He stayed by the grave all night.
I woke up in the middle of the night and could still see his silhouette sitting there, motionless in the darkness, a thick layer of snow gathered on his shoulders.
Ethan had brought him a blanket once.
He refused it.
“An Alpha won’t freeze to death,” he said. “Besides... being cold makes it easier to live with myself.”
At dawn, I pushed open the tent flap.
“You should leave.”
“Sera.”
His lips were purple from the cold.
“Let me take care of the headstone. I’ll find the best stone available for Lila. I’ll come visit her every year.”
He lowered his eyes.
“Lila.”
He repeated her name softly.
“She was four years younger than you. Loved roasted venison. Was terrified of thunderstorms.”
A bitter smile crossed his face.
“Ethan told me all of that la
