Life at the Jarvela farm hobbles on when the new year rolls in. Losing his wife and co-alpha in the storm of the decade emotionally paralyzed Sean, though he tries to cope and attempts to pick up the pieces with their children. Rider, another alpha, could give him the love and comfort he needs, but Sean is too depressed to recognize the possibility of having a male partner, and he goes into mental tailspin.<br><br>To safeguard his own heart, Rider makes the hard decision to leave for a while, and Sean turns his energy and sadness into working on the neighboring Metsala farm with the other members of their farm family. But Sean isn’t really getting better, and that won’t change until he can let his wolf out again. If he doesn’t, he might lose his sanity too.

Howl Sweet Howl

“Anna said they’re going to move someone in there. Didn’t know who or when, but she’ll let me know when she can. A heads-up, if you will,” Rider said.


“Who would they put into a place like that?” Lark pondered out loud, and for a moment, they all were quiet.


“Someone with problems, for sure,” Mikael guessed.


“Either with shifting or something else. Not anyone dangerous—they wouldn’t do that to us,” Rider added.


“Could it be someone who needs the quiet lifestyle and to be hidden, sort of?” Lark asked thoughtfully, frowning a little. “We can’t keep anyone safe—they know that, right?”


“I suppose they do, and I suppose we’ll find out more about this in time.” Mikael sighed and stretched in his chair. “So, do you guys know when you’re leaving yet?”


“We’re ready whenever Rider is,” Lark said quietly, clearly a bit uncomfortable about the fact that Rider’s trip was causing a rift between him and Sean.


Chapter 20