“Where should we start?” Gideon looked back and forth between me and Tanner. “I’m of no use for this part, since I don’t know the homestead at all.”

Tanner tugged at his chin. “I think we can figure out these locations.” He glanced at me for a response.

“Absolutely.” I nodded enthusiastically. I scanned the table quickly and found what I sought. Grabbing the pen, I began to label the buildings. “I think we can agree this one is the old house.” I pointed to the rectangle where one leg of the tunnels ended.

Gideon pointed. “Okay, then this would be the barn.” He pointed at the block behind it to the right and I quickly labeled accordingly.

Then we leaned over the table and worked to identify the rest of them. “I think this might be the tool shed. Tanner, do you agree?”

“Definitely.” He sighed. “I’m just wondering if this is the greenhouse.”

With a grin, I wrote on the map. “Look at that. We’ve already figured out about half of the places he marked.” I stared at the first tunnel I’d found and traced the line to see where it ended. The semi-circle on the map needed little explanation. I waited for Tanner to meet my gaze. “Well, this is bad news.”

He rocked on his heels nervously. “We need to check that out right away.”

Gideon looked on but seemed to understand this was private Alpha Pack business and, as such, we wouldn’t be sharing. He stood quietly, his arms crossed over his body.

I shook my head at Tanner. “First we finish this. We can’t run off half-cocked. We need to be smart about this. Methodical. Got it?” My chin jutted out.

With a reluctant sigh, Tanner murmured, “Whatever you say, Alpha.”

“We’ll figure this out. We’ll find him. We’ll fix everything.” I laid a hand on his shoulder. “I promise.”

The door to the cottage flew open and we jumped as Quinn stormed into the room. “Goddamn it, Savvy.” He positively growled at me.

“What are you doing here?” I frowned, too preoccupied with the map and our plans to be bothered by his presence at the moment.

“I could ask you the same question.” He glared first at Tanner, then at Gideon. They both withered in response.

“I’m working.” I spoke to him as I might have spoken to a child, our child, the child we’d never have because he refused me. My heart began to ache. “Speak your peace, then leave, Quinn. I don’t have time for this.” I frowned. “Whatever this is.”

He took two steps closer to me and even though Tanner and Gideon seemed a tad bit intimidated by Quinn, they both moved to block him from getting near me. His brows shot up. “Really?”

My mouth twitched as I tried to hide a smile. “What?” I tried to act innocent, but the situation seemed really funny to me.

“Let me get this straight. I walk in on you with not one, but two naked men, and you have the nerve to give me attitude.” Quinn narrowed his eyes.

I licked my lips. “I’m dressed.” I shrugged and watched the tips of his ears grow red. “Again, I remind you, if you want a say in what I do, we’ll need to mate. Otherwise, you sit on the sidelines. You’re a spectator. And as soon as the house is done, you won’t even be that.”

Quinn actually shrank back at my words. He spoke flatly. “Your aunt is here looking for you. She can’t get into Phoenix House unless you take her.” Then he turned and left without saying another word or even closing the door behind him.

I watched through the window as he trudged down the gravel path toward the main house. Taking a deep breath, I leaned on the table and stared at the map. Somehow, it still surprised me when big droplets of warm salty tears began to fall on the paper.

Tanner grabbed my upper arms and gently pulled me back. “Breathe, Savvy. It’s going to be okay.”

My lower lip trembled as I tried to hold back my sobs. I shook my head. “I don’t see how. Tomorrow night is the full moon. You know what that means.”

Gideon nodded at me morosely. “Maybe he’ll come around. I did.” He gestured to Tanner. “He did too. And I heard he was a hard case.”

“Lennie thought we’d never see each other because I’d fixated on you.” Tanner gave me a squeeze. “It will work out. I’m sure of it.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re sure, but I doubt it. You saw him. I swear, if I weren’t tied to the pack, I’d run. I’d travel as fast and as far away as possible, just like Aunt Jo.” I swiped at my eyes. “Crap. I really do need to take care of getting her home. Want me to bring lunch back? Then we can go explore.” I grabbed the map, folded it, and tucked it in my pocket.

“Hey. Where do you think you’re going with that?” Tanner frowned at me.

“You two need to shift, take the tunnels back to the house, and change before any of the workers see you. How do you think you’ll get the map back to the tiny house intact?” I huffed, more than a little irritated at having to explain myself at the moment.

Gideon chuckled. “She’s right. You were concerned about a few tears? A ride in your mouth would render it completely useless.”

“I’ll see you soon. I’ll bring back something manly, something that will fill you up. We’re going to be burning a lot of calories if we check out every place on the map.” I pasted a smile on my face. “Subs? Text me what you want and I’ll grab them on the way home.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” Tanner murmured a split second before shifting. Gideon did the same. Together, they trotted out the cottage door so I could shut it behind us.

Taking a deep breath, I held my head high as I strode down the path. As soon as I rounded the bend, I could see my aunt sitting on the porch. Quinn stood there talking to her. He didn’t look happy. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and he hunched over making him appear sad and small in a way I never thought possible. For the first time, I actually believed him when he told me he was hurting too. As I neared them, Quinn glanced my direction. The pain I saw when our eyes met hit me in the gut and knocked the air out of my lungs. He staggered slightly and frowned while he rubbed his chest. Then Quinn stumbled away after giving a slight wave to Aunt Jo.

Slowly, she turned to watch me moving toward her. When I was within hearing range, she grumbled, “You need to give that poor man a break.”

My fists clenched. “Of course, you’d take his side.”

