Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

W ren held tight to Logan's hand as he pulled the SUV to a stop in the large circle driveway. Her heart was pounding with dread and she felt sick to her stomach. She hadn't wanted to come here but Vivian had insisted. She'd only been out of the hospital for a few days and was under strict orders to take it easy so Wren would have felt like an absolute wench if she refused her soon to be sister-in-law but still, if she'd been the one behind the wheel she would have turned the car around at the first sight of those big, imposing columns leading to the front door of the Kemp family home.

Logan had promised not to leave her side and the reassuring pressure of his hand in hers was enough to keep her from falling apart the moment she was faced with entering the house where Lark had spent her last night alive.

"We don't have to stay long. Viv said she had a wedding present for us. We'll get it, check if she needs anything and then get out of here. Promise."

Wren turned to Logan with a thankfulness she wasn't sure she could put into words, "Okay."

He had to release her hand to get out of the car but she sat exactly where she was and waited for him to come around and open the door for her. He helped her out and laced their fingers together. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head before whispering in her ear.

"You're the strongest woman I've ever met. You can do this."

"So can you." She nodded, knowing that being in his childhood home was traumatic for him as well.

As they turned to head towards the door, it swung open and Vivian stepped out to greet them. She was wearing an oversized tee and leggings again which Wren realized now was the only thing she had ever seen the younger woman wear. She wondered briefly if the clothing choices were an effort to hide the pregnancy that neither she nor Logan seemed to want to talk about, but she didn't dare ask. They weren't that close yet, though she did hope that someday she and Vivian would be able to forge a true sisterly bond. In an effort to keep that possibility alive, she didn't search the billows of the too-big shirt to see just how rounded Vivian's stomach might be and instead focused on her bright smile and twinkling hazel eyes.

"Eeek!" she squealed with delight, "You're finally here!"

Logan harrumphed as his sister wrapped an arm around his neck and squeezed, "We're here, as requested, but you don't look as exhausted as you made yourself seem on the phone."

"Don't I?" Vivian pulled back, lips curving upwards despite a clear attempt not to grin.

"You know you could have just come into town to meet us and…" Logan started but Vivian had already abandoned him to focus on Wren.

"Thank you for coming up here. I know you didn't want to and I completely understand why you would want to avoid this house. God knows, Logan and I avoided it for years, but I'm glad you came."

Wren tried for a smile she didn't feel, "It's just nice to see you feeling better, Vivian."

"Oh, come now. You can call me Viv. Everyone does."

"Everyone but Dominic apparently." Logan grumbled, shooting a glance around, "And where is my Head Enforcer, Vivi ?"

"Don't start." Vivian and Wren said at the same time and Logan's eyebrows shot up with amusement.

"Thank you." Vivian reached out and squeezed her shoulder before turning back to her brother. "And for the record, he isn't here. I don't know where he is any more than you do and I do not want to talk about him right now."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Wren knew someone would have to bend in that argument eventually but that right now wasn't the time, so she changed the subject back to their reason for being there, "Viv, you said on the phone you had something for us?"

"A wedding present, yes." Her smile returned.

"Well, where is it?" Logan was still being petulant and Wren gave his hand a squeeze, shooting him a look that told him to be nicer to his sister.

"Well…" Vivian drawled, seemingly oblivious to her brother's attitude. She held her hands out wide, "You're looking at it."

"What?" Logan said at the same time Wren winced. "No."

Logan didn't seem to understand but Wren did, instantly. The Kemp family estate wasn't just a house. It had been the home of every Pack Alpha for generations. As the eldest son and the heir, it had passed to Logan after his father's death. He'd been staying with Wren at her house and though neither of them had discussed where they would live after the wedding, they both knew it wouldn't, couldn't, be here.

"Yes. And don't freak out." Vivian rushed on quickly when Wren started to shake her head. "At least until you hear me out? Please?"

"Viv…" Logan was shaking his head now. "I know you mean well but I already told you, this place has too many bad memories for the both of us. It's why I told you to do whatever you wanted with it. We don't want it."

"Will you please just come inside and let me show you what I've done? If it doesn't change your mind, okay, but please, give me a chance." Her hazel eyes pleaded. "This is the Alpha's house and you're the Alpha and the Queen now. It belongs to you. Please at least come inside before you make up your mind."

