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Previous: "Pride"
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Next: "Welcome to Crystalshaw"
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CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains themes of self-harm and suicide.
Series 12 Episode 9
"The Brink"
Lily felt a lot of pressure to ensure Jonah had the perfect birthday every year. She wanted it to be an event every time, something that would provide him with memories he’d treasure, and everything had to be flawless as a result.
Parties were Lily’s expert field, too. She’d thrown so many over the years, and each one was a hit. This was different, though. This wasn’t an exercise in vanity, boosting Lily’s social status by being the best party-planner around. It was all about Jonah, and making him feel important, because to Lily, he truly was.
Jonah had settled so well at the lakehouse. Despite all of the changes he’d experienced in the two years prior, from moving state, to losing his dad, to Alex moving away just as he’d gotten to know him, Jonah was happy at the lakehouse. George played the role of big brother and parent figure perfectly to the surprise of no-one, given how well he’d supported Freddie after their mother’s passing.
That made Lily something of a parent to Jonah, too. Though he technically wasn’t family, the pack was so tight knit that they may as well have been. Besides, there had always been a certain spark between Lily and George, no matter how things ended. He was her teenage sweetheart, and she knew she’d always hold a candle for him; it was difficult not to when they lived together.
Between them, they had juggled the remainder of their college studies with raising Jonah. They’d helped him with homework, cobbled together money for school trips, and even attended parents’ evening together. For two people who weren’t a couple, they certainly acted a lot like one.
“Hey, Lily?” a voice broke Lily’s train of thought. She was sat at the dining table in the lakehouse kitchen with her laptop and an array of paper spread out in front of her. Of course, it was George trying to get her attention.
“Oh, hi, sorry,” Lily tried to mask her embarrassment with a smile, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just wanted to ask if you’d heard back from the photography company yet,” George perched on the chair on Lily’s immediate left. He always made unwavering eye contact every time he spoke, never making Lily doubt how much attention he was dedicating to her. It made her heart flutter to think he had taken an interest in her jobhunting endeavour.
“I’ve not dared look at my emails,” Lily confessed, “Jonah’s party is proving a pretty good distraction.”
“Wow, is this all for his party? He’s going to be thrilled. How many people are coming?” George showed a keen interest.
“Twenty-four. Jonah’s chosen some friends, and I’ve invited the pack, of course,” Lily replied, “I’m still trying to convince Dylan to come. He’s still feeling low.”
“Jono would be proud of you for looking out for him. Have you heard from him today?” George queried.
“This morning, though I think that was yesterday for him now,” Lily recalled, “He’s doing okay. Akshay is away, so he’s got the place to himself. I think he feels lost.”
“It’s hard losing the one you love,” George thought aloud. Lily felt a tingly sensation in her stomach. She’d only known George to have two girlfriends, and considering all that happened with Mia, he could only have been talking about one person.
He could only have been talking about Lily.
“Goes to show that people should fight for what they have while they can,” Lily replied, choosing her words carefully to avoid being too blatant, while also making her position clear.
Then, silence.
Lily and George’s eye contact remained. It felt intense and uncertain, but safe and comfortable at the same time. They’d all but confirmed how they felt, and the wait for the next move felt like a lifetime. For one brief moment, Lily felt the urge to be the brave one.
Before she could back out, Lily leaned forward and embraced George in what felt like the best kiss they had ever shared. This had more riding on it than any before. This was make-or-break. This would confirm Lily’s biggest hope: that George was her soulmate.
Backing off, another awkward silence followed, but to Lily’s relief, this only lasted a moment. George pulled her back in, their lips colliding, craving each other with desperation. Sensual, smooth, and safe.
This was the future Lily wanted.
Parties were Lily’s expert field, too. She’d thrown so many over the years, and each one was a hit. This was different, though. This wasn’t an exercise in vanity, boosting Lily’s social status by being the best party-planner around. It was all about Jonah, and making him feel important, because to Lily, he truly was.
Jonah had settled so well at the lakehouse. Despite all of the changes he’d experienced in the two years prior, from moving state, to losing his dad, to Alex moving away just as he’d gotten to know him, Jonah was happy at the lakehouse. George played the role of big brother and parent figure perfectly to the surprise of no-one, given how well he’d supported Freddie after their mother’s passing.
That made Lily something of a parent to Jonah, too. Though he technically wasn’t family, the pack was so tight knit that they may as well have been. Besides, there had always been a certain spark between Lily and George, no matter how things ended. He was her teenage sweetheart, and she knew she’d always hold a candle for him; it was difficult not to when they lived together.
Between them, they had juggled the remainder of their college studies with raising Jonah. They’d helped him with homework, cobbled together money for school trips, and even attended parents’ evening together. For two people who weren’t a couple, they certainly acted a lot like one.
“Hey, Lily?” a voice broke Lily’s train of thought. She was sat at the dining table in the lakehouse kitchen with her laptop and an array of paper spread out in front of her. Of course, it was George trying to get her attention.
“Oh, hi, sorry,” Lily tried to mask her embarrassment with a smile, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just wanted to ask if you’d heard back from the photography company yet,” George perched on the chair on Lily’s immediate left. He always made unwavering eye contact every time he spoke, never making Lily doubt how much attention he was dedicating to her. It made her heart flutter to think he had taken an interest in her jobhunting endeavour.
“I’ve not dared look at my emails,” Lily confessed, “Jonah’s party is proving a pretty good distraction.”
“Wow, is this all for his party? He’s going to be thrilled. How many people are coming?” George showed a keen interest.
“Twenty-four. Jonah’s chosen some friends, and I’ve invited the pack, of course,” Lily replied, “I’m still trying to convince Dylan to come. He’s still feeling low.”
“Jono would be proud of you for looking out for him. Have you heard from him today?” George queried.
“This morning, though I think that was yesterday for him now,” Lily recalled, “He’s doing okay. Akshay is away, so he’s got the place to himself. I think he feels lost.”
“It’s hard losing the one you love,” George thought aloud. Lily felt a tingly sensation in her stomach. She’d only known George to have two girlfriends, and considering all that happened with Mia, he could only have been talking about one person.
He could only have been talking about Lily.
“Goes to show that people should fight for what they have while they can,” Lily replied, choosing her words carefully to avoid being too blatant, while also making her position clear.
Then, silence.
Lily and George’s eye contact remained. It felt intense and uncertain, but safe and comfortable at the same time. They’d all but confirmed how they felt, and the wait for the next move felt like a lifetime. For one brief moment, Lily felt the urge to be the brave one.
Before she could back out, Lily leaned forward and embraced George in what felt like the best kiss they had ever shared. This had more riding on it than any before. This was make-or-break. This would confirm Lily’s biggest hope: that George was her soulmate.
Backing off, another awkward silence followed, but to Lily’s relief, this only lasted a moment. George pulled her back in, their lips colliding, craving each other with desperation. Sensual, smooth, and safe.
This was the future Lily wanted.
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Dylan was never the most confident of drivers. He’d put off learning for so long because he knew exactly how stressful he’d find it. Driving only became a necessity in his life after Jono had to leave, and even then, he avoided it whenever he could.
Driving under duress was a particularly unpleasant experience, especially with a car full of people relying on Dylan to drive in the right direction, without crashing, in order to keep Lily safe. Dylan couldn’t let them down. He couldn’t let Lily down.
To his relief, the journey was short, and he’d been able to park, albeit not very well. Jono had navigated calmly and clearly, just as he’d expected from him, and George and Jonah at least presented as calm for the duration of the journey. Panic was contagious, and Dylan didn’t need anything to exacerbate his anxiety.
This time, the anxiety persisted once Dylan had left the car. He had every reason to be on edge after Sammi’s phone call. The good news of Lily being found was almost entirely outweighed by her whereabouts.
Dylan hardly cared about how his running speed would look to passers-by. He knew he was sprinting faster than a human could typically go, but time was precious, and Lily’s life wasn’t worth risking.
As he ran, Dylan glanced over the low wall that protected him from the cascading hillside to his right. Below, at a worrying depth, was the lake, an ominous body of water so vast that it trailed all the way through Crystalshaw. Lily had called the lakehouse home for a long time, but despite the common body of water, she was as far away from her home as she could get.
The closer he got, the clearer Dylan could see. There was Lily, in the middle of the bridge, facing outward. Facing the lake. She appeared calm, but Dylan felt anything but, and as he reached the bridge entrance, he could feel the panic brushing uncomfortably across his skin, radiating from the group of people looking on.
“Dylan,” a voice called, summoning Dylan to the front of the crowd. Cautiously but efficiently, he pushed through the intrusive onlookers to find Sammi at the front, blocking the route for pedestrians alongside Jeremy and Felix.
“What is she doing?” Dylan questioned, looking desperately at Lily. She was mere metres away now, and as still as a rock, but all it would take is one movement.
“She hasn’t moved in a few minutes,” Sammi immediately filled Dylan in, “I called you straight away.”
“We tried to stop her but she warned us not to follow,” Jeremy added, “What should we do?”
Filtering in from behind, Jono, George and Jonah had carefully nudged through the crowd. Jono’s adorable cheeks were flushed with an exhausted red. Between beaths, he confidently stated, “She’ll listen to me.”
“To us,” George quickly added. Dylan nodded. Their love for Lily was different, but they cherished her just as much as each other. Lily was still in there, and if anyone could find her, it was them.
Yasmin felt guilty for hounding the officer on desk duty so much. She’d seen how much of a tight ship Ed ran, and she knew there was a procedure to follow, but after half an hour of sitting idly, Yasmin craved an update.
After all, Karen and Theodore had caused so much misery between them. Not only for Yasmin herself – the suspension from work still stung – but for Ashton, and the rest of the pack too; Dylan more than anyone. All Yasmin wanted was justice for her friends, and she was going to fight for it if she had to.
“I’m sorry, miss, I haven’t been told anything,” the deputy explained for at least the fifth time since Yasmin arrived.
“Then please, let me speak to Sheriff Taylor,” Yasmin begged. If she could get to Ed, she could get frank, unfiltered answers.
“The Sheriff is interviewing a suspect, you’ll have to wait here,” the deputy groaned, his monotonous southern accent grating heavily on Yasmin’s ears.
“Hey, come and sit down,” Freddie urged, making room between himself and Josh in the waiting area, but Yasmin couldn’t just sit and wait. She hated feeling powerless. All that was darting across her mind was everything the Callahans had done to the pack. Everything they’d done to Harry.
“I need some fresh air,” Yasmin started speed-walking to the exit before she’d finished her sentence. The same four walls were driving her mad.
Outside the station, the heavens had opened. The sun had tucked itself away to allow torrential rain to take over, and a miserable grey wash coated the world. Despite that, Yasmin had got what she wanted. The air carried that familiar damp freshness that Yasmin found cathartic. Perhaps it was the nix part of her, she thought. Nevertheless, she didn’t move from the doorway, which provided sufficient-enough shelter.
Passers-by were few, with hoods and umbrellas obscuring identities as the rain gushed downwards without consideration. Nobody smiled or said hello, because even making simple eye contact would have resulted in a face full of rainwater, so everyone kept their heads down. The most unsociable weather.
