The kitchen table is set for seven, steam rising from a kettle, fresh scones cooling on a wire rack.
"Mom always stress-bakes," Maya says, settling into a chair. "Fair warning."
"I do not stress-bake." Catherine pours tea with practiced efficiency. "I bake because I enjoy it."
"You made three different kinds of scones,"Tyler points out.
"Well. You're bringing home your omega. It's a special occasion."
We settle around the table with tea and scones that are better than anything Hearth & Honey makes. Catherine asks about my studies, genuine questions, not interrogation. Maya listens more than she speaks, but when she does contribute, it's thoughtful.
"Tyler mentioned you work with herbs."
"Yes. My grandmother taught me. Ayurvedic principles mostly adapted to local plants."
Her eyes light up. "Thomas will want to talk to you about that. He's got a whole section on herbalism at the shop. First editions, some of them."
"He's obsessed," Maya adds. "Spent last month cataloging a collection someone donated."
Tyler's father arrives as we're finishing the first pot of tea. Thomas Vale is tall and lean like his son, with the same easy smile but quiet energy. He shakes hands all around, his grip gentle but firm.
"Elowen. I've heard a great deal about you." He claims the last empty chair. "All good things, I promise."
"Mostly good," Tyler corrects. "I may have mentioned the time she corrected my plant identification, loudly, with witnesses."
"You labeled lovage as celery," I say.
"They look similar!"
"They absolutely don't."
Thomas laughs, a warm, comfortable sound. "I like her already."
The conversation flows easily after that. Catherine shares stories about Tyler growing up. How he brought home every stray animal he found. How he organized a fundraiser for the town library in middle school. How he ran consent workshops for high schoolers before leaving for Elderwood.
"He was always helping people," she says fondly. "Sometimes whether they wanted help or not."
"Mom—"
"It's true, honey." She pats his hand. "You've got a helper's heart. Nothing wrong with that."
Maya watches this with obvious affection for her brother, then catches my eye. "Want to see my room? If that's not weird?"
I glance at Catherine, who nods encouragement. "Go ahead. We'll bore the boys with more stories."
Maya's room is small but carefully arranged, books on a low shelf, a desk by the window, posters of bands I don't recognize. She sits on the bed, gestures for me to take the desk chair.
"Sorry if this is awkward," she says. "I just... I wanted to talk to another omega. Who's not, like, an adult telling me how to be."
"It's not awkward," I assure her. "What do you want to know?"
She pulls her knees up to her chest. "Is it better at Elderwood, than a regular school?"
I consider how to answer honestly. "It's different. More options. Better resources. But also, more complicated in some ways."
"Complicated how?"
"More alphas. More politics. More people watching what you do."
