Page 6

I want to tell him to fuck off, but the truth is, he’s right. If he hadn’t found us, the Collinses would have either dragged me away and left Harper to die in the forest or been forced to kill me in the fight to save her. There was no good outcome in that scenario.

And now I’m watching the man who destroyed me carrying my daughter through the forest, laughing along with her…

Carrying our daughter.

The thought makes me panic inside. I want to grab Harper and run. We were so damn close to the port. So close to the life I’d promised her, a fresh start where we’d be happy together and safe.

Returning to the pack’s main town is the furthest thing I can imagine from a fresh start. I watch Harper closely, carefully. She’s happily chatting away about anything and everything she sees. Most importantly, she’s calm. It’s usually when she’s overexcited that her magic gets out of hand, and I’m just praying it stays that way until I figure out my next move.

It’s not that Callum’s family are the only shifters with magic, but they are certainly the strongest, and I’ve never seen anyone else on the island with the gift of lightning—until Harper. At first, I thought she had fire, but now I can feel the electricity build around her before the sparks begin, and I know without a doubt she has her father’s gift. She just can’t control it, so fire is usually the result, anyway.

I just don’t want Callum or anyone else in this godforsaken town to see it. I prefer that he assumes she has a father somewhere. I can’t risk the pack wanting to keep her; I know how much they value the gift. Oh my goodness, my parents…I don’t even want them to know about Harper.

Callum is a few steps ahead on the path, so I increase my speed to catch up and clear my throat to get his attention.

“C-Callum?” I call out, and he slows, visibly frustrated. “I, um, I don’t want to see my parents. We’re not staying, and I don’t need them bothering me.”

He comes to a complete stop, and I see something unreadable flash across his face before he schools his expression again. “Ava,” he begins, almost carefully. “I’m sorry to say your mom passed on. I don’t know the details. Your dad…he’s gone, the house is just empty.”

Of all the things I was expecting him to say, this wasn’t it. For a moment, I feel like the wind has been completely knocked out of me, and I simply stare at him. Something like pity is reflected back at me, and I want to tell him to get lost and that I don’t need his pity. But I don’t. Instead, I look at Harper and feel the weight of a thousand questions hit me at once: Why didn’t she love me? Why didn’t she protect me? Why didn’t she care?

Harper smiles at me with pure innocence and love. And I know I will never let her be hurt the way I was.

“Ava?” Callum prompts, pulling me from my thoughts. “I am sorry—”

“That’s okay, we weren’t close, really,” I say quietly. “That’s why I didn’t want to see them.”

Harper wriggles in his arms, obviously annoyed at stopping, as she was clearly enjoying the journey. The town isn’t far now, and I don’t want her to get worked up, so I start walking, but he stops me, blocking the path. “I’ll look into it for you. Charlie will know more.”

I bristle at my brother’s name. "No, I don’t want to see him, either.” Callum looks visibly confused and opens his mouth to speak, but I hold up a hand to stop him. “He won’t want to see me, either. After all, did he go looking for me?”

I can see the answer written all over his face: No. I already knew that, but it still stings to have it confirmed. The silence hangs between us for a moment; he appears lost for words before he finally notices how much Harper is wriggling and refocuses his attention on her. He nods at me, turning to keep walking. As he turns, I notice the tiniest sparks dancing on her fingertips and hold my breath, waiting to see if he notices. When he doesn’t, I thank the goddess, a reprieve that is temporary as we turn the final bend and see the town come into view.

I hate this town.

It occurs to me that I never asked Callum why he was out in the forest by himself so early. Not that it matters, but our approach to town coincides with the whole place coming alive for the day. I feel eyes on me from the moment we reach the outermost house, and it only gets worse the closer we get to the center. Thankfully, we haven’t run into any of his betas, so no one dares ask Callum why he’s walking with me, but that doesn’t stop them from openly staring with hostile glares that make me want to run far away.

Harper seems to pick up on the change in atmosphere, twisting and turning in Callum’s arms, reaching for me. “Mama, Mama, Mama.”

Her calls bring even more attention, and I hear whispers coming from a group of women outside the bakery: She has a child, who would have thought? Imagine coming back here with a child in tow. Always strange, that one.

“I think someone wants you now,” Callum says, handing Harper to me and giving her a surprisingly affectionate smile, seemingly oblivious to the commotion our presence is causing.

I take Harper back, relieved that my aching muscles feel stronger again as I hold her with ease. She sinks against me, and I savor our bond for a moment, allowing the peace she gives me to soothe my frayed nerves. Ignoring the whispers, we follow Callum toward his house. It feels like a million years since I was last here, and I have to ignore the waves of grief and fear that rise up as the property comes into view.

The alpha’s home was naturally always the most impressive in town, but it appears Callum has made some serious upgrades. The historic cabin exterior has been refurbished and is now complemented by giant steel and glass windows that blend the old seamlessly with the new. Callum’s childhood home always had a slightly ominous vibe, being Ralph’s abode, but now it feels fresher and brighter. Although almost anything would look more welcoming than where Harper and I have been living.

