Gen stood in front of Grey’s dresser, untangling her necklaces from her earrings. She’d packed in a hurry when she’d left Sean and the family group ten days ago, and the tiny silver chains were all knotted around her other baubles.

Ten days, but it felt like so much longer because she’d changed so much in that short amount of time.

Movement caught her attention in the mirror, and she looked up to find Grey leaned up against the doorframe, watching her with a soft look in his eyes, as though he thought she was beautiful. He was the beautiful one though—Alpha. Caring, dominant, smart, protective, hard-working Red Havoc Guardian, he was everything she could ever hope for in a mate. He was everything she could hope for in a best friend.

I have a surprise for you, he signed.

She turned with a ready grin because she already knew what it was. He gave her an oxeye daisy every day. It was sweet because the entire field had been burned by Vyr, so Grey went out and hunted down the little white flowers for her.

But Grey’s hand was empty of any flower when he offered it to her. Confused, she slipped her fingers against his and let him lead her into the living room and out of the house. The crew was by the fire pit, standing around a box. And when she was close enough, Barret stood aside for her, and she could see inside it. There was a pile of letters nestled in the cardboard container.

Barret set down a giant, blue, plastic water jug and squatted down by the box. His lips formed the words, Read this one first. He handed her a letter with Willa’s name and return address in the top left corner.

Gen looked around, baffled as she fingered the edge of the white envelope uncertainly. Eden had tears in her eyes, and even Jaxon looked emotional. The others were perfectly quiet, their lips not moving at all. Behind her, Grey wrapped his arms around her chest and kissed her neck as she tore open the top of the envelope.

Inside was a hundred-dollar bill and a letter. Barret snatched the money from her hand and shoved it in the blue jug as Gen read Willa’s letter.

 

Gen, you beautiful, spritely, smexy little earthworm you,

Grey told us what that ass-noggin, Sean, did. I’m glad Vyr ate him. Here is a little money to help for your surgery. I’ll send more on the next shipment of worms. I had a bad feeling about that family group, but a good feeling about Grey. Beaston helped.

Love and Wormholes,

Almost Alpha

p.s. sorry I lied about Grey liking olives, blue crayons, juice boxes, and asparagus, but it’s a safe bet he likes sixty-nines, long walks in the woods at midnight, tree-sex, green M&Ms, and morning diddles, because he has a penis.

p.p.s You are loved, Gorilla Girl. You always were.

 

Stunned, Gen sat down by the box. A hundred dollars for her surgery? That was too much. Barret handed her another envelope. This one was from Bash of the Boarlanders.

The letter was wrapped around three ten dollar bills, and it read, Sorry about Bangaboarlander. Willa made me do it. She said she would break my leg if I didn’t give her the password, and I believe her. She broke Beaston’s leg like four times just for fun. Hear good.

Damon Daye sent her three thousand dollars.

Mom and Dad gave her five hundred.

Torren had pitched in two hundred. His letter just said You don’t suck, Little Monkey.

Clinton of the Boarlanders gave her sixty-nine dollars, a half-empty pocket shot of whiskey, and a dried dandelion flower.

By the time she opened Beaston and Aviana’s letter, she was sobbing, shoulders shaking uncontrollably, because these people truly cared about her being able to hear someday. They cared about her. She sat in the dirt by the fire pit with tears streaming down her face as she read letters from the Ashe Crew, the Breck Crew, the Boarlanders, and Gray Backs. From the Bloodrunners and the Blackwings.

And when she’d read every letter, and the bottom of the blue jug was covered with the start of her savings for her cochlear implant, Ben stepped forward and rested his hand on the back of her head comfortingly. And then he stuck a wad of cash into the mouth of the jug and made his way toward Jenny and Raif, who waited for him on their porch. Barret shoved a pair of twenties in the jug and gave her head a knuckle sandwich as she laughed emotionally. And one by one, the Red Havoc Crew…her crew…put money in the jug and touched her head. Warmth spread down her body at the affection. Was this strange sensation joy? Was it belonging? She thought so. They weren’t well off. The crew struggled with bills and sold moonshine on the side to make ends meet, yet here they were, giving her what they could so she could hear Grey’s voice someday.

It meant the whole world.

The family group had taken everything from her, made her feel weak, but Red Havoc had made her strong again.

Grey’s contribution took a while. He shoved wad after wad in there, and then signed that it was what he’d made from the bar this week. All my tips will go to this, Gen. I’m gonna take care of you, and someday, the first words you hear are going to be mine.

He sat in the dirt and pulled her into his lap. Slowly, she slid her arms around his shoulders and pressed her lips to his. And when she eased back, she mouthed, What words?

Piercing blue eyes holding her gaze, he pulled her hand to his chest, right over his pounding heart, and said, “I. Love. You.”

With those three all-important words, Gen knew it would happen. She just had this feeling, this gut instinct. Grey wasn’t a man who let people down. He was strong, honest, and protected the people he cared about, even when they didn’t know it. Her heart swelled with the realization that someday, someway, she was going to hear.

But for now, she was okay with remaining the daughter of silence because Grey loved her—just the way she was.

And the Red Havoc Crew accepted her—just the way she was.

And through Grey’s tenderness and patience, she was learning to love herself.

Just the way she was.