Page 18 of Finn's Solace

I made my way to mine, and drove home with a grin on my face.

Greta took one look at me when I got home and made a chuffing sound as she sent a wave of amusement through our bond.

"Laugh at me all you want. Nothing's going to down my high right now."

Greta blinked at me, then turned around and stalked away.

Shaking my head, I swapped the water in her bowl, then checked the feeder. It was something I'd invested in once I got the job, since I wasn't sure if I'd be able to take her with me. What if someone assumed she was a wild skunk and tried to hurt her?

Maybe I could get Finn to watch over her while I was at work? Or was that too much?

I knew he worked from home—something about data analysis that I was far too uneducated to make sense of, but he seemed to find it interesting—but we'd just agreed to date. Asking him to watch over my family hardly seemed like taking it slow.

The feeder would have to do for now.

As I climbed into bed, my thoughts returned to Finn—like they'd ever gone anywhere else—and a smile spread across my lips.

How had I gone from moving into a new town with zero connections to finding my familiar, a job, and my mate all within a few weeks?

There really was something truly magical about Mistvale.

Eight

Levi

On Monday, I woke up bright and early, showered, dressed, made myself a filling breakfast, and set a dish of Greta's food on the counter so we could eat together.

She'd reluctantly agreed to stay at home after I'd told her about her feeder—and that I would leave the TV on for her—but I was going to miss her. It was strange how she'd become such an integral part of my life in such a short time.

After breakfast, I washed up quickly, then checked the time. It was more than enough for me to drive to the work site.

I checked my phone, and smiled when I saw a message from Finn.

Finn: Have a good first day at work!

I sent him a thank-you in reply before giving Greta a wave and locking the door.

The drive through the town was pleasant as ever, and I left the windows down so I could breathe in the clean air. This waswhy I already loved this town. It was so entrenched in nature that sometimes it felt as if the houses had grown out of the earth too.

I had no idea if Mistvale's greenery was all natural or a side effect of the heavy supe population. I'd never heard of magic in general promoting nature, but it was possible, wasn't it?

I pursed my lips as I reached a fork in the road, where the cleaner path led toward a gate, while another newly made trail seemed to follow the wall of the compound. That must be the packland.

I took the trail Caleb had mentioned, and followed it to the site, where part of the packland wall had clearly been removed and rebuilt to remove the site from its premises.

Getting out of the car, I eyed the area and realized I might be a little early. There was no one around.

I pulled out my phone, then pulled up Caleb's text. I groaned.

Ten? I was supposed to start work atten? How could I have made such a dumb mistake? What did I do now? Go back home and return in an hour?

"Hey, there!" a cheerful voice called out, and I sighed. Apparently not.

I turned around, and it took me a moment to spot the person who'd called out, mostly because all I could see of them was their head sticking out over the wall. They were dark-skinned, with wild black curls framing their face, and warm, brown eyes.

"Uh, hello," I greeted them awkwardly, and they grinned.

"First-day nerves got you here early?"

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