II . Unexpected Arrivals

Aurora

T he address Hazel gave me leads far up into the mountains. My junker car barely makes it. The entire second day, I’m driving with my fingers crossed while I belt out Defying Gravity until my voice is hoarse. It feels like bringing a piece of Los Angeles with me into this lush landscape, bolstering my courage.

The road hitches back and forth as I climb, late afternoon sunlight spilling warm and golden over the road in stark contrast to the black shadows of swaying treetops. Light reflects off the branches, casting a green tinge along the jagged edges of the shade.

From the rough grays, browns, and blacks of tree trunks, to the range of foliage of every size and shape in a million shades of green, it’s stunningly beautiful. I’d pull over and paint on the side of the road if I could. But that would be dumb. First, get there, second, see my sister, and then I can go into art mode.

The sharp smell of pine resin radiates through my car’s AC. It fills my lungs, imparting a buzz, a sense of excitement and adventure. Aurora’s Awesome Adventure.

The GPS on my phone flashes with instructions to turn. It’s a gas station. A dilapidated gas station that looks like it might be haunted. Ignoring the creepy building, I navigate around it to a dirt road.

The tree trunks close in, and I have to slow to avoid denting my car - though it wouldn’t be a notable difference if I did. Sighing, I add a little more gas and speed up.

A squirrel leaps from one tree to another up ahead. Its fur flashes a brilliant rust tone. A smile breaks over my face. Letting my car slow again, I peek through the trees on either side, hoping to see more wildlife.

A flash of silver streaks between trees, too quick for me to get a good look. It doesn’t reappear. Oh well. At least a tiny bluebird flits past my window and flutters up into the canopy. Beautiful!

The road ends in a dirt parking lot with two trailers. I recognize the configuration from the satellite map. The lot holds a dozen trucks and various SUVs. A sleek Jaguar sits on the end, the black metallic paint reflecting the trees around it. Someone here has some money.

After parking, I throw my door open and step out, drawing a deep breath of sharp mountain air. A woman dressed in head-to-toe gray strides toward me from the direction of the portable buildings. She’s shorter than I am with rich, tan skin and chocolate curls.

Motion catches my attention. A tall, muscular man leans his back against the building. I get the distinct feeling he is providing back-up from the way he watches her progress with a frown on his face.

I face the woman with my hands up. “Hey! I’m here to see Hazel. She’s my sister. I’m Aurora.”

Surprise widens her eyes before she smiles politely. “Nice to meet you. I’m Cassia and this is Lazuli. If you give us a minute, he can find Hazel for you.”

“That’d be great, thanks,” I say, the words coming slowly as I observe the communicative glances between the two strangers. What have I stumbled across? They seem too official to be random neighbors. I’m getting major cult vibes.

With a nod, the man, Lazuli, jogs into the trees and out of view. Cassia stands a few feet away from me, her cool gaze steady and patient.

“It’s really lovely out here. Very refreshing,” I say awkwardly. Ah, the classic standby, the weather.

Cassia’s mouth quirks up. “It’s been unseasonably warm recently.” Our shallow exchange visibly relaxes her and my stress lessens. Good to know she isn’t an assassin waiting for permission to take me out for trespassing.

“Really? We had a cold snap in L.A.” I say, threading my fingers through my hair and twisting it back off my neck. She’s not wrong about the warmth. It would be perfect for jeans and a long-sleeve shirt, but in my fleece-lined hoodie, I’m sweating.

Lazuli strides out from behind the building, followed by Hazel and a tall figure I’m ninety-five percent sure is her partner, Slate.

“Aurora?” Hazel says, her brows furrowing. “What’s going on?”

She doesn’t seem excited to see me. I’ve made a mistake.

“I wanted to surprise you! I know you don’t need a houseguest when you’re about to have a baby, so I borrowed some camping gear. I can stay out of your way.”

Her familiar amber eyes blink at me.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Slate says, extending his hand. It envelops mine, warm and secure. He smiles and I almost fall over. No wonder Hazel decided to stay here. He’s stunning with high cheekbones, a full mouth, and green eyes so bright I’m itching to paint them. Their baby is going to be gorgeous. Damn.