Yet, among the samey navy and black hoods, one approaching person sent a shiver through Yasmin’s spine. Even drenched, it was impossible not to recognise the alarming red curls coming her way. The first time she’d seen him since the woods.
Cody.
“Hey,” he spoke gently as he approached, ducking underneath the shelter that the sheriff station doorway provided, “Can we talk?”
Yasmin kept silent. She didn’t know what to say. Did she want to hear him out?
The protective instinct in Josh’s body was urging him to follow Yasmin. Check she was okay. Tell her everything was going to be alright. Be that reassuring presence she obviously needed. Yasmin could take care of herself, but everyone needed a morale boost sometimes, ad Josh wanted to be just that for her.
His head said to give Yasmin space, though. They weren’t a couple and hadn’t been for a long time, and Josh hated reminding himself of that. Deep down, he’d always known that letting go of Yasmin was the worst mistake he’d ever made, and it had taken far too long to confess that to himself.
“You’ll be drooling in a second,” Freddie broke through Josh’s train of thought with a cheeky chuckle. Josh quickly closed his mouth, realising he’d been staring towards the exit across the sheriff station foyer, “She’ll be okay. Yasmin’s strong.”
“I know, that’s why I lo-“ Josh caught himself. Freddie chuckled knowingly.
“You don’t need to hide it around me, dude,” Freddie reminded, “I’ve always shipped you both. I was convinced you were soulmates.”
“Yeah, and we know who blew it,” Josh shrugged, “Part of me thinks that maybe, just maybe, we might stand a chance one day. The other part knows that I messed up, and I have to live with that.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Freddie considered, much to an intrigued Josh’s delight, “Like yeah, we all know what happened before, but it wasn’t like you were squeaky clean before that.”
“Dude, this isn’t helping,” Josh sighed. He didn’t need to be reminded of every bad decision he’d made.
“No, what I mean is that she forgave you before, because you proved that you’d changed. You showed that you weren’t that person any more, and if you ask me, you’ve done the same again. You made a mistake a long time ago and you’ve done everything you can to apologise and better yourself. You took ownership, dude, and I think Yasmin respects that,” Freddie explained much more coherently.
“I just want to know for sure,” Josh reasoned. If he wanted Yasmin back, he knew he had to give her space to realise it herself, but the uncertainty was killing him.
“Then allow me to be your wing man,” Freddie excitedly smiled, as if he’d discovered his vocation.
“Okay,” Josh caved in, “But be subtle. I don’t want her to feel pressured.”
“Subtle is my middle name,” Freddie grinned, knowing as well as Josh did that it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Interrupting their jovial moment, the security door between the foyer and the main sheriff station buzzed, which an exhausted-looking Ed emerged from.
“Any news?” Josh eagerly questioned.
“Neither of them have said anything. We’ve got so little to go on right now,” Ed sighed, “Theodore’s already connected because of what happened at the school, but we have no evidence linking Mrs. Callahan to the drugs at all.”
“Then give us the chance to speak with Theodore,” Josh suggested. He was keen to get them both locked up, for Yasmin just as much as the rest of the pack, not least Dylan.
“You know I can’t,” Ed regretfully replied, “You know how it would look if I let my son intimidate a suspect.”
“We wouldn’t intimidate,” Josh quickly defended, “Just persuade. Gently.”
“And we can discuss things you’re not allowed to mention, you know, on the record,” Freddie hinted, backing Josh.
Ed paused, taking a second to consider. It was obvious that Ed was on their side – that went without saying – but his professionalism came first. Eventually, he delivered his verdict, “Yes. Okay. But gentle persuasion, not intimidation. And I’ll be watching through the mirror.”
“We won’t let you down,” Josh nodded. He was ready for the Callahan nightmare to end.
There wasn’t a part of Jono’s body that wasn’t spiralling into panic. His heart was pounding, his hands were sweaty, and his mind was chaos. Keeping a cool head was important, but it was proving to be near impossible when Lily was so terrifyingly close to the edge of the bridge.
Nevertheless, Jono tried his best to remain calm, on the outside if not the inside. He and George kept side-by-side, approaching slowly, closer to Lily one step at a time. Unusually, they were holding hands. Jono didn’t remember making the decision to grip George’s hand, and it was the first time he could think of where he was holding the hand of someone who wasn’t his parents or a romantic partner. This was entirely platonic; just two people comforting each other with the smallest gesture.
A couple of metres away, Jono paused. The last thing he wanted to do was to spook Lily, despite how much he wanted to grab her by the hand and heave her to safety. Her werewolf senses would probably have detected the movement before Jono could make contact, anyway.
“Hey, Lil, we’re here,” Jono assured, “Don’t worry, it’s just George and I.”
“Jono,” Lily’s voice quivered, her whole body still facing outward as she spoke, “I’m scared.”
“I know you are,” Jono replied, as softly as possible considering the obnoxious sound of the water below, reminding them arrogantly of its presence.
“It’s there. It’s in my mind. It won’t go away,” Lily cried as she spoke, “It’s like it’s in control of me. Of my emotions. I feel helpless.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” Jono quickly reasoned, “Like we always do. We’re not just a team, we’re family. You, me, George, Dylan, Sammi, Jeremy, the whole pack. For the first time in years, we’re together again. We overcame the impossible. If I can be back here, in Crystalshaw, then we can solve anything, right?”
Lily didn’t reply. She remained facing outwards, not making eye contact for a single second, as if she wasn’t in control of her own movements. One false move would be enough for Jono’s worst nightmare to come true.
“If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for the baby,” George added with palpable desperation in his voice, “Our baby.”
“But what if this thing gets passed down to it?” Lily panicked, “It’s not fair for our child to inherit this…I don’t even know what it is.”
“It’s called a reaper,” Jono informed, remembering what he read on the torn-out Bestiary page, “And this is exactly what it wants. This is it winning.”
“But I can’t live with it any longer. It’s there, all the time. It’s in my dreams,” Lily wept, “I can’t bear it.”
“Lily,” a voice called from behind Jono. Confused, he turned to see Jonah, naïvely trying to help, “Remember when I used to have bad dreams?”
“Jonah, you need to stay back. Go back to Dylan,” George advised as Jono met eyes with a distant Dylan, who held his hands up in despair.
“Remember, you used to comfort me. Tell me everything would be alright. You told me what I had to look forward to, like all those parties you’d plan for me. How you’d take me out for the day for my birthday present. You always knew what to say,” Jonah pleaded, regardless of George’s request, “Please, let us help you like you helped me.”
Silence followed. Jono didn’t know what to say or do. He didn’t want to overwhelm Lily, as much as he admired Jonah’s attempts to help. They were walking a tightrope, and Jono knew his balance was failing.
“Hey, go and stand with Dylan,” Jono gently urged Jonah.
“I just wanted to help,” Jonah looked defeated.
“I know, but let’s give Lily some space, we don’t want to crowd her,” Jono gently nudged Jonah, brushing against his arm like a barrier. Out of nowhere, Jonah winced, cupping his left arm in his right hand.
“Sorry, did I catch you?” Jono apologised quickly. Jonah’s face creased in a much more intense manner than an accidental bump would produce, and Jono’s stomach dropped. He hadn’t meant to cause any pain. Did his jacket catch Jonah’s skin, perhaps?
Jonah moved his right hand away to display his newly procured injury, and Jono couldn’t believe his eyes. The skin on Jonah’s arm had been scratched, leaving an alarming slit a couple of inches wide with blood precariously trickling out. Baffled, Jono looked down at his nails, which weren’t particularly sharp, and even if they were, they couldn’t have caused damage like that, could they?
“What happened?” a horrified George queried, comforting his younger brother instinctively.
“I…I don’t…” Jono panicked. He had no explanation.
“Jono,” Lily called out. Jono immediately snapped out of his confusion and refocused. Whatever had happened there could wait for another time, “Help me, please.”
Jono’s heart was breaking like never before. He met eyes with George once again, who, whilst comforting Jonah, gave him a nod of approval. Jono had to do everything he could to support Lily. This was it. This was the moment he got his sister back. There was no alternative.
Jeremy couldn’t help thinking that time had slowed down. He felt helpless watching Jono and George trying to take Lily away from the edge of the bridge, and every second they spent there seemed to drag for eternity. It was hard to watch from the sidelines.
Amongst the extreme levels of worry for his cousin, Jeremy couldn’t stop himself thinking about a distraction. A diversion from the intense emotions he was feeling. A way to make his mind think about a different kind of pain.
Oddly, Jeremy felt something against his right hand. Something wiggling between his clenched fist, pushing his fingers apart to slide itself into the gentle grip of Jeremy’s hand. Looking down, it was obvious; Sammi was holding his hand, and glancing at him with a knowing yet supportive smile.
“I’m here for you,” Sammi whispered. Jeremy nodded. He hadn’t doubted it for a second, but it was good to hear.
On his left was a fragile-looking Dylan, whose eyes were fully focused on Lily. Jeremy could sense Dylan’s anxiety radiating against his skin, just as he could with Sammi’s, and it had to be mutual. After all, Dylan was family. He was a Chadwick just as much as the rest of them, whether blood agreed or not. They were all in the same boat, and the least Jeremy could do was extend the support he’d received.
Softly, Jeremy wrapped his left hand inside Dylan’s right hand. A chain of strength, united in their adoration of Lily. She was one of the strongest people Jeremy knew, and they needed to channel that on her behalf. Jeremy had found his reasons to survive, and he needed Lily to do the same.
“You’re hurting,” Dylan commented, “Not right now, but I can feel it. Just the remnants.”
“I’m okay now, I promise,” Jeremy assured, not wanting to cause any more worry.
“Just remember you can talk to me,” Dylan reminded, breaking his focus on Lily momentarily to meet Jeremy’s gaze, “I’ll always make time for you.”
“We can both be strong, for Lily,” Jeremy affirmed.
“And for ourselves,” Dylan added. Jeremy nodded. If he couldn’t be strong for himself, then he was no use to Lily at all.
“Guys, look,” Sammi prompted. Jeremy immediately swivelled back to Lily, who was now facing inwards, albeit precariously close to the edge still. They weren’t out of the woods yet, but maybe there was hope in the air after all?
It wasn’t often that Yasmin was lost for words. She valued her ability to explain anything in any situation and apply logic consistently. Any time she didn’t know what to say made her feel exposed, and Yasmin couldn’t stand it.
Yasmin had learned that emotions often defied words, though. Quite what had drawn her to Cody in the first place was difficult to explain. On paper, they were polar opposites, but there was a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to Cody that Yasmin found irresistible.
That Yasmin had found irresistible.
“Please, hear me out,” Cody requested. Yasmin could hardly stand to look at him. Her opinion of him had soured in record time. She’d placed her trust in him when he promised he’d changed. They had only grown close over a few weeks, and Yasmin didn’t have the urge to fight for that anymore.
“More excuses, Cody,” Yasmin sighed, watching the rain gushing down over Cody’s desperate expression.
