Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Rory

Callisto had been animated the night before, but she was just as closed off as before in the morning. It was like their conversation and what he considered to be a truce had never happened.

She didn't come alive until they stepped out of the house to take the girls to school. Normally he and Fraiser each carried one twin, but this time, without any prompting, both Bay and Sireen rushed straight to Sophia and Callisto.

Sophia swung Bay up, but Callisto just stared at Sireen.

"Up!" Sireen demanded. It sounded more like sup, but the meaning was clear. She wriggled her little legs. When that didn't work, she started flailing her arms around. "Up!"

Callisto scooped up the child and it was obvious she was biting back a smile. She couldn't keep her eyes from dancing. They betrayed her in the loveliest way possible.

Rory tried not to act like he was staring directly into the sun when it came to looking at Callisto. He tried to keep focused on the girls the whole way to the school.

Connor, Stephanie, and Loretta were always there to greet every child in the morning. The school looked like any other small-town school. It was the one brick building in the entire village and had real playground equipment on the outside. It might have been older and dated, but shifters were tough, and they healed fast. There was also a huge grass field where all sorts of games and training happened. The school had a small gym, but it was only used during the colder months and even then, hardly at all.

There were classrooms to give the appearance of a proper school, in case anyone ever bothered to check, but only the largest ones were actually ever used. Before, when the weren't many children, the kids all studied together. Now they were divided into very young, middle aged, and older kids for schooling. Lessons were only a small portion of the day. Most of the time the older kids helped with all the younger ones and the invaluable lessons of being a good shifter and a good person were taught together.

"Rory," Stephanie greeted them cheerfully. She didn't look on the women with any kind of suspicion, but then she was mated to a wolf who was once a prisoner of Pinefall. Sebastian had done some shady things before he'd been unexpectedly forgiven and befriended by Clay, who was given guard duty.

Loretta too, offered them all easy smiles. Her mate was the clan's beta, but at one time, Nelson had been an angry youth who'd started one too many fights and had been maimed for life. Trace, who did the maiming, blamed himself for decades. All anger and bitterness wrought was pain for them both. Thankfully, as adults with the help of the women who loved them, they'd made their peace. Nelson was gruff and rough around the edges. He was the exact opposite of Sam, but they balanced each other out. Nelson hadn't had anything more to add to Rory's mating that day at the hall, and he wasn't angry that Sam hadn't consulted him in his decision. He thought it was wise and if both parties were in agreement, it was best to keep the peace and be guardedly optimistic about welcoming more shifters into the clan and providing them with a place of refuge.

If Connor felt one way or the other about Callisto and Sophia, he said nothing. He was younger and he'd always been carefully neutral. He was a great teacher. His patience was literally limitless.

"Good morning, Bay. Good morning, Sireen. How are you both?"

The girls gave him toothy grins.

The kids in Greenacre went to school all year round, even the little ones. Sophia and Callisto hadn't questioned that once.

"Goo," Sireen responded, reaching out for Stephanie, who held out her arms.

A few kids tore out of the front door of the building, running in streaking blurs through the yard. Bay caught sight of them and that was the end of her patience for being held. She kicked wildly, ready to go give chase.

Emma popped out of the front door. She was twelve now and had all of her mother's stunning beauty. She'd started to develop a love for vintage clothes, just like Glendy and today was dressed in an eclectic mishmash of styles and eras.

Emma was used to caring for her younger siblings and she loved babies. She walked straight for them, diverting both girls. She held out her hand and gently guided both Bay and Sireen to the playground.

"Have a good day," Rory called after them. They ignored him utterly. He grinned, waved to the teachers and Fraiser, who at least waved back, and directed the women past the school.

He thought that a good first stop would be Glendy's shop. They'd had breakfast before they'd left, and he'd noticed that Callisto seemed to enjoy the apricot jelly he'd put out. Glendy had her whole vintage treasure-trove there, but half the store was dedicated to goods created by all the artisans in the clan including canned and preserved foods. If Callisto and Sophia were to settle into life in Greenacre, then maybe meeting some of the other women would help. Also, while he'd tried to make his home as nice as possible, he was well aware that his tastes ran to practical rather than pretty. Maybe some scented candles might make his place homier.

Glendy was behind the counter. The store was empty, but that was likely because it was early. It wouldn't stay that way for long, with the constant stream of tourist traffic dropping in and out. Glendy was still busy without customers. She had a long order sheet she was bent over, but she brushed her hair out of her eyes when they came in, straightened up, and gave him a quick smile. It faded a little when she took in who was with him, but he didn't let that rattle him.

