Tobias nodded and moved to one side. "It must be important since you're not one to pry."
Standing in their kitchen, surrounded by empty highchairs, felt surreal. Grant steeled his heart. "We need your permission to conduct an autopsy on Clara."
Tobias' eyes flashed in anger. "We have to discuss this now?" he shouted.
Grant braced himself to face the man's impotent rage. "Yes, the sooner the better. The longer we wait, the less that can be learned."
"Do it," a raspy voice ordered.
The men turned and Susan stood in her human form wrapped only in an afghan.
Tobias hurried to her side. "Honey, we don't have to think about this now."
She looked at Grant, her eyes a bit vacant. "You're here because if Ellie came, she would break down, and she can't afford to. No matter how much this affects her, she has to keep going. Even when everything inside her is screaming, she is putting the other children first because that's how much she cares."
Grant nodded and swallowed hard. Tears flowed unchecked down Susan's cheeks.
"Do it because that's what Clara would have wanted. She would have wanted to help the other children. My Clara was such a kind girl," Susan choked on her tears as her voice broke. When her legs collapsed under her, Grant pulled her to his side. With his other arm, he grabbed Tobias and cradled them both to his chest.
"I can only offer my strength; it's all I have. But you can take whatever you need," he said gently.
He easily supported their weight as they clung to him breaking down. Within his chest, he felt his wolf reaching out to the weeping parents to lend them his strength as well.
They looked up at him, their eyes shifted to canine yellow. "Alpha." They breathed the word and continued to lean against him.
Grant knew why he preferred to stay alone. It hurt too much to care.
*****
After he had left the Garcias and let Marjoram know he had obtained their permission he threw himself into helping to move the children and get them calmed down. He had wiped so many tears his sleeves were soaked.
A couple hours later, once the children were dozing for a nap he looked around and realized that, in trying to get the children settled, he had somehow lost track of his mate.
He had assumed--incorrectly--she would be in the new hospital. Walking quickly down the middle of the first floor, he peeked in on all the alcoves, looking for his mate.
When he saw Marjoram standing with Stefan, Demetrio, and Adora, he jogged over to them. "Where is Ellie?"
Marjoram pointed to the floor. "She left a little while ago to tend to Clara in the lab," she said simply, avoiding using the term 'autopsy' on the floor with the children.
Grant gritted his teeth together. "Why aren't you with her?"
Marjoram shook her head. "I would only be in the way, though she may need you about now. She should be done."
He was about to leave when Stefan grabbed his arm. When Grant met his eyes, he saw gratitude. "Yes?"
"I wanted to thank you. Whatever you did for the Garcias helped." Tears shone in his eyes. "I don't think I could have helped them as I am."
Grant laid a hand on the young Alpha's shoulder. "I'm a bit older and somewhat removed from the situation. Don't sell yourself short."
Stefan gave him a grateful look. "I hope you consider my father's offer to join our pack. We could all benefit from having you."
Grant nodded but didn't answer. He still didn't know how he felt about being with a pack again. "If you need us, I have my walkie-talkie on."
Stefan let his hand drop, and Grant jogged to the transport tunnel. Jumping in, he grabbed his stone and floated down to the Unit Level. It didn't take him long to head to his house and grab what he needed. He hopped back into the tunnel and dropped down to Level One. Once his feet hit the floor, he was running toward the lab. He spotted Emeric standing outside the door.
"How is she?" he asked, coming to a stop at the door.
Emeric's eyes look haunted. "Stronger than I could ever be." He swallowed hard. "I had to leave when she began washing the little one. I couldn't..." He shook his head. "It's not right losing one so tiny."