The Banned Daughter

Welcome Home

The moment Rowan's hand settles against the small of my back, every pair of eyes in the yard shifts from me to us.

I hat being stared at. I hate being judged even more.

The fact that I can’t tell which one they’re doing makes my stomach twist.

"You okay?" Rowan murmurs.

I glance up at him. His expression is calm, warm, like he can’t imagine a world where I’m not welcome.

I wish I had his confidence.

"I'm beginning to think that's your favorite question."

The corner of his mouth lifts. "You've had a rough week."

Understatement of the century.

I blow out a breath and try to smile.

The pack members standing outside the house seem friendly enough. Some wave. A few smile. Others just watch.

I can’t blame them.

Their future Alpha female had tried to kill her own mother.

Not exactly the best first impression.

An older woman with curly gray hair steps forward first.

"Oh, sweetheart."

Before I can’t react, she pulls me into a hug.

I freeze.

Then, awkwardly, hug her back.

"We're so happy you're here," she says, squeezing me. "I'm Martha. I cook at the packhouse. And if this boy doesn't feed you properly, you come see me."

I laugh despite myself.

"Okay."

"Good."

She pats my cheek and walks away.

As if that’s what they were waiting for one by one, more people introduce themselves.

A warrior.

A teacher.

A couple who had just had a baby.

By the time the last person steps away, I’m exhausted.

Social situations had never been my favorite thing.

Now they feel impossible.

"Come on," Rowan says softly. "Let me show you around."

I follow him up the porch steps.

The house is even prettier inside.

Warm wood floors. Stone fireplace. Huge windows that overlook the forest. Everything smells faintly of cedar.

"It smells like you," I say before I can stop myself.

Rowan grins. "That's either really sweet or really creepy."

Heat climbs my cheeks.

"I didn't mean—"

"I know."

He leans down and kisses my forehead. "You've always been cute when you're embarrassed."

I roll my eyes. He laughs.

God, I’ve missed him.

Not because we’ve been apart for long. We’ve only gone a few months without seeing each other in person. But because everything has changed so quickly. Before last week, my future had been clear.

I would marry Rowan. Become his Luna. Have a family. Visit my parents every weekend.

Simple.

Now I don't know anything anymore. Except that I don’t deserve how kind he was being.

The thought settles heavily in my chest.

"Hey."

I look up. He’s watching me. Really watching me.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Disappear into your own head."

I blink.

"You always get this look when you're overthinking."

"I do not."

"You absolutely do."

I open my mouth to argue. Then close it.

Because I absolutely do.

His smile softens. "You're here, Lib. You're safe."

Safe.

I’m sure I’ve felt safe in days.

He squeezes my hand.

"Come on. I want to show you something."

Rowan leads me upstairs, his hand warm around mine as we move down a wide hallway lined with dark wood and family photographs I don’t recognize. At the far end, he stops outside a set of double doors.

For one awful second, I think he’s about to show me the room we were supposed to share after the wedding.

Everything in me tightens.

Rowan notices immediately.

“Hey.” He turns toward me, his expression softening. “It’s okay, Starlight.”

Then he opens the door.

The room beyond is beautiful—huge, with a wall of windows overlooking the trees and built-in shelves already dotted with the few books and pictures I’d packed. A soft white comforter covers the bed, and a vase of wildflowers sits on the dresser beside my suitcase.

My suitcase.

“This is mine?” I ask.

Rowan nods. “Yours.”

I look back at him. “What about your room?”

“Across the hall.” He points toward the closed door on the other side of the hallway. “I know this wasn’t supposed to happen yet. You were supposed to finish school, we were supposed to get married, and then we were supposed to start our life together.” His thumb brushes over my knuckles. “But you’ve had enough choices taken from you this week. I’m not taking another one.”

My throat tightens.

“Rowan…”

“You don’t have to share a room with me because you’re here,” he says gently. “Not until we’re married. Not until you’re ready. Not until you choose it.”

For a second, I can’t speak.

He’d built this house for us. Had waited years for me to graduate. Could have assumed that moving into his pack meant moving into his bed.

Instead, he gave me a room of my own.

Space.

Privacy.

A place where I could close the door and remember who I was before everything fell apart.

“You did all this for me?” I ask.

Rowan smiles, and the dimple in his left cheek appears.

“Of course I did, Starlight.”

I step into his arms before I can overthink it, wrapping mine around his waist. He holds me carefully, like I’m something precious instead of something broken.

For the first time since my father sent me away, I let myself believe I might be safe here.

Something in my chest cracked open.

Because I had almost killed my mother.

I had been banished.

I had lost my home.

And somehow…

Somehow, this man had still remembered my favorite blanket.

Suddenly, I can’t breathe.

"Lib?"

I look away quickly.

"I'm okay."

"You don't look okay."

I laugh shakily.

"Apparently I don't look okay a lot lately."

His expression softens.

Then he steps forward and wraps his arms around me. I melt into him. For a long moment, neither of us say anything. I just stand there and let someone hold me.

Eventually, he pulls back. "You don't have to pretend with me."

That almost makes me cry.

Again.

I swallow hard. "Thank you."

A soft knock sounds in the doorway.

I turn.

A young man stands there, a tray balanced in his hands. He can’t be much older than twenty.

Auburn hair. Freckles. Bright green eyes.

The second I looked at him, he nearly drops the tray.

"Oh!" He catches it at the last second. Then turns bright red. "I—I brought tea."

I blink.

Rowan grinned. "Elias, this is Libbie."

Elias’ eyes widen. "Oh. Right. Obviously." He looks horrified. "I know who you are."

Silence.

He somehow turns even redder.

"I mean…not in a creepy way."

I bite my lip.

He looks like he wants the floor to swallow him.

"I'm Elias," he blurts.

I want to say I know, since Rowan just told me. Instead, I simply say, “Hi."

He nods. Then nods again. Then seems to realize he’s still holding the tray.

"I brought tea."

I fight to keep my lips from moving into a grin. “You mentioned."

"Right."

Another awkward silence. I glance at Rowan. He’s trying not to laugh.

Elias notices and glares at him. "I should go." He turns. Stops. Turns back. "Your room is nice."

Then he flees.

The second he disappears down the hallway, Rowan burst out laughing.

I stare after him. Then start laughing, too. For the first time in days, it feels good.

"Who was that?" I ask.

Rowan grins. “Our apprentice healer."

"He seems…nice." I shrug. “He also seems terrified of me."

"I don't think he's terrified."

I look down the hallway. "I think he's shy."

Rowan's grin widens. "Maybe."

A loud voice echoes from downstairs.

"Dinner's ready!"

I smile. "Perfect. I'm starving."

Rowan offers me his hand. I take it. Together, we head downstairs and into the dining room.

Then I look up. And forgot how to breathe.

Because standing beside the table…

…is Jace.