I slip on the black dress and brush my hair, running the bristles against every strand. Standing in the mirror, I watch myself while consistently glancing over at Eric who had just finished redressing himself. He does the same, looking over at me.

   Eric stands behind me and places both hands on my shoulders, so I softly set my hairbrush down. Our eyes connect in the mirror. "They're downstairs waiting," he murmurs, his arms wrapping around me. I set a hand on top of his as they rest against my stomach.

    "Will you be alright?"

Eric nods then takes my hand in his, running his thumb firmly against the top of my hand, almost as if he is making sure I am really here. Without saying a word he leads me out of the room—my hand still in his, a loose leash—and down the hall. From the top of the stairs, I can hear the conversation from the dining room. Marina, Lucas, Caroline, and Evangeline waiting patiently.

Stopping our movement, I place both my hands on the sides of Eric's face. "I'm sorry for what you saw me doing. It was selfish, and probably hard for you to understand. But I'm here for you. Okay?"

My question is answered by a kiss on my forehead, his lips warm against my skin.

Together we climb down the stairs and enter the dining room, causing all eyes to shift. A small, delicate smile appears on Caroline's face, and I give her the same back. We will talk later. But my eyes continue their detour, falling upon everyone, dressed lovely, then finally Evangeline. I swallow.

She seems lost as if this was never her home. She seems empty, like a statue or a doll, propped up on the chair. She seems like her heart has turned cold. I sit down, forcing myself to look away, to stop staring. It is like looking at my mother, yet more intense. Marina takes control and starts passing around the large dishes of food, plates I recognize from our making earlier. Eric touches my leg, pressing the 'on' button.

"You look beautiful," I tell Caroline and she blushes. Lucas glances at her approvingly.

It is a sad dinner. Minimal conversation, many deep breaths, and a few stray tears from Caroline. She picks up her napkin and dabs it underneath her eyes, not smearing her mascara. Lucas grabs her hand whenever this happens.

Evangeline remains silent the entire time, hardly taking a bite of her food placed on her plate by Marina. She stares at a downward angle, at the center of the table. Not tears, no deep breaths, no conversation, nothing. She is a lonely soul, torn from her true love, stepped on like a bug by life itself. Whenever I look at her for too long, Eric squeezes my leg and I tell Caroline, Marina, or Lucas something.

"It's going to rain tonight," I say and take a bite of steak. "It's been cloudy all day."

Soon comes dessert and Marina carries in the cakes with the white roses on top. She places one in front of all of us before sitting down herself. Evangeline watches the cake as if the flower is wilting in front of her.

"They're beautiful," Caroline comments and Marina smiles.

I slice through the cake with the side of my fork, realizing the center had been hollowed and filled with a chocolate mixture. A thin chocolate shell keeps the cake from the mixture, stopping it from seeping in. It is like hatching an egg. I let it bleed out on my plate. It has a rich, lovely taste.

"Kendra is back home safe, I got the call earlier," Caroline tells me and I nod.

"Do you know how she—"

"She ran back to the house," Caroline explains, "I'm sorry you didn't get to say goodbye. I'm sure you'll see her very soon, though. Your mom said thank you for keeping her safe. I told her you'd call back when you're free to talk things through."

I nod again. "And Olivia?"

"She's left the pack. I found a note and a few of her things gone. She's abandoning our world to live amongst the humans, she thinks it's what's best for her."

"That's it?" I question. "She just left?"

Caroline gives me a sad look. "She killed her own mate, Isabella. I'm sure she's sick and tired of our kind. I just hope she'll be content out there."

"She saved my life. I never got to thank her for her sacrifice."

"I'm sure she knows. You helped her to safety."

I did not help Olivia, I abandoned her and told her to run to the house alone. I did not help her inside, check for wounds, make her comfortable. I simply pointed in a direction and yelled 'go'. That is something I will have to live with. I can only hope she is as Caroline says, content with the human world.

"And Heath?"

"Just a few cuts and bruises. He's perfectly fine," Eric tells me.

I turn to him and nod.

After dinner, Caroline and Lucas bring Evangeline home, Marina shoo's me as I try to help clean up, then she leaves herself. Eric and I find ourselves back in the bedroom, and I sit on the bed, staring into nothing as I take off my earrings. The small pears roll in my palm, given to me by Caroline a while ago. I place them on the dresser and loop my fingers around the ribbon of my dress. With a gentle tug, the bow unties and the fabric falls open.

I glance to see Eric standing the doorframe of the bathroom, somewhat undone himself, yet I feel too guilty to strike. He watches me, watches as I crumble to pieces. "I'm ungrateful and selfish," I confess, and the smile falls from his face. "Your father is dead."

"I know," he says straightly with no emotion.

"Your father is dead and I've been too focused on myself to realize it. But you hardly show anything. You look fine," I near Eric, urging him to give me a sign. "Why are you fine?"

"It's my job to be fine, Isabella."

"Yeah, we shared the profession, I know how it works. You don't have to be this way around me. I let you in, now you have to stop handing me slices and give me the cake."

Eric's expression softens, not taking me seriously. "I've shared a lot of things, and now I just want to sleep. Let's just sleep, alright?" He walks to the bed, but I step in front of him before he can crash down. "Sleep can wait a bit longer, I suppose," he grabs my dress, but I smack his hand away.

"I want you to know that you can open up to me about everything, not just some things."

Eric seems somewhat amused. "For a kiss?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm not afraid of you anymore. I'm not afraid to kiss you anymore, considering what we've done."

Suddenly Eric brings his lips to mine, surprising me. Before I can lose myself, I move back, letting go. His face hardens. "You want to talk about my feelings?"

I nod and cross my arms.

"I feel alright. I feel fine. Death isn't a stranger to me, Isabella."

"But it's not just any death, it's your father."

Eric sighs. "I feel more pain for my mother than my father. He left her, and now she's dying without him."

"It wasn't his choice, Eric. I'm sure if he had the choice he would choose her."

Eric shakes his head. "He's more Alpha than a mate."

"What would you choose? Being an Alpha or me?" I ask softly.

"Why ask? You know the answer already."

"Your father is the same way. He is an Alpha who loves his Mate, in life and death. He can't help it, the bond is too strong for even an Alpha to ignore. You can't help but pick me, and he can't help but pick Evangeline. That's how it works," I say, reaching out to him, "you two are more similar than you think. Sebastian didn't abandon Evangeline on purpose, he couldn't even if he tried."

Eric struggles. "Then why is he dead?"

"Ask your mother."