Wren and Logan exchanged a look. She wanted to run. She'd been wary enough about coming to this place when she thought they were only picking up something. Finding out that Vivian had some harebrained idea that she could make it a home for them was a step too far. Still, she could feel Logan's hesitation through the bond. He wanted to sweep her up and get her out of there and never look back but he also didn't want to hurt his sister's feelings.

"We'll come in for a minute." Logan hedged, glancing between them. "But…"

"No buts. That's fine. That's all I need." Vivian squealed with victory as she waved them forward. "Okay, so, I haven't made it to the exterior of the house itself yet but that's going to get a whole new look too. There were just more important things to start with. Things that might convince you that you can make this place a true home, one like we never had."

Wren held tight to Logan's hand as they stepped through the large doorway into the house. She had only been inside the house itself once before, when she was young and Vivian had hosted a pool party for her birthday. Everyone in her grade at school had been invited and Wren had begged until Lark had begrudgingly let her tag along.

She'd tried so hard not to think about that swimming pool where her sister ended up drowning but she realized now that she must have also blocked out what the house itself looked like… that or someone had completely changed it.

She glanced at Logan whose mouth had fallen open and got her answer. It had changed and from the look of hope on Vivian's face, clearly she was the designer behind the new look. She may have only been out of the hospital a few days but she had been a very busy woman from the look, and sound, of it.

Now that they were inside the house, Wren could hear men calling to one another from somewhere nearby. A radio played softly, music drifting down the stairs and it was interrupted by the sound of a saw and hammers. It felt as though they'd walked into a construction zone, which was fitting since that was exactly what Vivian had been up to.

"What did you…" Logan turned in a circle, dragging Wren with him since she didn't release his hand. "How did you do all of this?"

"Never underestimate a woman on a mission." Vivian smiled and then turned her attention to Wren, "Right?"

"Right?" she answered hesitantly.

"Brother, why don't you let me walk you both through the changes I've made, for Wren, since she doesn't know what it looked like before…"

"That's really not necessary." Wren started but Vivian held up a hand.

"I know that telling you I removed every item in the house that belonged to my parents isn't going to change your mind about living here. I'm not naive. I know that you must dread the idea of even looking into the backyard." Vivian glanced at her brother. "Logan hasn't been able to look at it since we returned either. I get that and I think, well, I hope, that you'll let me put your worries at ease about that."

"What are you talking about?" Logan frowned. "What did you do in the backyard?"

Vivian sighed, "Let's start the tour here and work our way outside."

Wren swallowed hard but listened as Vivian began to point out changes she had made in the house. The house was bare, a blank slate, with no remnants leftover from Logan and Vivian's parents. The flooring was new, a warm wood instead of cold marble. Vivian had painted the walls the pale blue-gray and replaced the giant chandelier with a modern fixture that was less showy and more practical. Wren held onto Logan's hand as he followed Vivian deeper into the house.

There were men framing a window in the next space, which Wren guessed had likely been a formal dining room even before Vivian explained that she'd had the wall between the room and the kitchen knocked out so it felt more open and airy. Across from it, a gigantic living space was in the process of having new furniture put together by more men Wren didn't recognize. The large fireplace was painted and refinished, the carpet tore out and the wood floors extended from one end to the other. The walls were painted a soft white and Vivian explained that it could be changed of course but the neutral color was so they could choose whatever color palette they wanted.

As Vivian spoke, Wren took in the giant, empty house and marveled at her soon to be sister-in-law's determination. She had taken what she saw as a problem, the fact that Logan refused to live in the Alpha's house, and she'd done everything in her power to fix it for him, and for her. She remembered how long it had taken her to even consider getting rid of Lark's things but Vivian had cleaned out her parents belongings in a matter of days, as though they'd never existed in this space. It was an act of love that made Wren's eyes water even before they reached the kitchen at the back of the house.

Wren remembered there had always been big windows that overlooked the backyard and braced herself for the first glimpse of the pool where her sister had died, but the windows were covered with blinds that blocked the view. She tensed and Logan must have felt it because he pulled her closer, into his side, and nuzzled her hair. Vivian was saying something about replacing all the appliances but she finally paused when she realized Logan and Wren hadn't moved from the spot just inside the room.

"Okay, time for the moment of truth." she sighed and moved back to them. "I knew I could rip this house down to the studs and rebuild and you still wouldn't consider living here unless I made it possible for you to forget what happened here."

"We're never going to forget, Viv." Logan frowned and she winced.

