Unbreakable threads

Chapter twenty-nine : family ties.

Alyssa descended the stairs, holding Daryl's empty plate in her hands, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. For the first time since joining this ragtag group, since reuniting with a father who felt more like a stranger than family, she felt a sense of peace. She and Daryl had reached an understanding, a bond that didn't require words or promises, just a quiet acceptance of each other's flaws and strengths. Dare she even say she felt... happy? It was an unfamiliar feeling in this bleak world, and it took her by surprise.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her steps slowed. She could feel a shift in the room, a palpable tension that settled heavily in the air. Conversations had ceased, and there was an awkward stillness as everyone's gaze seemed to drift toward her. It wasn't hard to piece together that she had been the topic of their conversation, and for a moment, her newfound peace wavered. Her gaze swept across the faces around the table—Rick, Shane, Carol, Maggie, and the others. Their expressions varied from concern to awkwardness, a mixture of emotions that only confirmed her suspicions.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stand tall, even as unease prickled at her skin. Her eyes landed on Rick, her father, who seemed to be looking at her with a mixture of guilt and something else she couldn't quite place. She wondered what they'd been saying about her, what conclusions they'd come to while she'd been upstairs with Daryl. Part of her wanted to speak up, to demand an explanation, but another part of her felt tired of constantly having to prove herself to people who didn't seem to fully understand her.

Rick cleared his throat, breaking the silence, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "Alyssa," he began, his gaze holding hers, "we were just... discussing plans for heading out to look for Sophia. We... I wanted to make sure you were safe here with the group. That you... that you're okay." There was a hesitance in his words, a glimpse of the father he was struggling to be, but also the leader he felt he needed to be for everyone else. She could tell he was trying, even if he didn't fully know how.

Alyssa gave a small, tight nod, her eyes drifting from Rick to Shane, whose jaw was clenched, his gaze hard and unyielding. She could sense his disapproval, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface, though she wasn't entirely sure why. Feeling the weight of the group's scrutiny, she held her head high, addressing them all in a steady voice. "I'm fine," she said, trying to keep her tone calm, even as her nerves rattled beneath the surface. "Daryl's just... he's my friend. He understands me." She glanced at Rick, a subtle plea in her eyes, hoping he'd accept this fragile piece of her truth without judgment or questioning.

Shane clenched his jaw, forcing himself to hold back the remark that was burning on the tip of his tongue. Every fiber of his being wanted to say something, to challenge Alyssa's connection with Daryl, to remind her of his own role in this group and in her life. But he knew better than to push her too hard, too fast. He could see that she was finally opening up to him, that their early morning talk had left some sort of impression. He didn't want to ruin that progress by letting his frustration get the better of him.

In his mind, Shane saw himself as the one who truly understood what Alyssa needed. He'd been there, steady and present, while Rick was off being the self-appointed leader, too busy with the weight of responsibility to focus on his own daughter. Shane felt the resentment bubbling up, a deep-seated grudge that had been festering ever since Rick had reappeared and upended everything. Before Rick had shown up, he'd felt close to something he'd never had—a family. Lori, Carl, the group... they'd been his. Or, at least, he'd allowed himself to believe they could be.

As he stood there, he cast a sideways glance at Rick, his eyes filled with an unspoken challenge. Rick might be Alyssa's father by blood, but Shane believed he could be the one to truly connect with her, to earn her trust. He was desperate to outdo Rick, to prove to Alyssa, to Lori, and even to Carl that he was the one who was dependable, the one they could count on. He had been there when Rick wasn't, after all. And in his mind, that should count for something. He wanted them to see that he was the better choice—the better father figure, the better protector.