“You don’t need to camp out. But, Rory, I really wish you had told me you were coming.” My sister chews the inside of her cheeks, a nervous habit. The guilt piles on. How could I be so thoughtless?

“Where’s the fun in that?” I ask with a weak smile, my shoulders pulling up towards my ears. Hazel pinches the bridge of her nose, looking away. I scramble to appease her. “But look at you! You’re adorable!”

Hazel’s nose scrunches up, uncomfortable with compliments. “I’m sure you’ve had a long drive and I need to get back to work. Can we take you to Uncle Heath’s cabin? Our downstairs bedroom is a nursery now, so it makes sense for you to stay with him. He won’t mind.”

Slate looks to Lazuli and tips his chin down, signaling the other man. He jogs back into the trees and out of sight. Poor guy.

“I don’t care where I stay. I told you, I can just set up my tent. Well, it’s Jordan’s tent, but it’ll work just fine. I don’t want to impose.”

She sighs, falling into big sister mode easily. “Please don’t argue. You’re not staying in a tent when Heath has a spare bedroom.” I tense under her admonishment, and she notices. Her tone softens. “It’s where I stayed when I first visited. He’ll be thrilled to have you, and you’ll be really close to our cabin.”

“Whatever you say, Mama,” I chirp with a grin, hoping to lighten the mood. The dark circles under Hazel’s eyes and the pinch of her mouth worry me. The last thing I want to do is add stress on her shoulders if she’s already struggling. Maybe I can help.

She rolls her eyes. “It’s weird hearing that,” she says with a laugh.

“Better get used to it!” I say, relieved to see her relaxing.

“I haven’t seen you in ages.” She opens her arms wide. “Come here!”

I’m not a hugger, but my sister is the exception. It’s cumbersome with her huge belly between us, but she smells like a warm autumn night. A sense of homesickness hits me - not missing Los Angeles, but missing a childhood following my big sister around. I tighten my hold on her upper back and tuck my cheek against her shoulder, soaking in the feeling. I should have come sooner.

“You’ll have to show me what’s so special about this place,” I murmur. “Other than your boy toy.”

Scowling, she releases me. “You can call him Slate.” The man in question turns back toward us from his quiet discussion with Cassia.

“Or maybe brother?” I tease. “But I think I like referring to him as your baby daddy best.”

“You’re going to drive me crazy, aren’t you?” she asks, her exhale audible. “So how long will we be enjoying your presence?”

“I’ve got a whole month off work, but I’ll need to go back sooner if I want to pay my bills next month. But I couldn’t miss the arrival of my first niece or nephew!” Dropping my voice, I step closer to my sister. “And honestly, I need to work on some new paintings for an upcoming art show and I figured painting the woods here would be good, and it’ll keep me busy and out of your hair.”

Her smile is indulgent. “As long as you paint something for the nursery, I’m on board with that plan.”

“Did you bring art supplies with you?” Slate asks.

Nodding, I jerk my thumb back at my car. “Yeah, I’ve got everything I need.”

“I’ve got a pretty decent collection, so if you end up needing anything, let me know.”

Hazel gazes up at her partner like he hung the moon for her. There’s a contented glow I’ve never seen in her before. Pregnancy and life out in the middle of nowhere agree with her.

“Is that my Aurora Borealis?” Our uncle strides towards me. More silver threads his golden surfer hair since I last saw him and his gait is broken with a subtle limp.

“Uncle Heathie!” I grin, throwing my arms around his middle. “I missed you! I can’t believe you and Hazel are neighbors and I’m left out in the cold.”

“Don’t kid me. You love L.A. and the weather is gorgeous,” he teases, his tan skin marred with deep smile lines as he grins. “I wouldn’t consider that out in the cold.”

“You should see how freezing it is here in February,” Hazel says, rubbing her hands over her upper arms.

“So are you going to be my houseguest?” Heath asks.

“If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. It’ll be good to catch up. Let’s get you settled and we can let Hazel get back to work. I think she’s got a few projects that need her attention today.”

