Chapter 8
The sun rose behind the mountains and cast long shadows across the valley as Hayley sipped her coffee on the front porch and mulled over her options, unsure of what path to take. Her night with Jackson had been incredible, but it had left her more confused than ever. For now, she would stay at the cabin, allowing it to serve as both a sanctuary and a reminder of the journey that lay ahead. Selling the cabin the second the renovations were complete was still an option, and so was leaving Jackson to figure it out on his own while she went back to her life in the city, but for now, Hayley wanted to see the project through.
It wasn’t some sense of family duty keeping her at Twisted Tail. It may have been at first, but now, Hayley wanted to be there. The more time she spent there, the more leaving to return to the city, and her old life felt wrong.
She could feel the pressure mounting inside her, the decision hanging over her like a dark cloud. On one hand, she longed for closure and the chance to reconnect with her family”s legacy. On the other, she feared the darkness lurking in the shadows of her past. She had so many bad memories of her time at Twisted Tail that she didn’t know if she could ever replace them with enough good memories to keep the nightmares away.
Hayley stood at the edge of the cabin”s porch, her fingers gripping the rough wooden railing. The wind rustled through the pine trees, filling the air with a crisp, earthy scent. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, allowing the familiar aroma to fill her lungs.
“So much better than being trapped in the city day after day.”Her wolf’s thoughts filled her mind.
She had to agree. There was no place like home.
”Hard to believe this place is really mine now,” she murmured, opening her eyes to take in the stunning view of the mountains in the distance. The sight was both breathtaking and intimidating, a constant reminder of the decision that had brought her back to her hometown.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. Glancing down at the name, a smile lit her face.
“Hey.”
“Hi, you. How are you holding up?” Willow’s friendly voice was a welcome distraction from the black hole of doubt that was her mind.
“Not too bad. I forgot how beautiful it was here.”
”Are you happy you decided to go back?” Willow asked. The concern in her voice was evident, and it tugged at Hayley”s heartstrings.
Hayley hesitated, her gaze fixating on the mountains. ”I think so. I mean, it”s just been so long since I”ve been here, and everything feels so different. I have yet to see anyone from when I used to live here. I wonder where everyone went or if they are still around?” That was the one thing that was still bugging Hayley. What had happened to the people she grew up with? Did they flee like she had?
”Change isn”t always a bad thing,” Willow replied. ”You”ve changed too, you know. You”re stronger now and more capable of handling whatever comes your way. As for your friends, you should ask Calder. If he knows, he will tell you. He’s a good man. A good Alpha.”
Hayley pursed her lips, considering Willow’s words. ”You”re right. But it”s also terrifying, you know? This place holds so many memories, both good and bad.” That was the crux of the matter when it came down to it. Hayley was afraid of too much change, too fast, but there was also the fact that she wasn’t quite ready to trust that Twisted Tail had indeed changed. Sure, there was a new Alpha, but she didn’t know him—not really. What if he turned out to be just as bad as Griffin—or worse? What if he had the wool pulled over everyone’s eyes?
”Facing your past can be scary, but it”s also necessary for growth,” Willow said. ”Besides, if you hadn”t gone back, you would have lost the cabin – and your connection to your family.”
”I know,” Hayley admitted, her throat tightening with emotion. ”That”s what drove me to make the decision. The thought of losing the last piece of my family… I couldn”t bear it.”
”Sometimes we need to confront our fears to find our true path,” Willow suggested, her words echoing Hayley”s internal struggle. ”I think you were meant to be there, Hayley. The pack needs you.”
”Maybe you”re right,” Hayley murmured, a small smile playing on her lips. She could always count on Willow to cheer her up. ”Thank you for always being there for me, Willow. I don”t know what I”d do without you.” She decided to hold off on the nagging feeling that Willow had pushed her toward returning to Twisted Tail for more than just the cabin. Had Willow known she’d find her fated mate there?
”Hey, that”s what friends are for,” Willow replied before saying her goodbyes.
Hayley ended the call and headed back inside the cabin. As she moved through the cozy rooms, she couldn”t help but feel a sense of peace settle over her. The more she thought about staying at Twisted Tail, the more peace she felt.
Her wolf was content, and for once in a very long time, so was she. That alone had to be worth something.
A light knock sounded on the door. Hayley’s heart jumped. It was hours before Jackson was due back at the cabin to start work for the day.
