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"That's not fair to either of you," I replied. "Esther's not that kind of person, and you know it."

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I know. It's just...I see Rhys with his abilities, see what he can do, and I feel like I got the short end of the genetic stick." He looked at me. “He can actually tell when people are lying.”

“I noticed you can hear Rhys when a shifter can’t.”

Ben’s eyes widened but then he shook his head. “That’s Rhys.”

But I wasn’t sure it was, or not just. "You know, when I was your age, I was convinced I'd never be a real alpha. My father made sure of that."

Ben looked up, curiosity replacing some of the self-pity in his expression.

"He used to lock me in a cage, starve me," I continued, the words coming easier than I'd expected. "Said it would teach me strength, but really, it was just another way to remind me I wasn't good enough. That I'd never measure up."

"But you did," Ben said quietly. "You're an alpha now. You have a pack, a mate..."

"Because I had people who believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself," I replied. "Isla, Phoenix, Emery, Danny. They saw something in me that I couldn't see."

Ben was quiet for a long moment, absorbing that. "What made you realize they were right?"

I thought back to those dark days, to the moment when Danny changed everything. "When I stopped comparing myself to what my father wanted me to be and started focusing on what I actually could be."

"And what's that?"

I smiled, thinking of Danny's fierce protectiveness, his unwavering loyalty to the people he loved. "Someone who protects the people who matter. Someone who leads by example instead of fear."

Ben nodded slowly. "Maybe I need to stop comparing myself to what I think I should be."

"Maybe we both do," I admitted. "Speaking of which, I wanted to ask you something."His eyebrows rose in question.

"Danny's going to see his mother Sunday evening," I said. "And I want to do something special for him before he goes. Something to show him how much he means to me."

A smile tugged at Ben's lips. "Having trouble with romantic gestures?"

I felt heat creep up my neck. "I'm not exactly experienced in this area."

"What does he like?" Ben asked, leaning forward with genuine interest.

"Books, sarcasm, proving people wrong," I listed, then paused. "He likes feeling useful. Important. Like he's making a difference."

"And he is," Ben said. "The school project and the winter festival has him more excited than I've seen him in a long time, but you want something more personal.”

“It’s hard because he’s not at his best at the moment, and he can’t do anything strenuous.”

Ben nodded thoughtfully. "What about a picnic? Not too strenuous, but still special. We could set it up at that clearing by the lake—the private one where no one goes."

I considered this. A picnic could work—intimate enough to be meaningful but not so demanding that it would exhaust Danny. "That's actually a good idea."

"I could help," Ben offered, his expression brightening. "Mom taught me how to make these amazing stuffed pastries that Danny might be able to keep down."

"You'd do that?"

"Of course," Ben said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Danny's been good to me. Everyone has." He hesitated. "Maybe I need to stop focusing on what I can't do and start appreciating what I can."

I smiled, recognizing the echo of our conversation. "Sounds like a plan."

"For both of us," Ben added with surprising insight.

We spent the next hour planning the perfect picnic. Ben's enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself genuinely excited about the surprise. By the time we finished, I had a detailed list of everything we'd need and a newfound appreciation for the quiet, thoughtful young man who'd been living under our roof. I wanted to say something. Something about Estrelle, but I didn't know what. I knew they'd basically been avoiding each other. "Can I help?"