Nyah heard the distant rumble of engine as soon as the car crossed the Carter Plains boundary line. Abandoning her station—and pretence of calm—on the porch step, she ran across the lawn. When the familiar silver car finally appeared around the bend of the street, she bounced on the balls of her feet, hugging herself in excitement.
Two weeks had passed since Dean had brought her back to Carter Plains. In that time, she had held only one short phone conversation with Karen after arguing with Dean that she couldn't believe her friend had emerged from Yannek's possession with nothing worse than a cut palm and a nasty taste in her mouth.
'Honestly, I don't remember a thing,' Karen had reassured during the brief call. 'My only concern was you once I came round fully, but by then you were already gone.'
Dean hadn't delayed in whisking Nyah away from Blackwater Ridge and its devastation. Only minutes after they'd stumbled out of the house, he'd bundled her into his car and brought her home—her new home. She couldn't recall much of the journey, except for how she'd sobbed most of the way through it, and once here, had needed days to come down off the fear-induced trauma.
Even today, despite her excitement over being reunited with her pack, she continued to feel fragile and emotional.
Before Karen had fully climbed out of the passenger seat of Blake's car, Nyah had her in a tight embrace. "I thought you'd never get here!" she cried, hugging Karen so hard she coughed against the breath being crushed from her body.
"But we're early," Karen pointed out. "I had Blake hammering on my hotel door at four o'clock this morning."
"Still took you two hours to get ready, though." Blake had climbed out of the car, too. He stretched out his back as he stood by the open driver's door, a loud yawn gusting free.
Nyah released Karen to run around the bonnet to meet him. He pulled her up into his arms and swung her around. "It's good to see you smiling," he whispered as he set her down.
"You too," she told him, noting how he'd lost a little weight. His usual merriment had thinned, too, but Nyah knew an examination of every pack member would reveal the legacy of their experiences in some shape or form.
"Nyah, meet Tom." Karen nudged the next person to climb out of the car forwards. "I know you've already kind of met, but, you know, here he is, officially."
"Hi, Tom. It's nice to meet you, officially." Nyah shook his hand, matching his warm grip.
Dean called out greetings as he strode across the grass, already reaching for Blake. "Great to see you again," he clapped him hard on the back. "Welcome to Carter Plains."
"Thanks for having us, Alpha Carson. This is some place you have here."
"Spacious," Tom agreed, gesturing towards the mountain range jutting into sky. "Is all of that part of this territory?"
"It is." Dean drew Nyah to his side. Trauma had burned him, too, and he only found soothing in keeping Nyah as close as possible. "I'll show you later."
"Blake?" Nyah had been watching the car, but no other doors had opened for remaining passengers to climb out. "You couldn't contact Michael?"
Blake's smile faded. "I haven't heard from him since he left. He . . .well, I guess he needs time alone."
"Do you think he's going to be okay?"
"He's taken it bad," Blake admitted. "What Northfell made him do—what he made us all do—Michael feels responsible."
"But none of you were in control," she argued. "He has to know that."
"Michael doesn't see it that way."
"We think he's gone north." Karen gave Blake's arm a sympathetic squeeze. "He'll be okay, Nyah. He just needs time to deal with it all."
"Yeah, Michael seems like a tough guy," Dean agreed. "He'll be back when he's ready."
"He will," Blake tried to smile again. "Now, come on. Show me round this place. The size of it's making me dizzy."
"The smell of barbecuing meat is making you dizzy," Karen corrected. "Cos, you know, you haven't eaten in like, two hours or something."
"Are the others far behind you?" Nyah asked, wondering how long it would be before she got to see the remaining members of her pack.
"A couple of hours," Blake guessed.
"They're normal, you see," Karen rolled her eyes. "They didn't feel that getting up at stupid o'clock this morning was entirely necessary."
"Hey," Blake argued. "I sacrificed the breakfast buffet to get us on the road early."
"I think you may have already mentioned that," Tom said, "five times."
"Six actually," Karen corrected. "But," spreading out her arms she smiled at Nyah, "it was worth it."
"Agreed," Blake said, and unconsciously rubbed a hand over his stomach.
"Food's this way," Dean laughed. "Follow me."
"If you insist," Blake grinned.
"We have so much to catch up on." Karen linked her arm with Nyah's as they walked towards the playing field. She threw an appreciative glance at Dean as he strolled ahead with Tom, eyebrows wiggling as she caught Nyah's eye. "So much," she whispered with wiggling eyebrows.
An area of the playing field had been staked out for the visitors. Three barbecues huffed puffs of hickory smoke while clusters of picnic tables groaned under a colossal spread of food. The entire Carter Plains pack milled about. The younger kids played a loud game of chasing in a corner of the field while the older ones kicked a ball around. Adults sat or stood in groups, chatting and laughing.
Nyah introduced Karen to Ellie as she fussed about the tables, rearranging plates and straightening cutlery.
"This is amazing," Karen told her. "You've gone to so much trouble."
"We want everyone to feel welcome," Ellie told her. "Today's just as important for us as it is for your pack."
"Dean's going to officially offer a place in Carter Plains to anyone who wants to join us," Nyah explained.
Karen squeezed Nyah's hand, eyes welling. "He is?"
Nyah nodded.
One glistening tear slid free as Karen's chin wobbled.
"No you don't," Nyah warned, sliding free of Karen's impassioned grasp. "I'm still an emotional wreck, so no mushiness, okay?"
***
With loaded plates, Nyah led Karen to a rug under the shade of a silver birch a while later. Five cars had arrived in succession and she was glad to finally have a moment to catch her breath. Dean hovered insistently, policing every reunion in case of emotional overload. When he suggested she and Karen sit and eat, they were both happy to accept.
"I've missed you." Nyah stretched her legs out on the rug, leaving her food to one side as she smiled at where Karen settled opposite her. "It feels like a lifetime has passed since we last saw each other."
"You're not wrong," Karen agreed, adding a slice of tomato to her burger. "It's hard to believe it's only been two weeks."
"Is everything still as vivid for you?"
