“I’d take that option in a heartbeat,” she gushes. “But… Avery does like it out here, I think. It’s small and kind of shitty, but it’s ours. We’ve made it cozy.”

My wolf purrs with pride in our mate. Despite me being the reason for her harsh environment, she’s a survivor. He likes that.

“Let’s restore the parts that are losing against age, then see if we can convince her there’s no need to remain out here,” I suggest.

Not when both my wolf and I want her near. In my rooms at the lodge. In my bed. Soft and warm, smelling lush and open in the mornings. Within arm’s reach so I can pull her close and sink into her, hear those little sounds she makes when she’s needy and hungry for more like the other night in the woods. Fuck, those sounds.

I busy myself with the bag of tools, back turned on Beatrix so she doesn’t see the evidence of what thinking of her sister does to me.

“Can I help?” Beatrix wanders over.

“There’s a stack of blankets in the front seat and a cooler full of food if you want to take those in.”

Her eyes sparkle when she opens the lid on the cooler. “So much meat.”

I come around and ruffle her hair, then reach past her for the bag of things I went to Ashbury to get as a gift for Avery. I follow Beatrix inside and greet Lena.

She puts her book in her lap. I’m glad to see some color in her cheeks. I take one of the blankets from Beatrix’s stack and drape it around Lena.

“Thank you.”

“You’re looking better,” I say.

She nods. “My cold’s almost gone. Avery’s remedies are really good to fight off illness.”

“Good. If either of you need anything at all, tell me.”

“We will,” Beatrix says.

I put the gardening tools I got for Avery on her workbench, borrowing a page from her journal to leave a note. My fingers brush the new shears and a smile tugs at my mouth.

Once I survey the cottage to assess the worst areas that need attention, I settle in to work on building a new door. Bit by bit, I’ll mend all the things I’ve broken in Avery’s life, from this cottage to every crack I’ve caused in her heart.

23AVERY

After a while, I split off from Liam and Taryn’s wolves to continue exploring. I enjoy running with them, but they turn for Silver Falls, probably wanting a morning swim. Soon I’ll get to join them for a pack run.

By the time I shift back, I’ve made it to the tree line surrounding the commons. The central lawn is bustling with people hanging around the dining hall, coming in and out of a late lunch.

“Good afternoon.”

I yank down the shirt dress I’m pulling on and whirl to the cabin tucked into the cover of evergreens. One of the Farrows elders and his granddaughter sit on the porch. I glance around, finding no one else.

“Good afternoon,” I stammer.

“There’s a nice spread for lunch. Alma hasn’t switched with Martine today. Better hurry if you want to get some of her jam donuts she made for dessert,” he advises sagely.

“Oh. Thanks, I will.” Maybe I’ll get some to bring back for Bea and Lena.

He’s not the only one to acknowledge me on my way through the commons. A surprising number of people make eye contact, some even smiling at me as if I haven’t been a pariah they whispered about for years. My throat goes tight at how nice it is to be acknowledged. Accepted.

There are still a few scathing looks when I enter the dining hall to remind me I haven’t tripped through a fae portal to an alternate realm.

I’m scanning for a seat when Callie comes in behind me. She offers a tentative smile.

“Hi, Avery. Are you doing okay?” She twirls her hair around her finger, the same nervous habit she’s had since she was a kid.

I return her smile, my heart warming that she’s speaking to me. “I am, thanks. You’re eating late today.”

“I’m avoiding my brother until he takes his head out of his ass. Want to sit with me?”

I chuckle and hike my thumb in the opposite direction. “I was just going to duck into the kitchen to raid the donuts for my sisters. Want some?”

“Yes. That’s way better than sitting up there alone.”

We loiter by the swinging double doors, grabbing the first opportunity to head to the kitchens. Alma’s distracted and I wave at Callie to grab two baskets waiting to go out to tables. Before we’re caught, we dash through the side door.

Alma’s shout comes behind us. “No eating on the go in my kitchen!”

“I’ll bring you a fresh joint salve as payment,” I call.

We race by the commissary, not stopping until we reach the wraparound porch of the lodge. Callie’s giggles are contagious. We each toast with a donut, humming in unison at the warm sugary dough.

“Are you coming in? I don’t think Caden’s here if you’re avoiding him, too. He went somewhere in his truck and has been out most of the day.”

“I’m going to get these back.” Her expression falls. “You can come over anytime you want.”

“Now?” She bites her lip hopefully.

“Sure.”

We fall into step, taking the road to the northern perimeter. She peeks at me occasionally.

“For what it’s worth, I never thought you were to blame for anything,” she finally says in a rush. “I… I really missed you. And I’m sorry. I was afraid to still talk to you but I wanted to all the time.”

My heart wobbles and I wrap her in a side hug. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault. I missed you, too.”

She sniffles, leaning her head on my shoulder, reminding me just how young she was when everything changed for us. It was difficult enough to face my life being turned inside out at sixteen, I can only imagine how confusing it was for her at fourteen. Other than Taryn, I was her only close friend.

“Come on. The girls will be really happy to see you.” I take her hand and she holds tight.

When we make it to the cottage, I take pride in giving a tour of the garden, explaining everything planted and how I use it. Her eyes widen with respect by the time we go inside.

“I brought donuts and a surprise visitor,” I announce.

Wait.

My head pops up. I try the door again. There’s no creak. It swings properly and I realize it’s completely different from the crooked one that I’ve tried to fix hundreds of times.

“Hold on. What happened to the door? And where did you get that fur blanket from?”

Lena doesn’t look up from her book right away. She tends to finish a passage before marking her place, then the rest of the world is allowed to exist. Beatrix isn’t home. She must’ve gone out.

“Alpha Blackburn stopped by while you were gone.” Lena brightens when Callie waves to her. “Hi! Can we sit outside? He said the porch only needed an hour to dry. I’m feeling much better. No cough, see?”

She breathes deeply a few times without any crackle in her lungs. My lips part and I peer out the window. Sure enough, the crumbling stone’s been patched. I missed it on my way in, automatically hopping over the damage while I gave Callie the same instruction.

I’m used to his wolf spending the night outside my window now, accepting what I’ve gathered from my own wolf that he’s not happy unless he’s guarding me whether I need it or not. Usually he’s gone by morning, unless I catch him like I did before I left today.

I expect irritation to fizzle along my nerves and a need to protect my family, but it doesn’t come at the thought of him here.

Mate is protector, my wolf whispers.

I help Lena up. “Wait, is that a new rocking chair?”

“He brought that, too.” She smiles at my expression. “He’s a lot nicer than you think. He stocked us up with all this food and blankets. Beatrix went with him to get more nails so they can build a new fence for your garden. You should see what he put on your workbench.”

I’m at a loss for words, exchanging a glance with Callie. She shrugs.

“Don’t look at me. Like I said, I’ve been avoiding him. He hasn’t said a word to me about any of this.”