Hazel works for Heath, or so I thought. But something about the way he dips his head to her feels off, like she’s the one who is in charge. Surely not. And Slate is his assistant, or that’s what Hazel told me when she first visited.

Heath looks at me expectantly.

Nodding, I fumble with my keys to unlock the trunk. “Sure! Lead the way.”

Hazel wiggles her fingers in a little wave. “I’ll see you in a bit. We’ll have dinner together.”

“Great, thanks. Here, I’ll just get my stuff.”

Heath lifts my battered suitcase from the trunk and marches off through the trees. It takes two of my steps for each one of his, and I’m half-jogging to keep up.

The forest glows green, new growth springing up all around me. The gradient of purples and blues from lupine flowers just budding takes my breath away and makes my fingers twitch for my brushes and paint.

Our grandparent’s cabin sits nestled among the trees, so picturesque it makes my heart ache that I haven’t been here before. We should have spent summers here growing up. Something about it feels so right, and I no longer have to wonder why Hazel decided to stay. It feels more like home than anywhere we rented throughout our childhoods.

Heath pushes the door open and we step into a cheery yellow kitchen, anchored by a well-loved vintage table with mismatched chairs.

“The guest room is right through here,” he says, opening a door to my right. “There’s a bathroom here,” he says, moving into a masculine but comfortable living room, all brown leather and warm plaids. A vintage cast-iron stove sits on a sizable slab of rock in the corner. I can imagine how cozy this space is when a fire crackles in the stove.

“I really appreciate this. I didn’t want to cause any issues, but I felt like I needed to see Hazel,” I ramble, shaking out my hands nervously.

Health sets my bag on the table and places his huge hands over my shoulders. The warmth and weight relaxes me. “I’m glad you came to visit. We should have arranged this months ago. It’s not a problem.”

“Or years ago,” I say with a wry smile. “It’s been too long. But I’m here now and we can make up for lost time. But I really don’t want to be in Hazel’s way. I get the feeling she’s pretty busy.”

“Depends on the day, but I’m sure she’ll make time for you. Just be patient while she works out the logistics.”

“Aren’t you her boss?”

Heath pauses, a thoughtful look on his face as he offers me a bottle of water from his fridge. As I take a few sips, he sighs. “Not anymore. I’m retired. Slate and Hazel have taken over all of my duties.”

“Seriously?”

“Slate was my right–hand-man and Hazel has a knack for the work, so it made sense to let them take over. And now I’ve got time for some traveling and hobbies. It’s been good.”

“No wonder she’s so busy,” I mutter, not meaning to be unkind. It merely seems like a lot of work for her to handle, even with her partner’s help. Heath was the team leader for as long as I can remember.

“I should go check on everything, but it’ll be dinner soon. Why don’t you relax for a while and either Hazel or I will come grab you for dinner?”

“Sure. I can entertain myself.” Turning away, I scan the living space again, noting the lumpy pillows on the window seat, a tall bookcase in the corner, and worn-down hardwood floors. The space begs for me to cuddle up and rest, but my chest buzzes with the need to explore and get back outside. Patience.

“See you soon.” Heath pats my arm and strides past me and out of the cabin.

The door clicks shut, leaving me in absolute silence. Rolling my shoulders, I grab my bag and head into the secondary bedroom.

Heirloom quilts cover the matching set of twin beds. A few paintings are hung over the knotty pine walls. Stepping closer, I greedily examine them. They’re not mass produced prints, but probably painted by someone local. That makes me smile.

After shedding my sweatshirt, I lay back on the bed and exhale slowly. I can’t wipe the smile off my face. Seeing my sister again filled a need I didn’t know I had, and some uneasy, anxious part of me is soothed for the first time in years. This trip is exactly what I needed.

Cedar

Hazel slumps into the chair across from me, the shadows under her eyes darker today. I’ve been supplying her with red raspberry leaves for tea, but she’s clearly not sleeping well. Maybe some chamomile and more leafy greens would help. As soon as it was warm enough, I transplanted my spinach and kale seedlings, and the spinach is almost ready for harvest. I’ll have to talk with Sable and Crickett.

