"So you male Alpha types can read minds?" she teased.
"No, but as mate bonds deepen strong emotions can pass through the bond letting us know if our mates are in distress. The closer the mates are the better. The fact that I can feel you in my soul already just proves how perfect you are for me," Grant said quietly.
Ellie's heart felt like it was glowing. Her mate made her feel like the only woman in the world.
"Hey Meryn," Anne said, greeting the petite troublemaker as she walked up with Ryuu.
Meryn didn't say anything but stood as close as she could to Rheia and Colton.
"Aww, did you miss us?" Anne teased gently.
Meryn didn't respond, but when she lifted her head, she had silent tears streaming down her face.
"Oh honey!" Anne exclaimed and pulled Meryn close. "You're lucky Amelia isn't here; she'd never let you go."
Meryn sniffled and laid her head on Anne's shoulder. "She's hugging me," she protested weakly, not sounding like she meant a word.
Kendrick, having finished with the cases, strode over, his face like a thundercloud. "Is she ill?"
Anne looked at Rheia over Meryn's head, panic on her face. Rheia turned to Ryuu who stood off to one side, her eyes flashing. "Ryuu, what in the hell has been going on? She's lost weight!"
Ryuu held a hand over his heart. "The city has not been kind to denka."
Colton growled low. "Who do I have to kill?"
Kendrick cracked his knuckles. "Or maim."
"Why are you so upset?" Grant asked.
Rheia pointed to Meryn. "She's docile, crying, and practically begged for a hug. You couldn't ask for clearer indicators that something is wrong." She was about to ask Ryuu something when all around them the general noise quieted.
Darian had closed the previous portal and opened a new one. With a stoic expression, he waited.
Coming from the wolves' refuge, two columns of warriors, their uniforms pressed to perfection, carefully carried a tiny white casket between them. Behind them, Stefan and Demetrio walked next to Susan and Tobias. They moved at a stately pace, conveying with their measured steps, their affection and unwavering respect for the small girl who had died before her time.
Ellie looked at the casket and was humbled. She knew without asking that the twins Nigel and Neil had carved the tiny box out of stone. The white marble box had beautiful carvings of wolves running toward a metallic silver moon. On top, an ethereal bouquet of flowers sat encased in diamond, ensuring they would never wilt.
Behind her, Grant wrapped an arm around her waist as he lent her his support. Colton did the same for Rheia, and Kendrick held both his own mate and Meryn tenderly. Ellie looked around, wondering where Aiden was. When she spotted him she wasn't surprised to see that the soft-hearted commander had taken a place beside the warriors carrying the casket.
They slowly walked through the portal. Moments later, they returned empty handed and the Garcias stepped away from Stefan and Demetrio. Hugs were exchanged, and they followed their daughter through the portal.
Darian turned to Aiden. "I will follow them to their destination and assist Susan's family in getting the casket to its final resting place, then head home." He looked over at their group. "Gods bless your efforts and keep you safe." He offered a final wave and stepped through the portal, which closed behind him.
Slowly, around them hushed voices began to whisper, and the normal sounds of the level returned.
"God! That casket was so small. How old was she?" Rheia asked, turning to Ellie.
"Five," Ellie answered softly.
Rheia turned and buried her face into her mate's chest. Colton looked at her. "That's our daughter's age."
Aiden walked over and plucked Meryn from Kendrick. "Probably not the best place for an empath to be," he said before walking toward the tunnel, Ryuu following close behind.
Kendrick winced. "I was too shocked by the casket. I didn't think of Meryn."
Anne patted his arm. "If she was truly in distress, Ryuu would have gotten her out of here," she assured her mate.
Rheia turned to her. "I'd like to follow them and make sure Meryn is okay before meeting with you and the other attending doctor."
Ellie nodded. "I agree."
Solemnly, they made their way to the tunnel. Half the warriors helped escort the new group down to Level One; the other half carried the cases of medical supplies to the hospital. Ellie walked beside her mate and, not for the first time since arriving, she felt like the shadows were closing in on her. She wondered if she would ever get used to living underground.
*****
When Ellie had first seen the large dining room table, she couldn't imagine so many people sitting around it that there would be no empty seats; now, it didn't seem that impossible. It took them a few minutes, but introductions were finally over. Ryuu had a pot of tea brewing, which smelled faintly of chamomile. If it was Blessed Chamomile, then it was exactly what they needed. She just wondered where Ryuu had gotten ahold of some.