what am i supposed to do, haunted by the ghost of you

Theory hadn't spent much time on Ibis since they'd made the partial move back to the mainland. Some of the puppies were still being cared for here, but she trusted their remaining caretakers to do their duty. It was hard to place blind faith in anything any more, but her pack members she would trust implicitly. They had all taken Shaye's death hard, especially Vail's brood - and how could they not? Their family had been cruelly ripped from them before anyone could possibly be ready. No doubt they'd feel the repercussions of this difficult year for the rest of their lives, just like she carried Tana's death somewhere deep in the recesses of her heart.

Rhyme had been faring no better. Seeing her father in such a sorry state made a mess of her feelings. Part of her yearned for him to be stronger now, for her sake, but he had lost so much. One daughter had been returned only to say a bitter goodbye to the other. Shaye and Tana's death. Noir's rejection on Abaven's way of life and by extension his entire family. Her father had suffered more than all of them. She'd tracked him back to the island, following his harried steps. There had to be something she could do to distract him - if only for a moment. Theo found him almost by accident; his fresh scent criss-crossed the island so many times that she'd gotten turned around. He was standing completely still, engrossed in something she couldn't see or understand. "Dad?" She called softly. Not Rhyme - she didn't need him. Theory needed her father.