The server came, and the girls ordered beef nachos for an appetizer. Saffron got her quesadillas, Willow a BLT wrap and a cup of vegetable soup. Ezra chose surf-and-turf, one of his Harmony Diner favorites. While they waited for their food, the small talk came haltingly for all three of them; but Saffron was trying hard not to make this awkward for her sister. For a minute Ezra pretended he couldn’t smell her nervousness, her sincere worry and sharp awareness that she wasn’t hiding her nerves well. But maybe ignoring her difficulty was the wrong approach.
When their food came, he waited a minute, let the women begin to eat, but Saffron…didn’t. She poked her quesadillas with a fork, then sat still while Willow divided the nachos onto extra plates. Saffron didn’t taste her nachos either.
“Saffron,” Ezra said.
She jumped in her seat. Guilt flooded her scent as she peeked up at him. “Yeah?”
“Let’s talk about it. Anything you want to say.” He drew a deep breath, let it out, and for his mate’s sake set aside the secure cloak of his privacy. He forced the words that, well…scared him. “Ask me anything.”
“Yeah?” she said quietly.
He nodded.
“Within reason,” Willow said. “Within courtesy.”
“No,” he said. “I mean it. Saffron can ask me anything she wants to know.”
Of course he wouldn’t betray the privacy of his pack, wouldn’t reveal anything to put them at risk. But he was willing to bet Saffron’s questions weren’t the type to endanger. If she were anything like Willow, even if she based her decisions and opinions on experience rather than data, then Saffron wanted to understand.
“If she’s with you for good, does she have to move out to Lunar Lane?”
Not what he’d expected her to lead with, but the question said a few things about her. Of course Saffron wanted her sister safe and didn’t trust Ezra not to hurt her. On top of that, though…Saffron didn’t want to lose her to a new family.
“Yes,” he said. “She’ll join the pack.”
Saffron ducked her head. “That’s what I thought.”
“It’s not like I’m moving away,” Willow said. “As long as you’re living with Dad and Mom, I’ll be right outside town.”
Saffron peeked up at Ezra. “Is there any chance you’d move away from Harmony Ridge? Go off on your own together someday—you and Willow, I mean?”
“No. I need my pack; I can’t move away from them. And the properties out on Lunar Lane are ours, free and clear, no mortgages for decades now. Passed down for generations. We’re not likely to leave.”
Saffron bit her lip. “Oh.”
“Why is this suddenly a thing?” Willow said, a flavor of impatience in her scent. “Wait, is this about…?”
“I know we’ve never done it, but we used to dream about it. Getting into the same college and moving there together—to the West coast, or the East coast. Or after college, condos side-by-side. Just…you’re twenty-three. We’re young still. How can youknowthis is worth it? How can you know—?” She gestured at Ezra.
Insecurity rose in Willow’s scent. Ezra sat still and waited for her to answer, to find her own strength, her own certainty. She would. She was Willow.
She reached over and squeezed his hand, then let go. “I do know, Saffron. I trust this man with all my heart, and I belong with him. But we can still go on sister trips, you know. Assuming we ever actually plan one and don’t just daydream about them forever, I can go see New York or California with you…and then come home to Tennessee.”
“Okay,” Saffron whispered. One tear fell to the table.
“You’re not losing your sister. I promise.”
“Okay.” Saffron swiped at her cheeks as more tears fell. “It feels like I am.”
“Well, as I’ve said…youcouldgain a brother out of this, if you’ll give him a chance.”
She looked up, met Ezra’s eyes for the first time in a few minutes. “It scares me that you’re so big.”
Ezra nodded.
“If you decided to hurt me or Willow or anybody…you’re just so big, and I know you’re even stronger than you look. No human could stop you, not without… Would a gun even stop you?”
“Eventually, yes. I’m not impenetrable.”
