Once his mother finally lets go of him, Rowen takes my hand, and we walk the rest of the way home.
“Can we see your fox again soon?” Ivy asks, bouncing on her toes.
“Ivy, come on,” Rowen says. “He literallyjustchanged back.”
“Yeah, but you got to play with him for three days, Ro. We all want to!” She clasps her hands together. “Please! You’re soo cute.”
For some reason, my annoyance comes out as a smile. Screw it. I’ll embrace the cuteness.
“Maybe soon. It’s still all weird. I don’t know how to or anything.”
“You’ll get it.”
Calmness settles over me as we climb onto the porch.
Jasmine claps her hands together. “Come on, everyone. Let’s go inside where it’s warm.”
Slowly, we all shuffle through the door. Rowen never lets go of my hand. The moment I’m inside, the warmth hits me like a wave. Not just the kind from the fireplace, but real warmth—the kind that seeps into bone andbreath, into the places that have been cold for too long. It weaves its way inside, melting away the last of the unease.
I’m still here. Better than that, they stillwantme here. Despite what I did—Jasmine, Rowen, the fight I brought to their door—they still want me.
I get to stay.
This is my home now.
My family.
Rowen must sense my emotions because he wraps an arm around me and gives me a private smile. Pulling me close, he kisses my temple.
“Welcome home, baby.”
The rich aroma of beef stew makes my mouth water. There’s fresh-baked bread too. Sourdough, if my nose is accurate.
The pack gathers in the living room, sinking into chairs or sitting on the floor. The noise, the chatter, the laughter—it all feels too light for what we just came through, yet right too. It makes the victory real. For the first time in three days, I take a long breath.It’s over.
Sage drapes an arm around Red, who curls into his side. Neal takes a seat on the floor with Aster, who’s half-asleep in his arms. Ivy wraps herself in a blanket in the corner chair. The scar by her eye is barely noticeable now.
We all made it. Most of us, anyway.
My gaze drifts to the chair where Grant usually sits at the table. His absence is unbearable.Please let us get him home safe.
The darkness that has been poisoning my mind is gone now. I can fully absorb all of this. And I’m not leaving. That thought will probably continue to hit me for days, weeks. Even months.
Rowen kisses my cheek, then pulls me to the last open spot on the couch, him in the corner with me next to Taren.
For a while, there’s just low conversation. The kind that happens after battle, when everyone’s too wrung out for noise but too alive for silence. Then Forest clears his throat, eyes scanning the room.
“Okay. I’m sure we’re all eager to eat our body weight in stew, but I think it’s time we came together, as a pack, for a quick debrief. Sage filled you in on the death count, I’m assuming?”
Rowen and I both nod, and I dart my eyes to William. His gaze drops to the floor. I never even learned the other shifter’s names. His pack came from another state, but I couldn’t bother to say thank you.
I should’ve.
I will.
I owe them that much.
Forest says, “Everyone who was injured is healing fine.”
