“It doesn’t,” she admitted, “I keep waiting for something to go wrong.”
Grayson leaned against the railing. “We’re prepared if it does.”
“Are we?” Cora asked. “Theodore’s gone, but his people are still out there. What if they come back?”
“They will,” he said bluntly. “But they’ll find us ready.”
His confidence was infectious, and Cora let herself believe him, if only for a moment. She looked back at the square, where children darted between tables, and their laughter rang out like music. It was a far cry from the carnage they’d faced just days earlier, and it gave her hope.
“They’re happy,” she commented, almost to herself.
“They’re alive,” Grayson corrected. “And they have you to thank for that.”
Cora shook her head. “It wasn’t just me. We all fought for this.”
“You could have walked away. Let us handle it. You had every reason to. But you didn’t. You stayed, you fought, and you won. That’s on you, Cora.”
She felt the weight of his words settle over her, and for once, she didn’t argue. Instead, she reached out for him. He took her hand without hesitation, lacing their fingers together as they stood silently, watching the town celebrate.
Later that afternoon, Cora found herself in the bakery. She sat at one of the tables near the window with a notebook open in front of her. Her pen tapped absently against the page as she stared at the list she’d been working on—crib, blankets, bottles, diapers.
“Planning already?” Laila’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. Her friend slid into the chair opposite her with a mug of tea in hand.
“I have to start somewhere,” Cora replied, smiling faintly. “There’s so much to think about.”
“You’ve got time,” Laila assured her. “And you’ve got people who want to help.”
“It’s still strange, you know? Feeling like I belong here.”
“You do,” Laila stated. “This town is yours as much as anyone else’s. And that baby you’re carrying? They’ll be the heart of this place.”
Cora’s hand drifted to her stomach, and a sense of calm settled over her. “I hope so.”
“You will,” Laila responded, her tone leaving no room for doubt. “You’ve already proven you’re stronger than most people I know. You’ll figure the rest out.”
Cora nodded, and her heart felt lighter as Laila rose and left her to her planning. She glanced down at her notebook again, and her mind wandered to Grayson. He’d spent the morning with Ryder and Zane, working on reinforcing the pack’s defenses. She could already picture him—focused, determined, and probably forgetting to take a break.
When Cora returned to the apartment later, the sight of Grayson on the couch made her stop in her tracks. He was sprawled out with his head resting on the back of the couch as he stared at the ceiling. His shirt was slightly askew, and his boots were kicked off in the corner. He looked exhausted, but there was a peace about him that made her heart ache.
“Long day?” she asked softly.
“You could say that.”
Cora crossed the room and sat beside him with her legs tucked beneath her. “How’s it going out there?”
“Better than I expected,” he admitted. “Ryder’s got patrols set up, Zane’s working on traps, and the rest of the pack is pitching in. It’s not perfect, but it’s solid.”
“You’re doing a good job,” she assured him, resting her hand on his arm.
“So are you.”
Cora leaned her head against his shoulder, and he shifted to wrap an arm around her. She closed her eyes, letting the steady rhythm of his breathing calm her.
“Do you think we’ll ever get to just…live?” she asked quietly. “Without looking over our shoulders?”
Grayson pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “We’ll get there. It might take time, but we’ll get there.”
Cora tilted her head to look up at him. “I couldn’t do this without you, you know.”
