31. Ava

It's different this time,as Ethan pulls onto their lane. Despite the surroundings remaining unchanged, everything feels different. Not a single thing is alike, because I am not the same person I was just days ago. My feelings have evolved, and my circumstances have shifted dramatically.

The doubt that once drowned me, and the excuses I made for my father, have all dissipated. Something inside me fundamentally changed when I shifted, as if those burdens simply drifted away, rendering my father's actions and words powerless to me. Now I see clearly, choosing their impact on me with a sharpened sense of the world. Even cocooned in the car, I can feel the Earth's heartbeat under my feet.

As we approach our home, only a few lights punctuate the darkness, and on the porch, Tyler shifts restlessly, as if the concept of standing still is alien to him. "Looks like he's been waiting for you," Ethan observes with a light chuckle, just as Tyler launches himself toward the car.

Tyler flings the passenger door open before Ethan fully stops the car, exclaiming, "Butterfly," as he leans in to unbuckle my seat belt. "I missed you," he murmurs, his fingertips grazing mine.

"It's only been two hours."

He lifts me from the car, cradling me in his arms.

"I can walk now," I gripe, even though a part of me loves being held like I'm his most cherished possession. The notion of belonging to someone bristles against my newfound independence, and yet I don't completely hate it either.

"I'm under strict orders to clean this wound," he deflects, focusing on his task rather than my hint to be set down.

Relenting, I loop my arms around his neck, clinging to him. Tyler still retains a trace of his youthful appearance, his eyes sparkling as he glances down at me and a lock of hair falling over his forehead. I reach up, brushing the strands away from his eyes and tucking them back, noting the softness and subtle curl of his hair.

"Are you hungry?" he asks as we step inside the house.

"Not really," I reply, just as Brody, who was holding the door, places a kiss on my forehead, telling Tyler, "Clean the wound."

Tyler, ignoring his packmate's warning, carefully maneuvers me up the stairs and down the hall to the bedroom at the end. "Since I'm the youngest, I get the second smallest room," he explains, hinting at a deeper significance.

"Why do I feel like there's a warning in that?" I inquire.

"Because there is," he replies, kicking the door open to reveal his world inside.

Upon entering, I'm immediately enveloped by his scent—salty ocean spray—which permeates every corner of the room. It sinks into my skin and bones, compelling me to breathe deeper to absorb every hidden nuance of his essence.

"Like I said, it's a little messy," he admits, gently setting me on his bed and calling out, "Bean!"

Only now do I notice the mess—a trail of shirts leading to a barn door closet, piles of clothes and scattered books throughout. I'm curious about the genres he reads, hinted at by a risqué book cover. My attention shifts as I remember my snake—the unexpected catalyst that brought us all together. I catch her in the act of pushing one of the pins from her screen out of its slot.

"Oh, you naughty snake," I exclaim with a playful tone as I stride over to the corner where her luxurious tank sits. It's an elaborate setup that dwarfs the humble abode I provided her with at home, decked out with lush faux foliage and a myriad of hideouts that would make any reptile enthusiast green with envy. Simply put, she is spoiled.

Tyler eyes her with a blend of frustration and awe. "She keeps pushing those pins out," he mutters, his eyes narrowing in a mock glare at our slithery escape artist. "How the hell is she doing that? I didn't think snakes were…"

"Smart?" I chime in with a cheeky grin. My laughter fills the room as I accidentally step on a rogue pair of boxers—evidence of the casual disarray of Tyler's living space. I pluck the pins from the tank, and I barely have time to react before she gracefully makes her exit, slithering out with the elegance of a seasoned escapee.

Tyler sidles up next to me, a playful nudge accompanying his observation. "I think she missed you," he comments, amusement lacing his tone.

I snort in response. "Only because I'm her personal chef." My little ghost motley snake stretches toward my hand, her forked tongue sampling the air with delicate flicks. "She's probably just hungry," I murmur, softness creeping into my voice as she coils around my hand, her scales cool and smooth against my skin. She begins her ascent up my arm, aiming for her favorite perch around my neck.

"It bothers me that she's aiming for your neck," Tyler grumbles, folding his arms over his chest. "Won't she strangle you?"

"You mean again?" I quip, my gaze flitting up to meet his. I flutter my lashes in feigned innocence. Tyler's presence here, in this room teeming with personal artifacts and a palpable sense of intimacy, sends waves of nervous excitement coursing through me.

