Page 24 of The Witch’s Shifter (Season of the Witch #3)

Aurora

THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE. The window in the parlor is fixed, the autumn sun is shining, and my family should be here any minute. It felt like this moment would never arrive, but now it has.

Harrison sits upon a sun-warmed boulder at my side, his tail swishing behind him, eyes trained on Wysteria Way, the main road leading to Wysteria from Faunwood.

This is where the wagon carrying my family will arrive.

Any moment now, we should hear the wagon creaking down the road, and my sister’s beautiful silver hair should come into view.

The thought of pulling her into my arms makes me so giddy I can barely stand still.

Alden and Rowan stand on either side of me, and Faolan is here too, though he’s lingering farther back, leaning against a pine tree a short distance from the wagon stop.

He’s been with us for a couple weeks now, but he’s not relaxed around the men as much as I’d hoped.

He still barely speaks to them, and it’s made for a tense atmosphere in Brookside.

Hopefully the harvest festival and Samhain will shake loose some of the weight that’s been lurking around the cottage lately.

“Are you excited?” Alden asks. He’s wearing the new pair of trousers I bought for him to make up for the ones Faolan destroyed, and they hug his broad legs flatteringly. His cloak flaps lightly in the breeze, and his dark curls gleam in the late-morning sun.

On my other side, Rowan looks radiant, as always.

His red hair is vibrant, the long locks hanging around his smooth pale face.

He’s wearing an emerald-green tunic with golden stitching, and his fitted trousers are tucked into a pair of polished black boots.

It’s the first time I’ve seen him in such formal clothing, and it reminds me that he comes from nobility.

It’s easy to forget when he’s feeding the chickens in bare feet or helping me in the kitchen, flour dusted across his cheeks.

Seeing him now, though, it’s clear he hails from wealth the likes of which I’ve never seen.

Still, he smiles when he meets my eyes, and it’s that same grin he’s always given me—lighthearted and a little bit silly.

My gaze slides to Faolan. Leaning against the tree with his arms crossed, he looks.

.. unapproachable, to say the very least. His inky hair shadows half of his face, and his body language makes it clear he’d rather not be approached.

When he sees me looking, he holds my gaze, but his lips don’t turn up.

I know this isn’t what he wants—I’ve learned over these weeks that he’s a bit of a loner, someone who prefers being in the woods by themselves over being surrounded by people. And there’s a bit of that in me too. I just hope that, in time, we can find a way for him to fit into the family.

Family.

I suppose that’s what we’ve become. We may be a bit rough around the edges, and goddess knows we’re not perfect, but we have love, and that’s the most important thing of all.

My heart already feels full to bursting when Harrison says, “She’s here!”

A little laugh puffs from me; he couldn’t care less about my mother or even Wyland, Selene’s husband.

In his eyes, Selene is the only one who matters.

I suppose that’s a testament to who she is, with her open heart and never-ending well of empathy and compassion.

Harrison picks his people with care; it’s one of the many things I admire about him.

The wagon rattles up the path, with three people sitting in the back. Selene is already waving a hand over her head, and I wave back, lifting up onto my toes as if that’ll help her see me better. Behind me, Rowan chuckles.

I grip my skirt in my hands to keep from vibrating out of my skin with excitement.

I can’t believe she’s here!

Finally, the wagon comes to a stop, and Wyland is the first to climb out. Long and lanky, with golden hair and sun-kissed lashes, he’s always reminded me of a willow tree. He wraps me in a big hug, and I squeeze him back.

“Hey, little sis,” he says affectionately. “Good to see you.”

“You too,” I squeak, throat clogged with emotion.

Wyland releases me and reaches up to help Selene out of the wagon.

She moves slowly, and in one arm she’s cradling a little bundled form—my nephew, Fletcher.

I cried when I read Selene’s letter telling me she’d birthed the baby, and tears are already streaking down my cheeks as she steps onto the ground and looks up to meet my eyes.

“Want to meet your nephew?” she asks.

And her voice alone makes me let out a tiny sob.

Unable to speak, I just nod, and Selene steps forward and eases the baby into my arms. His blankets are warm and plush, and just his tiny face is poking out from the bundle.

His cheeks are slightly flushed from the crisp autumn air, but he’s sleeping soundly, a little smile on his pink lips.

“He’s . . . beautiful,” I say through my tears.

Wyland and Selene smile at each other, and then Wyland lifts a hand to help my mother out of the wagon.

Oh, goddess. My mother.

We’ve only exchanged a letter or two since I moved to Faunwood back in spring. Mama was not happy about my moving here—and I’m sure she’ll remind me of that fact throughout their weeklong stay.

