n

n

n

"But first, pizza,

" Graeme turned back to August with a mischievous smile as he pulled her behind him, descending the final steps of the tree house.

n

"Pizza?

" Her eyes grew large.

n

"Yeah, you like pizza right?

"

n

"Who doesn't? You guys have pizza here? In the middle of the forest?

"

n

"We have everything here,

" he winked at her.

"Well, almost everything.

"

nAugust's stomach suddenly growled. This morning had been horrible, but pizza certainly wouldn't make the day worse. Her interest was piqued at what this 'everything' was that Graeme was referring to. One thing it obviously didn't include was a vehicle of his own.

n

"Are we going to walk?

" August asked.

n

"Would you like me to carry you instead?

"

nShe laughed but with one glance at him realized that he was serious.

"No, that's okay.

"

n

"Are you sure? The paths through the woods are pretty narrow,

" he replied.

n

"I like walking,

" she said thoughtfully as the two continued on side-by-side on the dirt road.

nIt was one of those perfect autumn afternoons when the breeze that dislodged more leaves hinted to cooler days while retaining the warmth of summer, and August let herself feel it—the small joy of just being here, in this moment. She could have easily been dead, never allowed to feel the sun or the breeze or smell the change of the seasons. Maybe she was going to end up another villain in this story of Graeme's, but she wouldn't worry about it right now. Right now, she would let herself feel the forest and the comfort of Graeme's presence by her side.

nAugust heard cawing somewhere and looked up, spotting a black bird above them gliding between trees. Birds had always fascinated her, particularly corvids. She always imagined that they were the guardians of secrets and that a whole other veiled world was witnessed through their eyes.

nGraeme wandered over to the tree line and gestured for August to follow.

"Oh, the contacts,

" August remembered, turning to look behind them toward the treehouse.

"I forgot… I don't have them in.

"

n

"That's right. No problem, wait here a sec,

" he said before vanishing back the way they came.

nAugust spun around with her hands in her pockets, looking at the surrounding forest when a crow suddenly landed a few paces in front of her.

n

"Oh, hello,

" August said softly, watching the black bird peck at something on the ground. It paused, tilting its head to the side, silently regarding her. She crouched down.

"I'm sorry, I don't have anything to give you. Can I bring you some pizza crust later?

" she asked, smiling to herself. The two watched each other for several more moments before Graeme returned to her side and the crow flew off.

n

"Making friends?

" Graeme asked, handing her the contacts.

"Are you able to put these in without a mirror or anything?

"

n

"I think so,

" she said and opened them.

"Aren't you afraid someone will see me?

"

n

"No. I'd be more worried about someone hearing you talking to crows,

" he chuckled. August frowned.

"It's just a bit witchy,

" he raised an eyebrow at her, grinning.

n

"Pff. Crows are very intelligent, and it's not unusual for them to be friendly towards humans,

" she rolled her now solid blue eyes.

"I'm sure they're smart enough to be more wary of your kind,

" she added.

n

"Oh. My kind now is it?

" He laughed.

"You're probably right.

"

nGraeme suddenly recalled the way Maggie was often visited by crows and butterflies and fireflies and all kinds of forest creatures, but he didn't mention it to August. He hadn't had Maggie so fresh in his mind in a long time, and it felt good to remember her like that—in the beauty that she had brought to their childhood.

nThey entered a small opening in the tree line.

"Is this a deer trail?

" August asked. The path was narrow, as Graeme had said. The earth had been worn bare from frequent visits.

n

"You won't find deer around here,

" he said simply. With the mention of the delicate prey animal, something niggled at his mind—the shadow of an approaching thought—but it scampered away just as quickly.

nWhen they entered the dense woods, August noticed how Graeme seemed to grow quieter as he walked ahead of her. They continued on that way for some time, Graeme leading quietly and August admiring the forest. Leaves crunched under their feet as they walked in silence, the trees creating a canopy of inner reflection where the memories that had resurfaced from Graeme's past played silently for both of them.

nAugust had seen the most horrific part of his past that he had meant to leave behind forever. But here he was instead—walking directly back into it and dragging her along with him. It made him bristle with those protective instincts for her now that they were surrounded by the thick forest of his pack's land.

nHe was leading his mate back into the life that he had abandoned, and that meant danger. For her. For him. For the people here if there was question or confusion about leadership. But they had to keep moving forward to find a way through this. There must be a reason for all of it.

n

"How many children?

" August whispered behind him, as if to herself. The words held a dark weight even whispered as they were, and he knew what she was referring to. The alyko children who were killed. If only she could have been spared that knowledge. It haunted him, and now it would haunt her, too. But it couldn't be helped—August had feared him, not understanding his anger after the council meeting. His mate had feared him. He swallowed hard at that thought. But at least now she understood.

nAugust hadn't expected him to hear her question—hadn't even realized she was asking it aloud—but she saw the way his body tensed and his hands curled into fists when she did. Graeme didn't stop walking, but his pace slowed, his boots hesitating longer in each descent to the ground.

n

"Three,

" she heard his answer—so low, it was like a growl—and she shivered.

n