Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

T he next day dawned bright, clear, and way too early. Having spent a mostly sleepless night fretting about her campers, the clamor of the breakfast rush felt like someone was beating pans against the inside of her skull. Paige was sitting at the staff table, staring blearily into her cereal and trying to remember how spoons worked, when a large mug of coffee appeared in front of her.

“The first night is always rough.” Leonie patted her on the shoulder before sitting down. “It’ll get better, I promise.”

“It certainly can’t get any worse,” Paige muttered. She took a grateful swallow of coffee. “Thanks for this.”

“You looked like you needed it.” Leonie leaned her elbows on the table, wrapping her hands around her own mug. “We missed you at the staff campfire last night.”

Paige felt a lurch of guilt. Leonie—and all the other senior staff—had treated her with genuine kindness. Even though she was human, they were doing their best to make her feel welcome.

But she had to keep her distance. It was hard enough to keep her guard up around Conleth. She didn’t need Leonie and the others prying into her secrets as well.

“Sorry. I thought it was best to stay close to the girls on their first night.” That was true enough, if not the whole truth. “Especially Hetta. I was worried she’d be even more upset if she woke up and I wasn’t there.”

Leonie pursed her lips. “Is she finding it hard to adjust?”

“She cried herself to sleep, despite the other girls trying to cheer her up. Leonie, I don’t know what to do. She really doesn’t want to be here. Did you know she can’t shift?”

Leonie nodded. “Her dad mentioned it on her registration form. He expressly requested that we try to encourage her to step out of her comfort zone while she’s at camp. I think he’s worried that she’s so timid, it’s interfering with her connection to her inner animal.”

“Do you know what kind of shifter she is?” Too late, Paige remembered Archie’s impromptu lesson on shifter etiquette. “I mean, if you don’t mind telling me. Sorry, I know it’s rude to ask a shifter about their own animal, but I don’t know if you can discuss someone else’s.”

To her relief, Leonie didn’t look offended by the question. “As a general rule, we don’t. It’s like gossiping about someone’s private life behind their back. We do ask parents to disclose their child’s animal on the application form, if they’re willing, but we don’t insist upon it. In this case, no, I’m afraid I don’t know. Her dad didn’t say. I think we’ll have to wait until Hetta feels comfortable enough to tell us herself. Try to make her feel at home, okay?”

“I’ll do my best. Though if she’s here to learn how to shift, I’m the last person who’s going to be able to help her.”

Leonie sipped her coffee. “Do you remember what I said to Zephyr the other day, when Conleth was being an ass?”

“You’re going to have to be more specific.”

Leonie chuckled appreciatively. “Oooh, burn. Remind me to repeat that to Conleth. I was referring to why I objected to him throwing all my pack assignments out the window to suit himself. Ring a bell?”

Now Paige remembered. “You said you worked hard to ensure all the kids were matched up with the right counselors.”

“That’s right.” Leonie’s amusement faded, her tawny eyes turning more serious. “I meant it, Paige. I don’t play games with the pack assignments. I didn’t put you with those campers to give Conleth a hard time. I think you’re exactly the counselor those kids need. All of them.”

Paige looked across the hall, to where Beth, Hetta, Estelle and Nancy were picking at breakfast. “And Conleth?”

“I think they’re exactly the campers he needs.” Leonie looked around as well. “Speaking of which, where is Conleth?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him yet this morning, or the boys. Maybe they’re still in the shower block.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Conleth is running behind schedule.” Draining the last of her coffee, Leonie pushed back her chair. “I’m heading past that way. I’ll check and see if he needs rescuing from your brother.”

Paige raised an eyebrow at the head counselor. “I thought you said you didn’t put the kids together to give Conleth a hard time.”

“I didn’t.” Leonie’s lips curved in a catlike smile. “That’s just a side benefit. I have faith in you, Paige. And Conleth. But don’t tell him I said that.”

