Page 26 of Collar Me Crazy
"They don't ask questions about prophecies or expect me to be anything other than what I am." His response was almost a whisper. "They just need help, and I can provide it. Simple."
"Nothing about you is simple," Sonya said with a small smile. "But this place, what you've built here, it's incredible. You're helping creatures that most people would never even know exist."
Pride warmed his chest at her words, unfamiliar but not unwelcome. He'd never thought of his work as incredible, just necessary.
"What's your dream for it?" she asked. "Long term, I mean."
Ryker hesitated. He'd never shared his real plans with anyone, partly because they seemed too ambitious and partly because admitting to long-term dreams felt dangerous.
"Expansion," he said finally. "There's a creek that runs through the back of the property, perfect for water shifters. I've been thinking about building specialized habitats, maybe partnering with other sanctuaries to create a network for creatures who need long-term care."
"That sounds amazing. What's stopping you?"
"Funding, mostly. And..." He trailed off, unwilling to voice the deeper truth.
"And you don't think you'll be around long enough to see it through," she finished gently.
He looked at her sharply. "I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to. You talk about this place like it's temporary, like you're just holding it together until someone else takes over." She shifted to face him more fully. "But this is your life's work, Ryker. You should be making plans that assume you'll be here to see them through."
"Some of us don't have that luxury."
"Because of the prophecy?"
"Because I've learned not to count on happy endings." He stood abruptly, needing distance from her perceptive brown eyes. "People I care about get hurt. It's better for everyone if I keep my plans small and my connections temporary."
"Is that what this is?" she asked, standing as well. "A temporary connection?"
His wolf wanted him to say no, to tell her she was everything and more. His human mind insisted that temporary was safer for both of them.
"I don't know," he said honestly.
"Well, that's a start." She gathered her jacket from where she'd left it on the log. "For what it's worth, I think your expansion plans are brilliant. And I think the creatures you help are lucky to have someone who cares as much as you do."
She was halfway to the parking area when she turned back.
"Ryker? Whatever else happens, whatever these visions mean, you should know that what you've built here matters. You matter. Don't let fear of the future stop you from planning for it."
Ryker stood alone among the deer shifters as darkness settled over the sanctuary. Her words echoed in his head, challenging assumptions he'd held for so long they felt like facts.
Maybe she was right. Maybe he had been living like his time was borrowed.
The question was whether he was brave enough to start believing in a future that included more than just survival.
15
SONYA
The red wool dress had been an impulse purchase, warmer than her usual clothes and rich enough to stand out against November's muted palette. Sonya hadn't expected to care what she wore to a small-town festival, but something about the way Moira had smiled when she'd tried it on suggested it was the right choice.
"You look stunning," Lucien said as they approached the main square, where the Founding Festival was in full swing. Magical lights strung between buildings cast everything in warm amber tones, and the scent of spiced cider and wood smoke filled the air.
"He's right," Moira added, linking arms with both of them. "That color is perfect on you."
The square buzzed with activity, locals moving between booths selling everything from Freya's herbal teas to the Tansley brothers' enchanted trinkets. Children ran between the adults, their laughter mixing with the sound of traditional music from a small stage where several residents played fiddles and drums.
Sonya found herself scanning the crowd automatically, her eyes searching for auburn hair and broad shoulders. Yesterday'sconversation at the sanctuary had left her with more questions than answers, but also with a deeper appreciation for the man behind the prophecy.
