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“Well, my boy, Ian, is taking some of the kids down to the watering hole,” another man said.

“He’s a big, strong fella, just like his dad.

The kids have a ball, and he’s got eagle eyes.

Never had issues with any of the kids. You can meet him when you come down for breakfast, check him out, see if you feel comfortable with letting him take Kade. ”

I frowned as a few grumbles went up and down the table at this. There were other guys about to recommend their sons to me, I could see it as the broad chests swelled, eyes full of pride as they were about to tell me all about them.

They were being kind, I could see that. Here I was, a mangy, bruised looking thing, and they were fighting over which of their sons I should meet.

It was sweet, this pretence, but I looked like a victim of a war—not exactly dateable.

I forced the polite smile to stay plastered across my face, but it hurt, the effort it took.

Then Aidan lent back against the bench seat, laying his arm along the backrest behind me.

I glanced at the long, muscular limb revealed as his rolled-up sleeves slid up, then back at the table.

The grumbles increased as I watched the men deflate.

I looked up at Aidan, who shook his head ever so slightly as he focussed on staring down the rest of the men at the table.

“Enough of all this twittering,” Ophelia said, having appeared at the head of the table.

She was a picture of patrician power as her steel grey eyes scanned the table.

“Can’t you see the woman’s been hurt? Doubly so, with her child.

This isn’t the time to organise a date for your sons, and shame on you for trying. ”

She smiled at me, a warm gesture that softened her hard words, but I could see the strength in that jaw as she nodded to me.

“Now, you both look tired and hungry. Aidan, be a good boy and grab our guests some food. Mila,” the little girl who was sitting just across from Kade sat up straight and looked down the table, “you look after this boy. The kids here aren’t used to outsiders.

It’s your responsibility to make sure they understand, you hear me? ”

“Yes, Auntie.”

“Thanks, Ophelia. That’s very kind, but—” I started to say.

“Why shouldn’t I be kind?” she asked quietly. “Isn’t that what you deserve?”

The words died in my mouth as those formidable eyes met mine.

It was an intimidating mix of compassion and an iron will that I felt when I stared into hers.

I felt it almost physically, a pulsing need to do just what she wanted.

An eyebrow raised as I continued to stare.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to look away, it was that I couldn’t.

It wasn’t until Aidan moved, grabbing our plates and blocking my view of Ophelia for a moment, that I could finally drag them back to my lap.

I wasn’t sure what had just happened. Ophelia didn’t feel angry or hostile, it was just…

power. Power and perhaps a little surprise.

“Don’t worry, I’ll look after you,” the little girl, Mila said to Kade. “No one in my pack gets hurt.”

“Honey, it’s not a pack…” her mother said.

“Yes, it is,” Mila said, and for a second, I heard an echo of Ophelia in her voice. I looked over at Kade, who just stared at her, blinking.

Finally, whatever spell the little girl held over him broke, and he looked around, then nodded and said, “OK.”

The rest of the meal went a little smoother, everyone going and helping themselves to food.

The familiar tableaus of couples sharing plates, mothers and fathers feeding much smaller children settled something inside me.

Aidan appeared back with several plates, spreading them out before us.

“I wasn’t sure what to get, so I got a bit of everything. ”

“You didn’t have to—” I started to say.

“You gonna say no to one of the aunties?” he said with a wry smile. My eyes flicked from him to the older woman holding court at the end of the table.

“Yeah, alright.”

“Here,” he said, passing the two of us utensils. “Better start eating, or she’ll be down here in a sec, asking why not.”

His grin was a shy, cheeky thing, his eyes darting back to the food after locking with mine for a second.

For a moment, I felt like I’d just shared some kind of secret joke, but if you asked me what it was, I wouldn’t be able to explain.

Whatever it was, I felt a weird sense of relief when he went back to his food, picking up my own fork with grim determination.

I surprised myself by managing to eat a lot more than I’d thought I’d be able to.

I guess I’d eaten nothing for days, so I had something to make up for.

On the way down, I hadn’t thought I’d be able to eat a thing, but amid the steady hum of happy conversations, of being caught up in a cocoon of functional family dynamics, I was able to relax enough to eat.

I was jerked out of a very nice food coma when Ophelia said, “Right, young ones. You’ve done your duty and eaten a proper meal.