“It was a hiccup. A bump in the road. I swear, you know I’ve changed,” Cody pleaded like he was fighting for something he didn’t just want, but he needed.
“And how many more hiccups will there be?” Yasmin questioned, standing her ground, “I know you’ve changed, I can see it, but it’s not enough.”
Cody took a deep breath. Yasmin could tell he was unprepared for rejection. She didn’t see someone with flaws as a concern, but Cody was delusional and arrogant; two no-go areas as far as Yasmin was concerned. She wasn’t desperate for a boyfriend.
“It’s Josh, isn’t it?” Cody scoffed, “Your ex. I knew it. As soon as he turned back up, I knew he’d be trouble.”
“Cody, look at yourself. Quit blaming other people and take some responsibility,” Yasmin scolded. She’d run out of patience, and her filter was coming down, “Josh is twice the person you are, but that’s not why I’m ending it. I’m ending it because you’re aggressive, jealous, and you think so highly of yourself that you don’t listen to advice. I thought you were just the man I wanted, but obviously that was all surface level. Oscar would be ashamed.”
Cody stepped back. His history with Oscar spoke for itself. Yasmin knew he’d been the motivation behind Cody’s attempts at bettering himself, and she was close enough with Oscar to know he’d be appalled at what Cody’s become, again.
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” Cody sighed and stormed off, to Yasmin’s relief. As he walked, without turning back, he yelled, “Tell Ashton I’m sorry.”
Yasmin froze. What did Cody have to do with Ashton? None of them knew much about Ashton, so why would Cody care? Regardless, it was something to figure out later. Yasmin was too shaken to be thinking rationally. Her fresh air break hadn’t quite worked out the way she’d hoped.
“Yasmin,” a voice called out as Yasmin turned to head back into the sheriff station. Glancing back with a sigh, Yasmin’s mood quickly bolted into confusion as Natasha Callahan was staring back at her. What could Harry’s sister possibly want?
Freddie didn’t know quite what the outcome of his and Josh’s bright idea would be. He knew the end goal, but they were dealing with a Callahan, a family who were notably uncooperative (with one notable exception, of course). Anything could happen. Anything could go wrong.
Nevertheless, Freddie was confident in his goal. He needed Theodore to confess. Not only confess to his part in the plan but ensure Karen didn’t escape scot-free as well. Freddie had seen a teenage boy, the same age as his younger brother, almost die because of their baffling plan, and he couldn’t help recalling how he had to navigate high school as a werewolf too. He was far too young for that baggage. Ashton was far too young, too.
Ed gave Freddie and Josh a supportive nod before entering the viewing gallery next door. Freddie took a deep breath. He had to keep calm, no matter how difficult it was inevitably bound to be. Freddie knew he was the better person, and this was where he walked the walk.
“Let’s do this,” Josh psyched them both up, pressing firmly onto the interview room door handle and swinging it confidently open. Inside, there he was. Slouched forward and resting his head in his hands, an unpleasant scent thrust itself upon Freddie’s nostrils from their interviewee. Theodore looked scruffy and dirty, as if personal hygiene was low down his list of priorities even before his arrest. It was hard to imagine him mixing with someone like Karen Callahan, related or otherwise.
“Great,” Theodore muttered the second the door clicked shut, without moving an inch, “The cavalry’s arrived. Something tells me this isn’t legal.”
“And supplying drugs to teenagers is?” Freddie remarked in return, like a reflex.
Theodore’s face emerged from his hands, an irritating smug expression painted across his face, “Do I have to do the whole ‘no comment’ spiel here too? I assume your daddy’s watching.” He glanced at Josh, and then to the one-way mirror.
“And where are your family? One’s in a cell down the corridor, we know that, but dear Uncle Terry hasn’t shown his face. Not for his wife, and not for you, so where do you think you land on their list of priorities?” Josh reasoned, far more coherently than Freddie could have.
Theodore huffed. There was no ‘witty’ comeback, just the knowing silence of the truth. He was so far removed from their twisted vision of perfection, and if Harry was an outcast of their expectations, Theodore didn’t stand a chance.
“I’ll confess. To what I did. I’m going down regardless, they’ve got evidence, but nobody else needs to be jailed too,” Theodore bargained. Freddie felt his eyes roll. Theodore didn’t understand. He didn’t care about what he did, or why it was so wrong.
“So Karen can move onto another loser who’ll drug schoolkids with mountain ash? What were you hoping to achieve?”
“Aunt Karen always knew there was something weird about Dylan. About how Harry died. It was like some big cover up, she said, so she did some research. Asked around,” Theodore explained, “She found these people. They sounded like some sort of cult. The mountain ash came from them. They said Dylan’s never far from a crisis in Crystalshaw.”
“She agreed to kill werewolves just to find out more about Dylan?” Josh had a disgusted look on his face, and Freddie felt sick. Karen’s lack of empathy was even greater than he thought, “Who were these people?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never met them. Aunt Karen will know,” Theodore brushed off.
“Dude,” Freddie slammed his hands on the table to make direct eye contact with Theodore. He was fed up with dancing around the facts. Freddie felt a fire ignite within him. His eyes tingled, which could only mean one thing – the wolf was shining through, and the yellow of his wolf eyes was glittering.
“Alright, she said a name. A surname I guess,” Theodore caved, “Forsyth.”
Freddie’s stomach dropped. He met eyes with Josh, who met his gaze with a panic-stricken expression. They both knew what that meant, and they knew all too well.
“You have to tell Ed everything. Everything,” Freddie commanded, his eyes sparkling once again. In the mirror, he caught Josh’s expression, which had morphed into something vaguely resembling horror. Regardless, this approach was working, and that was Freddie’s only goal inside those four walls.
“Alright,” a bewildered Theodore admitted, “I will. You’ll get your wish. Just, please, leave me alone.”
“Come on,” Josh intervened, gently prompting Freddie with a tap on the arm, “Let’s go.”
Josh led the way out, and as soon as the door clicked shut once again, he turned to face Freddie with pointed eyebrows and wide eyes, “What was that?”
“What was what? We got what we wanted, didn’t we?” Freddie defended, trying to encourage Josh to see the bigger picture.
“Your eyes, Freddie. You lost control. You never lose control,” Josh reminded.
“Dude, I’m fine. I knew what I was doing. Trust me,” Freddie assured. Josh may have had a point, but he didn’t feel out of control for a second. Josh conceded regardless, nodding. They had a common goal, and with any luck, Theodore was about to confess everything.
Terrified to make the tiniest movements, Lily was at a loss. This reaper, a creature so intimidating and omnipresent that it made her feel there was no other option, couldn’t even give her a moment’s peace. Her mind was frantic, and with Jono, George and Jonah trying to talk to her, the entire situation was overwhelming even without only a few millimetres separating Lily from the edge of the bridge.
The truth was that Lily didn’t want to die. Of course she didn’t. She knew how much she had to live for. She knew how lucky she was to have George, and their family, and the crazy life they shared. It was all she’d ever wanted, and when Lily first laid eyes on that pregnancy test, she vowed to be better than her own parents ever were.
“Take a step forward, Lil,” George encouraged, his calm, soothing tone at odds with the stress painted across his face. Lily wanted to step forward. To run into the safety of George’s arms, but it was still there. The reaper. The ghastly shadowed figure in the background. Always. She couldn’t live like that. With the reaper in control. With the reaper dictating her emotions. Even more importantly, she couldn’t unleash the reaper onto her unborn child.
“This can’t go on,” Lily tried to justify herself, “Because what if I pass this thing on? I’ve not been in control of my own body, George. What if it passes down to our child? Do you want that?”
“I want our child to have a chance at surviving,” George reframed Lily’s perspective. He had always been good at rationalising her wildest thoughts. Lily’s life made more sense when she had George by her side.
The reaper stepped forward. The dark, clouded figure, a black mist shrouding its decrepit face, was trying to intimidate Lily. It wanted the opposite of what George wanted. If she stepped off the bridge, it had won. Another life to claim. Two lives, in fact.
“Me too,” Lily averted her gaze, choosing to keep her attention on George and Jono, and the desperate, pleading expression of Jonah behind them. They were the people she wanted to see. The people she wanted to spend time with.
More time.
“Take my hand, Lil,” Jono reached out his right hand, and George offered his left. They were her safe haven. With them, the reaper wouldn’t win.
It couldn’t win.
Lily met eyes with the reaper. She wasn’t scared anymore. It wasn’t in charge. It led her to the bridge, but it couldn’t force her to jump. It had no actual power, and Lily had seen off enough bullies in her time.
With confidence, Lily wrapped her hands around George and Jono’s, tightly securing her fingers between theirs. Firmly, they heaved Lily forward, safely away from the edge, collapsing onto the ground behind. The wave of relief that washed over Lily was immeasurable. For the first time in a long time, she knew she was going to be okay.
“Lily!” Dylan called out, rushing over from the sidelines with Sammi, Jeremy and Felix in tow. Worryingly, he didn’t sound happy, nor relieved. He was scared. He was issuing her a warning.
Nervously glancing back around, Lily’s relief was shoved to the side by a piercing tornado of fear. The reaper was still there, menacingly standing over the group. For the first time, its face was clearly visible. Wrinkled, dishevelled and a pale pink in colour, it had a furious scowl aimed directly at Lily.
“Oh my god,” Jono panicked, immediately placing a protective arm in front of Lily. He could see the reaper. Everyone could. For the first time, it wasn’t only targeting Lily.
“Stay back,” Dylan protectively placed himself as a barrier between the reaper and Lily.
“It’s okay, come here,” Lily reached out her hand, “We’re family. All of us. It can’t win if we stick together.”
On command, Dylan, Sammi, Jeremy and Felix huddled around Lily, Jono, George and Jonah. They were a unit, and Lily felt safer than ever among them. The reaper had lost, and there was nothing it could do. Lily placed a hand on her stomach; she couldn’t forget one vital part of her family.
The crystal clear view of the reaper’s face began to obscure again. The reaper stumbled backwards, the gloomy black cloud surrounding and encapsulating it fully, spiralling faster, and faster, and faster, until…
The reaper had gone. Vanished without a trace. No evidence it had ever existed.
Cautiously, George stood up first, holding out a hand for Lily to heave herself to her feet. The unmistakable crashing of the water below filled Lily’s ears, as if she hadn’t noticed it until then. Nobody had spoken a word, but Lily couldn’t help observing the exhausted pictures of relief that adorned everyone faces just the same.
“Home?” George suggested.
“Home,” Lily concurred, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. There was a lot to talk about, but nothing mattered until Lily had relished her first good night’s sleep in weeks.
Dylan’s patience for the Callahans had never been so thin. Helplessly watching Lily in such a horrific position had put things into perspective. It wasn’t about being a pack, because his pack were family, whether blood agreed or not, so almost losing another part of his family, so soon after Harry, had left Dylan shaken.
Therefore, Dylan had little patience remaining for a meeting with Natasha. All he wanted was to move on with his life and finally embrace the next chapter of his life – honouring Harry, while moving forward with Jono – instead of managing a petty, drawn-out grievance with a family that had all-but-disowned their own son.
