Once I put the last of my things into the bag I’d packed the second I finished my last assessment, I went looking for Tyler to let him know what was happening. He was still glued to his laptop, but he’d moved to his room, tapping away furiously—probably still submitting apartment applications.
“Hey,” I said, leaning against the doorframe of his room. “So, change of plans.”
He looked up, one eyebrow raised. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” I nodded, trying to contain my excitement. “Noah—my old big brother, remember?—he’s giving me a ride up to Redwood Falls today. I don’t have to wait the whole week.”
Tyler’s expression softened, and he closed his laptop. “That’s awesome, Mylo. You must be excited to see Chuck.”
I smiled, even though that stupid knot of anxiety twisted tight in my chest. “Yeah, I am. It’s been too long.”
Tyler got up and pulled me in for a quick hug, thumping me on the back. “I’m happy for you, man. Just don’t go ghosting me when you’re out there living the dream, alright?”
I snorted, giving him a playful punch on the arm. “As if. Like I’d forget about you. You better stay in touch too—or I’m showing up at your door, no warning.”
Tyler smirked. “I will, just as long as you send me pictures of the house. And the vegetable garden you’ve been going on about.”
I snorted. “Deal.”
We stood there for a moment, not saying anything, the weight of goodbye settling between us. Two years livingtogether, and now it was all about to change. But this wasn’t like foster care, where people drifted away and disappeared, like they were never really there to begin with. This felt different—like it actually mattered.
“Alright,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “Go before I start getting all emotional.”
I managed a small smile, fighting off the lump building in my throat. “You take care of yourself, alright?”
“You too,” he said, giving me a small smile. “Text me when you get there.”
“I will.”
I walked out of his room and into the living room. I gave the apartment one last look before heading out the door. A weird mix of excitement and nerves hit me all at once, but maybe this was the good kind—the kind that comes from leaving something behind without knowing exactly what’s next, but somehow knowing it’s going to be good. Not like when I was shuffled between foster homes with no warning, bin bag in hand. This time, I got to decide. I was moving toward something—something I’d fought hard for, something that felt like the start of something real. Something that mattered.
Are you sure about that?
I ignored that voice. Things were great. This was it—the dream... the life... it was finally here.
And no one, not even Chuck, was going to take that away from me.
I was finally going to have a place of my own. An alpha of my own. Kids of my own. Life was finally swinging my way.
An hour later, we were on the road, leaving the city behind and heading toward Redwood Falls. The whole trip felt surreal, like I was standing on the edge of a cliff—but in a good way.
Is there a good way?
Ignoring. I was ignoring.
Noah and I fell into easy conversation, catching up on everything we’d missed over the past year or so. He told me all about his mate, their little girl, and the baby on the way—how his life had gone totally different from what he’d imagined.
And I was happy for him, I really was. But I still couldn’t stop that flicker of envy. He had everything I wanted—a family, a home, someone who would miss him if he didn’t come back.
Isn’t that what you’re building with Chuck? Isn’t that where you’re going right now?
Yes. Yes, it is, I told myself firmly.
I shook off the voice and took a deep breath as we pulled into Redwood Falls. The town was just as quaint as I’d imagined, and for a moment, it felt like everything might actually be okay. Like this was it.
This was home.
Noah pulled up in front of the address I’d given him—the place Chuck had found after landing that big job—and my heart raced in my chest. This was what I’d been waiting for.
