Page 72 of Fool Moon First Aid

“Nope,” I reply. Trying to explain human period dramas to a shifter is like explaining Wi-Fi to a caveman. In all the chaos of the past few days, I somehow ended up without my own clothes. Now, I’m missing my cozy sweats, my own undies, and any of my stuff. Oh, and the guilt about not checking on Bean hits me. I’m officially the worst pet parent ever.

“Ava, can you open the door?” Tyler tries again, his voice edged with concern. Great, now my period saga is about to become the latest clan gossip.

Amidst the embarrassment, a thought strikes me. Maybe Tyler and his crew could be the unlikely support squad I need right now, or maybe I’m just a hopeful human, trying to navigate the weirdness of living with shifters and finding some kind of connection in the most awkward situations.

“Ava, please, talk to me. What’s wrong?” There’s a softness in Tyler’s voice now, a genuine worry that somehow makes the space between us feel less vast.

Taking a deep breath, I cobble together a makeshift pad, pull up my borrowed pants, and wash my hands. Then, with a mix of dread and determination, I shuffle to the door. Time to face the music…or whatever tune Tyler plays.

Embrace the unexpected, Ava, I tell myself. Find humor in the uncomfortable, and learn that sometimes, the most mortifying moments can lead to the deepest connections.

Leaning against the bathroom door, I exhale deeply, finding a bizarre sense of comfort in the moment. It’s oddly reminiscent of discovering an untouched fry at the bottom of a take-out bag. “It’s just… I got my period, Tyler, and I’m stuck here without any essentials,” I confess, my voice a cocktail of liberation and embarrassment.

There’s a beat of silence from Tyler’s side, long enough for me to imagine him doing mental gymnastics as he tries to figure this out. “Oh, is that all?” he finally says, his tone surprisingly chill, like he’s talking about the weather and not my menstrual mishap. “Butterfly, that’s nothing to stress over. It’s just nature doing its thing.”

I can’t help but snort at that, rolling my eyes so hard, I’m worried they might stick that way. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one dealing with the red tide in someone else’s home. Plus, I’m all tangled up in your clothes, in your space. Awkward is an understatement, and FYI, shifters don’t have to juggle this circus.”

“Listen, Ava…” Tyler’s voice is all warmth and no-nonsense. “This might feel like you’re walking a tightrope, but trust me, it’s no biggie on our end. We’ve got this. Let me help.”

“You’re not going to make this weird, right?” I ask, disbelief sneaking into my voice.

“I promise,” he answers with a soft laugh. “Cross my heart. Now, how about we ditch this standoff? I swear it’s not weird.”

Taking a deep breath, I unlock the door and inch it open. Tyler greets me with a reassuring smile, his presence a ray of sunshine piercing through my embarrassment. He’s managed to ensure this little crisis remains our secret.

“Look at us, chatting about weird shit,” he says softly, stepping back to give me room.

As I emerge, a weird mixture of relief and leftover embarrassment tags along. “Thanks, Tyler. I’m just… I feel like I’m out of my element.”

His gaze softens, filled with understanding and an unspoken promise of support. “Showing your soft side doesn’t make you any less badass, Ava. So what’s the plan? You need stuff, like maybe some familiar clothes?”

A semblance of normalcy begins to thread through my panic. “Yeah, supplies would be great, and my own clothes… I miss them.”

“Supplies are easy,” Tyler says, confidence lacing his words. “And for your clothes, we can head over to your place or send Eloise—your choice.”

Suddenly, the idea of returning to my own space feels like a breath of fresh air. “Let’s hit my place. A dose of normalcy sounds perfect,” I admit, the thought of my own space, my own stuff, offering a sliver of comfort. “And there’s dinner with my dad later. I can’t skip that.”

“Done.” Tyler answers faster than I thought he would. “And just so we’re on the same page, Ava, you’re not in this alone. Whatever you need, we’re here for you.”

His words seep into my very core and wrap around me like a comforting blanket. “All right,” I respond, leaning into him for support, my balance only betraying me slightly.

He reaches beside the wall, retrieving my crutches with a gentle nod, his actions speaking volumes of his care. “Let’s get out of here, all right?” His soft voice is loaded with a kind of empathy I always dreamed of. Gratitude washes over me, tinged with a smidge of reluctance.

“I mean, it’s not that I don’t want to be here,” I admit out loud, my voice a soft whisper against the quiet hallway, “but putting on a brave face in front of everyone is just…overwhelming.”

I need my own things.

Tyler just gets it. He doesn’t even blink, he just gives me a dazzling smile that’s all him. “I get it—it can feel overwhelming. Wolves aren’t known for their personal space.”

That’s putting it mildly. The guys seem to find any excuse to be close, their touch a constant presence, and it isn’t just them—it’s a clan thing.

Relying on the crutches, I try to mask my inner tremble with outward stability. “Brody?”

“Him and Ethan are getting ready for you to visit your father,” Tyler tells me, his stride matching mine as we navigate the halls. “He’s hashing out the recent chaos with the alpha.” A flicker of concern crosses his face, hinting at the tension rippling through the pack, but he quickly masks it with a partial smile.

Bathed in the soft glow of early morning light, the clan house sits in silence. The place usually buzzes with life this time of day, but now, it grants us a moment of solitude.

As we’re about to exit, Natalie rounds the corner, her impeccable timing almost too perfect. She strides toward us, her confidence teetering on the edge of arrogance. “Leaving so soon, Ava?” Her voice drips with a sweetness that fails to mask the chill in her gaze.

---