The next morning arrived in silence.
Jacob woke early, long before the rest of the pack began their daily routines, yet he remained lying on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. He had no desire to move, no strength to rise.
His body still ached.
A dull, persistent soreness lingered, making even the slightest shift uncomfortable. The pain had not faded overnight—instead, it clung to him, a quiet reminder of everything he had endured.
He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes as if that alone could ease the discomfort.
But it didn't.
Moments later, a knock broke through the stillness of his room.
Jacob opened his eyes and turned his head toward the door just as it creaked open. The Gamma stepped inside, carrying a tray.
"Sir Jacob," he said respectfully. "The Beta sent your food and medicine."
Jacob pushed himself up carefully, suppressing a wince as the movement sent a sharp sting through his body. He gave a small nod, allowing the Gamma to enter.
As the tray was placed on the table, Jacob frowned slightly.
"Why did he send you?" Jacob asked. "Where's the Beta?"
The Gamma straightened. "He went to the Alpha's company. He's delivering information regarding the upcoming alliance event with the other packs."
Jacob nodded slowly.
An alliance.
That meant preparations, meetings… and pressure.
"I see," he murmured.
The Gamma didn't linger. After a brief bow, he excused himself and left the room, returning the silence that Jacob had grown used to.
For a moment, Jacob stayed still.
Then, with quiet effort, he stood and made his way toward the table. He ate slowly, without appetite, barely tasting the food. Once finished, he took his medicine and sat there for a while, as if gathering strength.
Eventually, he made a decision.
He couldn't stay hidden in his room.
There was somewhere he needed to go.
*****
The halls were quiet as Jacob walked through them, his pace slow and careful. At times, he steadied himself against the wall, his body protesting with every step.
Still, he continued.
Until he reached a familiar door.
He stopped in front of it, his hand hovering mid-air.
Then he let out a deep breath and knocked softly.
No response.
He expected that.
Without waiting further, he gently pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room greeted him with a cold, heavy atmosphere that seemed to press against his skin.
His eyes immediately found her.
Luna Elisabeth.
She sat on a rocking chair near the veranda, her gaze fixed outside. She didn't move. Didn't react.
She simply stared into the distance.
Even with her back turned, Jacob knew—
She was aware of him.
"Luna…" he called softly.
His voice sounded fragile in the quiet room.
He walked toward her and slowly knelt beside her, careful with every movement. Reaching out, he gently took her hand and pressed it against his cheek.
Her skin was cold.
But she didn't respond.
No movement.
No acknowledgment.
She remained still—silent and distant.
Jacob swallowed hard.
This… hurt more than anger ever could.
He would have preferred if she pushed him away, or shouted at him.
But not this.
Not the silence.
Not the emptiness.
She was alive—
Yet after what happened to Alpha George, it felt as if a part of her had died with him.
"Luna… how are you?" Jacob asked softly, his eyes fixed on her face.
She looked pale.
Too pale.
Her lips were dry, her complexion lifeless.
She was breathing, yes—
But it felt as though her soul had been buried alongside her mate.
"Have you eaten?" he continued, his voice trembling. "Are you alright? I… I haven't visited for a few days. I missed you."
His words came out in a rush, as if he feared the silence would swallow him whole if he stopped.
Then—
His voice broke. "I'm sorry, Luna…"
Tears welled in his eyes, spilling over before he could stop them.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "If only I had fought harder that day… maybe… maybe the Alpha wouldn't have died."
The guilt he had carried for years resurfaced, raw and unforgiving.
He lowered his head against her hand, his shoulders shaking as quiet sobs escaped him.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
He repeated it again and again.
As if saying it enough times would change the past.
But it wouldn't.
Nothing would.
Then—
A voice.
Soft.
Faint.
But real.
"It wasn't your fault."
Jacob froze.
Slowly, almost afraid he had imagined it, he lifted his head.
"Luna…?" he said, his voice filled with disbelief.
A small, fragile smile formed on his lips as he quickly wiped his tears, though they continued to fall.
She was looking at him.
For the first time in a long time.
Her eyes were still dull… but no longer empty.
"It wasn't your fault," she repeated gently.
Jacob stared at her, unable to speak.
She slowly pulled her hand from his grasp—
But instead of withdrawing completely, she lifted it and gently wiped the tears from his cheeks.
"What happened… was something none of us wanted," she said softly. "Fate can be cruel. Perhaps… it was simply his time to leave us."
Her voice trembled slightly, and Jacob saw the faint shimmer of tears in her eyes.
But she didn't let them fall.
"Luna, but—" Jacob began.
Before he could continue, she leaned forward and cupped his face with both hands, carefully wiping away his tears.
"You don't need to apologize so many times, Jacob," she said. "That happened a long time ago. It's something you should no longer carry."
Jacob fell silent.
Because he remembered.
She had said the same words to him once before—
When his parents died.
Back then, she had comforted him the same way.
"Still… it's because of that day that you became like this," Jacob said quietly. "The light in your eyes… it disappeared. And it's my fault."
Luna shook her head gently.
"What I'm going through is not because I blame you," she said. "It's because he was my mate."
Her gaze softened.
"For people like us… losing a mate feels like losing a part of our soul. It's natural to lose strength… to lose happiness."
Jacob listened in silence.
"You don't have to worry about me," she continued. "One day, I will return to who I was. The wound in my heart may remain… but I believe it will heal."
A faint, fragile smile appeared on her lips.
Jacob nodded slowly.
For the first time in years—
His chest felt lighter.
This was the first real conversation they had shared since Alpha George's death.
The last time they spoke, she had told him the same thing—that it wasn't his fault.
After that, she had locked herself away from the world.
But now—
She spoke again.
And that alone was enough.
For once, the silence in the room no longer felt suffocating.
It felt… peaceful.
"Tell me," Luna said suddenly.
Jacob blinked, surprised.
"How has Damon been treating you?"
The question caught him off guard.
He hesitated, unsure of how to answer.
"Is he still hurting you?" she asked again, her voice soft but firm. "Why do you endure him? Why don't you leave?"
Jacob lowered his gaze.
Why?
He already knew the answer.
Because he cared for him.
But he couldn't say that.
"He's treated you badly since you were children," Luna continued. "And even now, I know he still hurts you. So why stay?"
Jacob took a deep breath.
Then finally spoke.
"Because he needs me," he said quietly.
Luna remained silent, listening.
"Since we became close… I'm the only one who can handle him. I understand his anger. I can calm him when he loses control."
His hands clenched slightly.
"I can't leave someone like Damon. He's used to having me there—especially when he's losing himself."
He paused.
Then added in a softer voice—
"And… I feel guilty."
Luna watched him carefully.
"I'm staying because of what happened to the Alpha," Jacob continued. "Because of the sacrifice he made to save me."
His voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"I owe him that much."
Silence followed.
Heavy, yet no longer suffocating.
Outside, the wind moved gently through the trees, carrying with it a quiet promise—
That even the deepest wounds…
Could one day heal.