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Wren ran to hug Ridge next, while Roark and Rusty hung back, smiling as their reunion took place.

“Between the snow and how hard it is to find this place, even with a map, we’re lucky we made it at all,” Lysander said. “I can’t imagine a safer place to hole up indefinitely.”

“I’m glad. It’s time we all settled down,” Logan said as he waved his mates over and introduced them.

“Speaking of which,” Ridge said as he rolled the sleeve of his t-shirt up to show the faint circle of feathers on his upper arm. “I might have beaten your record in the insta-mate department.”

“No way! Seriously?” Logan asked as he leaned to get a closer look. “I knew you’d have a wolf for a mate!”

“And you would be wrong,” Ridge said, smiling over at the doorway, just as Wilder stepped out of the kitchen.

“Fudge…” Roark said, sounding as flabbergasted as Logan felt.

“That’s…whoa, Wild, congratulations, man!” Rusty said. “You too, Ridge. That’s awesome. I’d say you broke our record. We needed time to discuss potential burns and cuss out the bug population before we figured it out.”

“Realized it the moment he warned us to watch out for a blown tire in the middle of the road,” Ridge said as Wild crossed the room to reach him.

“Imagine my surprise to learn that I was guiding my mate home to me,” Wild said as he slid his arm around Ridge.

Like wolves, owls could be touchy-feely, especially early in the mating phase. The pair rubbed the sides of their heads together like they were in feathers, the color of their hair so similar that Logan was certain they were the same kind of owl. Same height too.

“If we can get you two knuckleheads mated off, then perhaps there’s hope for me and Tate after all,” Lysander said.

“Not unless you’ve got another owl or two stashed around here,” Tate said, grinning.

It was one of the few times Logan had ever seen him smile.

After everything they’d been through, the missions, the losses, and little time to celebrate the few triumphs before they were back in the thick of it again, this moment was extra precious.

“We do, actually,” Wild said. “His name is Echo, and he lives above the gallery, across the hall from Emari. He’s a truly remarkable artist. Teaches workshops too. I’ll introduce you when we show you guys around town. The pups love his fingerpainting classes. He even uses pudding for the smaller pups, so it’s safe if they stick their fingers in their mouths.”

“That’s sweet,” Tate said.

“Literally,” Ridge said, chuckling.

“I can’t believe they had a wheelchair-accessible house,” Lysander said as he turned around in his chair. “Incredible.”

“Folks shouldn’t have to move if they don’t want to,” Rusty said. “Charlie and his crew, along with the wolves who run the furniture store, make sure houses are modified the way folks need them to be. If there’s anything you need adjusted here, just let Logan know and Charlie will add it to his list.”

“Thank you,” Lysander said. “That means a lot. I saw the wide sidewalks on the way through town, too. Plowed and everything. I might actually be able to enjoy myself this winter.”

“Every community building and business is fully accessible,” Roark said.

“Definitely going to enjoy myself this winter,” Lysander declared.

“Are you staying here forever?” Wren asked.

“We sure are silly-bean,” Lysander said. “You know what that means, right?”

“You get to come to all my school plays!” Wren declared.

“That’s right,” Lysander said, scooping them up and hugging them again.

He’d come to one when Wren was in kindergarten the first time. Tate and Ridge had too. It was one of the few times they had been in the same place for long enough to give Wren a true sense of what a family was supposed to be like. Wren had been so thrilled to have someone else in the audience just for them, especially when most of the other pups in their class came from large families.

“Uncle Kale said we get to perform one at the spring showcase about all of the animals who hi-hiberated, hyper…”

“Hi-ber-na-ted,” Lysander sounded out carefully for them.