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Three other people make their way through the living room, nodding in our direction when they notice Josten, then disappearing past another doorway.

“Oh. Did I know you were working at the diner?” he asks me.

Liya clears off a spot on the couch, gesturing for me to take a seat. “Ignore the mess. We’re puppy training.”

I shrug to Josten’s question, then glance down at myself, feeling slightly embarrassed at my disheveled appearance. I’m still a bit of a disaster from the horror of what happened in the woods.

“Sorry, Liy. I had her first. You’ll have to wait your turn,” Josten says, then to me, “Come on, I’ll show you to the washroom.”

Mouthing a silent thank you, I follow him up the sweeping staircase, passing by two more members of the house who were on their way down.

The top opens to a large landing on the second floor, where several doors lead to different parts of the house. We step through the first one on the left.

The bathroom is spacious and well-lit, with a large mirror that stretches from floor to ceiling, giving a full view of my reflection.

My hair is messy. My clothes are torn and streaked with dirt. It’s on my skin, my face, under my nails.

But it’s my eyes that gut me.

Empty. Lifeless.

The Sumner I was, the small, naïve girl who once hoped, who loved, she’s gone, dissolved into the dirt and sleepless nights. All that’s left is this stranger wearing her face, hollowed out and beaten.

Even without the evidence of what happened tonight consuming my physical appearance, I’ve always hated looking in mirrors.

Sighing, I turn to face Josten. “Are all those people your roommates?”

“That’s only some of them.”

“Some? How many people do you live with?”

“Thirteen,” he answers casually, turning on the sink and running a white hand towel under the stream.

“Thirteen?” I gasp, partly from the insane number he threw out, and partly because the water from the rag is freezing. He uses it to wipe the dust and dried mascara from my face.

“We’re a decent sized pack.” Josten rinses the towel, tossing it in a small hamper behind the door. “You want a change of clothes?”

“Actually, yes. If you don’t mind.”

Josten steps out of the room, giving me enough time to run my fingers through my hair, taming the wild strands, and fix the little remaining makeup under my eyes before making his way back. He tosses me a gray shirt and some loose-fitting shorts, though I hardly need them. I’m basically swimming in his tee.

Descending the stairs, Josten leads me to the kitchen, handing me a glass of water. “Feeling better?”

“Much, thank you.” I take a small sip of the drink. “So, Liya is part of your pack?”

“Sure is.”

Loud padding advances across the floor before I’m able to respond.

“Josten! Josten!” one of the young boys yells. “Come quick! Hunter needs help.” He tugs on Josten’s pants, eyes wide with panic, which sends an immediate knot to my stomach.

Not sure what to do, I follow the two. Soft whines emerge from the next room over, where Hunter, the one with blond hair, lies on the floor, mostly child, partly wolf. Tears coat his flushed cheeks, hands gripping his left leg, which still resembles that of a dog.

I’ve never seen a shifter half transitioned. It’s fully skin, or fully beast. This poor kid looks like he got stuck somewhere in between.

Josten crouches down beside him, placing his hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. Breathe.”

“It hurts!”