AARON CONNOR

BOSTON–GRAYVILLE

TERRITORY OF THE RED. MOON PACK.

꘎♡━━━━━━━♡꘎

After so much time away, I don’t really feel like I missed this place.

She’s tense—I can tell by the restless way she grips my hand.

“Fear or nerves, pastelito?” I ask softly, leaning down to her ear.

“A-both,”

she murmurs, voice barely above a whisper.

“You don’t need to be afraid, Violet. You’re with me.” I know she has every reason not to feel safe here. The worst part? I’m the one who gave her those reasons. Every bad memory she has of this pack… I put it there.

“Pastelito, everything’s going to be okay,” I say again, voice low, fingers lacing tightly with hers.

“Violet!” a girl with curly, almost-red hair shouts.

Violet drops my hand and runs straight into her friend’s arms, throwing herself at her with unrestrained joy.

“Lanny!” my pastelito calls out, beaming at the reunion.

“I missed