nodded, tears not far away.

“You don’t have to thank me, silly! That’s what we’re here for,” I reminded them both. “If you need anything, anything at all, just call me or one of the others, okay?”

“We will,” Keeley promised, her voice wavering with emotion.

I squeezed them both tightly, hoping they could feel how much I cared about them. As we ended our group hug, we saw someone coming up the walk, a bouquet of flowers in either hand, and we watched silently as Tyler James emerged from the shadows.

“Um, hi,” he stammered, his words rushing out in a nervous tumble as his cheeks flared red. “I, uh, I know it’s not much, but I thought maybe these could, you know, bring a little beauty to your days. I didn’t get to tell you at the funeral yesterday, but I’m really sorry about Everett.”

Keeley and Callie exchanged surprised glances, then took the bouquets as he held them out. All of us were touched by his gesture, and I felt my own eyes welling up.

---