My Sister Stole My Mate And I Let Her (Seraphina) novel Chapter 402

Chapter 402: Chapter 402 TRADITIONAL SUPPORT STRUCTURES

SERAPHINA’S POV

Ava stepped out from behind Alois, small fingers curling into the fabric of his coat as if she needed the contact to stay anchored.

She looked thinner than I remembered, the softness of childhood sharpened into something more fragile and watchful.

She gave a tiny wave. “Hi.”

“You’re...” My voice faltered. I swallowed, stepping forward slowly, as if sudden movement might frighten her away. “You’re okay.”

Ava gave a small nod. “I’m okay.” 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

But something in her tone told me that wasn’t entirely true.

I crouched in front of her. “Can I hug you?”

She hesitated for a second.

Then she threw her arms around my neck. I pulled her close, one hand cradling the back of her head as if I could shield her from everything she’d endured.

“I was so worried when I heard about the fire,” I murmured.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, her grip tightening.

When Ava pulled back, I kept my hands on her shoulders, searching her face. “What about your grandmother?”

Her face instantly shuttered, and her head dropped.

“The fire in Moonlight Alley did not take them,” Alois said. “Ava and her grandmother survived the initial incident.”

Relief surged before something in his tone pulled it short.

“But?” I asked quietly.

Alois inclined his head. “Her grandmother’s health had been declining prior to the fire. The conditions that followed accelerated the inevitable.”

My grip on Ava’s shoulders tightened.

“She passed,” he finished.

I looked down at Ava. Her gaze was still trained on the floor, lashes casting faint shadows against her cheeks. There were no tears.

That almost made it worse.

“I’m so sorry,” I said softly.

She shrugged one shoulder, a small, dismissive motion that didn’t match the weight of what she’d lost.

“It’s okay,” she said. “She was tired.”

My chest ached.

Alois continued, his voice measured, “After her grandmother’s passing, Ava...withdrew. She has not responded well to traditional support structures.”

A delicate way of saying she’d shut down.

“She trusts you,” he added. “More than anyone else I’ve ever known her to interact with. I believed bringing her here might help.”

I didn’t hesitate.

“She can stay.”

Ava glanced up at me at that, something flickering in her eyes—surprise, maybe. Or relief she didn’t quite know how to show.

“You’re safe here,” I told her gently. “You can stay as long as you want. As long as you need.”

Her lips pressed together, uncertainty shadowing her eyes as she gave a shallow nod.

“Okay.”

I stood slowly, my hand slipping into hers. She didn’t pull away.

“I’ll take care of her,” I told Alois.

He gave a small nod, as if that was the answer he’d expected.

Beside me, Kieran’s hand brushed against my back—a silent acknowledgment, steady and supportive.

“Let’s get you settled,” I said to Ava, squeezing her hand.

She followed me without resistance.

The guest room I chose was one of the quieter ones, tucked away from the main flow of the packhouse. Soft light filtered through the curtains, the space warm without being overwhelming.

Ava stepped inside and paused, her gaze moving slowly over the room as if she were cataloguing it.

“You can stay here,” I said. “I have some things to take care of, but I’ll be back soon. If you need anything, you can come find me. Or Kieran. Or anyone. You’re not alone here.”

She nodded, but didn’t move further in.

I crouched again, gentler this time. “Hey.”

Her eyes lifted to mine.

“You don’t have to pretend you’re okay,” I said softly. “Not here.”

For a second, I thought she might say something.

Instead, she wrapped her arms around me again.

This time, she didn’t let go right away.

I held her, one hand smoothing slowly over her back.

“I’ve got you,” I murmured.

When she finally pulled away, she moved toward the bed and sat down, hands folding neatly in her lap.

I lingered for a moment longer, making sure she was settled before rising.

“I’ll have someone bring you breakfast,” I told her.

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