"Yes, again," he retorts, the hint of a smirk playing on the corners of his mouth. "I'll grab her a mouse."

The fact that he went out of his way to ensure my pet's comfort tugs at my heartstrings. If I wasn't already tumbling headfirst into this whirlwind romance with these three, that gesture alone would have sealed my fate.

"Thanks," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper as I turn away, hoping to conceal the blush I can feel painting my cheeks a vivid shade of crimson. "Hey," I call out, reaching to grasp his arm as he moves past me, the brief touch sending electric sparks along my skin. "My bags? I know we didn't really plan for them to be here, but…"

"I have them," he assures me, his voice a soothing balm. Leaning in, he steals a kiss that crackles with intensity, leaving me breathless. He pulls back and winks—a playful gesture that feels like a secret between us.

My fingers linger on my lips, tracing the phantom sensation of his kiss. I look forward to Tyler's sporadic kisses. They are like rare Tyler gems that he drops all over the place. The thought of capturing his undivided attention sends a thrill of anticipation through me.

As I wander down the hall, lost in thought, Tyler reappears, duffle bag in hand. "Here you go," he says, pausing on the steps to meet my gaze. "I'm going to warm the mouse." A crease forms between his brows. "I looked up the proper way to feed her. So, warm the mouse in water, inside a baggie, then place it in a container?"

Leaning against the bathroom doorframe, I can't help but admire his dedication. "Exactly," I confirm, warmth flooding my chest. "That way, she thinks she's hunting. Feeding her outside her enclosure ensures she doesn't associate my hand with food." His eagerness to understand and care for my snake adds another layer to the growing affection I feel for him.

"I have those," he says, his enthusiasm sending him nearly tumbling down the stairs in his rush to prepare everything.

A gentle laugh escapes me as Brody emerges from his room, leaning casually against his doorframe in a pose that mirrors my own. "Hey, you," he whispers, his voice low and intimate.

"Hey," I reply, tightening my grip on my bag as an unexpected wave of emotion washes over me. "How are you feeling?" I ask, conscious of the limited time we've had to connect since the accident.

"How are you?" he deflects, sweeping his gaze over me in a way that sends my heart racing.

I allow myself a moment to drink in his appearance, from the intensity in his eyes to the casual drape of his sweatpants that hints at the contours beneath. The way his gray shirt clings to his broad shoulders sends a shiver of excitement through me. "I feel good," I confess, surprised by the depth of my own well-being. "Really good, actually." It's as if a veil has been lifted, and I'm finally who I was meant to be all along.

Brody closes the distance between us, his eyes alight with an emotion that I can't quite name. "Good," he murmurs before his lips meet mine in a kiss that ignites a fire within me. My bag slips from my grasp as I lean into him. The world narrows to his taste and the press of his body against mine, and for a moment, everything else falls away. His tongue teases mine, inviting a response that I eagerly give, lost in the intensity of the moment.

I don't want the kiss to end, but Brody pulls away too quickly, pressing his forehead to mine. "Tomorrow, you're mine," he whispers, his body trembling. He pulls back slowly before entering his room again, leaving me reeling.

Shaken, I dart into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. My heart's still racing when I realize I left my bag outside. I whip the door open and grab it before anyone has the chance to knock me off my feet again with a touch or a kiss.

As I stand in front of the mirror, I'm hit by this wave of impossibility. The girl staring back looks like me but also different. Ava's still in there, somewhere behind those shockwaves of emotion flashing across her—my—face. My hair has decided to star in its own shampoo commercial without me, thick and glossy, and my eyes used to be this kind of meh brown, but now they are popping with every shade of magic. And my skin… Did I suddenly stumble into a filter? It's clear, glowing, and just so…perfect.

Shaking my head to clear the surreal feeling, I dig through my bag for toothpaste and PJs, only to face-palm myself because my phone is still on the floor at the Castellons'. As I'm mentally kicking myself, there's a knock at the door.

With my toothbrush hanging out of my mouth, I open the door to find Ethan looking concerned. "Are you all right?" he asks like he's genuinely worried I injured myself in a battle with dental hygiene. "I heard a moan of frustration."

"Mmmy phmmne," I mumble around the toothbrush, give him the one moment finger, and then rinse. "It's in my clutch," I finally tell him, feeling a mix of annoyance and sheepishness. I'm mentally face-palming again. "What if someone decides to snoop?"

