“Exactly.” She nods and motions toward my backpack. “I can carry your bag and give you a break. We still have some upward hiking ahead of us, and you’ve been through a lot today.”
“You’re serious.”
Whisky-colored eyes blink at me. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because fate isn’tactuallyresponsible for the things that happen in our lives.”
“Not all things, of course. But some things. Little, big, and everything in between. One-offs that don’t make sense until you factor in fate pulling strings to get you to whatever place you’re meant to be.” Again, she motions again for my backpack.
Which I give her, because apparently, I’m going to follow this naked woman into some mystical, way-up-the-mountain town that her fox-shifter mate says isn’t on any map.
Impossible, all of it. It could be a dream, though if it were, I wouldn’t be sticky with sweat and my muscles wouldn’t be screaming at me from overuse. And it’s definitely not a nightmare because I’m not scared. Not even a tiny bit.
We continue walking in the direction the men took for several minutes, neither of us speaking, aside from my inner voice’s nonstop monologue.
“You can talk to me about whatever’s on your mind.” Turning her head to face me, Holly offers a kind smile.
“What, are you a mind reader?”
“With you, no. The pack has a mental link when we’re in fox form.” Her smile grows warmer. Fonder. “And, as mates, Max and I share our thoughts and feelings without words, in either form.”
“Then why couldn’t you find him?”
“Because he was outside the boundary. The Oracle’s magic shields those of us inside from detection by any creature on the other side. Including mates, unfortunately.”
“I see,” I say, but I really don’t. Every new detail I learn is more far-fetched than the one before. Such as who or what isthe Oracle?Honestly, I don’t think I’m mentally ready for the answer.
“One doesn’t need telepathic abilities to be aware of your heightened emotions, Lilah. They emanate from you.”
“I bet,” I say with a huffed laugh.
Rather than laugh along with me, Holly offers a gentle smile. “It’s better to release the weight of your thoughts and feelings than allow them to press in on you. I realize you have no basis to trust me yet, but I already consider you a friend and a sister ofthe pack. It would be an honor to support you in any way I can. Even just by listening.”
After years of carrying the oppressive weight of internalizing my thoughts and feelings, the offer to unload even a portion of my stress with someone who seems to care is a gift I don’t want to refuse. Plus, she does feel like someone I could consider a friend. Easily. Now that I don’t have Bart forming a barrier between me and anyone who’s not him, I’m free to form real friendships. Holly seems like a great one to start.
“Okay,” I say, drawing a deep breath. “For starters, if you really believe what you said about fate pulling strings to get people where they’re meant to be, does that mean I’m responsible for Max nearly dying in the woods? Because that’s horrible, and if it’s accurate, you should be raging at me right now.”
“Rage doesn’t exist here, Lilah. Only creatures who are of good heart and intentions can cross the boundary. Only those who are meant to be here will find their way to Fate’s Falls. And no, I don’t believe fate is responsible for Max’s injury. The Oracle would not endanger a life to manipulate another. But I do think it possible that fate utilized Max’s misfortune to expedite your inevitable arrival in Fate’s Falls. And for that, I am eternally grateful.” She catches my hand as it swings between us and gives it a quick, gentle squeeze. “All is as it was meant to be.”
“Thishasto be a dream.”
“Oh, it is. It’s a dream come true. You’ll see.” The trees give way to a clearing dotted with picturesque cabins. “That one’s mine, but I haven’t used it since Max and I became mated,” she says, pointing, then waving wildly as Max appears in the doorway. Fully clothed, thank goodness. “It’s your home now, for as long as you want to stay, whether that’s one night, until the end of your vacation, or forever.”
That last word stops me in my tracks. “Forever?”
“Yes,” she says, nodding. “You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t meant to be, Lilah. Tonight, I’ll feed you my famous forest stew while Max and I answer any and every question you can think of, then you’ll get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll show you around town, introduce you to all the wonderful people along the way, most of whom are nonhuman creatures who look nothing like you, but we can go over all that after you’ve had a good meal and a chance to relax.”
I cough out the words,“Nonhuman creatures?”but Holly doesn’t stop to clarify.
She just nods and carries on. “Then we’ll swing by the clinic so you can meet Dr. Daemon, the town veterinarian, who will offer you a job on the spot.”
“Why would he offer me a job?” I ask, pushing all the other questions aside for the moment.
“Because I’m his receptionist at the clinic, and I know how desperately he needs a skilled technician to assist him. He’s going to think fate brought you to town for him, but I don’t believe that’s the reason.” The way she wriggles her nose, it’s easy to envision her in fox form, catching a scent.
It’s still possible I ate some toxic berries, and all of this is a delirious hallucination as I lay dying in the woods.
But it’s also possible that, somehow, all of this is real, and my fresh start is the beginning of the most exciting adventure ever.
