Later that evening, when darkness had began settling over the sky like a heavy blanket, Derek stood at the panoramic window in his study, looking out at the deck.

Kira was out there on the open deck, sitting all by herself. Her legs were tucked beneath her, and she clutched that oversized, ridiculous teddy bear that he took great pleasure in despising. She was squeezing it like the thing was her only friend in the world.

The wind was blowing her hair all over the place, lifting strands across her face, before letting them fall again. She did not brush them away or try to move. Just sat there, quiet in a way that felt wrong on her.

He didn’t know what to do with her. Ever since she got back that afternoon, she hadn’t said a word beyond that flat "Good afternoon, Derek." She hadn’t eaten anything, either. It was driving him crazy.

Derek stood with his hands deep in his trouser pockets, jaw tight. He realised then that he would much rather deal with her when she was being loud and bubbly. This moody, silent version of her made him feel restless, like he was waiting for something to explode, and he couldn’t tell why.

He tried to shove the feeling down hard. He was not the type to offer soft words or open arms. He didn’t know how to. Comfort was not his language, and he might end up making it worse.

He watched her for a while, arguing with his beast in his head. Leo was clawing at his mind, acting like a pest.

Go to her. She needs—

Finally, he gave in. With a short frustrated breath, he turned away from the window, went downstairs to the kitchen, and grabbed two cold cans of beer from the fridge. He popped the tab on one for himself, then carried both out to the deck.

The night air wrapped around him, cool and salty, carrying the steady crash of waves against the shore ahead. The wood groaned under his feet, but Kira didn’t turn back or show she could feel his presence.

He crossed the wooden planks without hurry and lowered himself onto the bench beside her. The teddy bear sat between them like a ridiculous barrier. Derek eyed the damn thing and held out the unopened can.

"Do you drink beer?" he asked, voice low and even, the same tone he used when giving orders in the boardroom.

Kira turned her head slowly. Her eyes were still red at the edges, but they held a surprise that suggested she didn’t even know when he joined her. She let out a long sigh and reached out and took the can from him.

Derek popped the tab open for her with his thumb.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice sounding small and fragile, and then lifted it to her lips and gulped down several long swallows.

"Don’t mention it," he replied, taking a swig of his own.

They sat like that for a while, side by side, not touching, not speaking. Above them the sky stretched out, dotted with tiny, bright stars. Below, the sea rolled in and out, wave after wave overlapping with a steady crash against the sand.

Derek took another drink from his own can and kept his gaze on the dark water for a long moment before he spoke again.

"I believe Flora gave you the grand tour of this pack today," Derek said casually, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. "Snow Crest is supposed to be the jewel of the west."

Kira’s lips curved into a small smile, but it did not reach her eyes. The usual spark was missing. "It is," she said simply. "The pack is beautiful. The parks... the gardens, the streets. It’s like a different world."

Derek turned his head and studied her profile. The wind lifted her hair again. She looked smaller tonight, with that ridiculous bear, sitting right beside her like a mascot.

Something in his chest tightened, sharp and unwelcome. "You don’t seem particularly happy about it," he said. The words came out bluntly in that way he always spoke.

Kira glanced at him then. Her eyes met his for a brief second before she looked away again, back toward the sea. She wondered if he was just being nosy or if he actually cared.

She wasn’t sure if she wanted to tell him anything. Their contract said they should stay out of each other’s business, and what happened today felt very personal.

She didn’t want to start leaning on Derek for emotional support, either. He had already shown her that he wasn’t exactly a "feelings" kind of guy. If she expected him to be nice to her, she’d probably just end up with a broken heart. Plus, her head was still spinning from the things she had remembered.

So, she took another sip of beer, trying to find her voice. Then, she forced another smile and tried to play it down. "Something happened earlier that rattled me," she admitted. "I saw a woman die right after she gave birth. It just... it just messed with my head a bit, but I’m fine now."

Derek didn’t look away. He stared at her with that intense look that always made her feel like he could see right through her. He took another slow drink from his can, then said in a low voice, as though speaking to himself. "That kind of reminded you of your own mother, didn’t it?"

Kira blinked at him in surprise. The words caught her off guard. She had not expected him to make that connection. She slowly nodded.

"Yeah. It reminds me of why I became a curse to my father." Her voice wavered just a little. She swallowed hard and stared at the dark waves. "I wonder if that boy’s father will truly ever love him... or if he will always see only the pain the boy caused him."

Derek surprised her then. He let out a short, dry scoff and said, "He would. He isn’t going to blame a child who hadn’t taken its first breath for the death of his mate."

Kira gave a wistful smile and took a swig of her almost finished drink. "I guess not everyone thinks like that. If not, my Daddy Dearest won’t see a curse each time he looks at me."

"You are not a curse," Derek said quite firmly.

"But my father—"

"Your father is an idiot. Has always been a bloody one."

Kira actually laughed at that. It was a real, genuine laugh that surprised even her. It was a short, breathless sound, but it felt like the first bit of light in hours.

She tried to look offended, even though she wasn’t. "Hey! That’s my father you’re talking about. He is the Alpha of Alphas in the Eastern Werewolf Packs. He didn’t get there by being an idiot." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Derek did not flinch. He took another drink, eyes on the sea. "Good thing I don’t care if he’s the High Alpha of the entire world," he said, his tone flat. "Rolf hasn’t said what is actually biting him where you’re concerned. Despising a daughter because her mother died in childbirth isn’t an excuse.

’Rolf hasn’t said what is actually biting him.’

His words made her think straight back to the memories from the cottage, to the fire and the match Rolf had dropped, to the hatred in Rolf’s eyes as he told her she looked too much like Claire. It wasn’t just grief. It was something deeper, something far more sinister.

Kira turned to him, her expression suddenly very serious. He was looking out into the sea again. Even if this might not be his business, she could still get some answers from him.

"Derek?" she called softly.

He turned. "Yes?"

"Can I ask you a question?"