n

n

nOnce the kids had all gone, August and Greta had some time before the reiki session with Sylvia. Greta brought some cucumber sandwiches from the house as a snack, and the two visited in the garden. The fall sun shimmered brightly in the small clearing of trees over Greta and Sam's house.

nBasking in the radiance of the day and a successful lycan pup lesson that she had been anxious about, August chewed happily, considering for a moment the kind of fairy tale her surroundings suggested. It was just too surreal. So much had changed so quickly. It made her appreciate the vibrance available to her in the moment.

n

"I see Lily didn't come,

" she realized regretfully.

n

"She wasn't at the training today either. I heard about what happened,

" Greta replied, referring to the accident the last time August and Graeme were at the training.

n

"Yeah, your brother may have overreacted a little,

" August laughed softly, thinking of the small girl sprawled out on the ground in fear.

"Is she okay?

"

n

"I haven't seen her. The whole family is having a really hard time with Livvy's disappearance,

" Greta replied.

"I still stop by the house at least once a week.

"

n

"What happened exactly? With… Livvy?

" August asked.

n

"It was the day Graeme found you. Livvy was there at home and then… she just wasn't. The only thing that makes sense is that she ran away. And yet…

" Greta paused, searching the sky.

"There is just no reason why she would. There was no scent to track her. No clues. No warnings.

"

n

"I saw the pain in Lily,

" August said quietly.

"It was like a large, deep bruise in the energy surrounding her.

"

n

"Lily is the youngest of five girls,

" Greta said.

"Her and Livvy were inseparable.

"

n

"I can't imagine their parents keeping those names straight,

" August laughed softly after a prolonged silence.

n

"That's not even the half of it. Layla, Lydia, Lucia, Livvy, Lily,

" Greta counted them off on the fingers of one hand.

nAugust's eyes had gotten larger with each name.

"That's a lot of Ls.

"

n

"It sure is,

" Greta smiled.

n

"So what is Sage's story?

" August wondered about the young boy who spoke very little.

n

"I don't entirely know. He and his sister were strays. They just kind of appeared one day, and the elders allowed them to stay since they were both young. They've been here maybe four years?

" Greta recalled.

"Sage has never said much. I assume it has something to do with having a traumatic childhood. Who knows what they went through.

"

n

"Oh wow,

" August said quietly.

"Poor guy.

"

n

"Yeah, I bet he'll benefit a lot from the art, honestly.

"

n

"So what's the deal with the strays exactly? Graeme mentioned they were responsible for your parent's death,

" August said.

nGreta nodded slowly.

"Even before that—stray lycans have always been considered a threat. They don't have a pack. They're individuals who have chosen to go it alone for whatever reason, and that's a security risk in terms of secrecy. What if one of them goes on a human killing spree? That's just one example of what a pack-less lycan might do. When Graeme was away doing quote-unquote advising for the council, he was tracking strays and keeping an eye on them. He was also watching some of our pack members who are out doing work with humans.

"

n

"Are strays automatically… killed?

" August asked carefully.

n

"Usually. With pups, it's different of course.

"

n

"Why would kids—or pups—why would they end up being strays in the first place?

"

nGreta shrugged.

"Sadly, it's not uncommon. Some run away if they've been abused. Others may have had a mother who was a stray, and she either ran off without them or died. It's a little different in each case, but our pack has always been welcoming of children.

" August couldn't even imagine what Sage and his sister had been through. From what Greta said, it sounded like he had been found at only the age of four.

n

"On the way to Sylvia's we can stop by an old warehouse Sam and Jack used to use for the brewery. It might work well as an art space for the kids. You can tell me what you think,

" Greta said, changing the subject.

nGraeme's old Wagoneer was tricky to get started, and Greta ended up having to help August with it before jogging back to her Jeep. August followed her to the warehouse she had mentioned. It was nestled off-road in the woods and was overgrown. August followed Greta on foot into the bare, wide space. August could imagine tables set up where the kids could draw or paint. Alexander could even graffiti the outside walls, paint them white, and repeat as needed. It was kind of perfect.

n

"It will be cold this winter,

" August rubbed her arms against the chill that already lingered inside the damp space.

n

"We can take care of that. I know a guy,

" Greta winked.

n

"How about materials for the kids to use? Are cameras even an option for the ones interested in photography?

" August was beginning to feel the guilt of being an outsider with literally no resources of value in this lycan village. What kind of economy did they even have? Graeme just seemed to show up with stuff and even spoke of getting a car as if it were nothing.

n

"Of course. Just tell me what model to get, and it'll be taken care of,

" Greta waved it off.

"Just text me a list of everything they will need for the next few weeks, and I can have it all arranged tomorrow. The pups can just meet back with you again Wednesday after training.

"

n

"Wow, that soon?

" August looked at Greta in surprise.

n

"Yep. The kiddos are always taken care of. Well, everyone is,

" Greta mumbled.

"I'll have the boys clean up in here and bring a few long tables.

"

n

"Great! Thanks, Greta,

" August smiled, trying to suppress the warmth that had risen to her cheeks for some reason.

n