“Getting back to Archie’s family, which is the reason we’re all here,” Nancy said. “Considering he didn’t even tell his own sister, I think it’s fair enough he felt he had to keep the secret from us, too. The whole point of summer camp is that you don’t have to worry about real world stuff while you’re here. I mean, I haven’t told you guys every single detail about my family either.”
“Everyone’s got secrets,” Hetta said, so quietly even Archie’s awesome bear hearing barely picked up her voice above the dusk chorus of insects. “Sometimes it’s hard to share them. Even if you want to.”
Rufus flashed her a sidelong look from under his hair, then glanced at Finley.
“Rufus says he understands why you didn’t tell us, Archie,” Finley translated for the griffin shifter. He sighed, shoulders sagging. “I guess I do too. If I knew one of my parents was struggling with their mental health, I’d be worried sick. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you.”
“I can,” Ignatius said, unexpectedly. At the mass disbelieving looks, he scowled. “What, you think rich people can’t have problems? My dad was my mom’s mate, but he passed away before I was born. My mom tries to hide it, but I know she’s still grieving. Sometimes I think part of her died with him.”
“Oh.” Estelle dropped her stick guiltily. “Ig, that’s awful.”
“Well, it is for my mom.” Ignatius shrugged again, though there was something a little weird about it, like he was a body-snatching alien trying to act natural to fool everyone. “I mean, it’s not like I can miss someone I never met.”
Archie knewthatwasn’t true, because he’d never met his own dad, and sometimes he pretended to be spending a real long time in the shower when actually he was staring at himself in the mirror, trying to subtract the parts that were like Mom and assemble the rest into a face he’d never seen. But that was a private kind of thing, and he wouldn’t have wanted to talk about it either. Still, it made him feel kind of better to know that he wasn’t the only one with those kinds of feelings.
He took a big breath, because a real alpha didn’t back down from difficult things, no matter how much you didn’t want to do them. “I’m sorry for being a jerk this summer. And I get it if you still don’t want to be friends with me anymore. But I really miss you guys.”
The other kids exchanged glances. Then Beth got to her feet. She faced him, squaring her shoulders. Archie braced himself for…well, he wasn’t sure what. Yelling, probably.
“I’m still upset you tried to get between my uncle and his mate.” Somewhat awkwardly, Beth stuck out her hand. “But Iunderstand now why you were scared he might take her away. I accept your apology, and I’m sorry I didn’t try to see things from your perspective. Truce?”
With a surge of relief, Archie shook her hand. “Truce.”
That reminded him that there was someone else he owed an apology. Releasing Beth, he turned to Hetta.
“I’m really sorry I got you into trouble.” He wanted to tell her he’d keep her secret, but couldn’t figure out how to do so without the other kids figuring out therewasa secret. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”
“It’s okay.” Hetta dropped her head, glancing shyly at the other kids. “I know I haven’t exactly been a model camper, either. But I’d like to be friends too.”
Rufus bumped his shoulder against her like an affectionate cat.
“Rufus says, of course we want to be friends,” Finley relayed, smiling. He hugged Hetta, then Archie as well. “I’m so happy we can all be a proper pack now.”
“Yeah! Group hug!” Nancy bounced up, and disappeared. A muffled “Whoops!” drifted back to them.
Ignatius rolled his eyes as Rufus went to help Nancy down from the roof of the woodshed. “Yes, yes, we’re all one big, happy family. Now can we please stop with all the touching displays of heartfelt affection? I’m starting to feel queasy.”
“We’ve still got kind of a problem though, haven’t we?” Estelle said. “I mean, I really want to put all this behind us and have fun for the rest of the summer. But what about Conleth and Paige?”
Archie had been trying hard not to think about that. He eyed Beth, and found her eying him back.
“They are mates, Archie,” Beth said—though not in the annoying, why-are-you-being-so-stupid way she’d done before. She almost sounded apologetic. “And she does really like him.”
You love your sister. You’d do anything for her. Even swallow your distaste and tolerate a smug, annoying jerk with stupid hair, if that was who she wanted.
Stupid Conleth. Why did he always have to be right.
He heaved a gigantic sigh. “Yeah. I know.”
CHAPTER 30
Paige didn’t know what Archie had said to the other kids, but it seemed to have worked. Although the campers were a little shy with each other at breakfast the next day, the usual action-packed schedule soon cleared up any lingering awkwardness.
To her delight, the newfound sense of camp spirit seemed to have reached even Hetta. At the start of the afternoon’s activity session, she noticed the girl pull Conleth aside for a whispered conversation. Then, for the first time, Hetta tackled the obstacle course, Conleth discreetly at her side the entire way.
Though, as it turned out, he wasn’t needed. Despite a few hesitations, Hetta finished the whole course without mishap, to an eruption of cheers from the other kids.
It was startling to see the difference in the group now that they’d aired out their differences. Suddenly, they weren’t just eight kids thrown together for the summer, but something more.
