The graveyard was silent except for the faint rustling of the wind through the tall grass, and the occasional chirp of a bird far off in the trees.
She knelt slowly, her hand brushing across her mother’s name etched into the cold stone, then her parents. Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She had cried enough. Now she needed answers. And even though the dead couldn’t speak, she hoped—prayed—they might guide her somehow.
“Tell me I’m not wrong about him,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she looked between their graves. “Tell me I’m not falling for someone who’ll tear me apart. Not again.”
The wind picked up as if in response, sending a chill through her spine. She wrapped her arms around herself, unsure if the cold came from outside or within. Everything felt too loud in her head lately—too uncertain. Valen’s secret, Max’s constant presence, the prophecy. She felt like she was being torn in half, and her parents weren’t here to put the pieces back together like they used to.
Somewhere behind her, leaves crunched.
“You okay?” Tiana asked gently, approaching from behind. Dany was beside her, quiet as ever, his gaze thoughtful but full of care.
Eva gave a small nod. “Just needed to be here for a while.”
Tiana knelt beside her, brushing the dead leaves from the base of the gravestone. “They would’ve been proud of you, you know.”
Eva didn’t respond at first. She just stared at the graves, wondering what they would say if they could. Would they warn her? Would they remind her of what love cost?
“I wish I knew what to believe,” Eva finally said, her voice trembling. “Valen swears he’s not the threat. But then there’s Max, always watching, always warning me. And part of me… part of me wants to believe them both.”
Tiana leaned her head against Eva’s shoulder. “You’re not alone. Even queens get to question things.”
Behind them, Dany cleared his throat. “Well, except when you’re being overly dramatic. Then you’re just being Eva.”
Eva let out a breath that was almost a laugh. Tiana smirked and turned to Dany. “You know,” she teased, “you’re the only wolf who makes my brain shut off.”
Dany arched an eyebrow. “I’ll take that as a compliment. I think.”
They shared a look—an unspoken moment that made Eva’s heart twist a little. Even in all this madness, something soft was blooming between her sister and Dany. It made her both happy… and a little envious.
“I’m going to stay a bit longer,” Eva said after a pause, rising to her feet again. “You guys go ahead.”
Tiana nodded, squeezing her hand gently before walking off with Dany.
Alone again, Eva looked down at the names carved in stone. “I’m trying, Mom. Dad. I’m trying so hard not to mess everything up.”
120
