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It wasn’t the biggest cabin, yet the structure looked sturdy enough. Solid wood floors transitioned into stone around the wood stove, and a staircase led to another floor upstairs. A small kitchen sat tucked away in the far corner of the first level, seemingly equipped with everything a person would need to cook efficiently.
A loveseat and two armchairs were positioned around the wood stove, while an old record player rested on a coffee table in the middle. Despite the limited space, the room still allowed for a harvest table just outside of the kitchen.
Lovingly, knick-knacks and decor sat on various shelves along with the mantle. Overall, it felt warm and cozy, and I couldn’t help but admire it.
“This place is beautiful,” I said, burrowing into the soft robe.
“This cabin is very special to me. I discovered it as a teen, and since then, I’ve been coming back whenever I need it the most,” Levi answered as he moved toward the wood stove. Reaching for the supplies he needed, he got to starting the fire. “Since it was on the way, I figured we could spend some time here. I’ve been wanting to show you for a while now.”
“Any other secret beaches and lakes I need to know about?” I quipped with an amused tone.
Levi chuckled to himself and lit the small bundle of kindling in the stove. “That’s all of them now.”
All the while, he nursed the small embers into a stronger fire, letting me take in the scent of freshly burned wood; I took a closer look at everything inside.
The decor seemed more like sentimental items from Levi, and as he explained it, I could picture him bringing things he was fond of over time to make it feel more like his own. That made the idea even more precious to me.
In the kitchen, it seemed Levi had recently brought food for us, along with propane for the cooktop and fresh water. The cupboards were stocked, along with the fridge that had ice blocks in it to keep everything cool.
By the stairs, two small suitcases of our clothes waited for us.
Clearly, Levi thought about every detail, and I smiled at the thought.
Since we became mates, he had changed significantly, which further solidified my hope that we would strengthen our bond. He kept up with his promises, which made my inner wolf and human side happy.
As Levi added bigger logs to the fire, I joined him and sat on the armchair across from him. “Did it look like this when you found it?”
He shook his head. “It was in pretty bad shape when I stumbled across it, as someone had obviously abandoned it a long time before I found this place. Most of the boards were rotting, the roof had a bad leak, and I didn’t dare go upstairs. So, I decided to fix it up whenever I had the chance.”
“All by yourself?” I questioned, amazed by the thought of it.
Levi nodded with a small smile. “You bet. I didn’t want to tell anyone about this place. The foundation was good, so I replaced everything I could and made it into the cabin I wanted. And here we are now.”
“That’s incredible,” I affirmed him, gazing at the fine details in the cabin’s design. Everything seemed so intentional then, and it was easy to picture Levi dedicating so much time to it. “It’s nice that you have something like this to care for.”
“You’re the first person I’ve ever brought here, just so you know,” he said, allowing his lips to form a mischievous grin. “You are the only other person who knows it even exists.”
The sentiment made my heart squeeze. “It’s an honor.”
As much as the premonition about Sam was still fresh in my mind and something that would eventually need to be discussed, I was relieved when Levi didn’t even touch the topic. Instead, he wore a contemplative expression and leaned into the loveseat.
“The first time I ever found this place, I had run away from home,” he began with a hushed laugh. “I was angry at my parents for something I don’t remember, and I decided I would run away. I packed my bag and ran while they were out for the day, determined to make a new start on my own. Of course, nightfall eventually hit, along with a thunderstorm, and I was terrified. I eventually saw this place in the distance and took cover from the storm. I didn’t sleep all night, of course, this place was far too scary at the time. Since the rain masked my scent, my parents never came, and I had to wait it out. By morning, I was so freaked out that I ran back home and cried to them about it.”
As serious as the situation had surely been at the moment, it was impossible to hold back my snicker. “I’m surprised you came back at all after that.”
“In hindsight, I saw how strong I had been for persevering and sticking it out until morning, so I stopped being scared of it. Ever since then, it has been a sort of reminder for me that I could handle anything,” Levi explained, speaking with a nostalgic tone. Now, it’s my getaway for when things get tough.”
“How did your parents handle it?”
He chuckled to himself with a nod at the memory. “They were furious, of course, but more so, they were thankful I was ok. Needless to say, I never tried anything like that again.”
Appreciating that he had shared something vulnerable from his childhood, I found joy in that little moment and felt as if the connection had strengthened.
Even if my own experience had been very different, it was nice to hear something more heartwarming than what I had been used to.
After Levi spent some time telling me stories, we broke into some of the snacks and then headed upstairs.
“Come look at this,” he said, gesturing to the window from his place.
