Evan’s glare faltered, uncertainty flickering beneath his anger. Raymond’s shoulders trembled, torn between fury and grief. But Lenora only stood taller, refusing to waver.
They had chosen Hailey once. They would do it again. For her, they had only silence and disappointment. For Hailey, they had every ounce of loyalty and care. And now they dared to mourn a few photographs?
The thought almost made her laugh. Instead, she lifted her chin, certain of her path.
One day soon, they would discover she had agreed to the arranged mateship. And she wondered—when that truth came out—how would they look at her then?
“It’s only a picture,” Lenora said flatly, her tone cutting off any room for discussion. “We don’t need to take more.”
Evan, always the one trying to mend cracks, spoke gently. “The stars are out tonight. Maybe later we can go outside and snap a few? It’s been ages since we stepped beyond the pack borders. A little air might do us good.”
Raymond chimed in quickly, his voice carrying a hopeful edge. “And we could bring Hailey. She’s been asking about the northern forest since she arrived.”