Aunt Jo released an empty laugh. “Oh, you think there are sides? There’s no side. I’m trying to help you, both of you.” She shook her head. “I know the moon has you two in knots. I went through this. If I hadn’t run off to California, I don’t know if I could’ve survived it so close to him.”

“Well, that’s reassuring.” I scowled.

“Not like that.” Aunt Jo sighed. “See, I think that what is hurting you, the pain, the longing, the need, I think all of that has a chance at helping bring you together too. Give nature a chance. Listen to your wolf.”

I tilted my head and stared after Quinn while I considered her words. “Best not. At the moment, my wolf wants blood.” I held out a hand to help her stand. I imagined she was aching after last night’s storm.

She patted my hand in both of hers before letting me tug her to her feet. “How did you know?” She chuckled. “Damn arthritis.”

“Mom. Her hands.” I studied Aunt Jo’s fingers, which were so much like my mother’s, only older. “She was pained by the weather.”

“How can you be so clever and so dense at the same time?” She rolled her eyes. “Now, what have you been up to today? I see Quinn is almost beside himself.”

“Oh, you know. The usual. Solving crimes, deciphering clues, running around naked with a couple of guys.” I smirked. “No big deal.”

“Savannah Silver.” She gave me the side-eye. “I’d love to be appalled, but I’m actually rather impressed. So, he saw the naked guys?”

“Eh. The second time. The first time, I was the naked one.”

Aunt Jo gasped, then coughed, and finally laughed. “You are killing me.”

“The second time I was dressed and the guys were naked. Oh, and he didn’t like that any better.” I threw an arm over her shoulder and started to guide her to my car.

“What did he say?” She leaned in conspiratorially.

“Actually, I didn’t give him a chance to say anything. I was too busy reminding him he had no rights.” As we passed the house, I peeked over toward the barn. Quinn sat on a stump rubbing his temples while the men began to dismantle the structure.

“I remember when he was big and strong, so full of vim and vigor. You know, like two days ago.” Aunt Jo snickered. “Come on. You can catch me up on everything while you drive me home.”

I opened the passenger side door for her. She climbed in and smiled up at me as I shut the door, then I walked around to climb in the driver’s side. I stood half in, half out, staring longingly at Quinn. He peeked over at me and I could feel how much he wanted to talk to me, almost as much as I wanted him to chase after me. Looked like we were both going to be disappointed. With a sigh, I slid into my seat, shut the door, and started the car.

“He really does love you,” Aunt Jo murmured. She was staring through the windshield at Quinn.

“Yeah, that’s all well and good, but not nearly enough to make this situation better.” I couldn’t handle a fifteen-minute conversation on the drive to Phoenix House, so I strategically changed the topic of conversation. “I couldn’t help but notice you referred to the estate as home. Does this mean you’ve made a decision?”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” she teased.

“Actually, it would be nice if someone could make a fucking decision and stick to it.” I frowned.

“Language, young lady.” My aunt scowled.

“Listen, I’m not so young and I’m positive last night proved I’m no lady. Furthermore, I’m drowning in responsibility, I’m completely heartsick, I’ve just lost not one, but two parents. My sisters have found their mates, but mine is refusing me. Oh, and the pack is crumbling under the weight of secrets and lies I have yet to completely uncover. So, if I want to drop an F-bomb here and there, I’m sure as fuck gonna do it.”

She stared out the window, but I sensed some admiration. “Savvy, you are your father’s daughter.”

“Is that meant to be an insult?” I frowned. I often wondered if she liked my father.

She chuckled. “Not at all. He was strong, brave, decisive, and caring. You’re blessed to share those characteristics.”

“You know, Aunt Jo, my father would say those qualities aren’t inherited, but are developed.” I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Most everything you mentioned is simply about muddling through the hard shit, sticking it out when you want to run, and putting others first.”

Turning slowly to look at me, Aunt Jo frowned. “Is that a dig about me leaving?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s an argument for you staying. We can’t change the past. I’m focusing on the future.” I leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t leave, Aunt Jo. You’re all the family we have left in this world. Stick it out with us, even if you’d like to leave. We need you.”

I pulled into the driveway and stopped near the pad. I rolled down my window, and punched in the code, then I waited for the sections of the gate to part and allow us access. As I drove through, I heard her mumble, “The last thing you need is me.”

We remained silent the rest of the way up the house. I didn’t feel like arguing. If I wanted to do that, I’d have marched my sassy ass right up to Quinn before we left. I didn’t do that then and I wouldn’t do that later. I had pack business to attend to, which superseded my personal needs.

After I parked, I stepped out of the vehicle and walked around to her side. I pulled open the door, and bent down to offer her a hand to exit the vehicle. Somehow, in the process of folding at the hips, the map fell out of my pocket. I saw it, but planned to pick it up after I was certain Aunt Jo was steady on her feet. Instead, she reached down and picked it up by one corner.

The map fell open and as soon as she stood, Aunt Jo studied it. “Well, this is interesting.” She tapped a finger to her lips. “I see you have most of it labeled, but you missed the old guard hut.” She pointed to a square in the woods near road at the end driveway. Then she laughed. “Oh, and you mustn’t forget the shagging shack. Whew. I don’t know a single Phoenix pack elder who hasn’t spent some memorable time in that place.”

“The shagging shack? The guard hut?” I frowned. “I’m not familiar with either of these buildings.”

“Well, Savvy, you give me a few minutes and I’ll tell you all about them.” She waggled her brows and motioned for me to follow her.

“Okay, I have a few minutes.” My heart beat rapidly. My palms had grown sweaty. This was going to be big. I could feel it.