Sometime during our bathing, some clean clothes were set on the bench for us, nothing fancy, just sweats and T-shirts. Justas the shower felt like pampering, the clothes felt magnificent sliding into.
They weren’t even our pack, yet they were already taking care of us better than I’d ever been taken care of before.
“That feels so much better,” my mate said. “I was beginning to itch in places I didn’t know I had.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, I almost don’t recognize you.”
Back at the fire, there were sandwiches and tea waiting. Otto and Larkin were the only ones sitting there, although Auden was nearby with the kids, and he was definitely able to hear everything we said. It felt intentional, like they didn’t want to overwhelm us. This place was so much different than the rumors I’d heard. Better.
The shower had done Bryden a world of good. Combined with the new clothes, he looked like a different man. He wasn’t fooling me, though. I knew he still had a ways to go before he’d be truly healed, but he was pretty good at hiding it.
I wanted to shift and heal him some more, but there was a window when my abilities could help and he was now officially outside of that. All my attempt would do was weaken me and work against the antibiotics at this point. I hated feeling so useless.
A calm set in as Otto described the different areas of the pack lands and how they came to be, which led to a history lesson on the pack. Unlike my herd, where history was something in books, this history was still remembered by those who’d lived it. The pack was started out of need.
According to Otto and Larkin who were now tag-teaming the story, the pack built slowly over time. It felt quick to me, but I wasn’t there living it day by day.
The infrastructure started with a few scattered shelters in various states of use. And now? Now every building had a purpose and more were in the works.
This wasn’t a place where shifters needing safety came to hide and conspire, like the rumors that had reached my herd said. It was a vibrant community of people who cared about each other. They were building something special here.
The pack at Stoney River was where these outcasts and rogues, and those who never knew they needed a home, all came together. The goal was to be, basically, one huge family. I was already in love with it here and hoped they would accept us for more than a spot to lay over and heal.
Otto explained the different roles people had, and it felt very much like it was based on their skills, not who their family was. Another notable difference from my herd.
I nibbled on my sandwich, trying to focus on their words while being mindful of my mate and making sure he hadn’t overdone it.
“So that’s the story of how some rogues like you, Bryden, found their home,” Larkin said.
“And me,” I mumbled.
All eyes shot my way.
“Let’s not pretend I’m not considered a rogue by my herd,” I said, reaching for my mate’s hand. “They might not have marked me yet, but that’s because they hadn’t found me.” And then therewas the fact that they’d rather I be dead, especially now that any arranged marriage would be considered breached, but that wasn’t something I was wanting to talk about.
“Is there anything else you need to know?” Larkin asked.
I looked to my mate, realizing there was a lot I didn’t know, but also not sure what we needed now and what could wait.
“Okay, that question looks too hard,” Larkin said. “How about you tell us your story, and we go from there?”
I told my part and Bryden told his. We didn’t go into a lot of detail, this wasn’t story hour, but we gave them the facts they needed, many of which others in the pack were already aware of. I didn’t want to be in their hands, asking for shelter and safety while keeping them in the dark.
“We don’t have much,” Bryden said when we were done. “We have a little bit of money, but we have the ability to work. We can pull our weight and contribute. We’re not asking for a handout.”
“Pish,” Otto said. “That’s something for another day. Right now, we need to get you healed up and rested. You’ve been through a lot. Have you had enough to eat?”
“More than enough.”
Larkin stacked a bunch of the sandwiches on a plate. “Here, take this with you. We’ve got a place for you to sleep.”
12
BRYDEN
“This is nice.”
Compared to sleeping rough or in rat-infested barns, it was a palace.
