Page 62 of Moon Fated

Twenty minutes later, boxes and bags littered the living room floor, a tangible mosaic of my fractured life. My fingers traced over a leather-bound album peeking out from a box, its corners worn.

Callie walked through the door, and I leaped up from the floor. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard it was moving day.”

I ran to her and wrapped her in a hug. “You look good.”

“Slightly better than last week?”

I laughed, though it was hardly a funny statement. We still had so much to talk about. I hoped she’d open up to me, but there were things I needed to tell her first. Though I’d let her keep my number when I left, I’d never opened up about what had happened behind Nathan’s closed door. My stomach ached at the thought that now when I told her, she’d understand fully.

I pulled back, and the soft buzz of my phone against the table cut through our greeting. I walked back and picked it up.

Bruce:

Training newbies is a nightmare. Where'd you stash the bandage scissors?

I couldn't suppress the smirk that danced on my lips.

Probably the same place you left your manscaper

Bruce:

So…your sister’s room?

I snorted, then turned the screen to Callista.

“Aww. He misses you.”

I’d told Callista about my coworkers months ago. I never imagined I’d be standing next to her in person texting one of them back in Seattle.

Bruce:

Probably good you went back to Canada. This election’s going to be a shit show

Take care, Jack

I turned off the screen and set it back on the table.

Callista sighed. “You'll miss this chaos?"

"Maybe just a little," I admitted to myself, a pang of fondness for the controlled pandemonium of the ER piercing through me. It was where I thrived, where every day was a high-stakes. Though being here wasn’t much different.

“When do you start with the EMTs here in Black Lake?" Lana asked, directing Liam to the kitchen with a box of my pots and pans.

"Next week.”

"Good. They could use someone like you.” Her approval warmed me more than I expected.

"Thanks, Lana." I smiled, genuinely touched by her endorsement. But then, my attention snagged on someone else entirely.

Rowan.

He strode through the threshold, his arms laden with the last of my belongings, muscles flexing under the strain. There was a primal satisfaction in watching him, an alpha claiming space for his mate within his territory. My heart raced at the sight, my wolf stirring at the scent of him.

Lana smirked. "Looks like the alpha has everything under control.”

"Always does," I murmured, unable to tear my eyes away.