The outskirts of the camp were quiet, the stillness broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the gentle evening breeze. Eryon sat alone on a fallen log, his broad shoulders slumped, his amber eyes fixed on the horizon.The emptiness in his expression spoke volumes, a hollow grief that words could never fully capture.
Misery’s death lingered in his mind, an unrelenting ache, but the thought of his child—his daughter—in the King’s clutches gnawed at him, threatening to consume what remained of his resolve.
Footsteps approached softly from behind. Isla appeared, her silver eyes filled with compassion as she knelt beside him.
“Eryon,” she said gently, her voice low and soothing. “You’re not alone in this. We’re going to get your daughter back. I promise you that.”
Eryon’s jaw tightened, and he shook his head, his hands clenching into fists on his lap.
“Promises don’t mean anything when she’s trapped with him,” he muttered, his voice trembling. “Every moment she’s in his hands, she’s at risk. I couldn’t save Misery… and now, I can’t save her.”
Draven joined them, his imposing frame casting a shadow over Eryon. He placed a steady hand on his son’s shoulder, his voice firm but compassionate.
“She’s not just your child, Eryon,” he said. “She’s part of this pack. Part of our bloodline. She has a claim to everything we stand for.”
Eryon’s head snapped up, his amber eyes blazing with pain and frustration.
“What claim does a half-vampire have?” he asked bitterly. “How can she belong anywhere? How can she ever lead or be accepted, knowing what she is?”
“She belongs,” Isla interjected, her voice fierce, “because she’s yours. Because she’s Misery’s. And because we’ll make sure she has a place here.” Her silver eyes shone with determination as she reached for his hand. “We won’t let her be cast aside. She’s family, Eryon. She always will be.”
The conviction in Isla’s voice gave Eryon pause, her words cutting through the layers of guilt and doubt weighing him down. He looked at her, his throat tight, but before he could speak, another voice shattered the fragile moment.
“This is ridiculous,” Cassian growled as he stormed into the clearing. His golden eyes blazed with fury as he crossed his arms over his chest. “No half-vampire is going to claim the Alpha title over my child.”
Isla rose to her feet slowly, her gaze piercing as she faced him. “This isn’t about you, Cassian,” she said sharply. “This is about protecting what’s left of our family.”
Cassian’s jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to contain his anger. He shot one last glare at Eryon before turning on his heel and stalking away, his frustration palpable.
Eryon’s hands trembled as he buried his face in them. Isla placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, her touch grounding him as her words echoed in his mind.
“She belongs because she’s yours.”