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Charlie shrugged, which Alfie took as permission. He climbed easily, his shifter strength and agility making short work of the ascent. He settled on the branch next to Charlie, letting his legs dangle in the air.

“Your aunt is really worried about you,” Alfie said after a moment of silence.

Charlie stared down at his feet, his small legs swinging in the air. “I didn’t mean to worry her,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I know, buddy.” Alfie kept his tone gentle, giving the boy space to open up. “Sometimes we just need to get away and think.”

Charlie nodded, picking at the bark with his fingers. “I wanted to go to the garden center and look at the butterflies,” he admitted. “It’s peaceful there.”

Alfie nodded, understanding dawning. “You know you shouldn’t go off alone. And you should always tell your aunt where you are.”

Charlie sighed, his shoulders slumping. “She was arguing with my mom.”

“Ah,” Alfie said, the simple syllable conveying his understanding.

“My mom wants to take me away.” Charlie looked up at Alfie, his eyes wide with worry. “But I like it here.”

“I do, too,” Alfie agreed, feeling a tingle at the base of his spine as he sensed Marion and Heather approaching.

His bear stirred within him, alert and protective.They must have driven here,his bear observed.

“I want to learn about the bugs and the plants and see wolves and bears,” Charlie continued, his words tumbling out faster now. “I don’t want to go back to the city. There was no backyard. No flowers.”

“Hey,” Alfie said, putting his arm around Charlie and hugging him close. The boy’s small body felt fragile against his side, but there was strength there, too.

And resilience,his bear added.

“And I don’t like it when Aunt Marion cries,” Charlie added, his voice breaking. “She is happy here, too.”

“I am,” Marion’s voice called from below them.

Charlie stiffened in Alfie’s embrace. “Aunt Marion,” he whispered, guilt washing over his face. “I’m sorry.”

“And I am sorry, too,” she said, her face tilted up toward them, tears glistening on her cheeks. “I should have woken you up when your mom came to visit this morning.”

Alfie held Charlie’s hands and carefully lowered him into his aunt’s waiting arms. She caught him easily, pulling him tight against her chest.

“I was so worried about you,” she murmured into his hair, holding him tight.

Heather stepped forward hesitantly, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. “And I shouldn’t have come by unannounced and made demands without asking you what you wanted to do, Charlie bear,” she said.

“Mom.” Charlie reached out one arm while keeping the other wrapped firmly around Marion. Heather stepped forward, and for a moment, the three of them stood locked together, a tangle of arms and tears, and whispered apologies.

This is how it should be,his bear said, grudgingly ready to forgive Heather if she did the right thing by Charlie now.

“Does that mean I can stay in Bear Creek?” Charlie asked, pulling back just enough to look between the two women.

“If that’s what you want,” Heather said. She glanced at Alfie, something like respect flickering across her face. “I can see that you have good people here who care for you and your aunt.”

Charlie’s face lit up with hope. “Really? You mean it?”

Heather nodded, though Alfie could see the pain it cost her. “I do. Your happiness matters more than anything, Charlie bear. I see that now.”

Marion looked at her sister with surprise and open gratitude. “Thank you, Heather.”

Alfie climbed down from the tree, giving the family their moment while remaining close enough to offer support if needed. His bear paced contentedly within him, pleased that the situation had been resolved peacefully.

“Maybe,” Marion suggested cautiously, “we could all have dinner together tonight? Talk about how we might make this work?”