"Forget isn't the word I meant. I just… I want you to be able to look to the future, not the past."

"That's what we're trying to do." Wren's voice felt shaky but she pushed out the words. "I just don't know that we can do that here when every single time we look outside, the past will be right there, in that pool, ready to swallow us whole again."

"But it won't, because it's gone." Vivian pushed a button on the wall by the backdoor and the blinds on the windows rose automatically. "I don't want to say ta-da but… ta-da?"

Wren's eyes widened as the backyard came into view. Her heart clenched with a mix of age-old pain and something else, something akin to amazement. She shot a quick glance to Logan but he was staring straight ahead, taking in the completely renovated backyard still.

"I'll leave you two alone for a bit to take it all in and to talk. I'll be upstairs checking on the workers there if you need me." Vivian paused next to Wren and squeezed her arm, "I know what my father took from you here. I didn't know before, had only the vaguest idea of why Logan was leaving and why I had to go with him, but as soon as I learned the truth, I knew what needed to be done."

Wren couldn't find any words so she just nodded.

Vivian glanced between them, "Logan and I don't have the happiest memories of growing up here, but the house itself isn't evil, Wren. You can make it your own. You can make it a happy place for the two of you, and for the family you make together. You're rebuilding the pack together. I thought, since we're going to be family, I could help you start to rebuild this place too, make it into a home instead of just a house."

When Wren remained quiet, Vivian gave a nod and started to walk away. Before she could second-guess herself, Wren pulled her hand from Logan's and threw her arms around his sister. Vivian hugged her back and Wren blinked at the tears blurring her vision.

"Thank you for doing all of this for us." she whispered softly.

Vivian sniffled a little, "It's just a small way to thank you for bringing my brother back to life. His eyes aren't full of shadows anymore and that's thanks to you. He loves you, and I love you for loving him in return."

Wren's heart ached for the Kemp siblings and for all the love they had to give when they'd never been shown how. Despite all the years of hate, of secrets and lies and regrets, she could see now just how similar they were to her and Raven. All four of them had been forced to raise themselves, to find their own path, and learn to live and love on their own terms. And now that the truth was out there, now that they could all finally start to heal, it was a blessing that they would get to do that together.

"I lost a sister here a long time ago." Wren pulled back to look at Vivan. "I never thought I'd find another one in the same place, but I'm so glad that I did."

Vivian pulled her back into another hug and Wren went willingly. There were tears and sniffles but when big, strong arms wrapped around her, Wren gave a watery giggle. Vivian harrumphed as Logan pulled them both into a hug.

"You're squishing me." Vivian complained. "Let go."

"I felt left out. Come on. I want all the hugs too." he teased but Wren could hear the scratchiness in his words, the emotions he was barely containing.

"I'm all hugged out, and cried out for that matter." Vivian wiped at her eyes as she pulled away. "Stupid hormones. I cry nonstop lately. Sorry."

"Never apologize for feeling your emotions." Wren offered, "And if you ever want to talk to someone about… anything… I'm here."

"Thank you." Vivian tilted her chin up, "Now, I'll leave you two to explore on your own and I'll catch back up with you in a bit."

She turned and left and Wren let Logan pull her into his arms. She wiped her face against his chest and he didn't even complain that she'd probably leave mascara stains behind. He tucked her against him and rested his chin on top of her head, holding her for a long moment before she felt up to putting her feelings into words.

"I wasn't expecting any of this." she sighed as she pulled away to look out the back windows, "Certainly not that."

"My sister means well but, if this is all too much we can go." Logan wiped at a stray tear but Wren shook her head.

"No. I want to go and see it."

"Then that's what we'll do." Logan kissed her forehead and then took her hand, leading her to the backdoor and ushering her out into the backyard.

Wren blinked, still hardly believing her eyes, but the pool was gone.

The patio had been extended out into the yard. A large pergola stood to one side with the very beginnings of rose bushes growing at its base. New sod had been put down along with gardens of flowers and bushes. A firepit sat in the center of it all surrounded by large, comfortable looking wicker outdoor furniture. Further down there was an outdoor dining area with room enough to fit twenty people at least. The pool house still stood but even it looked different with its fresh coat of paint and a cheery, welcoming flag that dubbed it the guest house.

All of those things were amazing but it was the large playground that had stopped Wren in her tracks. There was a sandbox and a trampoline area built right into the ground. There was a swing set and a labyrinth of multi-colored tube tunnels, a jungle gym and a climbing wall. There were slides and monkey bars and more.

