* * *
Packing is a strategic exercise for me—I treat it just as I would my patients.
I prioritize essential items first, followed by contingency supplies, and lastly, comfort items. However, watching Oli frantically stuff an excessive number of board games into aduffel bag while Axel debates which weapons can be hidden under the floorboards of the lake house makes me realize our priorities might be somewhat misaligned.
Luna stands in the doorway of her room, a duffel bag already packed.
“Luna!” Oli bounces over to her, all eager with bunny energy. “Has anyone told you about the lake yet? It’s incredible! We can swim and fish, and there’s this rope swing that Damien put up years ago—”
“Calm down before you give yourself an aneurysm,” Axel says.
Luna laughs. “I’ve never been to a lake before.” She blushes slightly. “Except for the one Axel and Ethan showed me.”
“Oh, that’s like a pond compared to this one.” Oli looks personally offended by this information.
She shrugs. “The institute wasn’t big on field trips, and we moved a lot when I was a kid, living mostly in human districts.”
The casual way she mentions that place makes my jaw clench. One day, I’m going to visit the so-called Shifter Institute and have a long, detailed conversation with whoever thought it was acceptable to treat her the way they did.
“You’ll love it,” I tell her. “It’s peaceful. Remote.”
Luna laughs again. “More remote than this?”
She has a point for someone who comes from the city.
“We should finish packing. Hudson wants to leave in an hour.”
The security convoy consists of three SUVs. Hudson arranged for Luna to ride in the middle vehicle with me, Oli, and Axel. Hudson and Damien take the lead car, accompanied by two of our security team members, and four more guards follow in the rear.
Overkill, maybe, but we’re not taking chances.
“Is all this really necessary?” Luna asks as she slides into the back seat next to Oli. “I feel like the president or something.”
“More important,” Axel says from the driver’s seat. He catches my eye, and I know we’re thinking the same thing: we’ll burn the world down before we let anyone hurt her.
The drive to the village is uneventful. I keep scanning the tree line, the road ahead, the vehicles passing us. Luna chatters with Oli about the lake house, asking questions about the local wildlife, the water temperature, and whether we have a canoe. Each excited response from Oli makes her eyes light up a little more.
“We need to stop for supplies,” I announce as we approach the village. “Food, mostly. Anything specific you want, Luna?”
She blinks, surprised at being asked. “I… I don’t know. I’m not picky.”
Another reminder of the institute, where she probably ate whatever was put in front of her and was grateful for it. My fingers tighten on the steering wheel.
“Ice cream,” Oli declares. “Everyone’s picky about ice cream. What flavor do you like?”
She thinks for a moment. “Chocolate? I used to have it all the time with my mom.”
“Chocolate ice cream,” Axel nods thoughtfully. “Noted.”
The village is small but charming. Luna presses her face to the window as we park, taking it all in.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathes.
We split up to shop more efficiently. Hudson and Damien head for the general store for essentials. I take Luna, Oli, and Axel to the small farmer’s market for fresh food.
I hand her a ripe peach from one of the stalls. “Try this.”
She takes a bite, and juice dribbles down her chin. Her eyes close in pleasure. “Oh, my god!”
