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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 you were 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.

The benches lining the sidewalk are full of the older generations grumbling about how the kids are loud, obnoxious, and my favorite one, “ruining the town.” Old people are so funny. As if they weren’t young once, behaving just the same.

Lou’s shop is at the end of town right next to The Daily Sage, a cute little herb and crystal store that always smells like burning sage and a witch’s cottage with the hints of burning wood, herbs, and magic.

Marlowe, the owner, is a Pine Marten shifter, who’s known for stealing baked goodies from Crust Issues, which is owned by Bea, aka Honey, a black bear shifter.

The little creature loves Honey’s cinnamon rolls!

Pine Martens, a part of the weasel family, are known for their love of sugary treats and stealing.

Never, and I mean never, leave your sweet roll unattended around one of them.

Honestly, she is too adorable in her tiny form to resist the urge to want to pick her up and cuddle her.

I’m not sure when it started for her, but this battle between Marlowe and Bea has been a long time thing.

Speaking of Marlowe, the tiny Pine Marten is sprinting across the street with one of the famous cinnamon rolls clutched in its mouth right as I’m about to walk in front of The Daily Sage.

Honey storms out of her bakery waving a rolling pin in the air.

“Damnit Marlowe! Get back here with the cinnamon roll!”

The blur of brown and orange fur streaks across the sidewalk right in front of me and jumps through the doggy door disappearing from sight. I can’t help but laugh because that roll is long gone and Honey knows it too. She throws her arms up in the air before walking back into Crust Issues.

I push open the door to Flash Me Studio to find Lou peeking out her front window at the drama that unfolded.

She smirks when she looks at me. "Well, I reckon Marlowe helped herself to another cinnamon roll, didn't she?"

“Yeah, that pine marten is hella fast when she has stolen a sweet treat,” I say with a giggle.

“I’ve got those photos for you. The ones you dropped off yesterdee.” Lou walks behind the glass display case grabbing the envelope full of my next round of photos. “You’ve got some great shots in there. You takin’ them to Aspen?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan. Thought if I gave her both sets to look at, I’m sure she could pick something from the pile.

” Grabbing the envelope from her, I slipped it into my bag along with yesterday’s.

Hopefully Aspen finds something she loves.

My fingers graze over the tea bag that Gail gave me earlier, reminding me that I’ve got to drink tea this evening.

“Looks like your wolf was the star of the show in just ‘bout all them pictures.” She gives me that knowing look.

My cheeks warm as the blush spreads across them. I’m not even sure why I’m so embarrassed. Is it from the dreams haunting me, the eyes following me, or that I love my Shadow time?

“Yeah, he’s too beautiful not to take photos of.” I shrug like it’s normal.