As I’m fiddling with the invoice Natasha gave me, I spot some green writing on the back.
‘You aren’t safe on these lands.’
Weird.
Who isn’t safe on these lands?
Is the note intended for me? Or for the runaway wolf in the back?
Twenty-four
August 2022
Phoenix Campbell
Isee Archie flinch out of the corner of my eye when I accidentally drop a mug in the sink. It’s been just over two weeks since he appeared on our doorstep, soaking wet and injured. When he eventually woke up the day after we took him to the witch, he told us his name was Archie, and he was from a pack in Scotland. Benjy, Alpha Eastwood's middle son, had told him about us. I don’t know Benjy all that well, but I’m glad he knew we would be a safe place for Archie and that we’d protect him. We said he could stay with us as long as he needed, but when we asked him questions about what happened to him, he seemed to retreat into himself.
Whenever there’s a loud noise, he recoils, and I really hate to contemplate what made him so skittish. Last weekend, we found him having a panic attack because he overheard us arguing. Hecouldn’t hear what we were saying, just our raised voices, and we both felt so guilty afterwards.
In actual fact, we were only bickering over the fact one of Cee's favourite bookshad been made into a TV series. Apparently, my take that the TV show is actually better than the book was very controversial, and Cee practically gave me a TED Talk on the superior merits of the book. Since then, we’ve been careful to speak calmly and quietly when Archie’s home.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to make you jump.” It’s only him and me at home today. The school where I work has broken up for the six-week summer holidays, and while I’m enjoying the long break, I miss Cee when he’s out at work all day. He’s been working on some secret project these last few months, but he won’t tell me what it is yet.
One thing wehavelearned about Archie is he’s a big ol’ computer nerd. He works for an IT company in software development, so once we managed to source a new laptop for him, he’s been able to work remotely from home.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry you and Connor both have to tip-toe around me. I’ll be out of your hair soon,” he says, and his voice makes my heart hurt a little.
“Hey, you’re no bother at all. Like we said, you can stay here as long as you need,” I tell him, and he nods, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.
I sit opposite him at the little kitchen table; he’s on his lunch break and eating a sandwich.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on you at all if you’re not ready, but you know you can talk to us about anything, right?” I try to sound reassuring.
“I know. Thanks. I actually just feel kind of humiliated by the whole thing,” he replies with his soft Scottish accent. The guy should narrate audiobooks honestly; his voice is so gentle and soothing.
“A secret for a secret?” I ask, hoping if I open up, it might make it easier for him to. He looks hesitant but then agrees.
I explain my and Cee's actual backstory. How we met years ago and were together in secret for years. When I tell Archie about us breaking up a year and a half ago and how we essentially only spoke to each other again for the first time on our wedding day, Archie’s eyes widen at my revelation. I probably should have checked with Cee before sharing it, but at this point, I don’t think it really matters who knows.
“I’m kind of shocked, but also, that sort of makes a lot more sense,” he says, laughing to himself.
“It does? What do you mean?”
“When Benjy told me about you two, he said the two of you were in an arranged marriage but also that you’d been engaged to his sister the year before?” he asks, and my face heats.
“Yeah, I sort of omitted that part,” I say sheepishly. “It’s not quite as bad as it sounds, and it’s a much more convoluted story, but it’s why we broke up.” He nods in understanding.
“So yeah, over the past few weeks of spending time with the two of you, I thought, damn, they’re very in love for two people who only met and got married four months ago.” I laugh this time; it hadn’t even crossed my mind how bizarre we must seem together from the outside.
“It was definitely rocky there for a while, but we’re in a better place now,” I say with a soft smile on my lips.
“My dad is Alpha Fraser.” His eyes drop to the table as he leaves the statement hanging in the air between us.
Oh shit, I can’t help but think things just got very complicated. I ask the question even though I’m not sure I want the answer.
“Is he why you’re here?” He looks up at me, and his eyes are glassy. He doesn’t answer, but he doesn’t need to. It’s all there in the look of fear and vulnerability on his face. “I’m so sorry. Can I give you a hug?” I ask, feeling completely useless.
He whispers, “Yes,” quietly, so I get up and wrap my arms around him.