Paige didn’t have much faith in herself, and less in her co-counselor. But it seemed her fears were misplaced. Leonie had barely left the dining hall when the door opened again. To Paige’s relief, Finley and Rufus entered, followed by Ignatius. Archie trailed after the other boys like a small, scruffy thundercloud. And behind him was…

No one.

Paige hurried over to intercept the four boys as they headed for the breakfast table. “Where’s Conleth?”

“He sent us on without him.” Finley yawned, revealing a startling array of sharp, triangular teeth. He covered his mouth. “Sorry. Anyway, he said he needed to stop by the office. He should be here in a minute.”

Paige took in the dark shadows under each pair of eyes. “You boys don’t look like you got much rest last night.”

Ignatius fixed her with a bloodshot, baleful glare.

“Your brother,” he informed her, “is an animal. ”

Her heart sank. “Archie, what did you do?”

Archie didn’t look up from forking waffles from the serving platter onto his plate. “Nothing.”

“Archie.” Getting no response, she turned to the other boys. “Does one of you want to tell me what happened?”

Finley rubbed at his eyes. “He wet the bed.”

Nancy bristled. “Hey, don’t make fun of him for that. It’s okay, Archie. Lots of people have trouble with that sometimes. You don’t need to feel ashamed.”

“Oh, he very much does.” Ignatius took a seat, throwing a pointed glare at Archie across the table. “He didn’t wet his bed.”

Archie smirked.

Paige shut her eyes for a moment. “Archie, please tell me you didn’t.”

“I shifted in my sleep. It’s not my fault my bear got confused looking for the way to the woods and ended up scent-marking Conleth’s mattress.” Archie’s expression of wide-eyed innocence would have been a lot more convincing if he hadn’t added, under his breath, “I just wish I’d managed to get him . It’s not fair that he can move so fast.”

Paige pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re going to apologize to Conleth as soon as he arrives.”

“If he arrives,” Ignatius muttered. “Personally, I think he’s gone straight to the office to hand in his resignation. And I wouldn’t blame him.”

Neither would Paige. As infuriating as Conleth was, she couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for him. If she was tired, he must be utterly exhausted.

Conleth picked that moment to breeze in, bright-eyed and beaming. “Good morning, campers!”

Ignatius groaned, slumping further in his chair. “It should be illegal for anyone to be that perky this early.”

Beth looked a little alarmed. “Uncle Conleth, have you been drinking coffee?”

“Not yet,” Conleth replied ominously. He glanced at Paige, and frowned. “Why do you look so tired?”

Paige stared at him. “Why do you…not?”

He shrugged off the question. “I don’t sleep much. Did someone mention coffee?”

“Please don’t give him coffee,” Ignatius begged.

Conleth did not look like a man who needed coffee. He also didn’t look like he’d spent a sleepless night babysitting a surly bear. He was freshly shaved and showered, his staff t-shirt impeccably ironed. Even his copper hair seemed brighter than normal. He practically radiated obnoxious vitality.

For no apparent reason, he was carrying a large flipchart under his arm. With brisk efficiency, he set this up at the end of the table, angling the blank pad of paper so everyone could see it. Then he clapped his hands together, turning on his heel to face the campers.

“I,” he announced, “have been thinking.”

Beth looked even more alarmed.

“Despite our less than auspicious start yesterday, I am determined that each and every one of you will enjoy this summer.” Conleth took a marker pen from his pocket. “So let us address the elephant in the room.”

“Who’s an elephant?” Nancy looked around with interest. “Hetta, is it you?”

“The metaphorical elephant,” Conleth said, not missing a beat. “This pack has a problem.”

“I have a problem,” Archie muttered through a mouthful of waffle. “With your face.”

Beth glared at him across the table. “The only problem around here is you. ”

“Thank you both for that perfect demonstration,” Conleth said dryly. “We’re all aware that you two have opposing opinions on a certain private matter. Unfortunately, the conflict between you is affecting the whole group. If things continue as they are, everyone is in for a miserable summer. I’m sure we can all agree this is not what any of us want.”

