“Well, I just found out the older families are not happy with the new arrangement. I’m making plans to meet with them and see what can be done about it.”
Shawn lets out a low whistle. “You think they could start something?”
“Probably not, but I won’t take the chance. I think my worst worry about them right now is directly interfering with the union we’re trying to build—and it could compromise our mission with the snake.”
“They don’t care about our old slithery pal in the mountains?”
“They don’t really believe in it, apparently. They were too far away from the incursion site to notice much, so they might not understand we’re protecting them.”
“Well, I have to say, good buddy, I kind of hope they never find out.”
“I know what you mean,” I answer, turning my bottle of beer slowly in my hands as I watch drops of sweat over the label.
“So, nothing concrete to report to Rex?”
“Nope. At least, not until I meet with these families. Otherwise, our guild system is a mess, but we have some enthusiastic people in charge of it.”
“That’s good, at least. Rose Hollow runs like a well-oiled machine under the guilds.”
“Yeah, but it has a lot to do with equality, too. Like, they are just naturally good people, and they want everyone to feel safe and happy. I was kind of hoping it would spread to Eccles, especially when we held those festivals.”
“I think it has,” Shawn answers. “You said you have good people here, so it’s taken root. You just need to give it time to grow.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” I reply, taking a sip of beer. I know he didn’t mean to, but Shawn has sent my mind down another train of thought.
Maybe what this town needs is a luna…
I don’t know how long Eccles has lived without one, but Azarian’s consort was a sorceress and not officially married to him. Aside from that, their relationship was toxic, all about power, and completely negligent toward the pack.
If they had a strong pair of leaders who cared for the pack members as much as each other, it could bring even the older families into the community.
One of the only reasons I consider this is because of Alisha’s endurance. She’s suffered so much, and yet rebuilt herself over and over again.
And I will never forgive myself for my part in her pain.
The longer I think of it, the more in awe I am of her strength and resilience. It seems like a cosmic decree, finding her in the woods a few nights ago, and I’ll be thanking the universe for a long time for putting me in the right place at the right time.
All I want is to keep her safe, make her happy…and make her mine.
“Are you okay there, good buddy?” Shawn asks suddenly. “You’ve drifted off, and you have this goofy look on your face.”
Before I can reply, he grins and shakes his head. “That’s right, I almost forgot. The only thing wrong with you is that you’re in love.”
Chapter 10 - Alisha
When Brad leaves to hurry off to the council meeting, I tidy up the kitchen a little and then go to stand on the front porch of the little cottage. It’s set just out of the way of the rest of the suburb, right on the edge of the woods, with a messy, overgrown garden that seems to be doing its best to join the wilderness beyond the backyard fence.
I listen to the birds chirping softly, some of them dancing in the air as they catch tiny bugs. Closing my eyes, I can almost hear the low hum of the earth and plants in harmony, a perfect system of balance and exchange.
How can people hate bugs so much? Healthy bugs, healthy plants, healthy birds…it’s all connected.
I take a deep breath, enjoying the scent of different blooms entangled together in hanging vines across the porch. The morning feels bright and full of promise, as if my future is rolling out ahead of me like a red carpet, and all I have to do is take the first step.
But where do I want to go?
Aside from the magnificent chaos of the overgrown yard around the house, the only other place I want to be is at the botanical garden. I feel bad about what I did to Grace the other day, and I’d really like to apologize to her properly.
I have to stop assuming everyone is scheming against me or laughing at me behind my back. Paul really fucked me up, but I don’t have to keep punishing myself for it.
