Caroline’s POV
I fell asleep and didn’t even notice when Mabel arrived with Liam. I only woke when Elle was sitting beside me on the bed, her concerned eyes watching over me. Opening my eyes to find just one lamp glowing softly in the room, I sat up and faced my friend, a deep ache settling in my chest.
"What happened, sweetie?" Eleanor asked, her voice gentle as a summer breeze. "Mabel said you were already asleep when she arrived with Liam. She came to check on you but didn’t want to disturb you. She noticed you’d been crying though." She reached out to touch my cheek. "Is it something with Draven? Whatever it is, Rory can overcome this."
Rory whimpered inside me, feeling my distress. The bond between wolf-spirits often reflected our emotional states, and right now, mine was in turmoil.
"It won’t pass, Elle," I whispered, feeling my eyes well up again. "What happened was absolutely devastating."
"Tell me everything," Eleanor said firmly. "And then we’ll decide together if it really was that horrible. If it was, I’ll have Nate go over there and challenge that Alpha to defend your honor."
Despite my sadness, I managed a small smile at the thought of Eleanor’s mate confronting Draven. Pack hierarchy allowed challenges for serious grievances, though they were rare in modern times.
"I will, but... where’s Liam?" I asked suddenly, realizing my son should have been home hours ago.
"Don’t worry about your little cub," Elle assured me, her fingers gently stroking my hair in the way pack-sisters often comfort each other. "Mabel’s staying overnight, and they’re having a wonderful time in the living room. She’s great with him. Let her care for him while I take care of you."
"You’re right," I sighed, relieved my son wouldn’t see me in such a state. "He shouldn’t see me like this. I’ll take a quick shower, and then we can talk."
"Of course, Carrie. Take your time."
I stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over me. Though it washed away the physical tension, it couldn’t cleanse the wound in my soul. As a wolf, emotional pain cut deeper than any physical injury. When I returned to the bedroom in fresh clothes, Elle was waiting with a tray of dinner and an enormous tub of ice cream with two spoons.
"Come here," she patted the bed. "Fill your stomach first, then we’ll demolish this ice cream together."
I forced myself to eat, knowing my health wasn’t just for me. Liam needed his mother strong and whole. I shouldn’t have let my guard down, shouldn’t have let Draven past the defenses around my heart. After finishing dinner, Elle popped open the ice cream, and I began recounting everything while we took turns with our spoons. I told her about Draven’s accusations, the betrayal, and the cold dismissal, tears streaming down my face as I relived the pain.
"What an absolute bastard!" Eleanor growled. "By the Moon Goddess, I’ll make that Alpha regret treating you this way! He had absolutely no right!"
That was Elle, always taking my pain as her own.
"Elle, I think I should call my parents and tell them I’m coming home," I said, hanging my head. "Draven is too powerful an Alpha in this territory. He won’t let me work anywhere in this region."
"Honey," Eleanor placed her hands on my shoulders, "obviously my father or even my uncle would hire you in a heartbeat. They know your character; they recognize your integrity. But you’re not running back to your old pack. You’re staying right here and making a comeback. Draven may be an Alpha, but he doesn’t control the Moon Goddess’s plan for you. We’ll find you another position here. And when that arrogant wolf realizes his mistake, you’ll walk past him with your head high like the she-wolf you are."
"Elle," I sighed, "he’ll never admit he was wrong! He’s already decided I’m guilty without any real investigation. He won’t even look for the true culprit."
"Oh, Carrie," Elle’s eyes softened, "if there’s one thing I learned from my father’s years as Pack Alpha, it’s that traitors always reveal themselves eventually. Their sin is overconfidence. Trust me, he’ll discover the truth wasn’t you, especially when this audit concludes and the real perpetrator is exposed."
"Elle, only Clara supported me," I admitted, tears falling again. "You should have seen how cold Ryan was, treating me like I was nothing but a rogue wolf."
"They’re both fools," Eleanor growled softly. "You know who you are, and your conscience is clear."
I felt Rory stir within me, drawing comfort from Eleanor’s words.
"Only you are always so good to me," I whispered, leaning forward to embrace my friend tightly. "Thank you for being here. I don’t know what I’d do without you."
"That’s what best friends are for," Eleanor murmured into my hair. "I’ll always stand by you."
She pulled back, noticing my exhaustion, and handed me a glass of water with a small pill.
"It’s for your headache," she explained gently. "I can sense it pounding after all those tears."
She was right, my head was throbbing painfully. I took the medication and lay down, feeling the weight of the day crushing me.
"Rest now," Elle said, dimming the light. "Remember, wolves are strongest when wounded. You’ll rise from this stronger than before."
As Eleanor left the room and turned off the light, I closed my eyes but found little peace. The night was torturous, filled with fractured dreams and silent tears.