Chapter 44

Snow falls heavier in Torrent Woods than it ever did in the city.

The warmer temperatures in the city from the heat of so many buildings melts snow so quickly during the day that it is hard to enjoy a day with it. 

Here in this small town, the snow falls thick and crystalline, and it grows up against every building like a living creature. 

For days, it stands thick. The pack are responsible for keeping the town as accessible as possible, but on some days they are fighting a losing battle.

Just as soon as they clear the roads, the sky opens again.

Wintertime shines here. 

The school closes and children flood the streets to play. 

The old buildings wear white hats. And on the full moon, Kira runs with Jayden, as white as the snow, and the woods light up.

This deep in the winter, even Jayden wears a hat. Kira knitted it for him, indulging one of her new hobbies, and was certain to include a large black bobble, fluffy and warm like his wolf. 

The kids who were old enough to know that he’s the pack Alpha race up to them in the street asking for wolf-rides, and Jayden rolls his eyes but allows them to sit on his shoulders in his human form, at least. 

He’s very good with kids.

On the way back to their house, Jayden’s hair dripping wet with snow, they pass the narrow path leading up to the old house. 

A brand-new shining Sold sign hangs out front. Every time they pass, Kira thinks of the good times that the pack spent together there, and not the man behind it. 

Instead, every day she and Jayden collect coffees from the shop that Kira now thinks of as her mom’s shop, and walk back to Jayden’s house.

Their house.

All winter, Jayden has been working on the outhouse at the back of his land where he used to store all of his tools. 

He never stopped . After returning from shoveling snow for hours, he gets back to work, insisting that he can take care of it himself and accepting only coffee in return from Kira. 

Today is a big day, because today is the day she is allowed to see inside.

Since Jayden started, she’s had a feeling that the outhouse is for her. 

They aren’t falling over each other in the house, because Jayden spends most of his time outside and the rest of the time they’re curled in bed or on the couch together, but Jayden still complains that the house is too small and that Kira should have some space of her own, so that it feels like her home too.

“I hope you’re going to like it,” Jayden beams as he opens the gate, brushing a hand at Kira’s lower back to guide her inside.

“I know I’ll like it. It’s all your work!”

They pass around the back of the house without having to step inside. Back in the  City, Kira could never have imagined herself living in a place like this, where everyone lives in houses and they even have yards. 

The outhouse is to the left of Jayden’s garden where they host their full moon parties; snow clothes the roof that Jayden replaced painstakingly, slate by slate.

Where there were loose wooden doors, he has fitted smart sliding glass. Nowhere in town has a lock on the door but he has included a key-code entry for Kira’s benefit, his favorite city-girl. 

“Are you ready?” he grins. “This is all for you. I want you to have your beautiful space because you deserve it. You deserve everything I can ever give you.”

Acting as surprised as she can, Kira beams. “All for me?” 

“All for you.”

Jayden slides open the door and steps aside so that Kira can enter first. 

Warm, fluffy slippers are beside the door to replace her snow boots. 

You would never know that the building was in the middle of the garden, as merry heat spreads from wall to wall. Almost the entire opposing wall has been replaced with glass, looking out upon the fringe of the forest. 

The trees look magical at this time of year, powdered with snow.

A cozy chair beside the window is stacked with books. Beside it, a carved wooden sculpture like the ones that they find in the woods, and Kira gasps, leaning close. 

“Where did you - ”

“Being the Alpha has its perks. I have become a party to certain... information.”

“You know?” breathes Kira . “You found out who made the sculptures in the woods?”

“Well during my investigations, I discovered that the man who made the sculptures in the woods passed away a long time ago. But I found his grandson. And he can carve too.”

“Who?” Kira whispers. “Tell me. Please please please. I promise I won’t tell anyone!” Jayden snickers and leans close to his ear.

“Erza.”

In utter astonishment, Kira turns to look at him, but Jayden only presses a finger to her lips.

The sculpture is small, perhaps not as delicate and polished as those in the woods, but it depicts two wolves following each other on the same path, as though neither one ever leads the other. 

Kira traces the varnished wood and shakes her head.

Still there are things in this town that can take her by surprise. For such a small community, she never would have expected to have such a wealth of mysteries to pursue.

“Do keep it secret. This town thrives off its legends,” Jayden says.

Kira stands straight again and crosses at last to the beautiful wooden easel, pointed towards the window.

A stool with a palette stands at its side. From the color of the wood, Kira could tell that this easel, too, took its wood from a tree of their own forest. Jayden must have made it for her. “You – you made me an easel?” She whispers.

“You told me once that you used to paint and that when you were a kid you dreamed of being an artist.”

“I haven’t touched a canvas since I was little, Jayden.”

“So? touch one now.”

For weeks, Kira has been worrying aloud about her position in the town. 

Never in her life has she enjoyed a period of not-working, and she’s struggling to rest in it now. 

Jayden has assured her that she can help during his rounds every day, but Kira is no laborer. 

She needs something to fill his days that keeps her mind clear, a way to while away the hours while Jayden is doing his duties for the town.

Maybe she could even sell a painting. Like a job.

“I can’t believe you did this for me.” She turns and takes Jayden’s hands. Hers fit so perfectly against his, a little more slender but her fingers are longer. 

They complement each other just as the two of them do, the black wolf and the white wolf who run together in perfect harmony.

“I can only work to give you even an ounce of what you deserve.”

“I deserve nothing more and nothing less than the simple matter of your love,” Kira says, pulling Jayden close to kiss him with all of the passion that she can gather.

The snow falls on beyond the wide window, as they embrace under the eyes of the woods.

Kira traces the fine scar on his throat and Jayden brushes his fingers along the jagged scar on her brow. 

Before coming here, Kira could never have imagined that such a tender touch could exist. 

Jayden, his wolf, caresses like a butterfly.

“Jayden? Let’s run tonight.”

“Even though we’ll get snow in our fur again?”

“We’ll stay in our form and let them melt out by the fire,” Kira says.

Jayden groans because he hates having ice-balls stuck in his paws, but with one hand on Kira’s face and the other secure on her hip, binding the two together with touch, he could hardly refuse. 

“Only for you.”

“We’ll run?”

Jayden smiles, grazing the softest kiss across his lips again, and nods. “We’ll run.”

The end