It has been a week since the chaos spiraled completely out of control.
Now, just after sunrise, Tanner walks through the tall iron gates of the Moonvale Pack house, his body battered, his steps heavy.
The pain is etched across his features, unfiltered. He looks like a ghost of himself, drained in spirit and wounded in more ways than just physical.
Beside him are Jayson, Jaxon, and Kyle. None of them speak as they enter. Ever since Tanner apologized a few days ago, no one gave him a direct answer.
Kyle had walked past him wordlessly, while Jayson and Jaxon didn't say a thing. But they still chose to follow him.
At first, it was only out of worry for Jess.
But now, it's more than that. They've come to understand the depth of Tanner's pain, how heavy his guilt is, how desperate he is to find Jess.
They've seen it, felt it. The way his voice cracks when he talks about Jess, the way his shoulders tense at every lead that turns cold.
