The gesture and words touched something deep inside Harper. Reyna, her inner fox, stirred with cautious optimism. Maybe Katerina was right. This peaceful inn, with its magical innkeepers and unlikely animal friendships, already felt more like home than her apartment in California ever had.
A comfortable silence fell between them as Harper finished her breakfast. The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, painting golden patterns across the hardwood floors.
"Thank you," Harper said finally, meeting Katerina's gaze. "For everything. The welcome, the offer of friendship, just... everything."
"That's what community is for," Katerina replied with a warm smile. She glanced at her phone and sighed. "I need to get going - I've got three pet portraits to finish today, and Troy asked me to help exercise some of the horses this afternoon, as Becca's got this afternoon off." She stood, gathering her empty coffee cup. "Will you be okay on your own? I can stay longer if you need company."
Harper shook her head, touched by the offer but not wanting to impose. "I'll be fine. I should probably unpack and get settled in, since I slept all yesterday evening and through the night."
"Alright then." Katerina's golden eyes sparkled with warmth. "I'll text you later about dinner plans. Maybe we can get together with Becca, make it a proper girls' night?"
"That sounds nice." Harper meant it too. Despite her natural shyness, she found herself looking forward to spending moretime with these women who'd welcomed her so readily. She felt a surge of gratitude. She might have lost her carefully constructed life in California, but perhaps she'd found something better - a place where she could truly belong.
Katerina headed for the door, and with a final wave, she disappeared through the archway.
Harper watched her go, feeling a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty. She'd known Katerina less than a day, yet somehow the cat shifter had already started feeling like a friend. It was an unfamiliar sensation - Harper usually took much longer to warm up to people. But there was something about this place, about these people, that felt different. Safe.
Chapter 4
Harper's earsperked at the sound of rapid footsteps approaching from the hallway. Becca burst through the dining room doorway, her cheeks flushed and wisps of dark hair escaping from her messy bun. Smudges of dirt decorated her gardening apron, and she carried the fresh scent of herbs and earth.
"Oh good, you're still here." Becca's blue-gray eyes sparkled with warmth. "I spotted Katerina heading out and wanted to catch you before you disappeared too." Her smile widened, revealing a hint of dimples in her honey-gold cheeks.
Harper smiled, touched by the witch's enthusiasm. The genuine welcome in Becca's voice soothed her usual wariness of new social situations. "I was planning to unpack and settle in, since I fell asleep last night before doing that."
"Perfect timing then." Becca untied her apron and draped it over a nearby chair, releasing another wave of herbal scents into the air. "I'd love to get to know you better. Would you like to grab lunch together? Not, now of course," she added. "At lunchtime."
The warmth in Becca's invitation eased some of Harper's usual social anxiety. Something about her genuine opennessmade Harper feel at ease, despite her normal inclination to retreat into solitude. "That sounds wonderful."
"Fantastic!" Becca's face lit up like sunshine breaking through clouds. "Meet back here at noon?"
"Perfect."
Harper returned to her turret room, determined to get organized before lunch. She unzipped her suitcase and began hanging clothes in the wardrobe, smoothing wrinkles from her work attire. The familiar task helped settle her nerves.
With her clothes put away and toiletries arranged in the bathroom, Harper curled up in the window seat with her Kindle. Sunlight streamed through the curved glass, warming her as she dove into a new story. Reyna, her inner fox, dozed contentedly, enjoying the patch of sunlight as much as she did.
Coming to the end of the story, she glanced at her phone and gasped, seeing it was just past twelve noon.
"Oh no!" Harper scrambled up, nearly dropping her Kindle. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she grabbed her purse, room key, and phone. She'd completely lost track of time, leaving Becca waiting. Harper rushed down the stairs, her feet barely touching the steps, only to find Becca just coming in from outside.
"Give me five minutes to clean up?" Becca asked with a smile. "I probably shouldn't show up at a restaurant covered in garden soil." She brushed at a particularly stubborn dirt smudge on her sleeve.
"I was reading and lost track of time, anyway," Harper confessed. "I only just got downstairs."
"Oh, that is perfect. Renee lets me use the staff lounge to shower and change when I've been gardening. I'll be right back."
Harper went into the lounge to wait. She was surprised by how much she was looking forward to lunch with her new friend. She didn't usually take to new people so quickly.
Witch, Reyna informed her with a touch of smugness in her mental voice, her inner fox's instincts picking up on the subtle energies radiating from Becca.Witch good. Safe.The assessment resonated through their shared consciousness, validating her own genuine liking of Jake's Chosen. Sometimes, Harper mused, she trusted Reyna's instincts more than she did her own. Harper had learned to listen when her inner fox spoke with such certainty.
Becca hurried back into the hall, transformed from gardening mode to casual elegance. Her dark hair cascaded past her waist in glossy waves.
"Your hair is gorgeous," Harper blurted, then felt her cheeks warm. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be weird about it."
Becca's laugh tinkled like wind chimes. "No worries! Though I'm still getting used to having it down when I'm out in public. In Salem, we always kept our hair covered." She ran her fingers through the silky length. "Jake convinced me to wear it loose more often. He says hiding it would be a crime."
"He's right." Harper ran her fingers through her own foxy-red waves that came just a bit below her shoulders. "I've always wanted long hair, but mine gets so unruly past this length."
