I don't know all the details, but I know enough to grimace a little in sympathy. If nothing else, I'm pleased nothing horrible happen to the poor thing while all that craziness was going down. Or Derek, of course. Though I'm pretty confident he can fend for himself.

His question doesn't come as a surprise. Even if he couldn't scent emotions, even if I wasn't pack, we do see each other almost every day. I should've realized he'd figured things out sooner or later. I can't really hide from him.

Frowning, I stare down at my beer, drag my thumbnail down the glass. "It's been a rough few weeks," I tell him with a shrug. "I'm... I know I need to work harder at being cheery. I'm sorry, I've been trying."