Mila, make sure there’s no fighting. Jenna, make sure the young ones serve themselves first, then the older ones.

Kailey, make sure no one takes too much. I can’t stand waste.”

“She’s got them acting like little mothers,” I said with a smile.

“Mothers?” Greg’s wife said. “I guess they will be one day. No, Ophelia’s training them to be leaders.”

I watched the large crowd of boys fall into line behind the girls, their female cousins not shy about chivvying them into order when they felt like it.

“Can I go, Mum?” Kade said. Mila stood with her hands on her hips, looking at him expectantly.

“Sure, love. Just mind what Ophelia said, OK.”

“Don’t worry, Miss Flick. I’ll keep him in line,” Mila said.

I turned to Aidan to ask him what the deal was, but he watched the two of them with an indulgent smile. “How are you feeling?” he said, his voice a low buzz against the chatter of the table. “Bit better with a belly full of food?”

“Yeah, thank you. I didn’t think I would, but I do.”

“No problem.” Those hazel eyes slid up to meet mine. “Just tell me if there’s anything else I can do to make you feel better.”

A shiver slid up my spine, part fear, part something I couldn’t quite face right now.

That felt like a line. It’d been a long time since someone had said anything like that to me, with that gentle but persistent stare, the close proximity, his body turned partially towards mine, arm along the back of the seat.

If he’s into you, his eyes’ll drop down to your lips , I thought, and sure enough, for a split second, they dipped down then up again.

I pulled back slightly, feeling my heart as it began to race, my fingers tightening into fists.

“Well, now that the young ones are occupied, let’s talk about Flick’s situation before they come back.”

Ophelia’s crisp words broke whatever was happening down my end of the table, everyone turning to face the older woman.

“Auntie…” Renee said, which earned her a damning stare.

“Flick, did you want to tell your story?”

If I thought I was uncomfortable before, I had no idea.

Every adult down both sides of the table looked down at me, waiting.

I swallowed, my mouth now bone-dry, a lump forming in my throat.

My eyes began to ache as the silence drew out longer and longer, tears starting to prick at my sockets as I faced them all down.

“It’s OK, Flick,” Aidan said, taking my hand.

It felt like it belonged to someone else, like I was watching him comfort one of the other women on the table.

I couldn’t feel his skin against mine. Instead, I just stared at it for a second, the long, brown fingers, the big strong palm cradling my hand within his. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

I was about to wipe out all those pretty smiles around the table.

What Rick had done was a gift in a way. I wanted to pretend, to go back to the polite social rituals I’d observed before I met Rick, but what he’d done made that impossible.

I obviously hadn’t wanted to be beaten, to see him do the same to my child, but unlike emotional abuse, I wasn’t going to be able to sweep it under the carpet.

I took a deep breath and faced down the table, not glaring, but not afraid anymore, and told them, “My husband beat me and my son. That’s why we have these bruises.

I smashed a marble ashtray into his head and knocked him unconscious, and then we took off in his car.

I just drove and drove, until we ended up here.

Peter and Aidan found us when we broke down and my…

” Was I going to say it? “My Tirian bit Peter.”

Weirdly, that got more gasps from the table than the rest of my story.

I paused for a moment, staring down at the white plate in front of me.

“Aidan and Peter have helped me when I really needed it, are still helping me, and I’m grateful for that, but that’s why we’re here.

We’re hungry and tired and sore and hurting.

I know how small towns work, if you could circulate that to avoid any more awkward situations, I’d appreciate that. ”

Ophelia nodded, her gaze still intense but not necessarily harsh. It was as if she could see everything that was in me without me saying a word, but she’d known me getting it out there would be for the better.

“When Flick is up to it, she’ll share this ‘Rick’s’ details and they will be circulated. Needless to say, any strangers that manage to come to Sanctuary will need to be reported directly to me.”

“Ophelia’s kinda a force of nature,” Aidan said as we drove up back to the house.

“You’re telling me! Is she going to pull me out of bed by my ear if I don’t turn up to her place?”

“Maybe. She’s done it to some of the others. I know she’s a tough old stick, but she’s good, trust me. She’s helped many of us get past painful things. It could be worth a try.”