Redhawk Caldera lazy afternoons

Peregrine didn't know whether to feel relieved or horrified when his words clearly got through to Eljay, causing the Delta to visibly crumble. "Eljay..." he spoke softly, reaching out to touch him, only for Finley to suddenly appear with a loud bark. The Alpha jerked, eyes squinting slightly at her as she commanded her son to leave. He wasn't finished speaking to him yet. He needed his nephew to know he was there for him, that he thought he was a wonderful sitter and so many other things.

But Finley's tone brooked no argument and a tearful Eljay left before Peregrine could decide what to say. Slowly, he turned toward her, surprise and disapproval etched onto his face. Perhaps she didn't like the truth being forced down her firstborn's throat like that but Eljay needed to face the facts if he ever wanted to move on with his life. And it had become his business the moment Eljay's inability to accept Peter's death began bleeding over onto the Firebirds, confusing them about their brother's whereabouts.

It felt awkward to stare down Finley like this, yet Peregrine did just that, stonily silent. He waited to hear her out, whatever she had to say on the matter. Technically, he had accomplished his mission, even if it hurt him to cause Eljay pain like that and then be robbed of the opportunity to follow up the hurt with comfort. And he definitely didn't feel good about any of that. It was sort of like reliving the loss all over again, actually.