“No, I wanted to talk to you first.”
My heart softens. “Thanks, but absolutely go back. Will you be okay living in the healer house by yourself?”
“Yeah. That’s why I want to go back. I can’t take being here anymore. I don’t know how packs live all together under one roof. It’s not normal to live with this many people.”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I kind of like it. I like that I’m never alone.”
Ava snorts. “Well that most likely has to do with the fact that you have a mate here. How is that going anyway besides the beach trip? Is he being good to you?”
"Yeah. He is.” I don’t say anymore because I don’t want to rub it in her face. I hated when the other females did that to me, not that they did it on purpose. They just can’t help how much they love their mates. I lock down my emotions. “Want to call Garrett now and ask him if he can send someone? I’ll sit here with you.”
Her eyes brighten. “Yeah?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t want to call Garrett by myself either.”
She gives me a sheepish smile. “I was going to call Emma.”
I laugh. “Yeah. Calling his mate; that’s a smart move. He can’t say no to her.”
“Let’s do it.”
Her eyes meet mine. “Are you sure?”
I tighten that hold on my emotions. “Absolutely.”
“Okay.” She pulls out her phone and taps on the screen. A moment later, she holds it out in front of her and I hear it ring.
“Hey Ava, are you okay?” Emma’s gentle voice comes between us, and I can’t help but smile.
“I’m fine,” Ava says quickly. “Uh, how are you?”
“I’m doing well.” I can hear the uncertainty in Emma’s voice, like she’s not really sure why Ava’s calling.
“I want to come back to the pack.”
I blink at Ava’s abrupt words and then hold my breath as we both wait for Emma’s response. “Oh. Okay. Let me talk to Garrett and see when we can send somebody to pick you up.”
I watch Ava’s shoulders lower. “Really?”
Emma pauses. “Of course. You’re pack, Ava. You can come here and live with our pack any time you want. The healer house hasn’t been lived in since you left. So, if you’re okay with it, you can move back there. Or...”
“Yes,” Ava says, interrupting her. “I want to live in the healer house.”
“What about Rose?” Emma asks. “Is she going to be coming to?”
Ava looks to me. “Hey Emma,” I say so she knows I’m here.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were with Ava. Hey, Rose.”
Her warm voice wraps around me, and I suddenly miss her and the others in the Northwoods Pack.
Chapter 40
Rose
“I’m going to be staying here.” I do my absolute best to keep my voice steady.
“Are you sure? Because you can most definitely come back here too. You don’t have to stay with the Orlando Pack if you don’t want to,” she says, going all mother hen.