The only thing willing Dylan to give Natasha any of his time was Yasmin. Surprisingly, she thought she was worth hearing out, and Dylan trusted Yasmin implicitly. After all, she had just as much reason to bear a grudge as Dylan did.
“Thank you for speaking with me,” Natasha shyly began. Dylan had made himself comfortable in Ed’s chair, his office providing enough confidentiality, while Yasmin stood beside him. Natasha was sheepishly perched on the edge of the seat on the opposite side of the desk.
“Let’s just get straight to the point,” Dylan didn’t care to make small talk.
“I know the truth. I know what you are,” Natasha began, “Werewolf,” she glanced directly at Dylan, before pivoting to face Yasmin, “Nix. And I don’t care, by the way. It doesn’t make sense to me, but my mother found out too, and she spiralled. She decided you must have been responsible for Harry’s death. She took it hard.”
“She had no right to,” Dylan was fresh out of sympathy. Harry was the kindest soul, and he didn’t deserve the cold shoulder from his own family.
“I know,” Natasha concurred, to Dylan’s surprise, “And I wish I’d spoken up sooner, but I’m hoping to make some amends. I’ve got this,” Natasha held up a cheap, old-fashioned mobile phone, “My mom had a burner phone. Every message she sent to Theodore is on here. It’s evidence.”
“You reported her to Ed,” Yasmin realised. Natasha nodded to confirm. Dylan had missed so much while with Lily, but it was reassuring to have found the missing part of that puzzle.
Natasha slid the phone across the desk to an intrigued Dylan. A quick scroll of the basic mobile’s text messages revealed everything Ed needed to ensure a conviction, but why would Natasha hand that information over?
“What do you get out of this?” Dylan queried. He was desperate to know what had changed.
“My brother died, and in the end, I barely knew him. That was my own fault and I have to live with it. My mom wanted to avenge it, but that only meant more deaths in her eyes. How does that help? Harry’s gone, but the mother I had isn’t here anymore either,” Natasha explained clearly and without hesitation.
“What about your father?” Yasmin questioned. With so much going on, Dylan hadn’t realised Terry’s name hadn’t appeared once.
“Mom didn’t tell him anything. He’s just as disgusted as me, I swear,” Natasha detailed, “He’s on the phone to the laboratory as we speak, dropping the complaint and ensuring both you and Jeremy are reinstated.”
Yasmin’s face lit up. She looked relieved, as if she no longer had to carry the heaviest load on her back. It didn’t happen often, but Yasmin was speechless. A simple nod conveyed her gratitude better than any phrase could.
“Thank you,” Dylan was grateful too. Actions spoke louder than words, and Natasha had proved she meant business, “Harry would be proud.”
Natasha nodded with a slight smile on her face, “We’re going back home tonight. For what it’s worth, I’m pleased you have Jono, Dylan. You deserve to be happy.”
“Did you want to see your mom before you leave? We could arrange that,” Yasmin offered.
“No, I don’t think she’d want to see me anyway, but thank you,” Natasha nodded, picking up her posh pink handbag which perfectly co-ordinated with her fluffy yet stylish coat, “Best of luck, both of you.”
“Thank you again,” Dylan nodded sincerely. Instinctively, as the office door clicked shut, he and Yasmin met each other for a hug. It had been the most emotionally exhausting few weeks, but finally, they could move on.
“A fresh start,” Dylan exhaled, “I’m so happy you’re getting your job back.”
“I don’t know. I’m glad to have my name cleared, but I’m undecided whether I want to go back,” Yasmin shrugged as the hug broke off.
“What, really? You worked so hard for that job,” Dylan was surprised.
“It’s brought nothing but bad luck since I started. Maybe I need a fresh start too,” Yasmin pondered, “Though I’m not sure what that would be.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Dylan thought aloud, “But I need to talk to Jono first.”
“Dylan,” a voice called from the doorway. Dylan had been so engrossed in visions of their next steps that he hadn’t heard the gentle click of the door. Cautiously leaning into his own office was Ed, with an awkward demeanour, “She wants to speak to you. Karen’s asking for you.”
Dylan’s mind hadn’t stopped whirring. Everything that had occurred after Ed entered the room had been a blur. Perhaps it was morbid curiosity that led Dylan to that interview room, landing him face-to-face with the person he least wanted to hear from, and he was there on his own.
In his busy head, Dylan was unsure of what to say. An awkward silence flowed around the bleak grey room, as Karen blankly stared at him. She had called the meeting, so why wasn’t she saying anything?
“Why am I here?” Dylan questioned.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” Karen finally spoke, unfazed and unbothered by the situation she was in, “So tell me, why are you here, Dylan?”
“Quit playing around, I’m not in the mood,” Dylan rolled his eyes.
“Oh, there it is. Feistiness. The first spark of anger. What happens when you get angry, Dylan? Tell me, what happens?” Karen provoked.
Dylan knew better than to give Karen the reaction she was desperate for. He paused and took a deep breath, as he’d become accustomed to doing. After all, Dylan knew he was in control. He had never flipped out in anger, and he had no intention of changing that, especially not towards Karen. Instead, Dylan focused on his anchor. Against everything, he had Jono back, and that was more than enough to keep him on the right track.
“Maybe if you actually knew your son, and his character, then you wouldn’t assume the worst of me. Harry died, and I’m sorry you lost your son, but I couldn’t save him. Believe me, I tried,” Dylan confidently explained, doing his best to fight back the cascade of tears he felt coming.
“You brought him into your world. You’re dangerous, whether you know it yet or not, and you put him at risk. You’re a danger to society, Dylan. They told me everything about you. After all, you’re not a typical alpha, are you, Dylan?” Karen continued with a devious smirk on her face, “You’re the alpha who defeated the laws of the supernatural to bring your husband home. Don’t try to tell me you care about Harry.”
“Goodbye, Karen,” Dylan stood up with certainty, keen to put Karen’s horrible spiel to bed.
“You’ll hear from them again soon,” Karen threatened as the door slammed shut. Dylan didn’t know what she meant, but he didn’t care. It was either an empty threat, or a problem for another day, and given the day he’d already had, he was more than happy to take his chances.
Outside, Yasmin was waiting nervously. Instantly, she enclosed Dylan in a tight hug. He figured his tearful cheeks summed the conversation up succinctly enough, swerving the need for explanation.
“Are you okay?” Yasmin checked, undoubtedly aware of the answer already.
“I will be,” Dylan wiped his tears away. He was determined not to let Karen ruin his fresh start. His focus now was on his family, and they needed him just as much as he needed them. The future was calling.
Driving under duress was a particularly unpleasant experience, especially with a car full of people relying on Dylan to drive in the right direction, without crashing, in order to keep Lily safe. Dylan couldn’t let them down. He couldn’t let Lily down.
To his relief, the journey was short, and he’d been able to park, albeit not very well. Jono had navigated calmly and clearly, just as he’d expected from him, and George and Jonah at least presented as calm for the duration of the journey. Panic was contagious, and Dylan didn’t need anything to exacerbate his anxiety.
This time, the anxiety persisted once Dylan had left the car. He had every reason to be on edge after Sammi’s phone call. The good news of Lily being found was almost entirely outweighed by her whereabouts.
Dylan hardly cared about how his running speed would look to passers-by. He knew he was sprinting faster than a human could typically go, but time was precious, and Lily’s life wasn’t worth risking.
As he ran, Dylan glanced over the low wall that protected him from the cascading hillside to his right. Below, at a worrying depth, was the lake, an ominous body of water so vast that it trailed all the way through Crystalshaw. Lily had called the lakehouse home for a long time, but despite the common body of water, she was as far away from her home as she could get.
The closer he got, the clearer Dylan could see. There was Lily, in the middle of the bridge, facing outward. Facing the lake. She appeared calm, but Dylan felt anything but, and as he reached the bridge entrance, he could feel the panic brushing uncomfortably across his skin, radiating from the group of people looking on.
“Dylan,” a voice called, summoning Dylan to the front of the crowd. Cautiously but efficiently, he pushed through the intrusive onlookers to find Sammi at the front, blocking the route for pedestrians alongside Jeremy and Felix.
“What is she doing?” Dylan questioned, looking desperately at Lily. She was mere metres away now, and as still as a rock, but all it would take is one movement.
“She hasn’t moved in a few minutes,” Sammi immediately filled Dylan in, “I called you straight away.”
“We tried to stop her but she warned us not to follow,” Jeremy added, “What should we do?”
Filtering in from behind, Jono, George and Jonah had carefully nudged through the crowd. Jono’s adorable cheeks were flushed with an exhausted red. Between beaths, he confidently stated, “She’ll listen to me.”
“To us,” George quickly added. Dylan nodded. Their love for Lily was different, but they cherished her just as much as each other. Lily was still in there, and if anyone could find her, it was them.
Yasmin felt guilty for hounding the officer on desk duty so much. She’d seen how much of a tight ship Ed ran, and she knew there was a procedure to follow, but after half an hour of sitting idly, Yasmin craved an update.
After all, Karen and Theodore had caused so much misery between them. Not only for Yasmin herself – the suspension from work still stung – but for Ashton, and the rest of the pack too; Dylan more than anyone. All Yasmin wanted was justice for her friends, and she was going to fight for it if she had to.
“I’m sorry, miss, I haven’t been told anything,” the deputy explained for at least the fifth time since Yasmin arrived.
“Then please, let me speak to Sheriff Taylor,” Yasmin begged. If she could get to Ed, she could get frank, unfiltered answers.
“The Sheriff is interviewing a suspect, you’ll have to wait here,” the deputy groaned, his monotonous southern accent grating heavily on Yasmin’s ears.
“Hey, come and sit down,” Freddie urged, making room between himself and Josh in the waiting area, but Yasmin couldn’t just sit and wait. She hated feeling powerless. All that was darting across her mind was everything the Callahans had done to the pack. Everything they’d done to Harry.
“I need some fresh air,” Yasmin started speed-walking to the exit before she’d finished her sentence. The same four walls were driving her mad.
Outside the station, the heavens had opened. The sun had tucked itself away to allow torrential rain to take over, and a miserable grey wash coated the world. Despite that, Yasmin had got what she wanted. The air carried that familiar damp freshness that Yasmin found cathartic. Perhaps it was the nix part of her, she thought. Nevertheless, she didn’t move from the doorway, which provided sufficient-enough shelter.
Passers-by were few, with hoods and umbrellas obscuring identities as the rain gushed downwards without consideration. Nobody smiled or said hello, because even making simple eye contact would have resulted in a face full of rainwater, so everyone kept their heads down. The most unsociable weather.
Yet, among the samey navy and black hoods, one approaching person sent a shiver through Yasmin’s spine. Even drenched, it was impossible not to recognise the alarming red curls coming her way. The first time she’d seen him since the woods.
Cody.
“Hey,” he spoke gently as he approached, ducking underneath the shelter that the sheriff station doorway provided, “Can we talk?”
Yasmin kept silent. She didn’t know what to say. Did she want to hear him out?