“You can say that again. ” Ignatius swept both Archie and Beth with a scathing glare. “If I’d wanted to spend the summer trying to ignore an awkward atmosphere of simmering tension, I could have stayed at home.”

“None of us are happy about the situation, but what can we do about it?” Finley said, rather forlornly. “Archie and Beth aren’t going to stop fighting.”

“I’m happy to stop fighting,” Beth said primly. “Just as soon as Archie stops trying to interfere with fate.”

Archie, predictably, turned into a bear. He growled at Beth, showing his fangs.

Paige opened her mouth to intervene, but Conleth got there first. He rapped his knuckles on the table, regaining the kids’ attention.

“As this camp’s purpose is to educate as well as entertain, this seems like an excellent moment to introduce you all to an exciting new term,” he said. “‘Escalation.’ Synonymous with ‘unhelpful,’ when it comes to any form of negotiation. Whether in business or life, it’s considerably easier to achieve your goal if you can keep control of your temper. Otherwise one side says something rash, the other takes offense, and before you know it, everyone is diving for cover under the conference table while two lions dressed in business formal attempt to tear out each other’s throats. Not a hypothetical example, by the way.”

“Are you sure you’re a summer camp counselor?” Nancy asked him.

“Believe me, I’m even more surprised than you are,” Conleth replied. “So, we are all agreed that we cannot go on like this. We need something that will unite us. Something to bring us together in pursuit of a common goal, despite our differences.”

Ignatius gave him a flat look. “If the next words out of your mouth are ‘Let’s put on a show!’, I’m leaving now.”

“Fortunately for all our ears, there is a much better solution.” With a flourish, Conleth uncapped his pen. “What we need…”

In firm, precise capital letters, he wrote:

AS A MEMBER OF THIS PACK, I HEREBY AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS:

He swung back around, sweeping them all with that brilliant, confident smile.

“…Is a contract ,” he finished.

The campers stared at him. So did Paige.

“I can see from your faces that we are all in complete agreement,” Conleth said dryly. He tapped the end of his pen against the words he’d written. “Come now, this is Business 101. We have multiple parties with competing goals and interests. If we’re to have any chance of avoiding an entire summer of all-out war, we clearly need to negotiate a binding document of mutually agreeable terms.”

“Is this a prank?” Nancy squinted up at the rafters as though trying to spot a hidden camera. “Is someone filming this?”

“No, but I’m beginning to wish I was,” Ignatius replied. “Someone should be documenting this, if only to show to our future therapists.”

“Conleth’s right.”

They were not words Paige had ever expected to say. From the way the kids blinked at her, they were just as surprised. Even Conleth looked a little startled as she joined him at the flipchart.

“The way he’s expressing it might be a little, uh, unique, but the basic idea is a good one,” she told the kids. “We should decide some core values for the pack. That way everyone will know what’s expected of them.”

“But we already have the camp handbook,” Nancy said. “Isn’t that enough?”

“More than enough,” Estelle muttered. “We already have way too many rules, if you ask me.”

“The camp handbook is a thorough and comprehensive document,” Conleth said. “I should know, since I wrote most of it. However, it’s there to ensure the smooth operation of the camp as a whole, not this group specifically. Only you can decide how that will work.”

Finley scratched the back of his neck. “So you’re saying we should write our own rules?”

Nancy perked up. “Like having a rule that we’ll go mountain climbing every morning?”

“I was thinking more like how we’ll treat each other.” Paige took the pen from Conleth. “To avoid arguments and help everyone get along.”

“ I think we should all promise to always show respect to our counselors,” Beth said promptly. “Both of them.”

Archie growled, ears flattening.

“Thank you again, Archie and Beth, for demonstrating another important point.” Conleth said. “Paige and I aren’t going to force any of you to sign this contract. That would defeat the whole purpose. So whatever we all choose to put in it, everyone has to agree. Not just some of you.”