Ethan nudges me. "I'll pick up a new one for you and see if one of the clan members can erase it from here."

"You can do that?" I ask, amazed yet also kind of not surprised.

"I'll have someone else do it," he corrects with a half smile, but there's this tension, like he's carrying the weight of the world in that smirk. "Good night," he says, all formal and stuff.

"Thanks, really," I blurt out, gripping my toothbrush like it's my lifeline. "Good night, Ethan."

He nods and steps back, but I'm not ready to let him go. "Wait." When he looks back, his stare nearly knocks the wind out of me. "Why do they call you Huggie?"

"Tomorrow," he promises. "Get some sleep, Ava." He disappears into his room, and I'm left there, still holding my toothbrush and a bucketload of curiosity.

I quickly clean my wound that's already healing and slip into my PJs, noticing my period has basically disappeared—something that has never happened before. I head back to Tyler's room with Bean still curled around my neck.

Walking into Tyler's room feels like slipping into a favorite pair of jeans—just right. He's there, doing the whole responsible pet owner thing, swirling a mouse in a box for Bean. She senses dinner and makes a beeline for it, sliding down my arm with all the grace of a slinky.

"Do snake shifters exist?" I ask, watching Bean strike her mouse.

"They do," Tyler answers as he scoops me up and plops us both on the bed. I'm lying on top of him, my chin on my hands, and he has this look like he's just so damn happy to have me here in his room with him. "But not like normal snakes," he starts. "When I was a wee little pup, I went for a run."

I raise an eyebrow. "Why does this story sound like you were up to no good?" My gaze shifts back to Bean, who seems like she's plotting her next daring escape. The last thing I want is for her to vanish into thin air right after her meal.

"Because I was," he admits with a playful wag of his brows. "I ran because I needed to test my limits. I wanted to see how far I could push myself, so I let my paws carry me for miles upon miles, until I found myself in an unfamiliar forest."

Intrigued, I scoot up to sit beside him. "Where were you?"

"Faerie. The fae lands are deceptive. It's easy to wander into their territory without realizing it. They often harbor spiritkin that can't live in our realm," he explains, adjusting a pillow under his head. "Like snake shifters. I stumbled upon the entrance to a cave, feeling the presence of someone—or something—else. My curiosity got the better of me when I saw glowing eyes."

My eyes widen in anticipation. "How big?"

"Like saucers," he says, framing a large circle with his hands. "Spiritkin that get trapped in their form sometimes can't remain in our world," he continues, noting my rapt attention.

"Tell me more," I urge, glancing at Bean as she peeks over the box's edge. Rising to put her away, I catch Tyler yawning and shivering before he positions himself at the bed's edge.

"Griffins. Dragons. Gigantaboa," he lists, smirking at my shock. "Yes, you heard me."

Looking down at the small corn snake in my hands, I chuckle. "See, you aren't the biggest snake," I tease her before placing her back in her enclosure, "but you definitely have the biggest personality."

With Bean settled, I climb into bed with Tyler, snuggling into the space closest to the wall. Tyler seems both shocked and pleased as I crawl under the covers and claim one of his pillows. He leans over to turn off the light, then curls up beside me.

"So, gigantaboa?" I continue, yawning and nestling closer to him.

It feels so natural, I don't even second-guess my actions until he groans, his arms encircling me tightly. "I'm trying to play the gentleman, Ava," he murmurs, his voice a mix of frustration and restraint.

"Sorry," I squeak out, my whole body tensing at his words.

He snuggles me closer, deliberately keeping a respectful distance, and I can't help but blush as I realize why.

"The fae, not being from this world, have always found it appealing here. They've created doorways to their realm all over the globe, offering refuge to those spiritkin stuck in their forms or those who choose not to stay in our world. Like dragons," he explains softly.

"Why?" I murmur, my eyelids growing heavy with sleep.

"Dragons possess an otherworldliness that is terrifying, even in human form. They've been hunted and forced into hiding, along with griffins and even the gigantaboa," he says, his voice soothing as he nuzzles my neck.

"That's awful," I whisper, feeling sleep pull me under. "I hope one day, they won't have to hide and that we can all thrive together."

"Oh, sweet Ava," Tyler whispers, pressing a gentle kiss to my neck. "One day," he echoes, though his tone lacks my certainty.

That's all right. Dreaming big is part of who I am, no matter how outlandish those dreams might seem.