Chapter 53. A Little Patience

Hunter's POV

“I should have never left her side that day,” I said, my voice heavy with regret. “If only I had stayed with her, she would still be here.”

Bennett nodded in agreement. “I should have gone with her to the training grounds. I could have protected her.”

Parker’s eyes dropped, his voice barely above a whisper. “I was supposed to meet her after her training. If only I had been there, maybe… perhaps this wouldn’t have happened.”

We lapsed into a guilt-ridden silence, each one replaying the events of that fateful day in our minds and wondering what we could have done differently.

“If only we had been more careful,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion.

“If only we had been more vigilant,” Bennett added.

Parker’s voice was laced with anguish. “We should have never let her out of our sight. We should have always been there to protect her.”

As we sat there, consumed by our self-doubt and guilt, we could not help