Avenger(28)

I placed my hand against the glass, fighting tears.

Logan.

He wouldn’t be here with us today. I’d have to look at Chris and her parents and know that because of me they no longer had their brother and son. They probably wished on a daily basis that I was dead. I didn’t blame them.

“Sophie?”

I cringed. I wasn’t ready to be found yet.

“Yes?” I didn’t bother to turn away from the window at the sound of Caeden’s voice.

“Almost everyone is here. You need to come downstairs.”

I shook my head. “I can’t.”

“You have to,” he growled.

“Caeden,” I turned away from the window and he saw the tears staining my cheeks, “I’m telling you I can’t do this. For once, just leave me alone!”

He walked forward and enveloped me in his arms. I didn’t want to respond to his touch, but my body had a mind of its own.

“Let me go,” I said weakly.

“You know you don’t want that,” he chuckled, his lips brushing against the top of my head. My eyes fluttered closed and my body began to relax. I didn’t want him to calm me though. I wanted to stay up here and wallow.

After a few minutes he pulled away. He cupped my face between his large hands and gazed down at me. “Come on, where’s my she-wolf?”

“Your she-wolf is gone,” I sighed. “She can’t even shift anymore.”

“You’re too hard on yourself, Soph.” He smiled at me and said, “Change into something nice and come downstairs for dinner.”

“I can’t face all of them. I can’t see Logan’s parents. I just can’t do it, Caeden. I can’t.” I kept repeating the words over and over again, hoping they’d get through to him and he’d understand.

“Oh, Sophie,” he breathed, “you have got to let this go and move beyond it. We’re shifters, we all know from a young age that we might die in a fight of some sort. Logan made his choice. His choice, Sophie. Not my choice. Not your choice. But his choice. He died for you and instead of sulking like you stuck a blade in his heart, you need to put a smile on your face and show his parent’s that his death wasn’t in vain.”

“I hate it when you’re right,” I forced a small smile.

“When I’m right? Baby, I’m always right.”

“I’ll be downstairs in a few minutes,” I backed away from him and towards the closet.

“I’ll wait for you,” he sat on the bed, watching me carefully like he thought I was going to make a run for it and jump out the window.

“You don’t need to do that. I’m just going to change,” I shrugged, stepping into the large walk-in closest.

“Yes, I do.”

His tone of voice was stern so I knew there was no point in arguing. “Okay.”

I found a clingy black dress that hugged my expanding curves, but didn’t make me feel like I was being suffocated. I paired it with simple black flats and left my hair down to swish around my shoulders.

“That didn’t take long,” Caeden commented when I stepped back into the bedroom.

“That’s all I get?”

“You look beautiful,” he grinned crookedly, his dimple winking at me. I liked it when he smiled like that. A real smile. He didn’t do it enough anymore.

“That’s better,” I laughed.

We made our way downstairs and I prepared myself to face everyone. My breathing was labored and I was tempted to turn around and run away. But that was weak, and I wasn’t a victim. I think my pregnancy hormones were messing with me. I’d went from being someone who was a fighter to a sniveling baby over night. I needed to get my spark back.

“Ready?” Caeden asked before we rounded the corner that opened into the dining room.

“Yes,” I answered, even though I was far from ready.

Apparently, while Caeden was gone retrieving me, everyone had arrived. The room was packed and I wondered if we had enough room for everyone. Gosh, there were a lot of them.

“Hi,” I waved my hand awkwardly.

Several of the members I’d never been formally introduced to gazed at me curiously while others tossed glares my way. I felt like a tiny insect being scrutinized beneath the lens of a microscope. I didn’t like it one bit. I’d never been one to enjoy being the center of attention and to have this many eyes on me was a bit unnerving.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as my heart beat abnormally fast in my chest like a fluttery bird trying to escape the confines of its cage.

Caeden cleared his throat. “Sophie and I are happy that so many of you were able to join us this Thanksgiving—our first as husband and wife,” he gave my shoulder a squeeze. “We’ve all been through a lot since last years dinner. Some, unfortunately, aren’t here to enjoy this meal and their presence will be missed. The threat is still out there, but I know together we can eliminate it. To strength,” Caeden reached over and grabbed a glass off the table, which he lifted in the air.