The living room felt heavy, the kind of silence that pressed against the chest and made every breath feel labored. The curtains were half drawn, letting in only muted daylight that seemed to avoid the center of the room, as though the very sun was unwilling to creep in on the grief inside. The air was thick, weighed down by sorrow, and the occasional quiet sob from Mrs. Jane or Helen broke through it like small, painful cracks in an already fragile glass.
Mrs. Jane sat slouched on the sofa, her eyes swollen and red, her hands trembling as she clutched a crumpled handkerchief. Beside her, Helen's face was streaked with tears, her voice reduced to soft whimpers. Mr. Charlie stood by the edge of the coffee table, his hands shoved into his pockets, staring at nothing in particular a man searching for words but finding only silence. His expression was blank, but it was the kind of blankness that came from being utterly shaken.
On the other sofa, the pack sat together yet apart. Jasper leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his hands covering his face as if hiding from a truth too cruel to accept. Henry sat rigid, his gaze locked on the floor, his lips pressed together in a thin line while his eyes glistened. James sat with his arms crossed tightly, as though holding himself together was the only way to keep from unraveling. Tyler was still, his jaw clenched so tightly the muscles in his cheek twitched every so often, his eyes fixed on the far wall but seeing only the image of Tengen's fall.
The quiet was broken by Mr. Charlie's voice flat and edged with disbelief. "So the vampire escaped?" His eyes darted from one boy to another, searching for a contradiction. None came. "He escaped after killing Tengen," he continued, almost as if saying it out loud made it harder to believe.
Mrs. Jane's voice cracked. "Tengen is gone… killed by a vampire chief… and he didn't even get the chance to finish him." Her words were met with silence, the kind that hung in the air and cut deeper than any shout.
"Where is his body?" Mr. Charlie asked.
"We buried him," Henry replied softly, his voice trembling, eyes wet.
James finally spoke, his tone tight. "I'm sure he won't remain in Mugen for long… Tengen hurt him badly."
"That vampire…" Tyler's voice was raw, his face twisted with agony. "I'll end him."
When they retreated to their room to pack for their return to the Davidson estate, the mood was no lighter. The rustle of clothes and zippers sounded louder than usual in the tense quiet. The door creaked open, and Helen stepped in. Her presence was gentle, almost hesitant. "Hey, guys," she said softly. They looked at her briefly before resuming their tasks.
Helen's hands were clasped together, her voice soft but steady. "I'm really sorry… I know how you must feel. Tengen was the best wolf, a protector of the weak… he wasn't just brave outside he was brave on the inside too."
James stopped, approached her, and took her hands. His voice was firm but kind. "You're hurting too… but your family needs you now. They lost their daughter last month, and now they've lost a friend. You need to be strong for them."
Helen's tears spilled freely as she hugged him, and James held her tightly. Henry draped an arm over Jasper's shoulder, while Tyler looked away, swallowing hard to keep his tears at bay.
When Helen left, James lowered his head and slammed his fist against the wall, the sharp sound echoing in the small room. "That vampire…"
"One day," Tyler said quietly, his gaze low, "we'll end him."
The Davidson estate loomed with its familiar air of quiet strength, but as the boys stepped into the apartment, the atmosphere was subdued. Their heads hung low, the weight of Mugen's loss still pressing heavily on their shoulders. The soft hum of the wheelchair broke the silence as Mr. Davidson entered, pushed forward with Rachel and Ricky flanking him. Their faces revealed little neither grief nor joy, only a measured calm that seemed to conceal whatever they truly felt.
Mr. Davidson's lips curved into a faint, almost smug grin. "You boys did well," he said, his voice steady and assured. The pack lifted their eyes to him, but the sadness in them did not waver.
"We lost Tengen in Mugen," he continued, his tone taking on a warmth, "but it was a remarkable experience for you all. We will miss him, no doubt. But like Tengen always said some things must be left behind for us to move forward. I'm sure he would have wanted the same for you boys."
From the side, Bella stepped forward. Without hesitation, Tyler closed the gap between them, wrapping her in a fierce embrace. Jasper followed, then James and Henry, until all four surrounded her in a brief, wordless comfort. "I'm sorry," Bella murmured, her voice tinged with pain.
"It's fine," Tyler replied, his voice softer now. "I'm glad you're safe."
Mr. Davidson's smile deepened, though there was an unspoken sorrow in it. "Everything will get better," he said. "I miss Tengen… and I'm getting older myself. I might join him soon. But before that, I want to make sure Susun is destroyed."
The pack slowly broke apart from their embrace, standing straighter, their eyes fixed on their elder. "Mrs. Jane and Charlie gave me good feedback about you all," Mr. Davidson went on. "I'm very impressed with your growth. Especially you, Tyler. It would have been a massive loss if you had died alongside Tengen or if any of you had." His gaze swept over them with measured pride.
"One of these days," James spoke up, determination in his tone, "I'll unlock the One Mind Wolf. Surely, I will."
From the dim steps of the hall, Sophia emerged, her steps light yet deliberate. Her eyes scanned the group briefly before settling on Tyler. For a moment, they simply looked at each other no words, just a silent exchange of something deeper, something neither of them chose to break.