"Keep the blankets," I say, settling it. "We have plenty."
Elle wraps both hands around her mug and looks downat the counter. "Thank you," she says quietly. To all of us, I think. For more than the blankets.
Through our bond, I can still feel a flutter of unease, but underneath it, I can feel that she’s happy.
"So." Perrin rests one arm on the island, and looks up at me. "What's the plan for today? Are we opening the shop?"
"No." I set my coffee down. "I want everyone to stay close to home today."
Raff looks up from where he's leaning against the counter. "In case Angelica comes?"
"In case Angelica comes," I confirm.
"And if she doesn't?" Raff raises one brow. "Are we going to stay home forever? Because I have a business to run."
"She's coming," I say. "There's no way she'll let what happened at the Morder go unchecked. She needs everyone to know she handled it.” I look around the kitchen. "She'll show up. It's a matter of when."
The room goes quiet for a moment, everyone sitting with that.
"I was hoping to go to the grocery store," Adam says softly. "We're almost out of everything."
"I'll take you," Raff says immediately.
"No need,” Adam says. “I can go by my?—"
"I'll take you," Raff says again, firmer this time, and Adam doesn't argue.
"Um," Elowen mumbles, and every head turns toward the omega.
She's sitting very straight on her barstool, both hands around her mug, her chin lifted slightly like she's bracing for an argument. "I really need my things from my apartment," she says, keeping her voice steady and measured. "I have clothes, and I have photos." She pauses. "Pictures of my parents. They're the only ones I have."
The kitchen goes very quiet.
Through our bond, I feel something from her that's different from the unease she's been carrying all morning. I don’t know how I know it, but I can feel that this sweet girl doesn’t have much in her life, and she’s terrified of losing any of it.
Every instinct I have wants to say no. It's not safe. We don't know who's watching, but I can’t tell her she has to abandon what’s left of her old life.
If she's going to build something here, she needs to be allowed to bring everything with her.
I look at Raff.
He's already looking at me, waiting. His expression is neutral, but I can see it in his eyes—he wants to take her.
“That’s not a bad idea,” I say. "We can pay off the rest of your lease and pack up all your things.”
Elowen blinks. For a second she simply looks at me, like she was so prepared for the argument that she doesn’t know what to do with herself anymore.
“Um.” She clears her throat. "That would be really good," she says softly as a warm smile spreads across her pretty face. "Thank you."
Next to her, Perrin is smiling exactly the same. Warm and a little relieved, like he’s beyond thrilled to see her so happy. "I’ll go too," the beta says immediately. "I’m happy to help carry things."
“I really don’t have much,” Elowen says with a nervous laugh. “All I need is a ride, and I can be in and out in ten minutes.”
"We’ll all go," I say as I look right at her. “But first, I want every inch of your skin covered in scent blockers.”
"Yes, sir," she says.
And then she's off the barstool and up the stairs beforeanyone can say another word, her bare feet quick on the hardwood, her coffee sitting forgotten on the island, still steaming.
