Page 68 of Fool Moon First Aid

“I’m not here to usurp anyone’s dreams,” I counter, holding her gaze. “I didn’t choose this path any more than you did, but how we navigate this and how we treat each other, is our choice.”

For a fleeting moment, I see a crack in Natalie’s armor, a glimpse of her true self, but it’s quickly masked, and her façade of defiance snaps back into place. “Just remember that this is my territory. You’d do well to know your place.”

With a final, searing glare, Natalie steps aside, but the challenge in her eyes remains—a clear signal that this is just the beginning.

I duck past Natalie, her glare sticking to me as I move up the porch steps.

The door swings open as I near, revealing Tyler. “Ava, about time. We have to get you checked and make sure?—”

“Brody’s calling.” He’s not, not really, but somewhere deep within the house, I can feel him. “He needs me.”

All right, maybe I need him. I need to see him and make sure he is okay.

Tyler’s expression shifts from concern to understanding, and his silent nod acknowledges my response. “Okay, let’s head to him, but you’re getting checked out afterward, deal?”

I nod, gripping my crutches. Here, surrounded by spiritkin, it’s crucial that they see I’m more than capable of standing on my own.

Crossing the threshold into the clan house feels like entering another world. I’m surrounded by a kaleidoscope of scents and sounds that whisper home to anyone who’s part of this family. The walls seem to pulse with life, each vibration sharing the rhythm of the clan’s vibrant heart.

As we navigate the hallways, which are alive with the soft murmur of voices and the shuffle of feet, I ignore all of it. When we get to Brody’s room, the world seems to pause. Ethan is there, his focus sharp as he works on an IV. Brody’s eyes flutter open, finding mine, and for a moment, everything else just fades away. Confusion, pain, and then a wave of relief glimmer in his gaze as it settles on me.

“Ava,” he rasps out, his voice rough, but it’s the sweetest sound.

“I’m right here, Brody. Right here,” I respond, moving closer, wishing I could ditch my crutches and be closer still. His hand reaches out, shaky but seeking mine, and when our fingers intertwine, all my worry fades away.

“You’re safe,” he murmurs, still comforting me, even though he’s the one who got hurt.

“We’re safe,” I whisper, trying to infuse my words with reassurance. “We’re at the clan house. Ethan and Tyler have us.”

Brody’s gaze drifts, taking in his surroundings, then lands on us. “Ethan…and Natalie?” he asks, a hint of something unspoken in his tone.

Why is he bringing her up?

His question about Natalie casts a brief shadow over us, and I tread carefully, the sting of her hostility still fresh. “Natalie’s… Let’s just say she’s not exactly thrilled,” I admit, my voice tinged with caution, “but that’s a worry for another time. Right now, you need to rest.”

Brody nods, his eyes fluttering shut.

Tyler, who lingers in the doorway while Ethan finishes up with the IV, continues to glance over at his brother.

“Why’s it so quiet back here?” I ask, a mix of irritation and curiosity in my voice.

Ethan smirks, his attention briefly on us. “Cleared the room,” he explains, as if managing a crowd is just another day for him.

“He’s going to be okay, right?” I need them to answer me again. I may need to hear it a hundred more times before it will actually sink in.

“Concussed,” Tyler says with a shrug that tries to hide his underlying concern, but I see the dark circles under his eyes that weren’t there moments ago. “He’s tough and been through worse.”

I’d hate to know what worse is.

Uncaring of everything else, I sink onto the bed beside him, letting my crutches rest against the wall. Ethan slowly wipes up the blood oozing from Brody’s temple. My eyes linger there for far too long, until Brody’s hand slips into mine.

I’m falling hard and fast for these three. Whether or not that’s due to the words ignorantly spoken under a full moon, I’ll never know. All I do know is right now, I need to curl up beside this man, this wolf, and just exist with him.

That is exactly what I do. What I don’t expect is to fall asleep while listening to him breathe.

Tyler

It’s been exactly twenty-four hours—give or take a heartbeat or two—since our world turned upside down. Alpha Hughes is pacing a path into the luxurious carpet of the clan house’s entertainment room. Shadows from the silent news flicker on the TV, deepening the lines of concern etched into his rugged, once carefree face. Every so often, he pauses to shoot a withering glare at the screen, as if hoping his alpha intensity could somehow alter the grim reality we’re facing.

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