Page 19 of Rogue If You Want To (Fur-Ever Mountain Pack #2)
TORIN
“What do you think?” Creven was speaking to Auden. “Can we repair it or should we tear it down?”
The building we were looking at had stood on the land before Auden had claimed it for his pack, years ago.
People came and went, and this huge cabin, that was far from Auden’s trailer and the other cabins, had fallen into disrepair.
Half the roof was missing and the windows had been boarded up.
It was in a sorry state but Creven had images on his computer of how it could look after repairs.
Creven’s idea was to make it a library, and the pack was in full support.
We were a new pack with little history, but what had started out as Auden and a few stragglers in need of a bolthole was now a thriving community.
Creven, as Alpha, wanted a place where our history could be recorded and where pack members could spend quiet time and contemplate.
“The foundations are sturdy, and there’s no sign of termite damage.” Auden didn’t have a particular attachment to the place, though neither he nor Creven wanted to spend money unnecessarily.
Otto, especially, was excited about turning this broken shack into a library. My book-loving mate had asked if he could become the librarian, and Creven had agreed. With a full-time job, creating a library from nothing, Otto said he finally had a purpose and could contribute to the pack.
The porch sagged as Otto stepped onto it, avoiding a huge hole in the middle, but as the wind blew, the old wood groaned, and I pulled him away.
“It needs a miracle.” Larkin shifted Oak onto his other hip as he surveyed the damage.
“Or a pack that is willing to get stuck in and restore it to what it once was,” I added, and Otto grinned.
“Don’t think it was much to begin with,” Auden muttered.
“Then it will surpass its original incarnation.”
Names of the people who’d stayed here were carved on the front door, and it reminded me of the height chart Mom had made. The door was part of the pack’s history, and Creven said it had to be saved. Maybe not the door itself which was rotten but the part with the names.
Creven stepped inside, and though I wished my mate would stay where he was, he followed with me at his side.
I knew little about construction, but Auden said most of the support beams were in good condition, though parts of the floor were rotten. None of us needed expertise to know the roof had to be replaced. The inside had seen animals make it their home, probably during the winter.
Auden poked around and said it would take three to four weeks to complete.
Lazlo, a bear shifter who’d joined the pack just before Otto and I did, spoke up. He could supervise the carpentry, as that had been his trade after he left school. As well as his expertise, he had a box of tools in his truck which would save us money.
Another pack member, Noel, had contacts at a hardware store down the mountain and could look into buying old inventory.
We spent the next few days going over plans and pack members volunteered their time, knowledge, and skills.
Creven had once lived in a small cabin in the middle of the woods and he was handy with a hammer, while Auden was good at telling people what to do.
I did what I was told and pitched in where necessary.
As Larkin was looking after Oak, he co-ordinated the food and snacks, but it was Otto who was head of logistics.
He was anywhere and everywhere, helping to remove damaged boards, scrambling up ladders, and making suggestions regarding the design.
Seeing him interact with pack members, laugh at their jokes, and give his opinion about the internal layout, confirmed that the trauma wouldn’t define who he was.
I brushed dust off his cheek and kissed him while passing him a tool I didn’t know the name of.
“For the first time in my life, this land and the pack feels permanent. In the bevy, I was marking time, trying to avoid my father and his temper and staying out of Lutris’s way when he was on a tirade about something or other.”
I shuddered when he spoke of his so-called family life in the bevy and compared it to my loving upbringing.
“It’s where our child will be born and will consider the land their home.”
We worked every day from dawn until the sun set, wanting to get the building complete before winter arrived. Otto showed us the layout he’d chosen, with the kids’ reading area near the windows facing east.
“We’ll have a large rug and beanbags where they can read and listen to story time.” My mate’s enthusiasm was infectious, and I cleaned and polished the newly installed windows with increased energy.
Listening to his plans for the library brought back memories of when Mom took me to story time at our local library.
It was there I imagined faraway places and adventures, never dreaming of how my life would turn out.
If I could go back and tell some of my contemporaries what I’d experienced since leaving town, they wouldn’t believe me. Some days, I didn’t either.
With the structure complete, Otto and Lazlo designed bookshelves that would maximize the space and create separate reading areas for adults as well as kids.
Bree, a fox shifter, painted a mural on the wall of the woods outside the building, and we installed a counter where people could make tea or coffee. There were small tables, each with reading lamps, situated around the space and a large desk for the librarian.
Everyone traipsed in after Otto insisted they remove their shoes and admired what the pack had accomplished.
“What we’re missing is books,” Otto said.
Auden surprised us by hauling over a tattered box with books he said were from his “previous life.” And many of the pack members donated novels they’d read, including Creven and Larkin who had brought books from their old cabin, while I donated my mom’s favorite cookbook.
“I have nothing from my previous life.” Otto sighed.
I slung my arms around him, saying we were creating new memories and his contribution was in the building itself. “You’re part of this place, just as we all are.”
“I have something.” Creven placed a leather book on the shelf we’d labeled pack history.
“I’d like to invite every pack member to take a page and say how they arrived here at Stoney River and what it means to be part of the pack.
” He said we could add our story in words, images, photos, or even comics.
Otto was teary, and he sniffed on hearing what Alpha said, but he ushered everyone outside and gave me a large ribbon to string across the porch pillars. He handed Creven a pair of scissors and instructed everyone to take photos.
“I declare the Stoney River Library open.” Creven cut the ribbon, and everyone cheered.
It was close to dinner time, and the pack members headed to the dining hall. But Otto and I went into the library and planted ourselves in the kids’ beanbags. The sun was setting, and we each pulled a book from the shelf.
“Just think, generations of adults and kids will come here to read and study, and some might want to escape the noise outside.” Otto rubbed a foot over mine.
We needed kids’ books, and I suggested we drive down the mountain and visit a secondhand book store on the weekend. We could also scour the internet for garage sales, as they often had cartons of books.
“It’s a new beginning, not just for the library but for us too.” Otto looked around with pride at what we’d created. “And just like me, it’s possible that when everything is bleak and your life is in chaos, you can rebuild from scratch.”
I kissed the top of his head, content that going forward our lives wouldn’t be constant upheaval.
Outside the window, lights were being turned on in the cabins, and I got up and flicked on the library porch lights.
“Hungry?” I asked. Otto was curled up in the beanbag with my mom’s cookbook. But if we didn’t get to the dining hall, we’d miss out on dinner.
“I suppose. It’s a shame we can’t live here. Imagine waking up and being surrounded by books.”
I pointed out that he’d be here every day and the library was only a short walk away from where we were staying.
We wandered toward the dining hall, greeting people who’d already had their meal and were returning home or out for an evening stroll. Some of them congratulated Otto on the library and asked about the opening hours.
My mate paused and placed my hand on his belly. “Just as we're winding down for the night, our little one is waking up. I might need to shift and swim after the meal.”
We were convinced our baby was an otter shifter because he loved when Otto was in the water. There’d be no pruney fingers and toes for our little one.