Page 73 of Fool Moon First Aid

I tighten my hold on the crutches, steadying myself against the unease she stirs. “Just stepping out for a bit,” I reply, my voice steady, despite the undercurrent of tension Natalie causes. Something about her feels off, like a dark cloud trying to obscure the sun.

Her eyes dart between Tyler and me, a smirk briefly distorting her features. “Well, be careful. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to you,” she purrs, her words laced with something dark and warped. It’s like she’s trying to sound concerned, but we all know she’s enjoying this little game of hers.

As I try to move past her, Natalie decides to play dirty, stepping closer. My crutch snags on her foot, throwing me off balance. Tyler’s quick to catch me, his arm a steady support, but he’s not fast enough to stop the jolt of pain through my leg or the flash of anger that lights me up.

“Watch it, Natalie!” Tyler’s warning slices through the tension, his protective instinct flaring. “Or I’ll have the alpha ban you from the clan house.”

Natalie backs off with a feigned innocence, her mock apology laced with venom. “Oh, clumsy me. It seems I’m not the only one,” she taunts, her malice barely veiled.

Tyler steadies me, his concern palpable. “Enough, Natalie. We’re not here for your games,” he counters firmly, cutting through her charade.

With a disgruntled huff, Natalie retreats, her departure leaving a tense silence in her wake.

Once she’s gone, Tyler’s gaze softens. “You okay, Ava?”

I nod, pushing past my frustration. “I’m fine, just ready to get home,” I reply, desperate to put distance between us and the negativity.

We step outside, and the crisp morning air washes over us, a refreshing contrast to the stifling atmosphere we left behind. Our walk to the car is a quiet reflection of the internal and external battles we face.

As we reach the car, Tyler opens the passenger door with a flourish. “Your chariot awaits, my lady.”

A laugh escapes me as I maneuver into the seat, a wave of relief washing over me as I sink into its embrace. Between playing nurse to Brody, not getting any sleep, and the cherry on top—my period—I’m a walking disaster. Here’s hoping I don’t wreck his car seats too, because that’s all I need.

“I hope the day gets better from here,” I murmur, tossing a prayer into the universe as I lean back. Tyler cranks up the heat as soon as he hops in and starts the car, throwing me a glance that’s both a check-in and a promise that he has this…whatever this turns out to be.

When I arrived, there was a flurry of activity. I can see why the clan loves it here. I know we are only a twenty-minute drive from town, and yet they have the freedom of the forest close by. It’s the best of both worlds.

The area around the clan house isn’t your typical backyard either. It’s more of a forest that decided to share its space with some spiritkin. The pines here are ancient, towering like nature’s own skyscrapers, and the clan built their lives around them, not over them. It’s like stepping into a village frozen in time, where the modern world brushes against the old ways.

Kids zip around, lost in their games, their laughter like music in the brisk morning air, while the older folks enjoy a moment of peace on their porches, coffee in hand. They all wave as we drive by, a picture of community warmth that somehow still reminds me that I’m on the outside looking in. Maybe it’s because I’m human, or maybe it’s just me feeling like a square peg in a round hole.

Then there’s the fact that it’s mostly guys around here. Nature has a funny way of balancing things out, I guess.

Tyler breaks into my thoughts with, “We have the next week off.” His tone’s easy, but there’s an undercurrent of something more. “To keep an eye on Brody and to just…be with you.”

I chew on my inner cheek, mulling over his words. The idea of spending more time with them sparks something warm in my chest, but then reality barges in, and I’m back to juggling my worries about tonight. Elijah’s the name that turns my stomach into knots, representing a problem I can’t just wish away.

“I want to talk to you about tonight,” Tyler says, reaching for my hand. It’s a simple gesture, but it feels like he’s offering more than just comfort. When his fingers find mine, it’s like a silent vow resting on my thigh.

“We don’t want you going alone,” he insists, his voice carrying a weight it usually doesn’t. “I don’t think it’s safe to leave you with Elijah.”

Part of me wants to snap back and remind him that I’m not some damsel, but then the memories of the other night flood in—the sound of danger, fear, and chaos—and suddenly, I’m not so sure he’s wrong.

The other night is still fresh in my head, and I won’t admit to it, but waking Brody every two hours was easy because I woke every two hours. Flashes of the night continually played out in my nightmares.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. I don’t think my dad had anything to do with what happened, but Elijah? He’s an unknown entity, a shadow lurking in the corners of my mind. I’ve never met the man, and honestly, I’d prefer to keep it that way.

The most pressing question swirls in my head. Can I trust my father if anything happens? The lack of an answer scares me more than I want to admit.

“You can’t come to the estate with me,” I say, blowing out a shaky breath. “My dad would immediately know you’re a shifter.” I’m not confident my dad wouldn’t react…violently, and Tyler just looks like spiritkin.

“I’m not letting you walk into potential danger alone,” Tyler rumbles, his protective instincts flaring.

“That isn’t your call,” I point out, feeling the tension crackling between us.

“It is, Ava, or have you forgotten you’re our mate?” His retort is sharp, laden with the weight of our accidental bond.

Once again, I bite back the sharp response bubbling up inside me as Tyler maneuvers onto my street, seemingly without needing directions. Perhaps they did a background check on me. It wouldn’t surprise me, but the thought doesn’t bother me much. If I needed to dig into their backgrounds, I’m sure Mia could handle it in a heartbeat. Actually, that’s not a bad idea.

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