#Chapter 83: Like a Family

ELENA I sat cross-legged on the edge of Aiden’s bed, carefully peeling the corner of a sticker he’d just plastered onto my jeans. He’d decided I looked “too serious” and was now decorating me with sparkly stars and cartoon wolves. “I think you need one right here,” he said, grinning as he stuck a bright blue sticker in the middle of my forehead. I laughed despite myself. “Oh, do I?” He nodded solemnly. “That’s where your magic is. You just forgot.” I kissed the top of his messy curls and pulled him into my lap. I’d do anything to protect that innocent optimism in his voice—even if it meant pretending everything was okay. But it wasn’t. When Logan knocked softly on the doorframe, I looked up, already sensing what he wanted before he opened his mouth. “You’ve been avoiding your treatments,” he said gently, stepping inside. I shifted Aiden to my hip and stood. Goddess, he was getting big. “He needed me, Logan. Everything else could wait.” “I know,” he said, his voice c