Chapter 256

256 Shadows of the Mind

Lucian

Denis looked like a man hollowed out from the inside. His eyes were red, his expression slack, as if holding himself together was taking all he had left. I didn’t know how to reach him, what words could possibly matter right now? I’d never been in his shoes. I couldn’t imagine it.

“How are you holding up?” I asked quietly.

His gaze stayed fixed on Keisha. “They’ll discharge us tomorrow, but I’m not allowed to leave her alone. She’s suffering from bipolar I disorder. Her wolf genes weren’t activating either, but its better now.” He exhaled sharply, like the words themselves weighed him down. “Her grandmother had it. Her mother didn’t. I just… didn’t think it would touch her.”

He said it more to himself than to me. I gestured for him to sit, and he lowered himself back onto the couch, his eyes never leaving his wife.

Mara lingered by the door, caught between wanting to give us privacy and needing to be here. The air felt heavy, thick with the kind of helplessness that makes your chest ache.