I follow Callum up the familiar steps and wait as he opens the door. It appears the outside transformation was only the beginning; the interior has been completely remodeled. Entering the hallway, I’m stunned. Without a word, we follow Callum into what appears to be a modern chef’s kitchen. I stand dumbfounded, staring at the high-end appliances, gleaming counters, and custom cabinetry, trying to remember what the layout of the house used to look like. I glance around, seeing that beyond the kitchen is an open-concept living space with a massive fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the forest surrounding us. It’s breathtaking, but I can't relax into it.

“This is beautiful,” I whisper, hoping to break our awkward silence.

Callum nods absently, distracted by something only he can see. “I wanted something more…welcoming, I guess.” He clears his throat, looks at Harper, and asks, “Are you hungry?”

Harper claps her hands and beams. It breaks my heart to think how brave she has been and how, with only a small amount of bread earlier, she must be starving. She rarely complains, and it’s not because she’s just being good; it’s because all she’s known is hardship. The thought makes my stomach turn, but it also strengthens my resolve that things are going to get better for us now. I’ll figure out our next steps.

I watch as Callum moves around his kitchen, making some food for us. I feel awkward just standing there, and I try not to stare, but I find myself unable to tear my eyes away. Gone is the handsome boy I stupidly fell for, and in his place is a man—an alpha. His presence is almost too much for me, an overload for my senses. My now-dormant wolf begins to stir, something that is both confusing and terrifying. Our tentative bond was irreversibly destroyed when he rejected me; the last thing I need is for my wolf to start harboring false hope now.

I try to keep my emotions in check while Harper enjoys her snack and chatters with Callum. I must admit, he’s better with her than I would have imagined.

“Cute kid,” he says, tearing me from my thoughts. “Her dad a shifter?”

Although his voice is level, there’s a strange undercurrent to his tone, and I find myself turning red under the scrutiny in his expression. I nod, grabbing the empty plates and taking them to the sink. “Mmm, I don’t really like talking about it.”

With my back to him at the sink, I hold my breath, praying that he’ll drop the subject. For a moment, I think he’s going to push me on it, but thankfully, Harper’s babbling seems to break the spell, and although I hear him let out a frustrated sigh, he doesn’t say anything more. At least, not for now.

I wash the dishes, just grateful for something to do, and then Callum offers to show us to the spare room. We climb a wide wooden staircase that leads to a hallway with several doors on either side. My jaw drops as he opens one of them to reveal a large suite complete with what looks like a walk-in closet, an ensuite bathroom, and king-size bed that looks out over the treetops outside.

"It's yours for now," Callum says softly as he sets Harper down on the plush carpeting in front of the window seat. "Do you mind sharing?”

I have to force my mouth not to hang open, shaking my head. “N-no, we always share,” I reply, smiling as Harper skips to the bed and throws herself on it. Tears prick my eyes as I see how happy she is to be somewhere so comfortable. “Thank you, this is too much. We’ll be out of your way in no time.”

Something unreadable flashes across his face before he replies, “Let’s just see if it’s safe first. You’re welcome to stay as long as you need.” He pauses at the door. “Dinner’s at seven, get some rest. I’m sure it’s been a long time since you got any sleep.”

My instinct is to tell him we’re fine, maybe offer to do some cleaning or something. Anything to make myself useful. But I glance back at Harper on the bed, already yawning, and the pull to be close to her is overwhelming. I’m about to answer when the doorbell rings; suddenly, I feel nervous, hyper-aware that I’m right back where I don’t want to be.

Better than being at the mercy of the Collinses, though.

Callum seems to sense my tension as he nods reassuringly. “That will be my betas. We were obviously spotted coming into town. I messaged them anyway. Those wolves looked like rogues, and were too close to town for my liking.” Pausing, he adds, “We can talk about that later. What do you want me to say to Charlie?”

“Nothing,” I reply quickly. “I don’t think we have anything to say to each other.”

Callum stares at me for a moment before relenting. “Fine. I don’t think that will hold long, though.”

“I won’t be here long,” I retort as he closes the door.

Once alone with Harper, I almost wish I hadn’t been short with him, but the thought of seeing Charlie makes my heart break.

There was a time when I loved my big brother more than anything in the world, and I thought he loved me. And then he turned his back on me, shunning me. I can understand why he wanted to get away from our parents, but I can’t forgive him for abandoning me.

I walk over to Harper, who is already snuggled down on the bed, fully clothed. Looking through to the bathroom, I consider how amazing it will be to give her a proper bath, but it can wait. I lie down next to her and pull her close to me. As she falls asleep, I tell her our familiar bedtime story about our perfect house, a life full of friends and happiness. Lying on the soft blanket in a warm, safe bedroom, for a moment, I could almost fool myself into thinking that it was true.