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Before I knock on Gail’s door, I lean over as if the closed door to his office might reveal something. All I can hear from his office is the rustling of papers, nothing that gives me an idea of what’s really happening behind the door.

My knuckles rap on Gail’s door right as she calls out for me to come in. I didn’t even fully knock before she said something.Weird.

I push the door open slowly, peeking around it as if she might jump out at me. The smell of patchouli and mint wraps around me the second I step into her space. Almost like a memory holding you in a warm embrace. The cooler air of her office seems to almost gently move across my skin like a whisper of promised stories.

Her Olivine-colored walls give this soft moss green, earthy feel with wood frames capturing pressed herbs. Each surface of the space seems to hum with hidden secrets, knowledge way beyond our years, and just a hint of mischief, like something might jump out at you for a hearty laugh.

Gail is sitting behind a beautiful wooden desk with carvings of wolves running under a full moon with hands spread out on each side. It’s a beautiful version of our Goddess watching over our wolves. An antique moon mirror hangs behind her, reflecting my face full of wonder.

Gail seems to wait for me to take in each piece of her space as if it’s just as much why she invited me here as the reason she mentioned yesterday. She is such a timeless beauty, something I hope I look like when I’m her age, whatever age that is. Her long, silvery-white hair is braided over her shoulder flowing down past the desk. Tiny sprigs of lavender are woven into each part of the braid as if her healer side is proudly displayed. The white soft material of her shirt hangs loosely over her chest, showing off a beautiful moonstone wrapped in golden wire.

Her eyes crinkle at the edges like someone who's lived a full life and has the stories to prove it. Her eyes scan over me in that knowing way that makes you feel almost naked in front of her. As if she isn’t looking at your clothes but instead examining your soul.

“Selene, come sit down. We have much to discuss and I’m sure your free period doesn’t allow for much idle chatting.” Her wrinkled hand sweeps across the desk as she indicates I sit down in front of her.

I scurry across the worn antique moon rug under my feet to the chair in front of her desk.

“I’ll get down to the nit and gritty so you aren’t late getting back to school. I know you’ve been struggling to find a place in the pack and while I don’t have the final say so in the matter, I think I might have a solution.”

My eyebrows shoot up so high I’m sure they are in my hairline. This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting when she asked to talk about a project. “Alright, I’m listening,” I say as I scoot the chair closer.

“I’ve been thinking about your photography and your dream to own a photography business. What if you start by selling photos of the wild flower field behind the pack land? What if your contribution is being the pack photographer and you take photos of the pack on the pack runs?”How does she know about the valley?

“Uh…” My words are stuck in my throat. I was sure I’d been careful to keep my secret.

“I can see your confusion on how I could possibly know about your secret spot. Don’t worry, nobody else knows.” My mouth opens and closes as I try to decide which of the hundreds of questions flitting through my mind to ask.

“You want to know how I would know? Did you think I wouldn’t recognize the lands surrounding ours? You aren’t the only rebel who snuck off to find peace in the wild.”

“I check every time and nobody is around. There’s no way that you’ve seen me go out there.”

“You’re right. I’ve never seen you go out there, but I have seen the photos that Lou printed for you. I knew exactly where youwere in them. Now, can we move to the next part? The one where I said I think you should sell them? Or should we sit on the part where you want to know how I know?” Her eyebrow quirks.

“Fine, keep your secrets.” My arms cross over my chest. “I don’t see why I couldn’t sell the photos. Although, I’ve got zero idea how to do that or where to even start. Should we talk with Silas and Nova first?”

Her hand waves in front of her. “I’ll handle talking with those two. I’m sure they will agree with my idea anyways. For now, just continue to take those beautiful photos of the flowers and a certain gray wolf.”

My mouth drops open. Of course she knows about Shadow. I push the chair back to stand up.

“Oh, before you go, I have some tea for you. It’s my personal blend for clarity. I know you’ve had a lot on your mind lately, maybe a tea on your front porch will help clear up some of those questions for you.”

She pushes herself slowly out of her chair as she moves to her apothecary table in the corner of her office. I watch as she opens different glass bottles, pulling a little from each one and placing the contents in a small cloth sack. After a few moments and what feels like ten ingredients later, she ambles over to me with her long flowing skirt swishing with each step. She stops in front of me holding the sack out for me to grab.

“Steep this little satchel in water for five minutes and add some of our local honey in it. You want to stir only with a wooden spoon to not change the elements of the tea. Sip it slowly and let the herbs take their time to work their way through. I’d recommend sitting on your front porch as you let the breeze carry away your concerns. Let me know if you need another tomorrow.” Her knobby, bent fingers reach up and gently tap me on my face. “Now, you better hurry or you’ll be late to another class today.”

My eyes squint as I glare at her. There’s no way she knows about that. How does she know so damn much? When I swing open her office door I find a wide-eyed Caelon standing on the other side. My mouth drops open slightly as I fully breathe in his scent for the first time, with nothing between us but a few steps. It’s the closest I’ve ever been to him in all these years. This close I can see the tiny freckles brushing over the tops of his cheeks and the tiny flecks of gold in his hazel eyes. Inhaling his scent, I feel as if we are standing in the woods together right after a storm. It’s calling to me as deeply as my hidden valley does.

Gail clears her throat behind us knocking both of us into action as Caelon whispers an “excuse me,” as he moves to pass me. I barely have enough time to shift my shoulder before it clashes against his, causing our hands to graze each other. The weirdest thing happens when our skin connects, it feels almost like static electricity when you touch someone. I suck in a breath, I’ve never experienced something like this before. Why did it happen with Caelon?

I turn to stare at him, confusion clouding my thoughts, as I stand in the doorway with him. We just stand there staring at each other as if we are both as confused by it as the other is. Unlike me though, his face is neutral. What is he thinking?

Gail clears her throat, calling out Caelon’s name giving me the opportunity to shake off these thoughts I’m having. I watch him walk into her office, not looking back even though I wish he would. When he doesn't, I turn and walk out of the Pack House and back to school. The entire walk back I replay the entire interaction over and over again several times. There’s something I’m missing, some reason that I’m always drawn to him. Why is he the only guy that I even care to get to know? Surely, there’s more to it?

Maybe I should ask Gail. She might seem like a meddlesome grandmother to most people but there’s something more to it.More divine. She always knows things that nobody else knows, always pushing people towards each other that are destined together, and knowing more about you than you do yourself.

After finishing school, I decide to stop in town to see if Lou has developed any more of those photos. I need to take them by Find Me Between the Pages so Aspen can make her selections from yesterday’s and today's photos.

The town is bustling with everyone pouring out of the schools into the shops. Sally’s Scoop, There It Is has a line of people out the door as the kids from school mingle. Flick My Bean has an equally long line as all girls head there to spread their gossip and snap photos of their coffees for the internet. My head shakes as I watch them all taking photos and trying again.