The protective instinct in Josh’s body was urging him to follow Yasmin. Check she was okay. Tell her everything was going to be alright. Be that reassuring presence she obviously needed. Yasmin could take care of herself, but everyone needed a morale boost sometimes, ad Josh wanted to be just that for her.
His head said to give Yasmin space, though. They weren’t a couple and hadn’t been for a long time, and Josh hated reminding himself of that. Deep down, he’d always known that letting go of Yasmin was the worst mistake he’d ever made, and it had taken far too long to confess that to himself.
“You’ll be drooling in a second,” Freddie broke through Josh’s train of thought with a cheeky chuckle. Josh quickly closed his mouth, realising he’d been staring towards the exit across the sheriff station foyer, “She’ll be okay. Yasmin’s strong.”
“I know, that’s why I lo-“ Josh caught himself. Freddie chuckled knowingly.
“You don’t need to hide it around me, dude,” Freddie reminded, “I’ve always shipped you both. I was convinced you were soulmates.”
“Yeah, and we know who blew it,” Josh shrugged, “Part of me thinks that maybe, just maybe, we might stand a chance one day. The other part knows that I messed up, and I have to live with that.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Freddie considered, much to an intrigued Josh’s delight, “Like yeah, we all know what happened before, but it wasn’t like you were squeaky clean before that.”
“Dude, this isn’t helping,” Josh sighed. He didn’t need to be reminded of every bad decision he’d made.
“No, what I mean is that she forgave you before, because you proved that you’d changed. You showed that you weren’t that person any more, and if you ask me, you’ve done the same again. You made a mistake a long time ago and you’ve done everything you can to apologise and better yourself. You took ownership, dude, and I think Yasmin respects that,” Freddie explained much more coherently.
“I just want to know for sure,” Josh reasoned. If he wanted Yasmin back, he knew he had to give her space to realise it herself, but the uncertainty was killing him.
“Then allow me to be your wing man,” Freddie excitedly smiled, as if he’d discovered his vocation.
“Okay,” Josh caved in, “But be subtle. I don’t want her to feel pressured.”
“Subtle is my middle name,” Freddie grinned, knowing as well as Josh did that it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Interrupting their jovial moment, the security door between the foyer and the main sheriff station buzzed, which an exhausted-looking Ed emerged from.
“Any news?” Josh eagerly questioned.
“Neither of them have said anything. We’ve got so little to go on right now,” Ed sighed, “Theodore’s already connected because of what happened at the school, but we have no evidence linking Mrs. Callahan to the drugs at all.”
“Then give us the chance to speak with Theodore,” Josh suggested. He was keen to get them both locked up, for Yasmin just as much as the rest of the pack, not least Dylan.
“You know I can’t,” Ed regretfully replied, “You know how it would look if I let my son intimidate a suspect.”
“We wouldn’t intimidate,” Josh quickly defended, “Just persuade. Gently.”
“And we can discuss things you’re not allowed to mention, you know, on the record,” Freddie hinted, backing Josh.
Ed paused, taking a second to consider. It was obvious that Ed was on their side – that went without saying – but his professionalism came first. Eventually, he delivered his verdict, “Yes. Okay. But gentle persuasion, not intimidation. And I’ll be watching through the mirror.”
“We won’t let you down,” Josh nodded. He was ready for the Callahan nightmare to end.
There wasn’t a part of Jono’s body that wasn’t spiralling into panic. His heart was pounding, his hands were sweaty, and his mind was chaos. Keeping a cool head was important, but it was proving to be near impossible when Lily was so terrifyingly close to the edge of the bridge.
Nevertheless, Jono tried his best to remain calm, on the outside if not the inside. He and George kept side-by-side, approaching slowly, closer to Lily one step at a time. Unusually, they were holding hands. Jono didn’t remember making the decision to grip George’s hand, and it was the first time he could think of where he was holding the hand of someone who wasn’t his parents or a romantic partner. This was entirely platonic; just two people comforting each other with the smallest gesture.
A couple of metres away, Jono paused. The last thing he wanted to do was to spook Lily, despite how much he wanted to grab her by the hand and heave her to safety. Her werewolf senses would probably have detected the movement before Jono could make contact, anyway.
“Hey, Lil, we’re here,” Jono assured, “Don’t worry, it’s just George and I.”
“Jono,” Lily’s voice quivered, her whole body still facing outward as she spoke, “I’m scared.”
“I know you are,” Jono replied, as softly as possible considering the obnoxious sound of the water below, reminding them arrogantly of its presence.
“It’s there. It’s in my mind. It won’t go away,” Lily cried as she spoke, “It’s like it’s in control of me. Of my emotions. I feel helpless.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” Jono quickly reasoned, “Like we always do. We’re not just a team, we’re family. You, me, George, Dylan, Sammi, Jeremy, the whole pack. For the first time in years, we’re together again. We overcame the impossible. If I can be back here, in Crystalshaw, then we can solve anything, right?”
Lily didn’t reply. She remained facing outwards, not making eye contact for a single second, as if she wasn’t in control of her own movements. One false move would be enough for Jono’s worst nightmare to come true.
“If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for the baby,” George added with palpable desperation in his voice, “Our baby.”
“But what if this thing gets passed down to it?” Lily panicked, “It’s not fair for our child to inherit this…I don’t even know what it is.”
“It’s called a reaper,” Jono informed, remembering what he read on the torn-out Bestiary page, “And this is exactly what it wants. This is it winning.”
“But I can’t live with it any longer. It’s there, all the time. It’s in my dreams,” Lily wept, “I can’t bear it.”
“Lily,” a voice called from behind Jono. Confused, he turned to see Jonah, naïvely trying to help, “Remember when I used to have bad dreams?”
“Jonah, you need to stay back. Go back to Dylan,” George advised as Jono met eyes with a distant Dylan, who held his hands up in despair.
“Remember, you used to comfort me. Tell me everything would be alright. You told me what I had to look forward to, like all those parties you’d plan for me. How you’d take me out for the day for my birthday present. You always knew what to say,” Jonah pleaded, regardless of George’s request, “Please, let us help you like you helped me.”
Silence followed. Jono didn’t know what to say or do. He didn’t want to overwhelm Lily, as much as he admired Jonah’s attempts to help. They were walking a tightrope, and Jono knew his balance was failing.
“Hey, go and stand with Dylan,” Jono gently urged Jonah.
“I just wanted to help,” Jonah looked defeated.
“I know, but let’s give Lily some space, we don’t want to crowd her,” Jono gently nudged Jonah, brushing against his arm like a barrier. Out of nowhere, Jonah winced, cupping his left arm in his right hand.
“Sorry, did I catch you?” Jono apologised quickly. Jonah’s face creased in a much more intense manner than an accidental bump would produce, and Jono’s stomach dropped. He hadn’t meant to cause any pain. Did his jacket catch Jonah’s skin, perhaps?
Jonah moved his right hand away to display his newly procured injury, and Jono couldn’t believe his eyes. The skin on Jonah’s arm had been scratched, leaving an alarming slit a couple of inches wide with blood precariously trickling out. Baffled, Jono looked down at his nails, which weren’t particularly sharp, and even if they were, they couldn’t have caused damage like that, could they?
“What happened?” a horrified George queried, comforting his younger brother instinctively.
“I…I don’t…” Jono panicked. He had no explanation.
“Jono,” Lily called out. Jono immediately snapped out of his confusion and refocused. Whatever had happened there could wait for another time, “Help me, please.”
Jono’s heart was breaking like never before. He met eyes with George once again, who, whilst comforting Jonah, gave him a nod of approval. Jono had to do everything he could to support Lily. This was it. This was the moment he got his sister back. There was no alternative.
Jeremy couldn’t help thinking that time had slowed down. He felt helpless watching Jono and George trying to take Lily away from the edge of the bridge, and every second they spent there seemed to drag for eternity. It was hard to watch from the sidelines.
Amongst the extreme levels of worry for his cousin, Jeremy couldn’t stop himself thinking about a distraction. A diversion from the intense emotions he was feeling. A way to make his mind think about a different kind of pain.
Oddly, Jeremy felt something against his right hand. Something wiggling between his clenched fist, pushing his fingers apart to slide itself into the gentle grip of Jeremy’s hand. Looking down, it was obvious; Sammi was holding his hand, and glancing at him with a knowing yet supportive smile.
“I’m here for you,” Sammi whispered. Jeremy nodded. He hadn’t doubted it for a second, but it was good to hear.
On his left was a fragile-looking Dylan, whose eyes were fully focused on Lily. Jeremy could sense Dylan’s anxiety radiating against his skin, just as he could with Sammi’s, and it had to be mutual. After all, Dylan was family. He was a Chadwick just as much as the rest of them, whether blood agreed or not. They were all in the same boat, and the least Jeremy could do was extend the support he’d received.
Softly, Jeremy wrapped his left hand inside Dylan’s right hand. A chain of strength, united in their adoration of Lily. She was one of the strongest people Jeremy knew, and they needed to channel that on her behalf. Jeremy had found his reasons to survive, and he needed Lily to do the same.
“You’re hurting,” Dylan commented, “Not right now, but I can feel it. Just the remnants.”
“I’m okay now, I promise,” Jeremy assured, not wanting to cause any more worry.
“Just remember you can talk to me,” Dylan reminded, breaking his focus on Lily momentarily to meet Jeremy’s gaze, “I’ll always make time for you.”
“We can both be strong, for Lily,” Jeremy affirmed.
“And for ourselves,” Dylan added. Jeremy nodded. If he couldn’t be strong for himself, then he was no use to Lily at all.
“Guys, look,” Sammi prompted. Jeremy immediately swivelled back to Lily, who was now facing inwards, albeit precariously close to the edge still. They weren’t out of the woods yet, but maybe there was hope in the air after all?
It wasn’t often that Yasmin was lost for words. She valued her ability to explain anything in any situation and apply logic consistently. Any time she didn’t know what to say made her feel exposed, and Yasmin couldn’t stand it.
Yasmin had learned that emotions often defied words, though. Quite what had drawn her to Cody in the first place was difficult to explain. On paper, they were polar opposites, but there was a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to Cody that Yasmin found irresistible.
That Yasmin had found irresistible.
“Please, hear me out,” Cody requested. Yasmin could hardly stand to look at him. Her opinion of him had soured in record time. She’d placed her trust in him when he promised he’d changed. They had only grown close over a few weeks, and Yasmin didn’t have the urge to fight for that anymore.
“More excuses, Cody,” Yasmin sighed, watching the rain gushing down over Cody’s desperate expression.
“It was a hiccup. A bump in the road. I swear, you know I’ve changed,” Cody pleaded like he was fighting for something he didn’t just want, but he needed.
“And how many more hiccups will there be?” Yasmin questioned, standing her ground, “I know you’ve changed, I can see it, but it’s not enough.”
Cody took a deep breath. Yasmin could tell he was unprepared for rejection. She didn’t see someone with flaws as a concern, but Cody was delusional and arrogant; two no-go areas as far as Yasmin was concerned. She wasn’t desperate for a boyfriend.
“It’s Josh, isn’t it?” Cody scoffed, “Your ex. I knew it. As soon as he turned back up, I knew he’d be trouble.”
