Chapter 84
“Have you seen Erin lately?”
There was a pause. “No. Why?”
“I’m just worried about the two of you,” I sighed. “Have you talked about… what’s next for you both?”
He sighed unhappily. Didn’t answer.
“She’s safe, though?” I pushed. “She and Carly and Maggie?”
“As safe as he can be,” he grumbled. “Living out there where she does.”
“Have you gone to see her?”
“She told me not to.”
“And you actually listen to her? I’m impressed.”
That actually drew a laugh.
“You two should talk,” I said, sobering somewhat. “I don’t want what happened to me to
happen to you, too.”
I could hear Mason breathing. “I’ll try to check in,” he finally said. “But things are still
tense at home.”
“I know. Just–be careful.”
I disconnected with Mason just as there was a soft knock at the patio gate. I looked up.
The older man from the pool stood there, tall and broad–shouldered, dressed in an easy, island–appropriate linen shirt and loose slacks. His silver–streaked hair and weathered features made him look like someone’s favorite uncle–or a professor who’d traded his
lecture hall for a boat.
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“Elena?” he said, voice rich and polite. “Sorry to intrude. When I saw you earlier, I just… I
thought that was you. But I didn’t want to bother you.”
I hesitated, but stepped forward. “Do I know you?”
“No, but I know of you,” he said warmly. “Name’s Pierce. Here with family. We’re staying just a few doors down. Hope I’m not overstepping.”
There was something in his smile. Something too smooth.
Still, I kept my tone neutral. “It’s fine. My son and I are having a nice time.”
He glanced toward the open door, where Aiden’s game controller clicks echoed. “Lucky
kid.”
“Can I help you with something?”
“Actually, just wanted to say hello. I heard there were a few shifters staying at the resort and figured I’d introduce myself. Always nice to see familiar kinds of folks in unfamiliar
places.”
I nodded. Polite. Distant.
Pierce smiled. “If you and your son are looking for something to do, we’re heading to a nearby waterpark tomorrow. Just a human place–slides, wave pool, that kind of thing. My grandson’s dying for a playmate his age. No pressure, of course. Just thought I’d extend the
offer.”
I didn’t answer immediately.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
He smiled wider. “You do that.”
After he left, I sat down, heart ticking a little faster than I liked.
Aiden padded outside. “Who was that?”
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“Just someone staying nearby.”
“He looked nice.”
He looked nice. That didn’t mean anything.
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Still, the idea of the waterpark lingered. Aiden had been getting restless. And I couldn’t keep him cooped up in the hotel forever.
“How would you feel,” I started, reaching out to ruffle his hair. “About heading to a waterpark tomorrow?”
He beamed. Answer enough.
3
***
The next day was bright and clear. The resort shuttle dropped us off at the waterpark around ten. We hadn’t seen any sign of Pierce or his family, though there were a few werewolf families here and there. Mostly though, the place was crawling with humans.
That didn’t stop Aiden from having the time of his life.
He ran straight to the big water slide, climbed the tower like a squirrel on espresso, and shouted “Watch me!” before hurtling down.
By the third go–round, I started to relax.
I stretched out on a lounge chair near the kiddie pool, a bottle of water sweating in my hand. A parenting magazine sat open on my lap, some speculative piece about pack alliances and Luna responsibilities.
I rolled my eyes. Of course, they’d included a picture of me and Derek from the Summit.
I was halfway into the article when I looked up.
Aiden had just run around to the waterslide steps to head back up for another go.
He waved.
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I smiled, watching the top of the slide for his bright green shorts, waiting for him to get to
the top for his turn.
I waited. And waited.
Another child who had been right behind him got up to the top and went down, but there
was still no sign of him. My heart started to beat. I stood from my lounge chair, the
magazine gripped in my fingers.
Aiden had been there–and then he wasn’t.
He never came down.
My blood ran cold.
I stood, the magazine dropping unnoticed to the concrete.
“Aiden?”
No answer.
I jogged toward the slide, heart pounding.
No splash. No laughter. No trace.
Just a gap in the crowd.
He was gone.
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Chapter 85
