The memorial for Jessica’s fallen react team had been painful but necessary. Flowers, quiet whispers, and the low hum of condolences filled the room, but Jessica felt like a ghost in her own body—stoic, distant, untouchable. She nodded politely, accepted pats on the back, and managed her brief interactions with colleagues, but her chest still ached with the weight of loss. Jessica’s eyes flicked toward her, a flicker of hesitation in the alpha’s gaze. The vulnerability that only came in rare, fleeting moments—especially after today—showed. “Yeah,” she said, her voice low, clipped. “I could… use that.” Without thinking, Jessica reached out, brushing her hand against Daisy’s. The soulmate bond snapped in instantly—a quiet, electric tether linking them. “Do you want to… come with me?” Jessica asked suddenly, surprising even herself. The words were heavy, fragile, but earnest. Jessica exhaled, long and heavy, feeling a weight lift slightly from her chest. She gestured toward the couch. “Sit. Just… stay with me for a bit.” For the first time in weeks, Jessica felt a small spark of something resembling hope—a tether to life she hadn’t realized she needed until Daisy was there.