“Cody, look at yourself. Quit blaming other people and take some responsibility,” Yasmin scolded. She’d run out of patience, and her filter was coming down, “Josh is twice the person you are, but that’s not why I’m ending it. I’m ending it because you’re aggressive, jealous, and you think so highly of yourself that you don’t listen to advice. I thought you were just the man I wanted, but obviously that was all surface level. Oscar would be ashamed.”
Cody stepped back. His history with Oscar spoke for itself. Yasmin knew he’d been the motivation behind Cody’s attempts at bettering himself, and she was close enough with Oscar to know he’d be appalled at what Cody’s become, again.
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” Cody sighed and stormed off, to Yasmin’s relief. As he walked, without turning back, he yelled, “Tell Ashton I’m sorry.”
Yasmin froze. What did Cody have to do with Ashton? None of them knew much about Ashton, so why would Cody care? Regardless, it was something to figure out later. Yasmin was too shaken to be thinking rationally. Her fresh air break hadn’t quite worked out the way she’d hoped.
“Yasmin,” a voice called out as Yasmin turned to head back into the sheriff station. Glancing back with a sigh, Yasmin’s mood quickly bolted into confusion as Natasha Callahan was staring back at her. What could Harry’s sister possibly want?
Freddie didn’t know quite what the outcome of his and Josh’s bright idea would be. He knew the end goal, but they were dealing with a Callahan, a family who were notably uncooperative (with one notable exception, of course). Anything could happen. Anything could go wrong.
Nevertheless, Freddie was confident in his goal. He needed Theodore to confess. Not only confess to his part in the plan but ensure Karen didn’t escape scot-free as well. Freddie had seen a teenage boy, the same age as his younger brother, almost die because of their baffling plan, and he couldn’t help recalling how he had to navigate high school as a werewolf too. He was far too young for that baggage. Ashton was far too young, too.
Ed gave Freddie and Josh a supportive nod before entering the viewing gallery next door. Freddie took a deep breath. He had to keep calm, no matter how difficult it was inevitably bound to be. Freddie knew he was the better person, and this was where he walked the walk.
“Let’s do this,” Josh psyched them both up, pressing firmly onto the interview room door handle and swinging it confidently open. Inside, there he was. Slouched forward and resting his head in his hands, an unpleasant scent thrust itself upon Freddie’s nostrils from their interviewee. Theodore looked scruffy and dirty, as if personal hygiene was low down his list of priorities even before his arrest. It was hard to imagine him mixing with someone like Karen Callahan, related or otherwise.
“Great,” Theodore muttered the second the door clicked shut, without moving an inch, “The cavalry’s arrived. Something tells me this isn’t legal.”
“And supplying drugs to teenagers is?” Freddie remarked in return, like a reflex.
Theodore’s face emerged from his hands, an irritating smug expression painted across his face, “Do I have to do the whole ‘no comment’ spiel here too? I assume your daddy’s watching.” He glanced at Josh, and then to the one-way mirror.
“And where are your family? One’s in a cell down the corridor, we know that, but dear Uncle Terry hasn’t shown his face. Not for his wife, and not for you, so where do you think you land on their list of priorities?” Josh reasoned, far more coherently than Freddie could have.
Theodore huffed. There was no ‘witty’ comeback, just the knowing silence of the truth. He was so far removed from their twisted vision of perfection, and if Harry was an outcast of their expectations, Theodore didn’t stand a chance.
“I’ll confess. To what I did. I’m going down regardless, they’ve got evidence, but nobody else needs to be jailed too,” Theodore bargained. Freddie felt his eyes roll. Theodore didn’t understand. He didn’t care about what he did, or why it was so wrong.
“So Karen can move onto another loser who’ll drug schoolkids with mountain ash? What were you hoping to achieve?”
“Aunt Karen always knew there was something weird about Dylan. About how Harry died. It was like some big cover up, she said, so she did some research. Asked around,” Theodore explained, “She found these people. They sounded like some sort of cult. The mountain ash came from them. They said Dylan’s never far from a crisis in Crystalshaw.”
“She agreed to kill werewolves just to find out more about Dylan?” Josh had a disgusted look on his face, and Freddie felt sick. Karen’s lack of empathy was even greater than he thought, “Who were these people?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never met them. Aunt Karen will know,” Theodore brushed off.
“Dude,” Freddie slammed his hands on the table to make direct eye contact with Theodore. He was fed up with dancing around the facts. Freddie felt a fire ignite within him. His eyes tingled, which could only mean one thing – the wolf was shining through, and the yellow of his wolf eyes was glittering.
“Alright, she said a name. A surname I guess,” Theodore caved, “Forsyth.”
Freddie’s stomach dropped. He met eyes with Josh, who met his gaze with a panic-stricken expression. They both knew what that meant, and they knew all too well.
“You have to tell Ed everything. Everything,” Freddie commanded, his eyes sparkling once again. In the mirror, he caught Josh’s expression, which had morphed into something vaguely resembling horror. Regardless, this approach was working, and that was Freddie’s only goal inside those four walls.
“Alright,” a bewildered Theodore admitted, “I will. You’ll get your wish. Just, please, leave me alone.”
“Come on,” Josh intervened, gently prompting Freddie with a tap on the arm, “Let’s go.”
Josh led the way out, and as soon as the door clicked shut once again, he turned to face Freddie with pointed eyebrows and wide eyes, “What was that?”
“What was what? We got what we wanted, didn’t we?” Freddie defended, trying to encourage Josh to see the bigger picture.
“Your eyes, Freddie. You lost control. You never lose control,” Josh reminded.
“Dude, I’m fine. I knew what I was doing. Trust me,” Freddie assured. Josh may have had a point, but he didn’t feel out of control for a second. Josh conceded regardless, nodding. They had a common goal, and with any luck, Theodore was about to confess everything.
Terrified to make the tiniest movements, Lily was at a loss. This reaper, a creature so intimidating and omnipresent that it made her feel there was no other option, couldn’t even give her a moment’s peace. Her mind was frantic, and with Jono, George and Jonah trying to talk to her, the entire situation was overwhelming even without only a few millimetres separating Lily from the edge of the bridge.
The truth was that Lily didn’t want to die. Of course she didn’t. She knew how much she had to live for. She knew how lucky she was to have George, and their family, and the crazy life they shared. It was all she’d ever wanted, and when Lily first laid eyes on that pregnancy test, she vowed to be better than her own parents ever were.
“Take a step forward, Lil,” George encouraged, his calm, soothing tone at odds with the stress painted across his face. Lily wanted to step forward. To run into the safety of George’s arms, but it was still there. The reaper. The ghastly shadowed figure in the background. Always. She couldn’t live like that. With the reaper in control. With the reaper dictating her emotions. Even more importantly, she couldn’t unleash the reaper onto her unborn child.
“This can’t go on,” Lily tried to justify herself, “Because what if I pass this thing on? I’ve not been in control of my own body, George. What if it passes down to our child? Do you want that?”
“I want our child to have a chance at surviving,” George reframed Lily’s perspective. He had always been good at rationalising her wildest thoughts. Lily’s life made more sense when she had George by her side.
The reaper stepped forward. The dark, clouded figure, a black mist shrouding its decrepit face, was trying to intimidate Lily. It wanted the opposite of what George wanted. If she stepped off the bridge, it had won. Another life to claim. Two lives, in fact.
“Me too,” Lily averted her gaze, choosing to keep her attention on George and Jono, and the desperate, pleading expression of Jonah behind them. They were the people she wanted to see. The people she wanted to spend time with.
More time.
“Take my hand, Lil,” Jono reached out his right hand, and George offered his left. They were her safe haven. With them, the reaper wouldn’t win.
It couldn’t win.
Lily met eyes with the reaper. She wasn’t scared anymore. It wasn’t in charge. It led her to the bridge, but it couldn’t force her to jump. It had no actual power, and Lily had seen off enough bullies in her time.
With confidence, Lily wrapped her hands around George and Jono’s, tightly securing her fingers between theirs. Firmly, they heaved Lily forward, safely away from the edge, collapsing onto the ground behind. The wave of relief that washed over Lily was immeasurable. For the first time in a long time, she knew she was going to be okay.
“Lily!” Dylan called out, rushing over from the sidelines with Sammi, Jeremy and Felix in tow. Worryingly, he didn’t sound happy, nor relieved. He was scared. He was issuing her a warning.
Nervously glancing back around, Lily’s relief was shoved to the side by a piercing tornado of fear. The reaper was still there, menacingly standing over the group. For the first time, its face was clearly visible. Wrinkled, dishevelled and a pale pink in colour, it had a furious scowl aimed directly at Lily.
“Oh my god,” Jono panicked, immediately placing a protective arm in front of Lily. He could see the reaper. Everyone could. For the first time, it wasn’t only targeting Lily.
“Stay back,” Dylan protectively placed himself as a barrier between the reaper and Lily.
“It’s okay, come here,” Lily reached out her hand, “We’re family. All of us. It can’t win if we stick together.”
On command, Dylan, Sammi, Jeremy and Felix huddled around Lily, Jono, George and Jonah. They were a unit, and Lily felt safer than ever among them. The reaper had lost, and there was nothing it could do. Lily placed a hand on her stomach; she couldn’t forget one vital part of her family.
The crystal clear view of the reaper’s face began to obscure again. The reaper stumbled backwards, the gloomy black cloud surrounding and encapsulating it fully, spiralling faster, and faster, and faster, until…
The reaper had gone. Vanished without a trace. No evidence it had ever existed.
Cautiously, George stood up first, holding out a hand for Lily to heave herself to her feet. The unmistakable crashing of the water below filled Lily’s ears, as if she hadn’t noticed it until then. Nobody had spoken a word, but Lily couldn’t help observing the exhausted pictures of relief that adorned everyone faces just the same.
“Home?” George suggested.
“Home,” Lily concurred, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. There was a lot to talk about, but nothing mattered until Lily had relished her first good night’s sleep in weeks.
Dylan’s patience for the Callahans had never been so thin. Helplessly watching Lily in such a horrific position had put things into perspective. It wasn’t about being a pack, because his pack were family, whether blood agreed or not, so almost losing another part of his family, so soon after Harry, had left Dylan shaken.
Therefore, Dylan had little patience remaining for a meeting with Natasha. All he wanted was to move on with his life and finally embrace the next chapter of his life – honouring Harry, while moving forward with Jono – instead of managing a petty, drawn-out grievance with a family that had all-but-disowned their own son.
The only thing willing Dylan to give Natasha any of his time was Yasmin. Surprisingly, she thought she was worth hearing out, and Dylan trusted Yasmin implicitly. After all, she had just as much reason to bear a grudge as Dylan did.
“Thank you for speaking with me,” Natasha shyly began. Dylan had made himself comfortable in Ed’s chair, his office providing enough confidentiality, while Yasmin stood beside him. Natasha was sheepishly perched on the edge of the seat on the opposite side of the desk.
“Let’s just get straight to the point,” Dylan didn’t care to make small talk.
