“Says me, that’s who. You think August likes you looking like a hobo?” Greta’s tone sounded so maternal and nagging that August couldn’t help but giggle. Graeme looked at August with eyebrows raised in expectation.

“I-I do like it,” her cheeks flushed. Graeme wordlessly gestured toward his mate and gave Greta a “told you so,” look.

“August is your mate, Graeme. She would like you in a potato sack with wiry hairs coming out of your nose. The council members, particularly the elders, are not so partial to your charm.”

“You just implied that August didn’t like it,” he argued. “Anyway, haven’t you noticed? Facial hair is very masculine. It exudes a kind of natural authority.”

“You have natural authority without it,” Greta argued. “Fine, fine, just make it less,” she surrendered, putting her hands up.

August watched the bickering with amusement.

“She likes to act like she’s my mother,” Graeme grumbled in her ear.

“Look—” Greta started, apparently preparing to start a lecture in defense of her maternal instincts.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” Graeme interrupted. “Thank you for your advice on the subject of my hygiene.”

Greta rolled her eyes. “Well, you need it. Although you do look rested for once.” She couldn’t help but smile at her brother with August in his lap. This was not an image she never imagined—seeing her brother with his mate. He was beaming behind all the unkempt man hair, and there was a difference in the energy around him. A relaxed sense of pride and purpose.

“Okay, August, this is going to be tricky. You shouldn’t be nervous, but there are some things to keep in mind when you’re there,” Greta bent over and squeezed her knee.

“Okay,” August nodded.

“We’ll both be there with you, so you don’t have to worry about that. The council wants to hear from me, because I’ve been overseeing your recovery,” Greta said. “I know Graeme told you a little bit about why they may have a prejudice against him,” she glanced at her brother. “But probably one of their biggest concerns is the university’s interest in you. Secrecy is important to them, and while no one from Eliade will be able to find you here, it doesn’t mean they aren’t trying their best. And it still presents an issue should you leave.”

“Now that she’s here, I think they’ll be more worried about her anomalies,” Graeme said. He turned to August in his arms, “I told Greta about the auras you saw around me.”

Greta nodded in confirmation. “Yes, this is important, August. Do not tell them about that today,” she said.

August’s eyes went wide. “Why? Is something wrong with me?”

“No, no. There’s nothing wrong with you,” Graeme spoke softly into her hair while Greta shook her head, peach wisps of her hair bouncing against her shoulders lightly.

“There’s nothing wrong, but until we know more about it, we don’t want them to start jumping to their own conclusions and making decisions off of those alone,” Greta said, holding her mug between her hands.

‘And what conclusions would those be?’ August thought to herself, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to know that answer yet. She nodded, “Okay.”

“If they ask about the university or anything about your life prior to this, no worries, just be honest,” Greta said, “but it’s probably best to be more conservative with answers regarding changes you’ve experienced since.”

“More conservative?” August repeated.

“Don’t tell them about seeing Marius’s thoughts,” Graeme said. “That is a powerful gift, and they are likely to see it as a threat.”

“But it hasn’t happened since,” August said, thinking of how Greta and Graeme had touched her with no effect.

“Well, we don’t know for sure if it isn’t happening anymore. I have a theory…” Greta trailed off for Graeme to interrupt her with a loud chuckle.

“Here we go,” he said.

“It’s something she should be aware of so she isn’t caught off guard if someone touches her and it returns,” Greta said, staring at her brother. She trained her eyes back on August, “I think it’s possible that it might continue to occur with new people until you consciously or unconsciously deem them unthreatening,” she said.

August tilted her head, interested in the possibility. She squinted her eyes, thinking back to when the visions happened and with whom. First, it occurred with Graeme. It was brief, and it hadn’t happened since. With Marius, it happened each time he touched her.

“Hmmm.” August hummed appreciatively at the theory, nodding her head. “That is interesting. I wonder why it hasn’t ever happened with you,” she looked at Greta curiously.

“That’s actually why I’m thinking it might be the case,” Greta replied and glanced at her brother. “I have this thing where I can transmit feelings through touch,” she gestured with her hands in the air. “It’s part of the reason why I’m a pack healer. It really helps to be able to put people at ease.” She smiled at August who ruffled her brows at the information, thinking back now to all the contact she had with Greta. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it—having her feelings manipulated unknowingly.

“Do you have something like that too?” She quickly turned to look in Graeme’s eyes.

“No, no, not me,” he laughed lightly. “But Greta and I have this other thing…” he trailed off.

August shifted now to face him more fully, waiting with eyes wide before glancing back at Greta. “What is it?”

“We can communicate with touch, just Graeme and I to each other,” Greta finished for him, her face serious. “No one else knows about these things now but you, my mate Sam, and a few, select others.”

“Wow, okay,” August replied, trying to absorb it all. She nodded slowly and Graeme squeezed her a little tighter.

“So, because I was consciously comforting you and trying to make you feel more at ease, I think that may be why you didn’t get anything from me,” she explained. “Kind of like blocking it.”

“I never perceived you as a threat,” August continued her slow nod. “Wow. That is bananas.”

“I might be wrong!” Greta added quickly, “But I just want you to be aware of the possibility that something like that might happen again. So you can try to avoid unwanted contact.”

The thought that August might encounter someone like Marius again made her shudder. “Okay, got it,” she swallowed hard.. “I guess that one will be easy to test.”