I followed my Alpha home.
Wolves waited for us at the house at the end of the lane.
They knew, of course. They had to. They could feel it just the same.
Carter stood off to the side, arms across his chest, face pinched and lined. Kelly was at his side, whispering in his ear, much to the consternation of the timber wolf that circled around them slowly, tail twitching. The moment it caught my scent, its hackles rose and it moved in front of Carter, trying to herd him away from me. Its violet eyes tracked every step I took.
Carter snapped at the wolf, trying to stand his ground. But the wolf was having none of it, watching me warily as I approached. I gave them a wide berth.
Joe stood with Elizabeth on the porch, arm around her shoulders. Her eyes were wide and wet, but no tears fell as she watched us come to stand in front of the house, a twisted inversion of the day her sons and I had returned to Green Creek.
I didn’t know what to say to her. To them.
“Jessie?” Ox grunted.
“Down with Pappas,” Joe said quietly. “Spreading another line of silver.” His glanced at me before looking back at Ox. “She’ll be ready.”
“Dude,” Carter said off to our right. “Would you knock it off? What the fuck is your problem?”
The timber wolf grumbled at him, still trying to push him away from me.
Ox nodded, hoisting Mark back up on his shoulder from where he was about to slip off. Mark’s arms hung loose down his back.
“Did he hurt you?” Elizabeth asked, and for a moment I thought she was talking to Ox.
She wasn’t. She was looking directly at me.
I shook my head, words stuck in my throat.
“Good. He… he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if he had. He’s always been that way about you.”
Goddammit.
“He didn’t bite you, did he?” Joe asked Ox, and though he was trying to keep his voice even, it came out strained and high. He sounded like a kid again, the boy who Ox had called his tornado.
“No,” Ox said. “He tried, but no.”
Joe nodded tightly.
Elizabeth moved down the stairs as Ox approached. She ran a hand over Mark’s bare back, trails of melted snow running down toward his shoulders. I saw the exact moment she became aware of the raven on his throat, her lips thinning, hand closing into a fist. The wooden steps creaked under their combined weight as Ox carried Mark into the house.
Joe turned to follow them, but he stopped before he reached the door. He looked like he was working himself toward something, and I dreaded whatever came out of his mouth next.
He said, “Carter.”
Kelly hung his head.
Carter sighed. “I know. I just… I just wanted to be outside. For a little bit longer.”
He tilted his head back toward the sky. Snow fell on his eyelashes, and he blinked it away. He took a deep breath and let it out slow. It streamed up around his face. Kelly reached out and took his brother’s hand, their fingers interlocking. Carter looked over at him, expression softening. “It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”
Kelly nodded jerkily.
“Hey,” he said. “None of that now. Look at me. Please.”
Kelly did. His bottom lip was trembling.
“It’ll be okay,” Carter whispered. “I promise.”