“Cedar?” Slate asks, and I feel as if my mind is transported from my garden back to this meeting room in a rush of noise, everyone’s voices flooding back in. From his downturned mouth, my Alpha knows I wasn’t listening.

“Sorry,” I mumble.

Hawthorne leans over, elbow on the table. “I know you don’t enjoy handling your father’s duties, but it’s only another day or two.” My father is the pack’s Delta, or Trainer, and fourth in command. Hawthorne is third in command, so even though I’m acting-Delta while my parents are visiting my twin, Onyx, and his mate, Ember, in their new pack, I still answer to him.

“It’s fine, I’m listening now. Just thinking about things,” I say, raising my chin and meeting Slate’s intense gaze.

“So what’s the emergency?” Hawthorne asks Hazel, his tone gentle as if he was soothing his toddler.

Hazel doesn’t appreciate being treated delicately. Her eyes narrow in irritation and the emotion rolls off her through the pack bond. With her hormones so strong, her influence and dominance are at an all-time high. My wolfish instincts whisper in the back of my mind to bow to her, but that would piss her off even more.

“My sister showed up twenty minutes ago,” she says flatly.

The human sister from California? That’s unexpected.

“She wanted to be here for the baby arriving,” Slate explains. “We put her in Heath’s cabin.”

The door opens again and the former Alpha strides in, a wide smile on his face. “Sorry, it took longer than expected to get her settled, but she seems content for now.”

“ Great ,” Hazel says, sarcasm edging her words.

“I know you didn’t plan on a visitor, but it’ll be fine,” Heath says, taking the spot beside her.

“When I first showed up, it caused a lot of problems,” Hazel quips. “This isn’t the best time to be playing at being a forest ranger and hiding our wolves. What if she sees something?”

Heath shrugs. “Then she finds out. We’ve negotiated for human family members of wolves to have immunity, so she’s in no danger.”

“Except it’ll freak her out and she’s a lot to handle on a good day.”

“We won’t let her,” I say. I’ve got to do something to ease Hazel’s discomfort. Even if it wasn’t for the pack bond pulsing in my chest, she’s still my friend. “We can keep things quiet, make sure everyone knows to shift far into the woods and to watch their conversations.”

“That’s what we did when you arrived,” Slate says, smiling in the way he only reserves for his mate. Hazel relaxes against him, their connection dulling her agitation.

“You’re right,” Hazel says. “But I’d prefer she didn’t find out her sister is a shifter. It’s a risk we don’t have to take and I have no idea how she’d react.”

Hawthorne pulls out his phone. “I’ll communicate with the other packs and make sure no one shows up unexpectedly.”

“I’ll make sure the rest of our pack knows what to do,” I add, knowing it’s what my father would do in this situation.

“Lazuli and Cassia are already talking to the patrol, so you just need to handle the unranked wolves,” Hazel says, her mouth a grim line.

“Everything will be fine. You can enjoy a nice visit with your sister and relax until the baby comes,” Slate says, turning Hazel’s hand over in his own and massaging it.

“Relax,” she repeats, eyebrows shooting up.

“Yes, relax,” Slate reiterates, waves of calm emanating from him.

“Fine,” Hazel says, exhaling loudly. “Someone text Jasper, please. My phone keeps giving me a headache.”

“No problem,” Hawthorne says. Jasper, Slate’s brother and Beta, spends part of his week in Onyx and Ember’s pack, helping them to rebuild alongside my parents. But if our pack is playing host to a human, he needs to know sooner rather than later.

“She’s going to want to hike and see nature. We’ll need to make sure someone is with her, obviously,” Hazel says.

“We’ve got it,” Heath answers, his low voice soothing. “We’ve got plenty of people who can keep an eye on her. You don’t need to do anything but enjoy seeing her.”

Slate gives a grateful smile to his mentor. “See? Everyone can handle this. We’ve done it before, remember?”

“Yeah, and how did that turn out?” Hazel says, rolling her eyes. “It took less than a week for me to discover what you were and then get myself kidnapped.”

