ONE
ELLA
Ella stepped into her new house with a breathless squeal, twirling in the center of the tiny living room. The scent of fresh paint and old wood filled the space. It was different from anything she’d experienced before, but it was perfect because it was hers, and she got to make it her own. The owner of her new home had been more than kind, telling her she could do anything she wanted to it, and she couldn’t wait to do just that.
Shadowridge was smaller than the cities she had known, quieter, but to her it felt like the perfect blank slate, a fresh start wrapped in charm, kind people, and a future she’d always wanted. She’d always be thankful for growing up in New York, but while her parents loved living in the big city, she’d never thrived. It was too busy, too loud, too much of everything she hated. Thankfully, her parents, though they were worried about her moving so far away, supported her choice to try somewhere new. She knew some people weren’t as lucky as she was.
She set her suitcase near the boxes that had been delivered yesterday, surveying her new home. It was cozy, barely big enough for the small loveseat tucked into the corner, a kitchenette with mismatched cabinets, and a bay window that let in a good amount of light and would be the perfect space forreading. The bedroom had just enough space for the twin bed, which she secretly loved because it would be the perfect kind of bed to make her feel extra Little, and the bathroom was compact but well thought out with built-in storage. Everything about the place was small, but she loved it instantly.
Humming to herself, she started to unpack. Her clothes, mostly soft, pastel sweaters and skirts, fit neatly into the narrow antique wardrobe. She lined her few pairs of shoes along the base, then turned to her favorite part of unpacking. Decorating.
One by one, she pulled out her treasures. A stuffed rabbit, its ears well-loved and floppy, took its place on her pillow. A delicate music box painted with roses, which her mom had given her, went on the nightstand. She draped frilly, lace-trimmed tapestries over the walls, transforming the plain space into a dreamscape of pinks and creams. Fairy lights came next, twinkling where she strung them above the window frame, over the cabinets in the kitchenette, and along a wall shelf in the living room. A girl could never have enough twinkly lights.
By the time she was done, the tiny house felt likehers. Warm, safe, and filled with all her favorite things. She’d check out some of the local thrift stores to find some more pillows for the window seat and a few other things to personalize the space a bit more.
Sighing happily, she flopped onto the bed, sinking into the plush comforter she had brought with her.
“Home,” she whispered to the stuffie, giving its ear a gentle pat. “We did it. All on our own, Rabbit.”
Her parents didn’t understand her desire to live by her own means. They were rich, and Ella had always lived a privileged life, something she’d always be thankful for. But throughout her teenage years, going to private schools, and living the life that most people dreamed of, she had always wanted to know what it was like to be a regular person. Without drivers, without butlers,without money. Which is why she had refused to take a single dollar of her parents’ money when she moved. If she was doing this, she was doing it on her own. They hadn’t understood why, but at least they had respected her wishes. Part of her wondered if her parents felt proud of her because of what she wanted to do.
She sent them a text message, letting them know she was settled in and that she loved them, to which they promptly responded, saying they loved her as well and to keep in touch.
As the sky darkened outside, Ella spent some time figuring out what she would wear on her first day at work. Despite Shadowridge being a small town that wasn’t overly fancy, she still wanted to impress her new boss. Working as the mayor’s assistant, she was sure she would have eyes on her at times, and she wanted to represent him well. From all her research, the mayor was well-liked and respected. He was into helping the less fortunate and was working on a project to help people with mental health struggles find the resources they needed. While Ella didn’t know a lot about politics, she knew enough to know there needed to be more politicians like Mayor Winslow in the world.
After finally deciding on an outfit, she showered and dried her hair, then put on her favorite pair of footie pajamas, the fabric soft and warm against her skin. She grabbed Rabbit and took him to the living room to sit with her in the window seat, which she’d decided was already her favorite spot in the house. Then she turned on her e-reader and got lost in the story she’d been reading for the past few days. It wasn’t until she nearly dropped the device that she realized how sleepy she was, so she set it aside and went to her bedroom to get into bed.
Ella nestled under her blanket and reached for the pacifier she had tucked beneath her pillow, sliding it between her lips with a contented sigh.
Tomorrow, her new adventure would begin. With that final, happy thought, Ella drifted asleep, the soft glow of her fairy lights casting a dreamy haze over her new home.
TWO
KING
The low growl of engines echoed through the streets as King and his brothers rumbled toward the clubhouse. The air was crisp, carrying the familiar aroma of pine that seemed to be the official scent of Shadowridge. That and cotton candy if you were anywhere near Main Street. His fingers flexed on the grips of his Harley, the steady vibrations of the machine grounding him.
Storm rode beside him, his blacked-out bike gliding effortlessly over the asphalt. Kade and Doc followed closely behind, the four moving as one. They’d spent the last couple of hours riding the curves of the surrounding mountains, letting the road stretch ahead of them, the hum of their bikes the only conversation needed. It was a good ride. A necessary one.
The clubhouse came into view, the glow of the Shadowridge Guardians’ emblem casting long shadows over the parking lot. As they rolled in, King caught sight of movement near the playground to the side of the clubhouse.
The Littles.
There were a handful of them, giggling and playing, their bright energy a stark contrast to the rough exterior of the MC.The Guardians protected their own, and the Littles of the club were family. They softened the edges of all the men.
He swung off his bike, running a hand through his short, dark hair before striding over with his brothers. Kade was already chuckling as his Little, Remi, ran straight for him, her arms outstretched. Storm scooped up his girl, Brook, spinning her in the air before settling her on his hip, her delighted laughter filling the space. Storm had really gotten soft since he’d met Brook. The man had been closed off and grumpy as hell before her, but now, he looked like he was truly living.
King felt a pull on his hand. He looked down to find Molly, one of the newer Littles, gazing up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
“King, will you push me on the swings, please?” she asked sweetly.
He huffed out a low chuckle. “Yeah, sweetheart. Let’s go.”
After leading her to the swings, he helped her settle on one before stepping behind her, giving a gentle push. She kicked her legs, giggling as she went higher, her gentle curls bouncing with every movement.
He watched her, a strange warmth settling in his chest. He enjoyed this, being here, looking out for Littles, making sure they felt safe. It was part of what being a Guardian meant. Faust was her Daddy, but King still loved being part of Molly’s life. All the Littles’ lives, actually.
But as he stood there, hands steady on the swing’s chains, a tugging thought crept in, one that had been lingering in the back of his mind for longer than he cared to admit.