“It’s the Alpha,”her wolf said in her mind.
Fear washed through her veins. When the last Alpha came knocking, it was never a good thing. Dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to run, far and fast, but Hayley knew it would do no good. The Alpha knew she was there. He could smell her.
“He won’t hurt us. He’s a good and fair Alpha,”her wolf said with a degree of confidence Hayley seriously lacked. However, her wolf’s assessment did calm her nerves a tiny bit. She sucked in a deep breath and padded over to the front door. After another deep breath, Hayley twisted the handle and opened the door.
“Hello.” Though she wanted her voice to come out strong and confident, the single word barely squeaked past her lips.
“Hayley.” Calder nodded. “I wanted to stop and check in with you. To see how you are settling in.” His voice was smooth and pleasant compared to Griffin’s severe, gravelly voice. She didn’t feel the immediate sense of danger like she had any time Griffin was close by.
“So far so good. Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?” Although she really didn’t want to extend the invitation, she did. Her wolf assured her that it was the friendly thing to do.
“Coffee would be great, thanks.” Calder followed her through the door. “The front porch looks great. I see Jackson stopped by.”
“Uh, yeah. He’s been great about getting some work done around here.” Images of their night together passed through her mind. She pushed them back, not wanting the Alpha to know the porch wasn’t the only thing Jackson nailed last night. A light blush crept up over her neck and face. Hayley turned, hoping the Alpha didn’t notice. She didn’t know him or anyone else well enough to want to have that sort of conversation.
“I’m glad. This is a special place, but the upkeep was overlooked for far too long, like much of Twisted Tail.
Hayley wasn’t sure how to respond to Calder’s statement other than with a nod before turning to the cupboard and grabbing two cups. Once they were both filled to the brim, she handed one to Calder before taking a sip of her own.
“Thanks,” he said. “How are you doing? Are you getting along okay?”
Hayley felt like she was at yet another crossroads when it came to her life and her decisions. The first had been deciding to come back to Twisted Tail. This one was nagging at her even more. When she had first arrived, she’d been hellbent on putting the cabin up for sale and walking away. Now, she wasn’t so sure that was what she wanted.
“I’m not quite sure.” She answered honestly. “At first, I just wanted to sell this place and be done with it. Now, being back here, I’m having second thoughts. Feeling my inner peace slowly being restored isn’t something I had expected. You have to understand, when I fled from here before, it was to save my life. Griffin would have killed me. His men were hunting me.” A lone tear slipped from her eye. She quickly wiped it away.
“I’ve heard countless stories about the trauma people in this pack faced under Griffin. I’m sorry you had to go through that. No one should ever have to live like that—under any circumstance. I know you have no reason to trust me, but I hope to earn your trust one day. I will tell you that life at Twisted Tail is no longer like it was before. That people are no longer in fear for their lives or their basic necessities. We take care of our own here. Your wolf can feel the truth of my words, but even if you don’t want to believe it, I’d welcome you to get out and spend some time in town. See it with your own eyes. Talk to others. I want you to be comfortable with whatever decision you make. What it comes down to is that Twisted Tail can be a haven for those who seek it,” Calder explained, sensing her hesitation. ”We”re a peaceful and stable pack here, and we look out for each other. If you choose to stay, I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety and well-being.”
”Really?” Hayley raised an eyebrow, her skepticism creeping into her voice. ”You don”t even know me.”
”True,” Calder admitted, his expression softening ever so slightly. ”But I can tell when someone has been through a lot and could use some support. We”ve all got our demons, Hayley. Here in this pack, we face them together.”
As Calder”s words washed over her, Hayley felt a flicker of something she hadn”t experienced in years – the faintest glimmer of hope. But could she really trust this man, this stranger who claimed to have her best interests at heart? She glanced back at him, her eyes searching for sincerity, and found it in the unwavering determination that burned within his gaze.
”Maybe I”ll stick around for a while,” she said slowly, carefully weighing each word. ”See how things go.”
”Good.” Calder nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. ”I think you”ll find that Twisted Tail has a way of growing on people. And if you need anything, just let me know.”
”Thanks, Calder.” Hayley returned the smile, feeling more of the ice around her heart thawing. For the first time since she”d arrived in Twisted Tail, she allowed herself to entertain the possibility that she might find her long-lost sense of belonging within the sheltering embrace of the mountains and the warmth of her long-lost pack.