"Aren’t you going on the trip anymore?" Liora asked, but my thoughts were probably somewhere else entirely.

"Did you cry?" Bibi asked, and I snapped back to reality.

I gazed at her and shook my head negatively, but she didn’t seem convinced.

She moved closer, but I stepped backward.

"I need to rest up," I said softly. "Also, I’m no longer going on the trip," I added before walking up the stairs.

"Something is wrong with Raven," Bibi said, and Liora agreed, I heard their words, but I really tried to drown them out.

I could only think about why Rosy was here and why my heart was hurting this badly.

I gently placed my hand against my chest and began rubbing softly, the glistening tears shimmering in my eyes, but then Lilith suddenly appeared out of nowhere. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Mother wants to have dinner with you," she said happily, but staring down at her, I already knew it was a dinner meant to slander me and paint me as someone terrible, especially when Elowen was there.

"I can’t come. Let the Duke know I declined the invitation," I said before walking past Lilith.

"Sister, are you okay?" she asked, and I paused in my steps.

"Of course I am!" I said, flashing a forced smile while my eyes stared deeply ahead, trying hard to push back the tears.

"You really are? Do you want cupcakes?" she asked, and I turned to stare at my feet. She was trying to cheer me up, but it wasn’t helping me.

"Actually..." I turned toward her. "I really don’t want anything," I said, and she stepped closer, but the second she saw my teary eyes, she froze.

"Okay... rest up," she muttered before walking away.

I gazed at her retreating back and flashed a warm smile, I reached for my doorknob and pushed it open, my beastmen were all standing there waiting.

"We should pack," Veyra said, but I chuckled softly.

"Actually, I don’t feel like going anymore. Maybe another time," I said while gently tapping my legs against the ground.

"Raven, are you okay?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Don’t I look okay?" I asked.

"No," he answered honestly, and I laughed weakly. I turned away and gently fidgeted with my fingers.

"I re-really just need to rest right now," I muttered, but my words trembled badly.

"Are you okay?" Ryker pressed again, and my lips parted, but nothing came out, instead, they trembled.

"No," I said softly, and a tear escaped from my eyes before gently landing against the floor.

"I need rest," I added before looking up at them. "So could you guys... like leave?" I finished, forcing a smile even though tears were still flowing down my cheeks.

"Don’t cry," Thyrian said softly before moving closer....He gently pulled me into a hug, and I whimpered softly.

"I’m not crying," I choked out, but tears kept falling until soon, I was crying my eyes out.

"I’m really not crying!" I mumbled again, but the others moved closer and hugged me too.

"Let it out," Ryker whispered, and I bit down on my lips.

"But I don’t want to," I mumbled before hiccuping

"I feel so weak for crying!" I cried out. "I used to get insulted for crying. I used to get laughed at... I was told I was childish for crying, a complete baby," I choked out painfully.

"Why does crying always have to mean I’m pathetic, shameless, and childish? I’m ashamed of it," I shivered.

"I really can’t believe this!" I said before pulling away from the hug.

I crouched down and buried my face against my thighs. "Why can’t I cry and just be comforted?" I thought while remembering my parents’ harsh words.

"You cry every time. Even your little sister doesn’t."

"You are being pathetic, suck it up."

"Aren’t you older? Why are you acting like a seven-year-old child?"

"Hmph. Disgusting."

"Crybaby, shut it."

The words came rushing back, and I bit down on my bottom lip

I just wanted to feel happy. Why did I have to relive such things? Why couldn’t I just fight against the memories? I kept getting reminded of them every single time, but then Thyrian’s hands reached out, and his arms wrapped gently around my waist.

"Don’t worry. Cry as much as you want. We would never say those things to you. Let it all out," he whispered softly and lifted me up, I wrapped my legs around his waist while his large hands rested against my back.

"It’s okay," he said while gently rubbing my back.

I buried my face against his shoulder and weep till my eyes swell.

"My heart hurts... it hurts so much!" I voiced out "Why does it hurt this much?" I asked shakily.

I gently felt his hand caressing my hair softly while my other beastmen rested their hands against my shoulders, back, and hair.

"I just wanted them to love me," I thought while remembering the fingers they pointed at me, the blaming words, the insults...

Everything made my heart ache. Why would they do that to me?

"I was also their daughter... so why did they have to treat me like that?" I thought, eventually, I had no tears left to cry....I just laid there silently, sniffing softly.

I felt so weak... but then I remembered Rosy, I didn’t kill her though. She was back in the chambers, probably still drowning in fear.

Had she seen me cry? What if she realized I was the one? I thought in panic, but then Thyrian gently rubbed my back.

"Stop stressing yourself," he said, and I sighed softly. I suddenly felt like a baby being coaxed to sleep by her parents, but the difference was obvious.

I stared at his muscular arm and couldn’t help biting down on it softly, It felt so strong... solid like a rock beneath my teeth.

He chuckled while the others laughed softly to, Ryker walked out of the kitchen with a cup in his hand. He gently placed the straw against my lips, and I sucked happily.

This really was the life. I truly loved being pampered.

"So good," I mumbled happily around the straw, and Veyra immediately placed a milk cookie into my mouth.

It was so soft and chewy.

I dragged it between my teeth and gently chewed while the sticky, milky filling melted together with the cookie inside my mouth, I took another sip of the drink to wash it down and smacked my lips in satisfaction.

"Are you full yet?" he asked, and I chuckled softly before circling my arms around his neck. "Thank you, everyone," I whispered, and they all smiled warmly.

I felt much better now, but sleepy...My eyelids slowly drooped, and Thyrian gently placed me down on the bed, I turned to the side and curled myself into a ball.

"You did well," I heard Thyrian compliment softly, and I smiled weakly.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

"I really want to be complimented more," I added quietly.

My family never showed me love, they never showered me with compliments, but I really just wanted to be praised, even for the little things I achieved...

"I just want to be happy."