Page 123 of Taken By the Pack

“Um,” Fiona rubs her hands together, “you keep the lighthouse, right?”

I swear I feel Rowan stiffen beside me. He just nods in response.

“Oh! Then you must have known the woman who died there…” She must read the look on his face because she says quickly, “My grandmother told me about her. Before she died, I mean. She told me about how the lighthouse claims someone who lives there once every generation… or maybe it’s the boat…” she rambles.

“I knew her,” Rowan says, his voice chilly. He shifts uncomfortably.

“My condolences,” she says. I don’t miss the way Grace shuffles closer to him.

Jonah breaks the tension. “We were just grabbing some things in town before heading back. But it’s good seeing you again, Marshall.”

“You too,” I say. “Didn’t think you guys would settle back here.”

Declan smirks. “Didn’t think you’d stay.”

I don’t miss the way Fiona shifts slightly, like there’s something else she wants to say but won’t.

Instead, Rhys claps a hand on my shoulder again. “We’ll have to catch up properly sometime.”

“Yeah,” I say, “we will.”

And then they’re gone, climbing into their SUV and driving off.

Grace turns to me the moment they’re out of earshot. “Okay. Who was that?”

I let out a breath, rubbing the back of my neck. “Old friends. And, uh, Fiona… we used to—” I pause, glancing at Rowan and Ash. “I had a very tiny crush on her back then.”

Ash raises a brow. “She’s got quite the setup now.”

“Yeah,” I mutter. “No kidding.”

“Rowan,” she nudges him.

“I’m fine,” he says. He doesn’t sound like he’s fine.

Grace watches him carefully but doesn’t push. Instead, she takes my hand, squeezing it gently. “And you, are you okay?”

I glance at her, at the woman who turned my whole damn world upside down and made me want things I never thought I’d have.

“Yeah,” I say, meaning it. “I am.”

Rowan finally folds up the brochure, tucking it under his arm. “Come on. Let’s get her home.”

Grace hums. “And maybe something to eat?”

Ash grins. “Food first, then bed.”

She snorts. “That sounds suspiciously like a bribe.”

Rowan smirks, slinging an arm around her shoulders as we start walking. “Wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart.”

She doesn’t believe him for a second.

But she leans into us anyway.

32

ASH

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