“This is going to be a very short contract,” Ignatius said.

“I’m sure there are some things we can all agree on.” Paige surveyed the kids’ dubious faces. “Anyone?”

Rufus put up a hesitant hand.

“Rufus proposes, no yelling,” Conleth translated for the benefit of those who couldn’t hear the griffin shifter’s telepathy. “Anyone want to second that?”

“Yeah, that’s actually a good one,” Estelle said. “I mean, I’m not saying Beth and Archie have to agree on everything, but screaming into each other’s faces should be off limits. Otherwise we’re gonna be peeling Nancy off the ceiling every five minutes.”

Beth and Archie hesitated, eying each other.

“I don’t like it when people yell either,” Hetta whispered.

“I suppose I could agree to that,” Beth said slowly. “If everyone else does.”

The bear seemed to waver. Its furry outline blurred, and Archie was back, looking rather less certain than he had previously.

“But what if some gets real mad and can’t help yelling?” he asked, then added quickly, “I mean, someone in general. Not me.”

“That’s a good point,” Conleth said, as Paige wrote No yelling on the flipchart under his neat heading. “Let’s say someone—not looking at anyone in particular—does feel at risk of screaming at a pack mate. What should they do?”

To Paige’s surprise, it was Ignatius who answered. “Walk away until you calm down. My uncle says a true alpha should never lose control in front of other people.”

“My compliments to Lord Golden,” Conleth said, taking the pen from Paige. “For once, sincerely. Any objections? No? All right, then. Anything else?”

Paige was even more startled when Hetta put her hand up next. At Conleth’s encouraging nod, the girl mumbled, “Can we have a rule that if someone doesn’t want to do something, people won’t bug them about it?”

“I think that’s a very good suggestion,” Conleth said, in a rather gentler tone than he’d used with the other children. “Part of camp is having the opportunity to explore new things, but no one should be forced into doing anything they truly don’t want to do.”

“Like spreadsheets?” Estelle said, and then yelped. “Ow! Beth!”

A slightly pained look flashed across Conleth’s face. “Which neatly brings us to a related topic. Feigned enthusiasm is not helpful in making sure everyone genuinely is having a good time. Perhaps we could also have a pack rule that you’ll all be honest about what you do want.”

“I really want you to go jump in the lake,” Archie muttered.

“Archie,” Paige started.

“No, no.” Conleth waved a hand, not looking at all perturbed. “The campers should feel free to express their true feelings, Paige. Even if it’s not what we might want to hear.”

Nancy thrust her hand in the air. “I really want to go mountain climbing!”

“Another perfect example of horrifying honesty!” Conleth declared, beaming. “Thank you, Nancy. Does anyone object to those last two rules? No? Good. Anyone else?”

Ignatius glowered at Archie. “Can we make interrupting other people’s sleep a crime punishable by horrible death?”

An idea popped into Paige’s head. Given how deftly Conleth had used the contract to put a lid on Beth’s painfully obvious ploy, perhaps she could use it to solve another problem too.

“That’s a good idea, Ignatius,” she said. “Uh, without the bit about horrible death, though. But maybe we could make it more general, not just about sleeping. Can anyone think of a way of promising not to disturb the rest of the pack, day or night?”

Finley, bless him, took the bait. “Be considerate of other campers?”

“Perfect!” Paige said brightly. She looked her brother dead in the eye. “I’m sure no one will disagree with that one.”

Archie knew better than to attempt to argue. He scowled, but nodded reluctant agreement along with everyone else.

Conleth flashed her a brief, appreciative glance before adding the latest item to the growing contract. “I also have a suggestion to propose to the pack, if I may.”

“No,” Archie said immediately.

“ I want to hear your suggestion, Uncle Conleth,” Beth said loyally. “I’m sure it’s a great one.”

