As much as I wanted to let myself cry, I knew it would only make things worse. So, I pushed the tears back and focused on the future vision I had of my mates—their strong arms wrapped around me, their lips pressed against mine, their unwavering love and devotion driving away the darkness that threatened to consume me.
"You need to hold onto hope, Rylan." I whispered.
"I'm trying," Rylan murmured, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "But sometimes, it feels like those dreams are slipping further and further away."
"Then we'll just have to fight harder, won't we?" I said. "We've come this far, Rylan. We can't give up now."
She gave me a small, grateful smile. "You're right. I just wish I had your strength, Aurora."
"Strength isn't something you're born with," I told her. "It's something
