My Hockey Alpha

noveldrama

Chapter 0793

But I knew we had to help. We couldn't just leave, not after everything. And I knew that not a single one of us would choose not to stay, at least for a few more days, and lend whatever help we could.

I nodded, flashing Kai a smile. "We'll help. It's the least we can do."

As the following days passed, Kai's words proved to be more than just rhetoric. With a renewed sense of purpose, the refugees poured their energy into building their new home, working tirelessly to transform the camp into a thriving community.

Enzo, Matt and Daphne, Jessica and Lori, Luke and Tyler, and myself-we were right there alongside them, lending our hands and our support wherever it was needed. We helped construct sturdy homes, tilled the soil for planting fruits and vegetables, and lent our strength to whatever tasks were required.

Soon, the camp began to turn into more than just a camp; the tents turned into permanent structures, the footpaths were tilled and lined with stones into proper walkways, and in the center of it all, a village square was created.

This all happened in just a few days. It was impressive how quickly things could happen if everyone just banded together, and it reminded me so much of how Mountainview was returned to its normal state after the Crescent attack.

No matter what, people would persevere. I had learned that countless times in recent history.

Over the days, we also became a part of the community itself. It was shaky at first, with some being bitter and angry over the fires that had, in many ways, been our fault-and I didn't blame them.

But soon, those barriers started to come down. Before we knew it, we were sharing meals around the fire, exchanging stories and laughter, reveling in the simple joys that had been so rare in our lives of late.

And yet, even as the days turned into a week, and the camp evolved into a bustling village, there was one thing that weighed heavily on my mind-the absence of my father.

No matter how hard I tried to push it aside, a tendril of dread would twist inside of me, growing stronger with each passing day. There was no word from him, no sight of him, nothing. Each day, Daphne would shift into her bird form and fly in miles all around, but there was not so much as a hint of his return.

Of course, I would be naive to assume outright that nothing had happened to him. There was a very real possibility that he had been injured, or even killed, trying to take down Mila.

But there was nothing that I could do about it now.

Soon, our stay came to an end. Just a little over a week passed, and the new village was flourishing. A small memorial for those who had been lost in the fires and in Mila's palace had been held the night before, and the village was both somber and at peace at the same time.

"Ready?" Enzo asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

I nodded, slipping the journal back into my bag. It was useless to me now, but I would return it to its rightful place in the library. If it came in handy for me during such trying times, then perhaps it would do the same in the future. I hoped that it wouldn't need to be used by anyone ever again, but I knew it wouldn't be right to burn it or bury it as I had once thought.

"Yeah." I straightened, picking up my bag.

For a moment, our eyes met in the dim light of our tent and the space between us felt both infinite and miniscule at the same time. The part of our bond that had been destroyed when Enzo rejected me as his mate had still not been repaired, and it still hurt.

But now was not the time to dwell-because a moment later, the tent flap opened to reveal Luke's face peering in at us.

"It's time to go home."