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She blinked with surprise when her grandfather winked at her and looked down at her hands. It was only then that she realized that she was clutching not only Peterson’s hand in a death grip but also Van’s. She blushed and tried to pull her hands free, but neither man would loosen his grasp.

“The complex is coming along nicely. The other members of your clan are settling in,” Van said.

“What will happen next?” Cyrus asked.

“Once the permanent compound is completed, we’ll move everyone there. It will have all the modern conveniences without all the traffic,” Peterson said.

“What do you mean by ‘modern’ conveniences?” Elaina asked.

“Homes, schools, hospital, markets, along with plenty of room for you to expand. The area is near the Canadian Shifters of North America border. It’s a mixture of forest, mountains, and prairie land.

Centuries ago, it was designated a wildlife refuge.

Except for some scientists studying the fauna and flora and ranger training, it has been left to exist as it has been for thousands of years,” Van said.

“Where is this place? Is it far from our home?” she asked.

Van gently brushed his thumb along the back of her hand. “It’s a few hundred miles to the east. Tracy and her father recommended it. I guess there is a historical human site near where they are building the permanent village.”

“It also doesn’t hurt that there is a military base close by so the area is off-limits,” Peterson added.

Fear threatened to choke her. She studied her grandparents’ expressions. They were busy staring out of the windows of the flying machine. The first complex would be close to their home, but the other one?—

She tugged her hands free and clasped them together.

As she processed what the two men had shared, her mind became a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

The realization that she may never lay eyes on her family again if she didn’t go with her clan hit her hard.

Ella would be close if she were to stay here, yet somehow still untouchable.

Every aspect of her life would be in the hands of the shifters as she found herself thrust into an unfamiliar territory, surrounded by these ‘modern’ buildings.

This would be nothing but an elaborate cage camouflaged with fancy bars.

As she imagined what her life would become, a wave of nausea washed over her, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. The thought of losing her autonomy haunted her as she contemplated being at the mercy of their shifter overlords’ every whim. Mitchell had made a mistake in agreeing to this.

No. Not Mitchell. I made the first mistake.

Her conscience weighed heavily on her, and she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the overwhelming guilt.

She bore the weight of this responsibility on her shoulders alone.

Ella and Mitchell were not the ones who should be held responsible for what had happened.

Regretfully, no amount of wishing to reverse time or alter her past could prevent the haunting consequences of her reckless behavior from resurfacing.

“There’s the temporary compound,” Peterson announced.

Jayden opened her eyes and peered down at her clan’s temporary home. Through the front glass of the flying machine, she could see the familiar landmarks that helped her orient the location. It was south of the mountains and forests they had called home for as long as she could remember.

Nestled to the northwest of the compound, a sprawling lake provided a picturesque backdrop, its shimmering waters mirroring the clear blue sky.

From this vantage point, she could see the intricate web of rivers that flowed into it.

The compound loomed before them, many times larger than their humble village, enclosed by a towering fence.

Inside the compound, the center was devoid of any buildings.

Her eyes were immediately drawn to the distant roofs of nearly three dozen buildings, standing out against the tree line.

The structures varied in material, with some constructed from wooden slats and others appearing to be made of cloth.

Inside the compound, a diverse range of shifter vehicles occupied the space.

When the flying machine changed directions, she twisted her body to keep seeing the view of the landscape below.

The only way to reach the compound was via a solitary road.

It stretched for miles, hugging the edge of the lake and offering a continuous display of picturesque scenery.

In the distance, she could see additional shifter buildings, their silhouettes barely visible against the horizon.

The additional barrier of thick forests added a false sense of isolation.

Her eyes were drawn back to the majestic snowcapped mountain in the distance. They were so far from it that it was likely a hundred miles or more away. It was challenging to measure the distance. She could almost taste the crisp mountain air and hear the gentle rustling of leaves in the forest.

“Welcome to your temporary home,” Van murmured.

In that moment, their gazes locked, and time seemed to stand still. The longing she was feeling grew, aching deep within her, but this time it was for something she couldn’t quite put into words. When she looked into his dark brown eyes, it felt as if she was being pulled into an endless abyss.

The sensation of tiny silver threads reaching out to wrap around her caused her lips to part in surprise. As she blinked, the threads vanished, leaving her feeling disoriented and unsure of her surroundings. She turned her head in surprise when Peterson unexpectedly slid his hand into hers.

The sensation of drowning engulfed her once more, but now it was in the captivating embrace of a crystal-clear, blue lagoon.

Her heart quickened its pace, her chest heaving as she struggled to steady her breathing.

The allure of the two men was like a bewitching charm, awakening a fervent longing within her young body.

Her senses snapped back to reality when she felt the gentle thump of the skids when they touched the compact ground.

With a quick tug, she released her hand and looked away.

She glanced over at her grandparents. Her grandfather’s eyes lit up with excitement as he bombarded Van and Peterson with questions.

When she noticed the speculative expression in her grandmother’s eyes, a flush of embarrassment crept up her cheeks.

“I will see you settled,” she said.

The corners of her grandmother’s mouth turned up into a comforting smile. “Thank you for being here,” she said.

She bowed her head in acknowledgement. She had a sinking feeling deep down, knowing that the most challenging part was yet to come.

She waited as Van opened the door and exited the flying machine.

After assisting her grandfather and grandmother, he extended his hand towards her.

She hesitated before placing her hand in his.

One last time can’t hurt, then I will avoid them until I leave.