She nodded. “Okay. I’ll head out. I want you to consider going to Idaho. Meet Hillary and Alexis, at Mountain Pack. Alexis doesn’t have any real family left, so they took her in and are working on an official adoption. See that they’re both happy, and that their lives are really, really good. They’re not just…existing.”
He wasn’t sure what expression showed on his face but she gave him a sad smile and continued. “I want to challenge you tolive. Not to just exist by scrounging off the bottom feeders, but to experience joy and happiness. I hope you’ll contact me, let me know you’ve visited Hillary, how you’re faring. But mostly I just hope you start living again. Don’t let him continue to ruin your life.”
She acted quickly, while a dozen possible responses moved through his head, to kiss him on the lips. Then she was gone. Striding into the cabin, she was back only a minute later with her bag and keys in hand. She gave him a nod and walked to the truck.
He stood still, watching as the truck backed up, turned around. Watching the dust trail as it bloomed, then slowly dissipated. Watched as the sun set and the noises of the forest intruded on his attempt to not think. To not wonder about what could be or what might have been. When the evening breeze began to pick up, he shivered and walked inside.
Ten days later
Adam gave himself a bit of a shake as he came off the plane. He didn’t particularly enjoy being cooped up in a metal tube, even if it was a short flight. Maybe he’d made the wrong decision in not driving out, but once he’d decided to meet Mountain Pack, he’d figured he’d better do it right away or he’d just forget about it entirely. If he started driving, he couldn’t be sure he’d end up at the intended destination.
His initial call to Hillary Jenner had been easier than he’d thought. She’d encouraged him to come visit, see for himself that she and Alexis were well. He was pretty sure she’d heard his whole story from Myra, but she sounded eager to meet him. He told himself he was doing it for her and the girl. Maybe that was mostly true. Maybe.
He hitched his backpack up on his shoulder and made his way quickly through the small airport. Somehow he knew the couple standing in front of the SUV was Hillary and Zach. Zach stood up away from the truck as he approached.
They did the strength-measuring thing, and he was interested to find that they were equals. Although, after Myra’s stories, it shouldn’t have been a surprise. He offered his hand to Hillary.
“Adam Thorpe.”
“I’m Hillary Jenner.” She took his hand for a beat, then pulled him in for a hug.
It was the most contact he’d had with anyone since he’d sent Myra on her way. It felt good. Damn it. He pulled away, turned to her husband, who offered his hand.
“Zach. It’s good to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“You want to stop for food on the way in? It’s a little early for lunch, but it’s about an hour drive to the house,” Jenner told him.
Yeah, he’d made the wrong choice, should have just driven himself to their place. Live and learn.
“I could eat.” he’d fully regained his appetite after being sick, though he hadn’t quite managed to get rid of an edgy restlessness. He figured once he’d gotten this obligation out of the way, he could go back to the way things had been. Hoped.
They took their seats at a steak restaurant not far from the airport and ordered, keeping the conversation light in the packed room. He’d looked them both up online, of course.
“You’re a woodworker?” he asked Hillary when the waitress had left.
She smiled. “That’s right. I have my own shop.”
“She’s amazing,” Zach chimed in, taking his wife’s hand and kissing her knuckles, a gesture they both seemed mostly unaware of, though she leaned into him more. “Not just at building the stuff, but figuring out what a person wants and designing it so that it turns out even better than they’d imagined.”
“That sounds like a difficult task,” he acknowledged.
She laughed. “Sometimes yes, sometimes not so much. I’m just glad I figured out a way to earn a living without working for anyone else, and actually enjoy myself.”
He nodded. “I’m guessing most alphas don’t make the greatest employees.
Zach raised the soda the waiter had just brought him in agreement.
“What about you?” Hillary asked.
“I do computer stuff. I live very simply, so I don’t need much.”
“Myra said you were out there on your own. I know what that’s like, keeping your distance from the other wolves.” She’d lowered her voice but glanced around their table. “But you still need people in your life.”
“Did you?”
“I had friends, an employee I was close to. It helped.”
