Charlotte flits over to Cassia and boops her girlfriend’s nose. “I’m always so content, thinking how compatible we are for each other. Then you say things like “go for a run,” and I begin to forget all of that. Have fun on your run, hun.” She grins at her impromptu rhyme.
Cassia kisses Charlotte, and I can’t help but watch. Cassia is so different, now that we’re on the outside. Cassia Chang went from angry and aggressive to centered and calm. I actually caught her singing to herself yesterday.
Well, she’s not entirely serene. I mean, it is Cassia, after all.
Cassia moves into the kitchen and grabs a goblet, filling it with water she pours straight from her palm. Though the tap is right there, our free access to magic makes each small flick of the wrist a treat we all treasure.
“Are you teaching your ‘Tap Back into Your Magic’ class later on?” Cassia casually inquires, downing a few swallows.
My mouth pulls to the side. “I’m not going to call it that, no matter how many times you suggest it. It’s not even a class. It’s just hanging out and figuring out how to…”
The second I pause, Cassia chimes in, ever-so-helpfully with a smug “…tap back into your magic? How silly of me to call it what it is.”
“Oh, shut it.”
She engages in an obnoxious gyrating dance that she always does when she knows she’s right, and someone else is wrong. “Tell the students I’ll be there after my run. I could stand to brush up on a few things. I’m glad you’re putting your fancy education to work for us.”
“They’re not students because it’s not a class!”
Charlotte giggles as Cassia stretches, her pant leg riding up as she thuds her heel on the counter. “Is it a group of people that meet at a regular, specified time to learn more about a certain subject?”
“Yes, but…”
“Sounds like a class to me, Professor Paxton. See ya!” Then she grins, turning with a flourish as she trots to the front door, flashing me another glimpse of her “I’m right, you suck” dance. “By the way, you’re still loading the dishwasher wrong!”
The second the door closes, I grumble my frustration. “It’s like she wakes up ready to get on my last nerve.”
Charlotte snickers as she munches on her orange segment. “Pretty much.”
I itch to ask Charlotte again to teach me how to load the dishwasher, but I resist, reasoning that would only give Cassia yet another reason to be smug if she found out. I’m sure I loaded it just fine. “Do you want to come to the not-a-class and help instruct them?”
“Not this morning. I’m going to go for a walk in the orchard. I love how the whole thing smells. Then I’m going to start up the lunch crew.”
Though nothing’s blooming or growing in the orchard, I don’t bring that to her attention. Being outdoors for reasons other than grunt work at Prigham’s is a gift none of us takes for granted.
“See if you can get Gray to join you, yeah? He’s stressed about the pack. You’re good at calming him down.”
Charlotte’s smile falters. “He’ll get through it all. It just might take him some time. I can’t believe his own pack won’t take him back. Though, I’ll admit, I selfishly don’t want him to go back to them. He belongs with us.”
“That’s the truth of it.”
“Cheers, guys,” Gray says as he appears, his bare feet dragging as he mopes into the kitchen. “But I belong with my own people… who don’t want anything to do with me.”
Instead of countering his logic or yet again pointing out that being with his pack would mean being without us, I trot over to him and scoop him up in a hug. Though he’s taller and bulkier than I am, his listless nature makes him feel smaller in my arms.
I wait until his chin leans on my shoulder, which is how I know he can actually feel the fraternal affection I have for this man. He’s got too big a heart for this fight. The least I can do is be a safe place for him while he wrestles with the loss of the life he assumed he’d be able to return to.
“Breakfast here or at the tent?” I inquire after I release him, making it subtly clear that skipping his first meal of the day is not an option anymore.
“I don’t care. I’m not hungry.”
“Well, I am, and I’m not about to eat alone. Let’s go to the tent.”
“They stare at me when I’m there. It’s like being the only animal at the zoo. They know I don’t belong here. They’re wondering why I haven’t gone back to the pack.”
I pat him twice on the back and turn to put my glass in the dishwasher, which I’m certain I loaded correctly. “Actually, I think people are friendlier to you now, since you were a crucial element in getting us out. They’re less prone to prejudice these days.”
No matter how I try to compliment him about his role in our escape from prison, he won’t hear it. “I’m not hungry. I just came down to get some water. I’m thinking of tracking down another pack to see if they’ll let me join.”
I pour him a drink, but remain firm. “You need to get some food in you. Fresh air will do you some good.”
He takes a drink, which seems to perk him up a little. “Is Arly around?”
“She’s been on the phone for most of the morning. I think she took her call out into the orchard, so as not to wake you.”
“Okay. I’m stepping out for a bit. I’m sure I’ll catch her tonight.”
I hate that I have to reach for the bait, but I’m not above subtle bribery at this point. “Arly hasn’t eaten breakfast yet. Maybe you should go fix her a plate. Sometimes she gets so wrapped up in the property that she forgets to eat.”
That does it, though I wish Gray cared about his own well-being, rather than only coming to life for someone else’s benefit. Still, I’ll take what I can get, at this point. I can’t handle another day of him moping before he disappears on us all over again. “I can fix her a plate.”
“That’s the spirit.” I chuck his shoulder and trot to the front door, sliding on my shoes. “Why don’t you take a shower? I’ll wait for you.”
He shakes his head. “Why bother? I’m clean enough.”
That certainly is one man’s opinion. His shoulder-length dark hair is greasy now, and looks like even the rubber band that’s holding it back from his face wants to desert him for a good scrubbing.
He’s wearing the same black gym shorts and heather t-shirt he was handed when we first arrived on the property. Everyone took two changes of clothes, but I’ve only seen him in the one.
He hasn’t let Rafe out since we escaped, and I know that’s part of his restlessness. Even when he visits the pack to try and petition his way back in, he won’t let his own kind see the monster his wolf has become.
Gray is not ready to admit he’s part of our community. He’s been resisting any fae habits as much as possible, which has driven an invisible wedge between him and Arlanna.
Every time Gray makes it clear he doesn’t belong here, Arlanna doubles down on her workload, saying nothing because she doesn’t want to force him to be with her.