“I’ll leave that for the rest of you to decide.” Conleth flipped the pen into the air, catching it again without looking. “It’s simply this: Have fun.”

“No way,” Archie started—and then stopped, brow furrowing. “Huh?”

Conleth shrugged. “It is the whole point of this agreement. And the camp itself.”

“You know what’s really fun?” Nancy said hopefully.

“I don’t see how anyone can object to Conleth’s suggestion,” Paige said, to head off any further discussion of mountain climbing. She took the pen, writing Have fun under the other items. “Even you, Archie. Having fun is the whole point of summer camp.”

“Within the boundaries of health and safety regulations, I hasten to add.” Conleth literally did so, writing the clarification in neat parenthesis next to her own words. “Does anyone have anything else they want to propose? No? In that case, it seems we’re ready to sign.”

One by one, the kids did so—though both Archie and Beth hesitated over it, clearly trying to figure out if there was some kind of catch. When all the kids had signed, Conleth reclaimed the pen. To Paige’s surprise, he held it out to her. She looked at it, then at him, baffled.

He quirked an eyebrow at her. “It hardly seems fair to ask the campers to agree to rules we don’t intend to follow as well.”

It was a fair point, she had to admit. Somewhat bemused, Paige added her own signature. Conleth scrawled his name at the bottom of the document as well—at least, she assumed it was his name. In startling contrast to the rest of his handwriting, his signature was a chaotic squiggle, identifiable only by a slanted, swirling C .

“A productive morning meeting,” Conleth declared happily when he was done. He dated the ersatz document, then closed the flipchart. “We should make a habit of this. Now, I observe it is nearly the end of breakfast, which means the bell is about to ring. Nancy, kindly go outside and find a clear area to stand, ideally at least fifteen feet from any structure higher than waist level. I’ll find out what’s first on our itinerary for today.”

Tucking the flipchart under his arm, he sauntered off without waiting for a response. He certainly deserved to feel a certain amount of self-satisfaction, yet there was something a little too smug about the jaunty line of his shoulders. Paige found herself staring after him rather longer than necessary, trying to work what on earth could be going through his head.

Shaking her own head, she turned back to the campers. “If everyone’s done, let’s clear the table. Make sure to put any scraps in the organic recycling before you take the plates back to the kitchen.”

Most of the kids obediently headed off with their trays, but Archie lingered behind. Paige sighed. It was all too easy to guess what was going through his mind.

“Archie, stop hovering,” she said in exasperation. “You don’t have to guard me every minute of the day.”

“It’s not that.” Archie hesitated, then blurted out, all in a rush, “Paige, is something wrong? At home, I mean.”

“What?” There was no way he could have found anything out at camp, of all places, yet her heart lurched. “Why would you say that?”

Archie’s gaze slid away shiftily. “No reason. It’s just…you’d tell me if you were sick or in trouble, wouldn’t you? Or if Mom was.”

“Of course I would,” Paige lied, wondering what on earth could have put this into her brother’s head. “But nothing’s wrong. You don’t have to worry.”

She’d always worked very, very hard to ensure that. Her little brother was just a kid. He shouldn’t have to worry about anything.

And some things, he was better off not knowing.

To her relief, Archie seemed to take her statement at face value. He nodded in relief, looking happier. “Okay. Just stay away from Conleth, okay?”

“Archie, he’s my co-counselor. I can’t avoid him entirely.” She fixed him with her best I’m-not-kidding-about-this glare. “And you really can’t keep trying to monitor his every move. You signed the pack contract, and I expect you to stick to it. Including the part about being considerate of other campers. No more disturbing the other boys at night, okay?”

Archie glowered in the direction of the oblivious Conleth. “I don’t trust him.”

“Then trust me,” she said firmly. “I’ve already told him that nothing can happen between us. Believe me, he’s not going to change my mind.”

“Right, campers!” Conleth sang out, striding back. He clapped his hands, all brisk enthusiasm. “Who wants to go swimming?”