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“For how long?”

“She says she’s back for good.” Asher moved to interrupt him, but Abe held up his hand. “That house is falling down around her. I know she has a lot to do until you can trust her again, but she’s trying.”

Asher crossed his arms as the cold spring air blew around them.

“Can you forgive her?” Abe asked.

Asher shrugged.

“Well, if you are open to it, she could use our help. And for what it’s worth, I think she meant what she said. I think she’s back for good.”

Asher nodded. “I don’t know if I can trust her again.”

“What does your wolf want?”

Asher cut him a glare. “You know what my wolf wants.”

“Who has better judgment, you or your wolf?”

“Fuck you,” Asher said with a rough chuckle. “I know . . . I’ll forgive her because I don’t have a choice, and I think that might make me just as angry.”

“Yeah,” Abe said, patting him on the back. “I get it, but I think this is a good thing.”

The branches on the edge of the tree line swayed in the breeze, making long shadows dance on the ground before them. Asher watched them, unsure of what else to do. If anyone understood the push and pull inside of him, it was Abe. Maybe Abe and his wolf were right, but he just couldn’t face it yet.

“Will you at least help me make her house safe? It needs a new roof and all kinds of other work.”

“Of course,” he said with his eyes still on the shadows. “You think she’s here to stay?”

“I do.”

“Okay, I’m gonna go.”

Before he could step off the porch, Abe pulled him into a hug. Asher stilled in surprise, then returned the gesture and patted him on the back.

“Wow, Julie turned you into a hugger,” Asher said with some brotherly ribbing.

“Yeah, it’s amazing what finding your mate will do.”

Asher shook his head and stepped off the porch. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He made his way into the woods on the path to his own cabin, his wolf wanting to take off and make sure Sunny was safe. He decided not to fight it.

Before he knew it, he was sitting right where he’d sat a few short hours ago listening to her tell him she was sorry and that she was here to stay.

He wanted to believe her, really, but he just wasn’t sure if he could move past it.

He sat in the shadows of the forest, watching her move around in the house before emerging carrying too much to the trash.

He watched as she struggled down the stairs, seemingly unaware of the broken step at the bottom.

Pay attention, he thought, his wolf whining to go to her. Then she put her foot on the broken step and began to fall. The boxes and bag clattered to the ground.

Before he had time to think about it, Asher shifted and caught Sunny before she fell.

Her gaze flew up to him in surprise.

“Asher,” she gasped.