Vivian hadn't just gotten rid of the past by demolishing the swimming pool, she had given them a future to look forward to by building a playground paradise for their children.

"Look at this." Logan touched a small piece of wood hammered into the ground next to a newly planted tree that seemed to mark the beginning of a path that led out through the backyard and disappeared into the woods at the back of the property.

"Hmm?" Wren tore her gaze off the baby-sized swings.

Her breath caught as she read the inscription carved there and tears blurred her vision all over again.

In memory of Lark Culvert. May you always fly free, knowing you have roots to come home to.

Logan pulled her into his arms again and she heard his own sniffle this time, "I can't believe Viv did all of this."

"She thought of everything."

"It's too much though, right?" He released her to wipe at his cheek and Wren did the same. "It's all changed but it's still the same place and it holds the same memories."

Wren touched the marker with her sister's name on it. The sentiment was perfect. She had no idea how Vivian had managed all of this, but she did know how she'd captured Lark's spirit so completely in one statement.

She felt guilty for not realizing sooner that she and Logan weren't the only ones who had lost Lark. Vivian had been Lark's friend. They'd grown up together, the same age, in the same class, and though they'd run in different circles, she remembered now that Vivian had once tutored Lark in Spanish. That was how Lark had met Logan in the first place.

For so long, the only thing that Wren had been able to focus on was her sister's death. She had clung to that one moment in time, unable to move on or let go. She had felt Lark's loss as though a limb had been taken from her and she'd been selfish in her grief. She'd ignored everything and everyone else in her mission to destroy the people she felt were responsible for her loss but she'd never given much thought to what her life would look like once her quest for justice was complete.

If she had imagined it, she was certain it wouldn't have looked like this. She never could have imagined Logan coming back into her life as her fated mate. She'd never seen herself taking on a position of power in the pack or helping to rebuild it into what it always should have been. She had absolutely never pictured herself as a mother but as she stood there, in a backyard built for laughing children and large family gatherings, she knew that this was the life that fate had always meant for her.

She was Logan's mate. Soon, she would officially be his wife and then the Queen of the Shadow Pines Pack. And, likely sooner than she imagined she was ready for, she would be the mother of his children.

They would build a family together. They would make a life together. It would be full of joy and happiness and all of the unconditional love that they had yearned for all their lives. It would have its ups and its down. There would be good days and bad. But they would have each other and the love between them would keep them going no matter what fate threw at them next.

Wren could see it now. She could see her future as if it was laid out in front of her. She could see the kids playing on the slides. She could see Logan cooking at the grill as he laughed with his friends. She could see herself curled up by the firepit, talking well into the night with Raven and Vivian. She could see their life together, here.

"Wren?" Logan pulled her out of her thoughts and she blinked.

"Hmm?"

"I said, it's nice of Vivian to do all this but, it doesn't change anything. Right?"

She bit her bottom lip, "I don't know. I kind of feel like everything's changed and maybe, it's time we change with it."

Logan raised an eyebrow, "Are you serious?"

She smiled softly and slid her arms around him, "Are you? I mean, are you serious about us rebuilding the pack together? Making a life together? Being Alpha and Queen, equals, who can depend on one another not just because we're mates, but because we love one another?"

He wrapped his arms around her as well and smiled, "Absolutely, to all of that and more."

"Then I think…" She tiptoed up just enough to brush her lips against his, "That if we're going to start rebuilding and making things better for this pack, then Vivian is right. We may as well start right here."

"You mean that? You want to live here?"

"I want to make a home with you and your sister is right. You're the Pack Alpha now and this is the Pack Alpha's home. It's ours. We just have to claim it the same way we claimed one another."

"God, you're incredible." Logan rested his forehead against hers. "Just when I think I've got you figured out, you go and surprise me."

"I hope you like surprises."

"When it comes to you, I'm finding that I really, really do." He smiled against her lips.

"That's good to know, because I have a few more up my sleeve."

"Oh yeah? Are you going to tell me what they are?"

"Mmm, now where would the fun in that be?" She nibbled on his lips. "You'll just have to wait and be surprised."

"I'm no good at waiting when it comes to you."

"Soon." she promised just as his lips swept over hers and she fell into his kiss.

It was sweet and gentle, slow, a promise of so much more to come, a promise that they had forever together and could take their time, because they did.

This was only the beginning of their happily ever after.