"Yes." Marcus nods once. "And then you trust them to decide if you're worth it."
"What if they leave?"
"Then better to know now." His voice is kind but firm. "But Calder? I don't think they will. I've watched how they move around you. How they protect you without being asked. How they gave you space today because they knew you needed it." He pauses. "That's a real pack."
I exhale slowly, something settling in my chest.
"I'll talk to your mother," Marcus continues. "She respects me, even if she won't admit it. I'll remind her what happens when you force matches. Sarah left me because I let my family dictate terms. She won't want that for you."
"Will she listen?"
"Eventually. Your mother's stubborn, but she's not stupid." He picks up his coffee cup. "Give her a week to process. Then maybe bring them to the estate. Formal invitation, not ambush. Let her see them in a neutral setting where she's not caught off-guard."
The idea of bringing my pack to the Ashford estate makes my stomach clench. But Marcus is right, if this is going to work long-term, we can't avoid my family forever.
"And if Mother still refuses to accept them?"
"Then you've already made your choice." Marcus meets my eyes steadily. "You chose them over Victoria today. You'll choose them over your mother's approval if it comes to that. I know you will."
"How?"
"Because you're not me at twenty. You're better." Something like regret shadows his expression. "I let Sarah go because I didn't have the spine to stand up to my family. You've already stood up to yours. That's the difference."
We sit in silence for a moment. Through the window, I can see the bookshop across the street. My pack is in there somewhere, browsing together, giving me time.
Trusting me to come back to them.
"Go find them," Marcus says, following my gaze. "Tell them everything."
"Thank you," I manage. "For the advice. For talking to Mother. For suggesting Elderwood in the first place."
"Thank me by being happy." Marcus stands, pulling out his wallet. "I mean it, Calder. Don't waste this chance choosingwhat everyone expects over what you actually want. I did that. It cost me everything."
He drops bills on the table for our drinks and squeezes my shoulder once before heading for the door.
I sit alone for another minute, gathering courage.
Then I stand and walk toward the bookshop.
Fern & Quill smells like old paper and possibility. I find them exactly where I expected, Elowen in the herbalism section, Julian examining philosophy texts, Tyler making quiet commentary that has Julian's mouth twitching toward a smile.
They look up when the door chimes my entrance.
Elowen's eyes search my face. "You okay?"
"Can we talk?" My voice sounds rough. "All of us. Somewhere private."
Understanding passes between them without words. Tyler sets down his book. Julian closes the volume he was reading. Elowen crosses to me and takes my hand.
"There's a park two blocks over," she says quietly. "Benches by the fountain. Usually empty this time of day."
We walk in silence. The afternoon sun slants golden through autumn leaves, and I'm hyperaware of every step, every breath, every moment before I potentially ruin everything by telling the truth.
The park is indeed empty. We settle on a bench beneath an oak tree, fountain burbling quietly in the background.
"I need to tell you everything," I start, hands fisted on my knees. "About my family. About the money. About what being with me actually means."
"Cal—" Tyler begins, but I shake my head.
