Several days had passed since the Blackmoon pack faced the brutal attack from the Bluefur pack, and while a semblance of normalcy crept back in, the weight of that fateful night clung to Denzel's every breath. He secluded himself in his room, neither eating nor emerging. Even Nira, with all her influence, couldn't sway him. Respecting his solitude, she turned her attention to aiding Ronald and Cordelia in the daunting task of leading the pack in the alpha's absence. Though not their Luna, they obeyed her nonetheless.
"Terry, hands off," Nira warned Terry, halting his attempt to sneak away with a piece of meat.
Terry, a handsome guy, dropped the pilfered meat. "I'm starving," he protested.
"When are you not hungry, Terry?" Nira retorted, rolling her eyes.
"Seriously, Terry, your appetite is relentless," Ronald chimed in, playfully smacking Terry's stomach as he made his way to the mini bar.
"Are you guys calling me a glutton?" Terry asked, a mock offense in his tone.
"Worse," Cordelia interjected, snickering.
"Come on, guys!"
"All you think about is your next meal," Cordelia teased.
"It's the excessive training, making me hungry," Terry defended.
"Nah, you were always a bottomless pit, even before the training," Nira added.
"That's because your cooking is exceptional," Terry praised.
"Alright, since you complimented my cooking, you can have that meat," Nira conceded.
"Thanks, Nira," Terry said, stuffing the entire piece into his mouth and savoring it with audible delight.
"I'm getting bored stuck in this mansion," Ezrianna complained, stretched out on the couch.
"It's for your safety, Ezrianna," Nira explained, taking a seat beside her. "You'd be their first target, and we can't risk anything happening to you because of us."
"It sucks that we can't go out for food or fun," Terry lamented, directing his gaze at David.
"Don't give me that look," Ronald responded. "Alpha's rules, not mine."
"But how long do we have to stay hidden?" Terry questioned.
"As long as Denzel commands," Ronald replied, an air of finality in his tone.
At the mention of Denzel's name, the conversation shifted to his insistence of isolating himself from everyone.
"I'm worried about Denzel," Nira admitted, her gaze distant. "He's shutting everyone out."
"He needs time," Ronald said, though uncertainty lingered in his expression. "But we can't leave him like this forever."
Ezrianna, sitting up now, joined in. "Maybe we should confront him, let him know we're here for him."
Cordelia chimed in, "He might not respond well to that. Denzel's always been private about his emotions."
Terry, finishing his impromptu feast, nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe we could find something he loves, something to pull him out of that room."
"Like what?" Ronald inquired.
"I don't know, his favorite activity, maybe," Terry suggested.
"He used to love training with you guys," Nira said, recalling their early morning training session . "Maybe we could convince him to join a sparring session tomorrow morning."
Cordelia grinned, "Or we could organize a small party tonight, something to lighten the mood. Denzel always enjoyed partying too."
Ronald, ever the realist, voiced his concern. "But what if he refuses?"
"We can't force him," Nira acknowledged. "But we can show him that we care and that he's not alone in this."
Ronald, contemplating the options, finally spoke. "Let's give it a try. We'll find a way to bring him back, even if it takes time."
With a tentative plan forming, Nira responded positively, "Yeah, eventually, we would be able to break through the walls he had erected around himself."
That evening, as the sun went on to sleep, casting shadows across the pack's mansion, Nira approached Denzel's closed door. Knocking gently, she called out, "Denzel, can we talk?"
Silence lingered on the other side before a muffled response reached her ears. "Not now, Nira. Please."
Undeterred, she persisted. "We miss you, Denzel. We're planning a small get-together around midnight. Everyone in the pack is keen on attending it, even Ezrianna. It would mean a lot if you could join us."
Again, a pause, but this time, it felt less resistant. "I appreciate it, Nira, but I need time and space."
Understanding his need for space, Nira nodded. "Alright. We're here whenever you're ready."
At the stroke of midnight, the pack gathered in a cozy corner of the mansion, creating an inviting atmosphere with dimmed lights and soft music. Terry, with his knack for humor, tried to lighten the mood, cracking jokes and engaging everyone in lively conversation.
As the night went on, Ronald, Nira, Ezrianna, Cordelia, Terry, and the rest shared stories. Terry seized the moment, narrating the amusing tale of the first time he encountered his mate while grappling with an urgent need for the restroom. Everyone bursted into laughter.
Nira, still laughing, asked, "What did you do eventually?"
Terry grinned, "Honestly, I was lost. I didn't even know where to find a toilet. I begged her to take me to a restroom, but she started laughing uncontrollably, and I was so close to shitting myself, before she helped me to locate the restroom."
Cordelia joked, "She should've let you handle it in your pants." Everyone laughed again, and Nira hoped the good vibes could reach Denzel in his room.
Later that night, Nira found herself standing outside Denzel's door once again. Knocking softly, she waited.
This time, the door creaked open slightly, and Denzel's tired eyes met hers. "What's going on, Nira?"
She smiled gently. "We missed you tonight. Everyone's trying to be back on their feet and you know what would really help speed up that process, you, Denzel."
Denzel hesitated, then finally stepped out into the corridor. The subtle sounds of laughter and companionship drifted from the gathering down the living room.
"I'm too depressed to party," Denzel said. "I can't feel alright knowing Reid's still out there and that the battle isn't over."
"Reid be damned Denzel," Nira said. "But I won't let you spiral down like this. You know why? Because all your battles are never ending and the only time you can be happy are in moments like this."
Denzel hesitated. "But I-"
"Come on," Nira said, offering her hand. "Join us. You're a crucial part of this pack, and we're here for each other."
As Denzel looked at the extended hand and then back at the open door behind him, a small, appreciative smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Taking a deep breath, he decided to step out of his self-imposed isolation, ready to reconnect with the pack.