“I’ll talk to her,” I promise. “Make sure she understands the importance of discretion.”
“Good. And Connor? Be gentle with her. She’s been through a lot in the past few days.”
He hangs up without saying goodbye. Classic Nic.
I finish my coffee, shower, and head into town. It’s the kind of autumn day that makes Silvercreek look like something from a postcard. Leaves are starting to turn gold and red on the trees lining Main Street. Mrs. Patterson waves from her porch as I pass, and I wave back automatically.
My feet carry me toward the eastern edge of town, toward the cottage where Fern is staying. I’m not sure what I’m going to say to her. Yesterday I dropped a bomb on her entire worldview,and now I’m supposed to make sure she’s not going to cause problems for the pack. The two goals feel mutually exclusive.
I’m halfway down her street when I spot her walking toward me.
She’s dressed in jeans and a thick sweater, and her ash blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Dark circles shadow her eyes, suggesting she didn’t sleep much last night. When she sees me, she stops short, and for a moment, I think she might turn and walk the other way.
But she doesn’t. She stands her ground and waits for me to approach.
“Hey,” I offer when I’m close enough. I was coming to check on you. See how you’re doing after yesterday.”
She chuckles and shakes her head. “How am I doing? Let’s see. I found out that werewolves are real, that I’ve been living in a town full of them, and that my new boss apparently forgot to mention this during my interview. So I’d say I’m doing great.”
“Fair enough.”
We stand there for an awkward moment, neither of us sure what to say next. A car drives past, and the driver waves. Fern doesn’t wave back.
“Can I buy you a coffee?” I ask. “Or we could take a walk. I’m sure you have more questions.”
She eyes me, and I can practically see her weighing her options. Stay and talk to the werewolf, or retreat to her cottage and pretend none of this is happening.
“A walk,” she decides. “I’ve been cooped up all morning. I could use the fresh air.”
We fall into step together, heading toward the trail that winds along the eastern edge of town. The path is quiet this time of day, bordered by towering pines and the occasional birch tree. Squirrels chatter in the branches overhead, and somewhere in the distance, a bird calls out.
“So,” Fern begins after a few minutes of silence, “werewolves.”
“Werewolves,” I confirm.
“And everyone in town knows about this? Everyone is… one of you?”
“Not everyone. Most of the population is shifter, but we also have some humans living here. Shop owners, service workers, people who married into the pack.” I step over a root jutting across the path. “We’re not as isolated as you might think.”
“But I’m the only one who didn’t know.”
“Patricia should have told you before you started. I don’t know why she didn’t.”
Fern shoves her hands into her sweater pockets. “Maybe she assumed I’d run screaming the moment I found out. Which, honestly, isn’t an unreasonable assumption.”
“But you didn’t run.”
“I thought about it.” She glances at me sideways. “I spent most of last night packing and unpacking my suitcase. Couldn’t decide if staying was brave or stupid.”
“What made you decide to stay?”
She’s quiet for a long moment as she keeps her gaze fixed on the path ahead. “I don’t have anywhere else to go. And despite everything, this is the first place I’ve felt safe in months.Ironic, right? I feel safer in a town full of werewolves than I did in New York.”
I want to ask about that. About the ex, about what she was running from, about the fear I still see lurking behind her eyes. But I don’t push. She’ll tell me when she’s ready.
“We’re not dangerous,” I assure her instead. “Not to you or to anyone who doesn’t threaten the pack. We’re just… people with a few extra talents.”
“Like turning into wolves.”
