house her father had been assigned, but she hoped she wouldn’t need it. She hoped Devon had left for her own good—that he’d attempted to sacrifice his own happiness so she’d have a chance at a better life. She hoped, but part of her feared he’d left to free himself up. That his history as a ladies’ man and player had finally come to bear, and he didn’t want to be chained down.
She was about to find out. He’d get a thumping either way.
The truck pulled to a stop, and Steve glanced at her with a crooked smile. “Nervous, huh?”
“No, mad,” she half lied.
He nodded and somehow affected a lounging position in the driver’s seat. He’d been one of those chosen to pick everyone up from the portal. “What do you want me to do with your entourage?”
Charity glanced back at Hallen and Kairi, two people who would apparently be her shadows. Her father had politely, and very respectfully, threatened her with a beating should she try to evade them. She didn’t want to be on the other end of that particular politeness. It hadn’t worked out well for those elves.
“I guess just drop them off? I can call an Uber if…things don’t go well.”
“Oh, they won’t go well. At first. Your dad’s crew will need to make the alpha a bunch of new tables. But you won’t need an Uber. You’ll be staying the night.”
She let out a shaky breath. God, she hoped so.
She pulled the handle on the door but hesitated a moment. Maybe a little nervous, yes. “You’re still calling him alpha—does that mean you’re still in his pack?”
Steve chuckled and leaned his big arm against the window. “I figure I better stick around for a while. If you and yours are joining up, I’ll get more chances at a certain little fae that enjoys rejecting me.”
“It is not a rejection,” Kairi said with humor. “It is only that I would miss the sun whilst standing in the shadow of your enormous ego.”
Steve leaned in closer to Charity with a sly smile. “One day she’ll succumb, just you watch.”
Kairi laughed delightedly. She enjoyed the game, clearly. As did Steve.
Charity rolled her eyes and stepped down from the SUV. Mental note: don’t ask.
The late afternoon sun flared in the windows at the front of the house. The trees gently waved around the property. With some attention from her father, this place could be just as beautiful as the Flush. Maybe more so, with the crystal-clear blue sky and the pleasant sea salt on the breeze.
She’d missed it. She really hoped her dad could be happy here.
She really hoped Devon would let her stay.
“It is a beautiful house, Miss Charity,” Kairi said softly, reading Charity’s mind. She followed her to the house. “It reminds me of the Flush. Your wolf has chosen well.”
“It’s well situated within the nature,” Hallen added, although it was clear the compliment annoyed him.
Charity reached the door and paused with her hand on the handle. Butterflies swarmed her belly. This was the moment of truth.
She pushed into the house, immediately greeted by the comforting smell of air fresheners and a scent that was uniquely Devon. Her gut pinched even as her heart surged. She hurried to the front room, desperate to see him again, to lay her eyes on the face she’d missed. It had only been a couple of days, but it was the longest they’d spent apart since they met. She’d hated it.
The house was soaked in a deep hush.
“What is that?” Hallen asked. “What is all this?” His wide eyes darted to the lamps, the laptop on the coffee table, and the fan on the ceiling.
“Get a hold of yourself,” Kairi muttered out of the side of her mouth. “We’re in the Brink. It’s different. We’ll figure it out later.”
Hallen’s mouth snapped shut, but his eyes still flew around the room.
Charity checked the kitchen, and again Hallen gawked. She checked the second living room Devon used as a meeting space, then the back bedrooms. All were clean and tidy, and his smell lingered, but he wasn’t here.
Her heart aching, she found her way to the sliding glass door—the one that had been repaired after she’d tossed Devon through it.
“It will be okay, Third.” Kairi placed her hand on Charity’s shoulder. “He will provide you many strong children to carry on your muddied but powerful fae line.”
“Goodness gracious,” Charity murmured. “That’s a bit much.”