d on the couch. My feet tucked, his boots

now, sitting on the coffee table where Kael

nt to look.

From a number I didn't k

just wanted to say... we checked the books after Council. You were right. Ab

phone down. My eyes filled up ag

l s

?" he

im. He rea

looked at me. "You saved them. You know tha

st... I kept copies be

ing," he said. Li

to 3:33. Witching hour. Mara

?" I

ea

e me that day? In the m

mming filled the space. He rubbed the back

you. M

The real why. When you sa

ry, too dangerous, but also so soft a

thought, oh no. She's going to be cold. Her socks are g

ctually. Loud and ug

said. "It's alway

Always. She'd sit by the fire and rub them. My dad would tell her to stop complaining. I

he blanket. My new warm socks that were

ool sweater that looked itchy... I thought, I can buy socks.

t got ti

on to take in a trade

It's the only reason that matters. If y

l a little. He made a face like "really?" but he took

r?" he

," I

ame up. Snow outside turned pink. T

my feet in Kael's lap and went "Oh fina

We need to go to town

e was jokin

r Council. The shop lady knew him now. She smiled at me in the green dress - I wore it again, it'

tended to look at woo

me five more when I wasn't looking and hid

left me. The mud spot. Now covered in snow, cle

e him

ood on the exact spot where my bags w

d warm socks and a monster next to me with his hands

aid before he a

nd threw it at the spot. S

crazy. Then he took a handful

hat traded me until we were both laughing

snow, to the empty border, to Jonah wherever he w

nd me. Not heavy, not

id. "Because you're

as r

wo blankets. With a kitchen where someone straightens my crooked bandages. With a

ul and hung it up. Put his t-shirt on aga

nging the bandage, showing me on purpose t

ked, looking down at my

said. "S

cause you're the onl

fingertips on the edge o

breath but di

" he sa

ea

u again, will

e from yesterday mornin

. "I won't h

e humming and the snow falling outside on the

ere warm. And m

o rips throats before breakfast, was kissing me in his

aybe

only thing ke

s enough. T

the cold floors and his mother's

ade straight, 3 AM hands almost touching, potatoes

ch. Let the

the Alpha's only weakness. Bu

favorite thin

becam