“I know the truth. I know what you are,” Natasha began, “Werewolf,” she glanced directly at Dylan, before pivoting to face Yasmin, “Nix. And I don’t care, by the way. It doesn’t make sense to me, but my mother found out too, and she spiralled. She decided you must have been responsible for Harry’s death. She took it hard.”
“She had no right to,” Dylan was fresh out of sympathy. Harry was the kindest soul, and he didn’t deserve the cold shoulder from his own family.
“I know,” Natasha concurred, to Dylan’s surprise, “And I wish I’d spoken up sooner, but I’m hoping to make some amends. I’ve got this,” Natasha held up a cheap, old-fashioned mobile phone, “My mom had a burner phone. Every message she sent to Theodore is on here. It’s evidence.”
“You reported her to Ed,” Yasmin realised. Natasha nodded to confirm. Dylan had missed so much while with Lily, but it was reassuring to have found the missing part of that puzzle.
Natasha slid the phone across the desk to an intrigued Dylan. A quick scroll of the basic mobile’s text messages revealed everything Ed needed to ensure a conviction, but why would Natasha hand that information over?
“What do you get out of this?” Dylan queried. He was desperate to know what had changed.
“My brother died, and in the end, I barely knew him. That was my own fault and I have to live with it. My mom wanted to avenge it, but that only meant more deaths in her eyes. How does that help? Harry’s gone, but the mother I had isn’t here anymore either,” Natasha explained clearly and without hesitation.
“What about your father?” Yasmin questioned. With so much going on, Dylan hadn’t realised Terry’s name hadn’t appeared once.
“Mom didn’t tell him anything. He’s just as disgusted as me, I swear,” Natasha detailed, “He’s on the phone to the laboratory as we speak, dropping the complaint and ensuring both you and Jeremy are reinstated.”
Yasmin’s face lit up. She looked relieved, as if she no longer had to carry the heaviest load on her back. It didn’t happen often, but Yasmin was speechless. A simple nod conveyed her gratitude better than any phrase could.
“Thank you,” Dylan was grateful too. Actions spoke louder than words, and Natasha had proved she meant business, “Harry would be proud.”
Natasha nodded with a slight smile on her face, “We’re going back home tonight. For what it’s worth, I’m pleased you have Jono, Dylan. You deserve to be happy.”
“Did you want to see your mom before you leave? We could arrange that,” Yasmin offered.
“No, I don’t think she’d want to see me anyway, but thank you,” Natasha nodded, picking up her posh pink handbag which perfectly co-ordinated with her fluffy yet stylish coat, “Best of luck, both of you.”
“Thank you again,” Dylan nodded sincerely. Instinctively, as the office door clicked shut, he and Yasmin met each other for a hug. It had been the most emotionally exhausting few weeks, but finally, they could move on.
“A fresh start,” Dylan exhaled, “I’m so happy you’re getting your job back.”
“I don’t know. I’m glad to have my name cleared, but I’m undecided whether I want to go back,” Yasmin shrugged as the hug broke off.
“What, really? You worked so hard for that job,” Dylan was surprised.
“It’s brought nothing but bad luck since I started. Maybe I need a fresh start too,” Yasmin pondered, “Though I’m not sure what that would be.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Dylan thought aloud, “But I need to talk to Jono first.”
“Dylan,” a voice called from the doorway. Dylan had been so engrossed in visions of their next steps that he hadn’t heard the gentle click of the door. Cautiously leaning into his own office was Ed, with an awkward demeanour, “She wants to speak to you. Karen’s asking for you.”
Dylan’s mind hadn’t stopped whirring. Everything that had occurred after Ed entered the room had been a blur. Perhaps it was morbid curiosity that led Dylan to that interview room, landing him face-to-face with the person he least wanted to hear from, and he was there on his own.
In his busy head, Dylan was unsure of what to say. An awkward silence flowed around the bleak grey room, as Karen blankly stared at him. She had called the meeting, so why wasn’t she saying anything?
“Why am I here?” Dylan questioned.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” Karen finally spoke, unfazed and unbothered by the situation she was in, “So tell me, why are you here, Dylan?”
“Quit playing around, I’m not in the mood,” Dylan rolled his eyes.
“Oh, there it is. Feistiness. The first spark of anger. What happens when you get angry, Dylan? Tell me, what happens?” Karen provoked.
Dylan knew better than to give Karen the reaction she was desperate for. He paused and took a deep breath, as he’d become accustomed to doing. After all, Dylan knew he was in control. He had never flipped out in anger, and he had no intention of changing that, especially not towards Karen. Instead, Dylan focused on his anchor. Against everything, he had Jono back, and that was more than enough to keep him on the right track.
“Maybe if you actually knew your son, and his character, then you wouldn’t assume the worst of me. Harry died, and I’m sorry you lost your son, but I couldn’t save him. Believe me, I tried,” Dylan confidently explained, doing his best to fight back the cascade of tears he felt coming.
“You brought him into your world. You’re dangerous, whether you know it yet or not, and you put him at risk. You’re a danger to society, Dylan. They told me everything about you. After all, you’re not a typical alpha, are you, Dylan?” Karen continued with a devious smirk on her face, “You’re the alpha who defeated the laws of the supernatural to bring your husband home. Don’t try to tell me you care about Harry.”
“Goodbye, Karen,” Dylan stood up with certainty, keen to put Karen’s horrible spiel to bed.
“You’ll hear from them again soon,” Karen threatened as the door slammed shut. Dylan didn’t know what she meant, but he didn’t care. It was either an empty threat, or a problem for another day, and given the day he’d already had, he was more than happy to take his chances.
Outside, Yasmin was waiting nervously. Instantly, she enclosed Dylan in a tight hug. He figured his tearful cheeks summed the conversation up succinctly enough, swerving the need for explanation.
“Are you okay?” Yasmin checked, undoubtedly aware of the answer already.
“I will be,” Dylan wiped his tears away. He was determined not to let Karen ruin his fresh start. His focus now was on his family, and they needed him just as much as he needed them. The future was calling.
Three months later...
Populating her sparkly pink pen pot with a fresh set of coloured fineliners, Lily was enjoying making her new desk as organised as possible. It had felt like a long time coming, but she was ready to get back into work for the first time in months, even if maternity leave was creeping up thick and fast.
Though the four walls of the shared office space were new, it was going to feel homely in no time. Everyone else had already decorated their desk areas, with photos blu-tacked to the newly painted cream walls, which were otherwise sparse so far, save for a single noticeboard between the two front desks, positioned side-by-side. Lily’s desk was towards the rear of the room, with another desk facing hers, and two more positioned in an identical setup to her left.
Lily felt refreshed to be in the new, spacious office. It was a new beginning; something she hadn’t realised she was craving. A lot had changed in the space of a few months, and what truly mattered to Lily had become clear to her: her family. They had rallied around to offer support, keep her company, and lift her spirits with a terrible chick flick movie night on multiple occasions.
“Everything good?” Jono breezed through, placing a cable on one of the front desks, “Been looking for this everywhere. No wonder my monitor’s not working. Someone put it in one of the kitchen boxes.”
“A fair guess that Dylan wasn’t that someone, when he meticulously planned the contents of every box,” Lily chuckled, “I’m fine, just making this desk a little more homely, if that’s okay.”
“Knock yourself out, it’s all yours,” Jono encouraged with a friendly smile, “You don’t need my permission.
“Yes boss,” Lily laughed.
“Oh my god, please don’t call me that,” Jono caught the laughter like it were contagious, “We’re all equals here. It’s not like we don’t know each other.”
“What do you mean? We only met last week,” Lily joked, “Seriously though, thank you. You know, for asking me to join.”
“It was a no-brainer. We needed you. Besides, it’s not like you aren’t experienced, although not everything will be werewolves and shit,” Jono reminded.
“I know,” Lily assured, “We’ve got this. All of us.”
Lily glanced to the desk opposite hers. It was a little messier, but that was Josh’s way. A couple of pictures were stuck to the wall: one was an adorable snap of Josh and Libby, while the other was a less-than-subtle cuddling shot of him and Yasmin. Their sneaking around wasn’t so secret anymore.
A similarly cute photo was attached to the opposite wall. Yasmin’s desk was pristine, without the frills of Lily’s, but with just the same level of organisation. The opposite desk was minimal but had the most photos decorating the wall. Pictures with Sammi and Margaret were most prominent in Jeremy’s display, alongside the most beautiful shot with Felix on their wedding day.
The front two desks were organised to perfection. Both were a little larger and L-shaped, allowing their computer screens to be placed out of the way of the chairs on the opposite side of each desk, ready for future clients. Each had a neatly arranged selection of stationery, evidently arranged by Dylan; though Jono was generally a tidy person, he didn’t have it in him to be so well-prepared.
“I’m just worried. You know, it’s my name on the door. Well, mine and Dylan’s. We’ve wanted this for ages. I really hope it works out,” Jono pondered. He was right; ever since he was little, Jono had wanted to be a journalist, and together with Dylan, it was clear they had found their niche.
“It will. Dad would be proud of you. Using that money to buy your dream house and create your dream business, not to mention everything you’ve done for me,” Lily reminded.
“I hope so,” Jono blushed, “Mom’s on her way. She’s been getting out more recently.”
“She’s perked up since I told her about the baby. I think it’s the most interest she’s ever taken in my life, not to be rude,” Lily knew she could speak honestly with Jono. He was the only person who had the same childhood as her, so she knew he understood.
“I keep thinking. You know, I could still be in London right now. I’d have missed everything. The reaper. The baby. Things could be so different. I only came back because of dad,” Jono thought.
“Let’s not worry about the what ifs, because that didn’t happen. You’re back with me, and with Dylan, and that’s what matters,” Lily reminded. The route of what-could-have-been was a road she had travelled down frequently, but I had never been a productive trip, “Now, I thought this was meant to be a housewarming party? Let’s get out there.”
Jono nodded before leading the way out of the office, passing the small sign on the outside of the door reading “Chadwick-Drummond” in a sophisticated gold typeface. It was obvious how proud he was to have started his own private investigation business, particularly alongside Dylan, and their energy was contagious. Lily was ready for her fresh start; it had been a long time coming.
Box upon box piled up across the house, Dylan was overwhelmed. No matter how efficiently he’d labelled and organised all their possession, there was still a daunting amount of stuff to unpack and tidy away.
Regardless, Dylan had a spring in his step. Finally, he and Jono had a place of their own, and it was somewhere they had full ownership of. Leaving the flat for the final time felt oddly poignant, particularly as that was where he’d made so many happy memories with Harry, but there was something brighter on the horizon which didn’t involve renting.
After all, a home with Jono was something he’d dreamed about for years. His sixteen-year-old self would be in awe of their life together, despite the bumps in the road that attempted to keep them apart.
“Libby, get down,” Caroline ordered as Libby mounted one of the cardboard boxes for the third time in ten minutes. Dylan couldn’t help chuckling. Libby had the most innocent, hearty laugh, and it was hard not to get sucked in to join her. She was so precious.