Her pointy-toed boots touch down onto the ground, and she meets my eyes. Then her gaze slides down , to my pregnant belly. A furrow forms in her brow as her gaze flicks from Rowan to Alden, then back to my stomach.

I’ve explained a bit of this to Selene, but I have no idea what she’s told my mother. Not much, likely. And now I’ll have to elaborate.

But not yet. Right now, I just want to look at Fletcher’s perfect face and hold him close to my chest. He stirs in my arms and opens his mouth wide to yawn. Then he falls right back asleep.

“You must be Alden,” Selene says, shaking me from my admiration of Fletcher’s cheeks.

Alden bows politely. “Pleased to meet you.”

Rowan steps forward from behind me, one hand brushing along my low back. I lean into his touch a bit, appreciating the contact. Whenever I need a bit of grounding, he’s always there.

“Selene, Wyland, Evelyn.” Ever charming, Rowan shakes Wyland’s hand, then stoops to place a kiss upon Selene’s and my mother’s knuckles. My mouth almost hits the ground when a slight blush crosses my mother’s cheeks.

“And you are?” she asks.

“Sir Rowan Highcliff, my lady.”

Her blush only deepens.

Beside me, Alden shifts, and when I glance his way, I can tell he’s holding back a smile.

“Selene!” Harrison meows, and she immediately kneels and sweeps him into her arms.

“Oh, Harrison,” she says, burying her face in his silky white hair. “I’ve missed you so much. Which reminds me...” Carrying him, she walks to the wagon, loosens her travel bag, and pulls out a little pouch. Harrison squirms in her arms, his nose scenting the air.

“Wispfish?” he asks.

Selene can’t hear him, not like I can, but being a witch herself, she’s always had enough intuition to gather what he’s communicating without needing words.

“Wispfish jerky ,” she says. “I found it at the deli and had to get it for you. Here.” She pulls a piece of jerky from the cotton pouch and holds it out. Harrison takes a sniff, then bites down on it, making Selene giggle. “I thought you’d like it.”

Harrison devours the entire piece, then scratches at the pouch for another.

“Who’s that?” Wyland whispers, his gaze darting over my shoulder.

I turn to see Faolan still standing beside the tree. He’s not made any move to approach, and in fact, he looks like he’s contemplating whether or not he should turn and run.

But I don’t blame him. This is a lot, I know. I offer him what I hope is an encouraging smile, but he doesn’t return it.

“That’s Faolan,” I say.

Selene arches a silver eyebrow at me. I’ve not yet told her about him and everything that’s transpired over the last few weeks. It’s all felt up in the air, and I didn’t want to jinx anything by writing to her about it too soon. But now that she’s here, I’m going to fill her in on everything .

And there’s a lot to be said.

“Let us help you with your bags,” Rowan says, stepping toward the wagon.

I appreciate his well-timed distraction. I’d rather not explain everything to everyone right at this very moment. All in time.

My mother, still pink in the cheeks, moves aside to allow him access to the heavy bags stuffed into the wagon. Alden joins him, and together they pull out my family’s belongings. Wyland assists, and between the three of them, we’ll be able to make one trip to the inn.

“I can’t wait to see Auntie’s cottage,” Selene says wistfully, Harrison still clutched in her arms. “I wonder how much I’ll still recognize from when we were just girls.”

“There’ll be time enough for that later,” Mama says. “Let’s get situated first.”

I’m unsurprised that she’s in no rush to get to the cottage. She and her sister never saw eye to eye on much, and my mother was drawn to the bustling city while Auntie wanted to escape to the woods. It’s still hard to wrap my head around how different they were.

“We can get you settled in at the Golden Lantern,” Rowan says, drawing Mama’s gaze, “and once you’re rested, we can have supper at the cottage.”

Mama nods, being surprisingly amiable. I didn’t know she had a thing for redheaded knights.

Selene and I exchange glances and repressed smiles.

The eight of us—including Harrison and Fletcher—turn away from the wagon and start toward Faunwood. When I glance up to look for Faolan, a heavy weight settles into my stomach like a stone.

Because he’s gone, vanished without a trace. Though I scan the distant trees and roads for him, I see nothing.

Alden meets my eyes and offers me a soft smile. “He’ll come around,” he whispers, voice low enough I’m sure the others don’t hear.

I nod once—I hope he’s right—then refocus my attention on Fletcher, trying not to let Faolan’s absence bother me. Selene is finally here, and I’m going to enjoy every moment I have with her.