“It worked out pretty well in the end.” Slate kisses his mate’s wrist, drawing a tired smile from her.

“Should we be concerned she is going to turn out to be a shifter too?” I ask, concerned no one has considered this possibility.

Everyone looks to Heath. As the retired Alpha, he is the most qualified to answer. He scrubs at his chin. “I don’t think so. Hazel was triggered by trauma and being claimed by her mate. Even if Aurora is latent, which I think is unlikely, it shouldn’t manifest from a proximity alone.”

Hazel nods, her hand rubbing at her stomach in wide circles. “I need to go talk to Sable about my birth plan to see if we can anticipate any problems Aurora's presence might cause.”

Slate rises, helping her when her belly upsets her balance. She swats him away, and he smiles indulgently at her scowl as they make their way out of the room.

Hawthorne leans forward, eyeing Heath. “Do we know how long she’s staying?”

“Until the baby is born, at least.”

“Anything else we should know about her?”

Heath clears his throat, folding his hands on the table. “She’s two years younger than Hazel and she’s a painter. Hazel was always the easy-going responsible one, and Aurora was the free-spirited one. She makes friends easily, so she should get along with the pack just fine. My biggest concern is the fact she’s fearless and sees most things as a challenge. We will need to be careful.”

“Does she have a mate?” I ask, straightening at the look Heath gives me. “I mean boyfriend. Should we be concerned a boyfriend might show up?”

“She isn’t one for serious relationships. Hazel would know for sure, but I don’t think we need to be concerned about anyone else joining us.” His brows crease and I drop my gaze.

“Alright, I’m going to go make the rounds. Cedar, can you go talk to Marigold at the school so she can get the students coached?” Hawthorne dips his head in respect to Heath before he strides out of the room.

“Good day, Alpha,” I say, addressing Heath by his old title. He nods, permitting me to leave.

The meadow is quiet as I jog northward to the school building. Double doors stand wide open, allowing me to slip in silently. Sunlight swirls through the huge windows and highlights the rainbow walls, covered with a wallpaper of children’s artwork.

Marigold perches on the countertop, surveying her students while they scrawl away at lined paper. The older students have already left for their work studies, so it’s just the younger ones spaced throughout the room with their noses to their assignments.

Her strawberry blonde cascade of curls ripples as she leaps down and crosses the room. “Hey, Cedar!” Twisting, she narrows her eyes at her students. “You’ve still got eight minutes of silent writing. We’ll have to redo the time instead of playing soccer if anyone interrupts.” Satisfied her students are cowed, she pushes against my biceps, herding me outside. “So what’s up?”

“We had a visitor show up,” I say.

“Oh, really?” Her face brightens, eyes sparkling with interest.

“Hazel’s sister.”

“Aurora?” she squeals, hands clapping together. I suspected she would be excited, and it brings a smile to my face.

“She wanted to be here for the birth. They set her up in Heath’s cabin.”

“Oh, this is fantastic!” She paces, her smile widening until she’s beaming sunshine.

“They wanted you to prep your students and make sure they know what they shouldn’t say or do.”

“Ah, of course. No problem.” She nods sagely. “I’d better get to it.”

“Thanks,” I say.

Marigold spins on her heel, crossing the threshold before pausing and glancing over her shoulder at me. “Hazel once mentioned that Aurora likes plants. I guess she used to have a lot of potted plants before she moved into her tiny apartment with roommates.”

Unsure of what she’s getting at, I just nod.

“See you at dinner!” She winks, disappearing into the school. My sensitive ears pick up her instructions to the students. She will handle the kids.

Mentally, I review my list of packmates that need to be informed of our visitor. The supply center is closest, and Fern should be working there, so that’s where I’ll go next. It’ll take a while to reach everyone, especially the seniors who could be in any number of places this time of day.

There are only a few hours until the pack gathers for dinner and everyone needs to know before then. When Hazel visited a couple of years ago, we had several weeks to prepare. Aurora is a surprise.

Admittedly, I am looking forward to meeting Hazel’s sister. The way everyone describes her, she seems intriguing.