Page 72 of Wolves & Watercolors
“You doing okay there?” a deep voice says.
Swallowing, I look up to see Heath. He walks forward, his gait uneven, and lowers himself onto the ground to sit beside me.
“Sir,” I say, all the greeting I can muster.
“Aurora went home,” he says.
“Yeah.”
“I’m concerned about you.” He folds his hands and studies me over.
“Why are you concerned about me?” I say, though it sounds silly when I’m this moody.
Heath sighs. “Did I ever tell you about my brother, Reed?”
I shake my head but stay silent. Heath never speaks about Reed. My father told me the basic story, but I’ve never even heard his name spoken by anyone else.
“My brother wanted to apprentice to be a healer. He even studied medicine.” He pauses, thinking. “He was older, but I don’t think he ever wanted to be Alpha, but our father wouldn’t hear of it. Anyways, Reed decided to do pre-med in California, and this was before online classes of course. And then he met Sheila.”
“Hazel and Aurora’s mom,” I say, acknowledging what I already know.
“He fell hard before he even realized what was happening. I’ve seen it over and over. Hazel and Slate fought it. Even your parents were oblivious for months. That bond falls into place long before our brains catch up.”
My brain hurts with the implications of what he’s saying so I lean my forehead down again and close my eyes to listen.
“Anyway, Reed came home and tried to pick up where he left off. He only made it about two weeks before he couldn't sleep, barely ate. He was useless without her. So he left to be with her.”
“Did he ever tell her he was a shifter?” I’ve always wondered.
“I don’t think so. He would have if their kids had been born shifters. He would have had to. But that never happened.” Heath scrubs at his face. “I don’t think it will do anyone good if you pretend you’re fine. I know how close you became with Rory.”
There’s no use in arguing. “How did you find out?”
Heath exhales in a dry laugh. “You guys were kissing all over the garden. She smelled like you for most of her visit. Oh, and Marigold saw her going home with you last night.”
“She told you?” I ask, raking my fingers through my hair.
“Jasper told Hawthorne,” he says with a chuckle. Of course. I don’t know why I was expecting any sort of privacy in this pack.
“I asked her to stay and she said no. I tried to tell her how I felt, but I didn’t want to make her feel worse. And now she’s gone.”
Heath nods along to my confession.
“So what should I do?”
“I can’t give you the same advice I would have for anyone else in this situation, because I know you. You will stubbornlyrefuse to do something you see as selfish. You’ll let yourself be miserable instead of inconveniencing anyone else.”
“No,” I argue. He raises an eyebrow and silences me.
“Go to her. Work together to find a solution that allows you to be together. Maybe you could split your time between the city and here. That’s the kind of compromise that relationships require. Aurora has a good heart, and if she loves you too, she’ll be willing to work something out.”
Each word sinks into me. It feels true and right.
“I don’t want to abandon my job here.”
“Tansy can train someone new. Your position here is not more important than your happiness. The garden will be fine without you.” He shakes his head. “But if you want to catch up with her, you need to get going. I’ll text you the motel address.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
