Hold Back The River

Oliver

Adair perked up when he heard people come into the packhouse. I had buried myself in the work I had let get behind upon Lya’s arrival at the pack. I could already tell Adair was right and the pack would be best off if I started delegating sooner rather than later.

A knock came at the door, but I knew who it was before it even opened.

“You wanted to see me?” Lya asked, poking her head around.

I smiled. “Yeah, feel up for a walk?”

“Sure, but isn’t there someone you wanted me to see?”

“Yep,” I confirmed, “but it’s a bit of a walk to her place.” I stood up and walked around the desk, leading the way out of the packhouse. Lya followed in silence. Luckily, Adair and I had agreed if he was going to insist on sleeping in her room, we’d avoid shifting around her so she didn’t figure out who it was, so I didn’t have to argue with him about what form we walked to my grandmother’s house in.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets to keep myself from reaching out to touch her, settling