Page 145 of Break Out the Girl

François smirks. “Indeed, and additionally, Father has checked himself into the Southernhampton in-patient mental health facility. He requested a twelve-month hold. I will go and visit him annually and ‘encourage’ him to sign up for another year of institutional care. Happily, I am now both his health-care and financial proxy.”

“Er, wow. That’s…amazing. I guess I’m happy for you.”

Yeah. Now François can go off and do whatever he wants.

“I hope you will be happy for us all, my love.” He looks toward the window where the guys have restarted their tournament. “I have made some decisions for our family.”

Our what now?

“I found a tract of land for sale. It has a completed cabin on the property, and one which is half-way through a build. The location seemed ideal, not far from here, but still secluded.”

“Er, OK…”

“So I bought it. Well, actually, you did. The land and property are in your name. So even if you don’t want me back, you and the others will have somewhere more comfortable to reside while the authority wheels slowly turn and produce your official releases from Quo.”

I blink. Then blink some more. “You bought us a home?”

“I did.”

“Up here, and not anywhere near the city?”

“Correct.”

“Or Paris.”

“Oui.”

“And you…” I bite my lip, trying to not look too hopeful. “You want to live with us all, London, Sky, Tally and Basil, in this cabin?”

He tilts his head, his dark eyes shining. “With all of my heart, chéri. All of my heart.”

51: AURORA

For the past several weeks, the forest has been our sanctuary, a quiet haven where all of us are finally finding peace.

And finally building something of our own.

“Watch your fingers, faun!” Tally roars from the roof, his torso glistening with a light sheen of sweat in the weak February sun.

My wolf is standing high on top of the shingles, bracing a massive, decorative cedar beam that caps the top ridge of the cabin. His muscles bulge as he holds it steady for the brackets to be secured.

“I’m so deft that I’m at DEFT-CON Three,” London shouts back, dangling precariously from the roof ridge by his knees, wild curls hanging upside down as he aggressively hammers a metal finishing plate into place.

Down on the porch, I swipe on a final streak of wood-stain and smile.

The second cabin is coming along beautifully.

Instead of just waiting around, biting our nails before the official decommissioning of Quo Reformare, we decided to learn construction.

By we, I mean me, François, Sky and London. Tally already seems to be able to turn his hand to just about anything.

Basil isn’t helping, but that’s a good thing.

He officially started school down in Ashgrave two weeks ago. After a lot of cuss-filled, intense talks around our hearth, he finally agreed to be fostered by Opal and Gareth. When London teased Basil about finally getting a proper mum and dad, he just crossed his arms, scowled, and claimed he was only doing it because the four of us were “far too annoying and bossy to live with anyway.”

Yeah right.

I’ve seen the way he subtly leans into Opal’s side, or hangs on Gareth’s every word. They are the perfect people for our prickly, young friend. Just the thought of him being able to have a stable home, and parents that love him, make my eyes well up.