"Good morning," he said cheerfully. "We're out of jam and I thought I should stop in and get some now that most of it is here. Some soap too, maybe?" He picked up a couple of candles from the counter and sniffed them—lavender and rosemary. Rory remembered reading somewhere that lavender was supposed to be relaxing. He dropped them into the wicker basket he'd picked up by the door. "These too."

"Of course. Just pick what you want. I'll mark it down on your tab."

That wasn't a tab that he'd ever have to pay, but more of an accounting tally. With so many new arrivals in Greenacre, it was important that everyone knew how much of everything to order, make, and grow so that every family was properly provided for.

"I know you've met Sophia and Callisto," Rory said as he moved around the shop, picking up a few jars of jam while the women stood over by the door, clustered together. They no doubt felt the sting of tension as keenly as he did. "But not formally?" Had Glendy been there the day they'd made up Callisto, getting her ready for the mating ceremony at Lily's?

"No." Glendy forced a smile at the women. She was never unfriendly. Honestly, she was one of the most easygoing people Rory knew. Her forced welcome wasn't a good sign, but he wasn't going to give up. "But hi. And welcome to Greenacre."

"Thank you," Sophia whispered, trying not to be stiff.

Callisto glared, but that could have been her natural resting face. She was definitely the stronger of the two physically and she looked like she was constantly ready to throw herself between the world and Sophia. She didn't appear to be the kind of person who used her strength and talents for her own ends. She was a rare alpha, one more like Sam, if that was true. Someone with strength and power who didn't want to further themselves, but instead help others—that was a unique concept.

The atmosphere only felt frostier as the minutes ticked on. Rory hurriedly grabbed a few bars of scented soap—ones that were strongest—to clean up in the shower at the end of the day, as he'd promised Callisto he would, so as not to bring the smell of butchering back with him. One was minty and the other had a vaguely medicinal aroma more like eucalyptus.

He held them up so Glendy could mark them, juggling them between the jars of jam. "Thank you so much for everything, Glendy. Have a great morning."

"Wait. Rory. Let me give you a bag and wrap everything for you."

Glendy tried a smile again, and it seemed like it was a bit of an olive branch. He put the jam, candles and soap on the counter and let her wrap it all in brown paper before placing it all in a paper bag.

"I can carry it," Sophia offered. She raced over and took the bag before he could get to it. "It was nice meeting you. You have a lovely shop."

"Thanks. I hope you'll come again." That sounded almost sincere.

"I'll do that. I love vintage." Sophia practically drooled over the racks of vintage clothing. The shop started that way, but it had grown to carrying all things handmade.

"Really? Oh my gosh. Come back. I have so many things that would fit you perfectly." Glendy had a good eye for that. She didn't make the offer to Callisto, who hung back by the door still, pretending she wasn't interested and that she wasn't hurt over being left out of the conversation.

Was that by choice or because she couldn't speak? Rory wanted to face palm himself as they walked outside. He wondered if Glendy knew, or whether she'd thought Callisto was being rude. Given how fast news traveled in Greenacre, he assumed she must know everything about the new arrivals.

He stared down the street at the café. "I could use a coffee." Truly, he could.

"Who runs the restaurant?" Sophia asked, narrowing her eyes against the bright morning sun. It promised to be a warm day, but the cool air coming off the mountains always tempered it. That and the fact they were surrounded by towering trees which made up the forest surrounding Greenacre. The trees did wonders for blocking out some of the harsher sunlight.

"Elowen. Have you met her yet?"

Sophia switched the bag to her other hand. Callisto noticed immediately and stepped up to take it from her. "I'm not sure."

"She's mated to Clay."

Callisto had been reaching for the bag, but she tucked her arm back at her side. Her eyes flew to Rory, and he'd never felt so… skewered under anyone's expression before. There was something in her eyes, a shadow in broad daylight. Maybe she was already worn out. It was quite possible that she didn't want to do this at all. If the café was full of people, would it be too much for Callisto? Would they form a wide circle around them, so that instead of feeling welcome, the opposite was only made more obvious?

Rory wasn't going to give up, but maybe enough was enough for one morning.

"You know, maybe I'll make that cup of coffee back at the house. I should really get to work. Would that be okay?"

Sophia nodded eagerly. Callisto didn't move. It was like she'd been frozen in time and in place.

Rory watched her for some sign, trying to decode her statue-like pose.

Finally, she nodded. She took the bag from Sophia and turned, walking quickly back to their house.

Their house.

His house?

Honestly, he wasn't quite sure anymore.

He wasn't sure if he was making things better or worse by trying, but that didn't mean he was going to give up. He had an idea. Later, when things were quieter at the café, he'd go and talk to Elowen about it.