45

Ray offered to take Jenna and Otter’s bodies to the coroner. He’d say he found them during some volunteer trail maintenance. The authorities would examine her injuries, come to the usual conclusion, and close the case. The other hunters dispersed. Renee drove the rest of the girls back to the Den, and Lexie gave a silent, huddled Stefan and Taylor a lift back to their house. She had tried to thank them, but they both ran from the parked truck before she could complete the sentence.

But she needed to thank someone, so she drove back to the woods.

 

Below her treehouse, she looked up, catching the faintest hint of Sage’s scent. The cerulean sky looked like the sea from old paintings, too blue to be real, but beautiful. The air was cool, but it carried a tang of warmth, as though spring were making its presence known. She looked forward to warmth, longer days, shorter nights. She’d need a break from all the cold and dreariness for awhile.

Lexie climbed, but she hesitated before clambering onto the platform, wondering if this time her dream would be made real, and Archer would be waiting for her. Maybe Archer had done what she promised and changed once more so that Lexie could try and love her in a new form. It was a perverse sort of thought, disturbing more than comforting, and Lexie shoved it back in its cage along with the rest of the unwelcome suppositions that populated her brain. She stepped into the tree and found Sage, nude and cross-legged, meditating in the center of the platform.

He opened his eyes at the sound of her footsteps, and she sat down in front of him, happy he found this place a pleasant one.

He held his palms out and Lexie placed her hands in his. Not knowing where she ended and he began, they breathed together.

“Thank you,” she said.

He nodded with a warm smile.

“Are you leaving?”

“It’s one of a few possibilities,” Sage said.

“What are some of the others?”

“Staying.” He squeezed her hands.

“Would you like that?” she asked.

“Would you?”

Lexie thought for a moment and answered, “Yes.”

“I’ll need your permission.”

Lexie nearly laughed. “Why?”

“This is your territory now.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” she said.

Sage shrugged. “Well, I’d still like your permission.”

Lexie did laugh this time. “Why do you want to stay?”

Sage looked around and inhaled deeply. “I like it here. I’ve been wandering for a while. This place, this town. It’s like a people-sized zoo. Very comfortable. Everything you could possibly need to survive in one handy little spot.” He examined her hands. “It’s an interesting concept.”

Lexie nodded. “It is that.” She reached forward and grabbed one of Sage’s most perfect curls, sproinging it and smiling. “To the extent that you wish to,” Lexie said, “I invite you to stay.”

He smiled and leaned in to nuzzle Lexie’s cheek. She grasped his cheeks, holding his delicate face in front of hers, and leaned to press her lips against his forehead. She felt a tiny sizzle and sighed.

“Thank you for your help,” she said, pulling away.

She stood and walked to the edge of the platform. “Do me a favor?” she asked. “Don’t tell Archer I was the one who let you stay. She might take it the wrong way.”

 

Lexie was happy to be home. Standing in front of the Den, she realized what that word meant. Smoke rose from the chimney, and the scent of fresh bread wafted from the cracked-open kitchen window. She realized, for the first moment ever, she was happy to be here.

Inside, Mitch helped Corwin assemble an altar next to the fireplace, Sharmalee brushed Hazel’s hair, and Renee sipped some tea. They all smiled wearily when Lexie entered.

“Where have you been?” Renee asked. “We were worried.”

“Thanking Sage.” Lexie sat next to Hazel, who touched her knee in welcome. She draped an arm around Hazel’s shoulders, bolstering her with strength, warmth, or anything else the other girl might need.

“I should have stayed with Jenna,” Hazel said, finally. “This is my fault. I knew she wasn’t strong enough … ” Hazel’s voice broke off into tears, and Lexie stroked her shoulder. Hazel fell into her chest like a koala bear, clutching her flesh and hair, letting her sobs pour forth to fill the space between their bodies.

Renee padded over, sat beside them, and pulled them both into her arms. Sharm, Corwin, and Mitch followed, and for awhile, the soft echoes of sobs filled the house. But eventually the comfort turned to cuddling, and soon the Pack was lying together on the living room carpet, some sleeping, some just sighing into each other’s touch. Lexie liked the weight, and lost track of where her body ended and those of her sisters began. She opened herself to the feeling of warmth, of belonging. She liked being among these women, her sisters. She belonged here. She was happy here.

She was home.