“We went on a boat!”
“We found Hideaway Cove, it’s really real, you were right—”
“Ahhhhhhh!” Tally screeched happily. *AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!*
Eric hugged each of them in turn and straightened, his eyes shining. “I can’t believe you’re all here. Mr. Galway told me—”
Standing, he topped Kenna by more than a foot. He caught sight of Arlo over her head. Even ten feet away, Arlo could see him gulp.
A heavy weight settled over Arlo’s shoulders as he watched the young man pull himself t
ogether.
He’s just a kid, Arlo thought again. Look at him now. Gathering his courage to come talk to me. Trying to do the right thing.
He crossed his arms as Eric approached him, then thought better and put his hands in his pockets. Unthreatening and open.
He’s trying to do the right thing. The least I can do is not terrify the pants off him.
“Mr. Hammond?” Eric asked, his voice cracking at the end. He stopped, looking horrified, and cleared his throat before he started again. “Mr. Hammond. Sir. I’m Eric Potts. Mr. Galway said you got the others from the marine reserve and brought them here.”
“That’s right. It’s good to finally meet you.”
Eric looked thrown by that. “I, um, thank you. For looking after them. You and Ms. March. I wasn’t even sure we were in the right place…”
“You were close enough. We just stepped in to get you the rest of the way.”
Arlo held out his hand and Eric shook it, eyes wide. His grip was firm, but the next breath he took was so heavy he rocked back on his feet.
“I’ve got experience working in shipyards, and on boats. I can fish and I can fix an engine, sometimes, if I know what’s wrong with it. And nets. I’ll do about anything, I don’t mind—”
“Hang on, hang on. I don’t need your whole resume.” Arlo raised his hands and frowned. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I need a job.” Eric looked as confused as Arlo felt. “I don’t mind what it is. I don’t even need pay, just somewhere for the kids to stay, and food. I’ll do anything.”
Arlo stared at him. There was something flickering behind his dark eyes. Arlo’s wolf pricked its ears up and the flickering stopped, as though Eric’s animal had noticed it was being watched.
His wolf barked softly and Eric blinked. “Uh, hello as well to your, um, to…”
“I’m a wolf shifter,” Arlo explained.
“Woah.”
“And you don’t need to get a job. How old are you?”
“Ninet—Uh, eigh… seventeen?” He drew himself up. “You gotta understand. I said I’d look after them. I know we’re not the same shifters, but I made a promise. We’re in this together.”
“They’re your pack.” Arlo nodded.
“I dunno? We’re each other’s pack. We don’t…” Eric’s shoulders slumped. “It’s just us.”
Arlo sighed. He looked up and caught Harrison’s eye. *You hear all that?* he sent to him.
*Yep.*
“Right.” Arlo looked Eric in the eye, then swept his gaze over the three Weaver kids as well, including them in the conversation. “I know we talked about getting you your own place, but that’s out of the question. You’ve done a good job of looking after yourselves up until now, and it’s time for the adults to take over.”
“We’re not going into some sort of home again!” Kenna blurted out, grabbing Dylan’s hand.