Breaking Point (BWWM)

18. Desolate

A/N: Sorry for the long wait, y'all! You know I get busy, but thanks for your patience! 🙏🏾💜 I may need to edit this some more, but it's completed!

Brace yourselves, this is a long one. Please leave comments! I love reading what you guys think!

The world felt grey; bitter and cold. Like there was a constant draft slithering its' way into the house. It felt like the last of the warmth in the world was disintegrating. Lucy felt the house was especially quiet as of late, even the dry chatter of their council wasn't enough to breathe more life into their home. She was leading alone again today, having informed them that Braxton had other matters to tend to in his study. When he'd explained it to her today, after she'd reminded him about another one of their meetings, she felt he was simply dismissing her. His typical quiet nature felt especially prevalent to her. Hardly could she register so much as a shuffling of pages. She'd encouraged him to take a break for the umpteenth time this week, though he'd never give much of a response to her suggestion. Simply insisting he had too much to take care of.

"...Did you hear, ma'am?" asked one of the councilmen, Lucy blinks and meets his eyes, having let her thoughts wander again. "We were wondering if you could relay this back to Alpha Anderson."

She shakes her head, "No need, I'll take care of it."

They look among each other, clearly in disagreement with her decision. "We need him to address this issue, ma'am, he's the one enforcing it." She looks down at the thick booklet they were handing her, reading the title on the first page. It was a signed petition, full of signatures opposing the curfew. Not to mention several written statements. She takes it, flipping through and marveling in amazement at some of the colorful language their people had written.

"I said I'll take care of it," she declared firmly, shutting the thick booklet and setting it in front of her. "My husband has other matters to attend to."

"Respectfully, ma'am, what is he working on that no one here knows about? We feel ill-prepared." Lucy's lips thin, she could understand her husband's frustrations with his council, they tend to be very demanding about having some leverage on most issues at hand. Though she also felt the burning curiosity regarding what occupied his time so much. Aside from the blatant grief that was consuming him, it was impossible to miss and disregard the fact that something was occupying his time more than usual. Though since Marlene's illness became known, he hasn't been going to take care of whatever business he was tending to. He always returned with this melancholy expression, despite how much he'll try to deny it. She was extremely concerned about his wellbeing.

"I'll let you know how to contribute in due time," Lucy explained, they appeared defeated, wanting to continue to object, however the intolerance in her tone suggested her utter impatience with them for pressuring her. "Thank you all for your time today, that will conclude today's meeting."

***

"Hey, Lu," Brooke greets dejectedly, her warm voice sounded heavy and weighed. Her blue gaze was downcast when she walked into the library, where Lucy had been organizing some of the files from the council meeting earlier that week. Lucy looks up at her, pulling off her glasses and offering a smile, which Brooke didn't make much effort to return.

"Hey, Brooke, how are you holding up?" She wondered gently, watching as the younger woman slumped down onto the arm of the loveseat she was sitting on. There was this grey aura around her, it haunted her demeanor.

"Listen, uh... Mom's not gonna...." she trailed off, swallowing thickly. Lucy watches her cheeks flush pink, and she refused to look Lucy in the face. Brooke inhales deeply, shutting her eyes to endure the abrasiveness of her words. "Brax and Dad are already at the villa, they want you to bring Aesir to, um..." Lucy nods, Brooke sighing deeply, a bit relieved to not have to announce it out loud.