"My family," he says with a shrug. Laura or his mother would be preferable, he thinks selfishly. They're rightful alphas and they could take the burden off of him, and they both always knew how to make him feel better, no matter what.

He spares a thought for Paige, who he so often keeps buried, because she was so innocent to all of it. She deserves to be alive.

Derek has to visibly shake the thoughts away, irises flickering as he calms himself down. He gives Neil a sad smile and looks down at the grass, digging his fingers into it.