On a bright autumn afternoon, Ethan and I were hanging sheets in the yard. He snapped a wet corner of the fabric at my face, and I chased him around the flower beds, laughing so hard I was almost out of breath.
Then a voice suddenly called my name from beyond the fence.
"Ava!"
I froze.
Rowan stood outside the gate, travel-stained. His clothes were covered in dust, and his eyes were red from exhaustion and sleepless nights. Ethan noticed my reaction and immediately moved in front of me.
I grabbed the edge of his shirt.
"It's okay. Go make dinner. I'll talk to him."
Rowan's eyes stayed fixed on Ethan's back.
We walked to a bench overlooking the ocean. The first words out of his mouth were:
"Who's that fox?"
"My family."
"You took in another shifter?" His expression darkened. "Then