“Thank you for being here,” Dylan mentioned to Caroline, who had refocused on unloading one of the kitchen boxes onto the little space remaining along the worktops.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, darling,” Caroline beamed, “I hope you know how proud I am of you.”
“I do,” Dylan confirmed, “I wish dad were here today.”
“He is, sweetie,” Caroline reminded, placing he hand on Dylan’s heart, “In here, remember?”
Dylan placed his hand on top of Caroline’s. Though their family had changed since they moved to Crystalshaw, it meant everything for him to know he still had such a close bond with his mother.
Their touching moment was broken by the sound of giggling rom the small utility room. Dylan and Caroline raised an eyebrow curiously at each other. Only a washing machine and tumble dryer were in there so far, and neither were plugged in yet.
Barging the utility door open, Yasmin and Josh were laughing, shushing each other in the process. It took a few seconds for them to realise Dylan and Caroline were staring, and the laughter ceased in an instant. Dylan tried to conceal his own amusement. It had been painfully obvious that Yasmin and Josh had become close again; they were nowhere near as discreet as they thought they were.
“We were just, um,” Josh cleared his throat, trying to regain composure and appear serious.
“Checking out the washing machine,” Yasmin finished his sentence for him, “Come on, let’s go see Sammi and Freddie.”
They swooped past Dylan without another word or guilty glance. Dylan and Caroline met each other’s eyes again, unable to hide their laughter any longer.
“Jono!” Libby yelled out, running to give him a huge hug as he arrived back from the office room with Lily.
“Hey beautiful,” he beamed, picking Libby up to carry her in his arms. Dylan’s heart was full. It had been a quiet few months, which allowed for important family time. In no time at all, Jono had won Libby over, just as Dylan knew he would. He had such a gentle way with her, and Dylan couldn’t help thinking of how good a father Jono would make one day.
“Come on Dylan, leave those boxes, come and have a drink,” Lily wrapped an encouraging arm around Dylan, who had no choice but to accept her suggestion.
She swooped Dylan into the living area, where the whole pack was sat engaging in numerous lively conversations, complete with smiles on everyone’s faces. Caroline took a seat next to Ed on one sofa, who was enthusiastically chatting with Jeremy and Felix. Another sofa was occupied by Sammi and Freddie, laughing with Yasmin and Josh, who appeared to have shaken off their embarrassment to enjoy a glass of champagne each. Lily perched herself comfortably in George’s arms at the end of the third and final sofa.
Placing Libby down to run enthusiastically into Jonah’s arms on the opposite end of that sofa, Jono kept a seat for Dylan on his lap, on the armchair at the head of the room. It was a tight squeeze, but Dylan didn’t mind. He had Jono close by, and that was all that mattered to him. No matter what was on the horizon, Dylan was certain that they could handle it together. There was nothing that could tear them apart again.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” Ed tapped a spoon on his champagne glass, the room quickly falling silent, “To Dylan and Jono, their new house and business, and to new beginnings.”
Jono handed Dylan a glass of champagne to toast. Dylan gently clinked their glasses together with a playful grin, his eye contact with Jono unfaltering. His heart was full, and though they were indeed embarking on a new beginning, one thing was obvious.
His love of Jono was unchanged from the day they met.
Though the four walls of the shared office space were new, it was going to feel homely in no time. Everyone else had already decorated their desk areas, with photos blu-tacked to the newly painted cream walls, which were otherwise sparse so far, save for a single noticeboard between the two front desks, positioned side-by-side. Lily’s desk was towards the rear of the room, with another desk facing hers, and two more positioned in an identical setup to her left.
Lily felt refreshed to be in the new, spacious office. It was a new beginning; something she hadn’t realised she was craving. A lot had changed in the space of a few months, and what truly mattered to Lily had become clear to her: her family. They had rallied around to offer support, keep her company, and lift her spirits with a terrible chick flick movie night on multiple occasions.
“Everything good?” Jono breezed through, placing a cable on one of the front desks, “Been looking for this everywhere. No wonder my monitor’s not working. Someone put it in one of the kitchen boxes.”
“A fair guess that Dylan wasn’t that someone, when he meticulously planned the contents of every box,” Lily chuckled, “I’m fine, just making this desk a little more homely, if that’s okay.”
“Knock yourself out, it’s all yours,” Jono encouraged with a friendly smile, “You don’t need my permission.
“Yes boss,” Lily laughed.
“Oh my god, please don’t call me that,” Jono caught the laughter like it were contagious, “We’re all equals here. It’s not like we don’t know each other.”
“What do you mean? We only met last week,” Lily joked, “Seriously though, thank you. You know, for asking me to join.”
“It was a no-brainer. We needed you. Besides, it’s not like you aren’t experienced, although not everything will be werewolves and shit,” Jono reminded.
“I know,” Lily assured, “We’ve got this. All of us.”
Lily glanced to the desk opposite hers. It was a little messier, but that was Josh’s way. A couple of pictures were stuck to the wall: one was an adorable snap of Josh and Libby, while the other was a less-than-subtle cuddling shot of him and Yasmin. Their sneaking around wasn’t so secret anymore.
A similarly cute photo was attached to the opposite wall. Yasmin’s desk was pristine, without the frills of Lily’s, but with just the same level of organisation. The opposite desk was minimal but had the most photos decorating the wall. Pictures with Sammi and Margaret were most prominent in Jeremy’s display, alongside the most beautiful shot with Felix on their wedding day.
The front two desks were organised to perfection. Both were a little larger and L-shaped, allowing their computer screens to be placed out of the way of the chairs on the opposite side of each desk, ready for future clients. Each had a neatly arranged selection of stationery, evidently arranged by Dylan; though Jono was generally a tidy person, he didn’t have it in him to be so well-prepared.
“I’m just worried. You know, it’s my name on the door. Well, mine and Dylan’s. We’ve wanted this for ages. I really hope it works out,” Jono pondered. He was right; ever since he was little, Jono had wanted to be a journalist, and together with Dylan, it was clear they had found their niche.
“It will. Dad would be proud of you. Using that money to buy your dream house and create your dream business, not to mention everything you’ve done for me,” Lily reminded.
“I hope so,” Jono blushed, “Mom’s on her way. She’s been getting out more recently.”
“She’s perked up since I told her about the baby. I think it’s the most interest she’s ever taken in my life, not to be rude,” Lily knew she could speak honestly with Jono. He was the only person who had the same childhood as her, so she knew he understood.
“I keep thinking. You know, I could still be in London right now. I’d have missed everything. The reaper. The baby. Things could be so different. I only came back because of dad,” Jono thought.
“Let’s not worry about the what ifs, because that didn’t happen. You’re back with me, and with Dylan, and that’s what matters,” Lily reminded. The route of what-could-have-been was a road she had travelled down frequently, but I had never been a productive trip, “Now, I thought this was meant to be a housewarming party? Let’s get out there.”
Jono nodded before leading the way out of the office, passing the small sign on the outside of the door reading “Chadwick-Drummond” in a sophisticated gold typeface. It was obvious how proud he was to have started his own private investigation business, particularly alongside Dylan, and their energy was contagious. Lily was ready for her fresh start; it had been a long time coming.
Box upon box piled up across the house, Dylan was overwhelmed. No matter how efficiently he’d labelled and organised all their possession, there was still a daunting amount of stuff to unpack and tidy away.
Regardless, Dylan had a spring in his step. Finally, he and Jono had a place of their own, and it was somewhere they had full ownership of. Leaving the flat for the final time felt oddly poignant, particularly as that was where he’d made so many happy memories with Harry, but there was something brighter on the horizon which didn’t involve renting.
After all, a home with Jono was something he’d dreamed about for years. His sixteen-year-old self would be in awe of their life together, despite the bumps in the road that attempted to keep them apart.
“Libby, get down,” Caroline ordered as Libby mounted one of the cardboard boxes for the third time in ten minutes. Dylan couldn’t help chuckling. Libby had the most innocent, hearty laugh, and it was hard not to get sucked in to join her. She was so precious.
“Thank you for being here,” Dylan mentioned to Caroline, who had refocused on unloading one of the kitchen boxes onto the little space remaining along the worktops.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, darling,” Caroline beamed, “I hope you know how proud I am of you.”
“I do,” Dylan confirmed, “I wish dad were here today.”
“He is, sweetie,” Caroline reminded, placing he hand on Dylan’s heart, “In here, remember?”
Dylan placed his hand on top of Caroline’s. Though their family had changed since they moved to Crystalshaw, it meant everything for him to know he still had such a close bond with his mother.
Their touching moment was broken by the sound of giggling rom the small utility room. Dylan and Caroline raised an eyebrow curiously at each other. Only a washing machine and tumble dryer were in there so far, and neither were plugged in yet.
Barging the utility door open, Yasmin and Josh were laughing, shushing each other in the process. It took a few seconds for them to realise Dylan and Caroline were staring, and the laughter ceased in an instant. Dylan tried to conceal his own amusement. It had been painfully obvious that Yasmin and Josh had become close again; they were nowhere near as discreet as they thought they were.
“We were just, um,” Josh cleared his throat, trying to regain composure and appear serious.
“Checking out the washing machine,” Yasmin finished his sentence for him, “Come on, let’s go see Sammi and Freddie.”
They swooped past Dylan without another word or guilty glance. Dylan and Caroline met each other’s eyes again, unable to hide their laughter any longer.
“Jono!” Libby yelled out, running to give him a huge hug as he arrived back from the office room with Lily.
“Hey beautiful,” he beamed, picking Libby up to carry her in his arms. Dylan’s heart was full. It had been a quiet few months, which allowed for important family time. In no time at all, Jono had won Libby over, just as Dylan knew he would. He had such a gentle way with her, and Dylan couldn’t help thinking of how good a father Jono would make one day.
“Come on Dylan, leave those boxes, come and have a drink,” Lily wrapped an encouraging arm around Dylan, who had no choice but to accept her suggestion.
She swooped Dylan into the living area, where the whole pack was sat engaging in numerous lively conversations, complete with smiles on everyone’s faces. Caroline took a seat next to Ed on one sofa, who was enthusiastically chatting with Jeremy and Felix. Another sofa was occupied by Sammi and Freddie, laughing with Yasmin and Josh, who appeared to have shaken off their embarrassment to enjoy a glass of champagne each. Lily perched herself comfortably in George’s arms at the end of the third and final sofa.
Placing Libby down to run enthusiastically into Jonah’s arms on the opposite end of that sofa, Jono kept a seat for Dylan on his lap, on the armchair at the head of the room. It was a tight squeeze, but Dylan didn’t mind. He had Jono close by, and that was all that mattered to him. No matter what was on the horizon, Dylan was certain that they could handle it together. There was nothing that could tear them apart again.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” Ed tapped a spoon on his champagne glass, the room quickly falling silent, “To Dylan and Jono, their new house and business, and to new beginnings.”
Jono handed Dylan a glass of champagne to toast. Dylan gently clinked their glasses together with a playful grin, his eye contact with Jono unfaltering. His heart was full, and though they were indeed embarking on a new beginning, one thing was obvious.
His love of Jono was unchanged from the day they met.
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Next: "Welcome to Crystalshaw"
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