“It’ll be okay, Beth.” Finley abandoned his post at the window, crouching on his haunches next to her. “They’re fated mates, right? They’ll work it out.”
“Not if I’ve already messed things up,” Beth said miserably. “What if I’ve ruined everything?”
Finley patted her shoulder. “At least they’re in the same room. Conleth will have a plan, Beth. He always does.”
“I still can’t believe Conleth actually volunteered to be a counselor,” Estelle said. “I’m glad he and Paige are assigned to work with the older kids. Can you imagine getting stuck with him as your pack leader?”
Beth bristled at her. “Estelle!”
“What?” Estelle protested. “I mean, I know he’s your uncle, Beth, but come on. Conleth as a counselor? He hates camp.”
Rufus cocked his head.
“Yeah, but he’s hated every minute of it,” Estelle said in response to the griffin shifter’s telepathic comment. “Everyone knows Conleth only stayed all these years because he was waiting for his mate to turn up. He said so himself.”
Rufus shrugged.
Finley frowned at his friend. “What do you mean, that’s what he said?”
Rufus’s autism meant he hardly ever spoke out loud, but now his mental voice stayed silent as well. He turned away without replying, going back to watching the counselors through the window.
“Uncle Conleth is going to be a great counselor,” Beth said stubbornly. “None of you know him like I do. You’ll see.”
“If you say so,” Estelle said, sounding less than convinced. “I just hope his campers like spreadsheets. Anyway, it’s not our problem, is it?”
“Itisour problem,” Beth insisted. “We made things worse. It’s our responsibility to fix it.”
Finley looked dubious. “I don’t know, Beth. Didn’t you already make things worse by trying to help?”
“That’s different. I rushed in before I understood the situation. Now I—” Beth cut herself off, stiffening.
“What is it?” Finley asked.
“Trouble,” Beth said grimly. She scrambled to her feet. “Come on!”
She set off at a run, all attempts at stealth abandoned now. The other children exchanged glances, then followed. They rounded the corner of the dining hall just in time to see Beth haul a protesting Archie away from the back door.
“Let me go!” Archie squirmed, trying to break free. “I wasn’t doing anything!”
“You’re supposed to be in your cabin!” Beth maintained her death grip on the collar of his t-shirt, dragging him further away from the dining hall. “You snuck out to spy on Conleth and Paige!”
Finley cleared his throat. “So did we, Beth.”
“That’s different,” Beth said, though she looked a little shame-faced about it. She released Archie. “Wehad good intentions.”
“So I guess you heard about Conleth being Paige’s co-counselor,” Estelle said to Archie.
“Yeah, she told me.” Archie glared at Beth. “And she’s really mad about it, so you can tell your buttface uncle that his stupid plan has backfired.”
Bright spots of color stained Beth’s cheeks. “If you hadn’t made a scene in front of the whole camp, everything would have been fine! This is all your fault!”
“Whoa!” Finley interposed himself between the pair, holding out his hands for peace. “Let’s all take a breath. I know you’re both upset, but remember, we’re still a pack. We’re all friends here.”
“Speak for yourself, Finley.” Beth tossed her red braid over her shoulder. “I can’t be friends with someone who’s trying to come between my uncle and his mate.”
“She’s not his anything!” Archie’s voice rose. “She’s my sister!”
“Hey!” Estelle said sharply. She put an arm around Rufus, who was rocking from foot to foot, shoulders hunched in distress. “Cool it, both of you. You’re upsetting Rufus. You know he hates it when people yell.”
