Chapter 114

Lauren

The morning light pierced through the curtains, casting long shadows across the wooden floors. I hadn’t slept much the night before, my thoughts spinning in a web of frustration, anger, and a sense of looming dread.

After everything that had happened—after the fight, the tension between the pack, and the discovery of my bloodline—I thought I could breathe, at least for a little while. But no.

The Alpha King, Dalverious, had other plans.

A knock echoed through the front door, sharp and demanding, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’ll get it!” Owen’s voice called from downstairs.

Had they gotten up before us? Ugh, kids.

I groaned, rubbing my eyes. What was this now? Another one of the Alpha’s “emissaries”? Because I was so in the mood for that.

It wasn’t long before Owen appeared in the doorway with a woman standing behind him. I froze, eyes widening as the woman’s imposing presence filled the room.

“Morning, Lauren,” Gingi greeted, her voice a little too chipper for my liking.

Gingi. Of course.

Gingi, a psychologist from the mountains, my old friend, and translator for Dr. Belsing—known for her no-nonsense attitude and stern demeanor.

She was a professional—no doubt about that—but she also had this… aura that made everything feel more serious, even when she was just walking into a room.

Only question was, why was my old friend standing at my doorway.

Gingi stood rigid, her posture perfect, arms crossed in front of her like she was bracing for a storm. Her gaze fell on me immediately, sharp and calculating.

“Well, well,” I muttered under my breath, sitting up in the bed. “Can I assume you’re not here just cause you missed me?”

Gingi didn’t smile. She never did. Instead, she stepped into the room, her boots clicking sharply on the wooden floors.

“Lauren,” Gingi said, her voice low but commanding. "I was sent by the Alpha King, Dalverious.”

I let out a frustrated growl, which made Owen raise an eyebrow.

“You?” I questioned. “Why you? There are far more Doctors in the area he could send to spy on my family.”

“None you would let in the front door willingly,” she reported.

“You’re not wrong,” I replied, arms crossed as I leaned against the headboard. “He knows I’ve known you and Dr. Belsing for years. Doesn’t mean I have to like this.”

“Understandable,” Gingi replied, her eyes never leaving me. “But you don’t have much say in the matter. The King has requested my help.”

I couldn’t argue with that. If the Alpha King sent someone, there was no turning back.

She turned to Owen and smiled, a rare, faint shift in her usually stern expression. “And you must be Owen, the thinking one. Your sister, where is she? The one who’s always asking questions, but never waits for answers.”

Owen grinned, clearly pleased by her attention. “Guilty as charged. But hey, curiosity’s a virtue, right?”

“It’s a curse if you ask me,” she said dryly.

Alexander groaned next to me, finally moving. “Hi, can you move this conversation to not my room?”

I smirked, poking his shoulder. “Morning grumpy.”

“Of course,” Gingi said matter of factly before turning her attention to the right of the frame. “But you must be… Mark?”

Mark, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped out of the shadows behind her in the frame.

Gingi approached him slowly, her steps calculated, each one deliberate.

“Mark,” she said softly, kneeling in front of him. “How are you today?”

Mark didn’t answer. He just stared at her with those big, doe-like eyes that always seemed to see through people. Or not at all. Still, he was towering, a wall, really.

“Mark doesn’t talk much,” I said, my voice tinged with protection. “But he’s not stupid.”

Gingi didn’t seem bothered by my tone. She simply nodded, taking her time to study Mark’s reaction.

“I know,” she said quietly. “But sometimes, it’s not about being ‘stupid’ or ‘smart.’ It’s about feeling safe enough to express yourself.”

I couldn’t help but scoff. “Yeah, well, you better watch it. He’s my brother.”

Gingi ignored my skepticism, instead focusing entirely on Mark. “I’m here to help, Mark. Just me, no one else. I’d like to know what’s going on inside your head. Would you be willing to talk to me?”

Mark didn’t answer, but after a long, silent moment, he bent down and picked a flower from the garden box on the open window. He offered it to Gingi, his large fingers holding it out with all the earnestness of a child giving a gift.

Gingi blinked in surprise. She hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure what to make of this gesture, before taking the flower gently from his hand.

“Well,” she said, her voice softer now, as if she were trying to break through to him. “This is… a lovely gesture, Mark. Thank you.”

There was a strange warmth in her voice now, like a crack in the icy wall she’d put up. I watched from the bed of the room, my arms still crossed tightly over my chest. I hadn’t expected her to be so… calm with him. So patient.

Sure, she was here to watch my family, but if it had to be anyone, maybe Gingi wasn’t so bad.

Abigail and Owen, who had been standing nearby, leaned in a little closer, eager to see what would happen next.

“So, Gingi,” Abigail said, her usual curiosity getting the best of her. “How’s Belsing? The mountains?”

Gingi looked over at her, her lips quirking into a small, tight smile. “The mountains are a place of peace, Abigail. Solitude, stillness, but also… power. They hold secrets, things you may never see in the outside world. And they’re home to people like me.”

Abigail blinked, I’m sure just as confused by her answer as I was. Gingi was… different thats for sure. Always been cold, blunt.

“Like you?” Owen asked, grinning. “What does that mean, exactly?”

“Means I don’t take kindly to distractions,” Gingi said dryly, fixing him with a pointed stare. “Which is why I prefer to work in places where people value silence.”

“Yes silence,” Alexander groaned to my reluctant giggle.

“Ah, so you’re one of those, huh?” Owen teased, nudging Abigail.

I rolled my eyes. I could already tell this wasn’t going to be the quiet, serious session Gingi probably had in mind. The kids were bouncing with questions, and Gingi was handling it better than I expected.

Mark, still quiet and withdrawn, was sanding a little straighter now, his eyes flickering from Gingi to the kids. It was clear he was listening, even if he wasn’t fully engaging.

“Well, Gingi,” I finally spoke, breaking the light chatter. “If you’re going to be here, I guess you’re going to have to deal with all of us. But I’ll warn you now—if you can’t get through to Mark, it’s not because you didn’t try. Just, be patient. Kind. Please.”

Gingi gave me a steady look. “I’m not here to fix him in a day, Lauren. But I can help him, in time.”

I let out a growl, low and frustrated, but I couldn’t bring myself to argue. The Alpha King had sent her here, and while I wasn’t thrilled about it, I had to admit, maybe there was a chance she could help Mark in ways I couldn’t.

The hours passed in a slow, methodical rhythm as Gingi worked with Mark, letting him draw, write, and occasionally engage in short conversations with her. She wasn’t pushy, never demanding that he speak, but she created an atmosphere of quiet understanding, one where he could choose to open up if he wanted to.

And slowly—so slowly—I saw it. Mark was starting to change. Not a lot, but enough that I could feel the weight lifting from my shoulders.

By the time the sun began to set, Gingi had managed to build a connection with Mark. He still wasn’t speaking much, but his behavior was improving. He was less withdrawn, more willing to engage.

“You’re making progress,” I said quietly as I watched Mark interact with the others, his gaze flicking between Gingi and the kids. “Not bad for one day.”

Gingi gave me a rare, approving nod. “I told you. I’m not in a rush.”

But I didn’t miss the long text update she sent; I already knew who it was to.

Dalverious would be more than pleased with that report on us.