Chapter Text
“Thank you,” Maya stands in the doorway of the recently cleared out guest room.
“Are you sure you don’t need any help unpacking,” Milo asks again for the third time since walking up the stairs.
Maya just shakes her head no as she steps further into the new room.
“If there is anything that you need kiddo, let me or Milo know. We will be just down stairs,” The older woman says kindly. Her eyes are soft as she turns to leave the room to let Maya settle into her new room.
The room itself is nice. The walls are a dusty blue that matches the bed sheets. A window on the far wall lets the afternoon sun spill onto the hardwood floors. There is a desk that sits next to the door with a roll desk chair. An empty book shelf rests next to a small closet with random hangers.
Slowly, Maya heaves her suitcase and backpack onto the bed. There isn’t much, just a little over a week's worth of clothing in the suitcase and her electronics, a new book, and journal in the schoolbag.
Just as she goes to take out a pair of jeans, a quiet sob rips itself out past pursed lips. With that, Maya can feel the strength leave her body as she curls into herself on the wooden floor.
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“Ma, I’m worried about her. Are you sure that we should leave her alone?” Milo asks as soon as both Marie and him make it down the stairs.
Marie sighs, “I am too, but if she wants space then we are going to give it to her. Then we will be here when she is ready.”
A week ago, the funerals were held. Both of Maya’s parents put it into their will that Maya would live with the Greers if anything were to happen to them instead of staying with her pack back east.
Admittedly, it has been a while since Marie talked with Maya’s mother, having grown distant over the years due to her moving to Dahlia. But that did not mean that Marie was going to reject Maya from moving, if anything, she was quick to fly out to help the young girl with everything.
“How is she?” Sweetheart asks as they round the corner of the kitchen. Their voice is strung with worry. Even though they just met the 16 year old not even an hour ago, they could tell that something was extremely wrong.
“Hasn’t spoken much,” Milo offers. “I don’t know if it has really hit her yet.”
Marie is next to speak. “I can’t blame her. I remember how David was when his Gabe died. He didn’t speak much either, but I hope that she doesn’t close people out like David did. Maya’s situation is complicated. With her switching packs without her parents and school starting up soon, and everything else. I just hope that she knows that we are here for her.”
The three of them sit in silence for a few minutes. Each of them are thinking over recent events in their heads. Marie has been stressing over getting her goddaughter into the local high school and trying to support her since she got the call from Alexander, her old pack alpha back on the west coast, about what happened. Then Milo stayed behind to help prepare for Maya’s stay at his childhood home and help his Ma with enrollment and setting things up in Dahlia with David. Finally, Sweetheart has been trying to help with paperwork to officially have Maya in the Shaw pack, but of course there had to be an issue with that already complicated process.
“How are you holding up Ma,” Milo places a hand on his Ma’s
“Honestly, I’m more worried for her than I am for myself. I can’t imagine what is going through her head. Losing both of your parents like that, I-” She cuts herself off to breath before she starts rambling. “I miss her parents, but we have drifted. So it is more regret for not reaching out more than anything.”
Milo brings her close, pulling her into his chest. Looking over his Ma’s shoulder, he eyes his mate leaning against the counter. They offer him a tired smile before they reach for a class in the cupboard.
When the two wolves pull apart, Sweetheart offers both of them a glass of water. The stealth pulls a file from their work bag and places it on the table.
“This isn’t my expertise, but I was going through her records so I could help David with the transfer process. And there was something that flagged my attention when looking through her medical records that I think you two should be aware of,” They say as they pull a few papers from the stack. “It says that-”
A high pitch whine cuts off Sweetheart's next words.
Milo is bounding up the stairs before he can even really think of anything else. He knocks on the door softly before pushing the door handle when he gets a high pitched when in response.
“Oh Maya,” Milo sinks onto the floor next to a dark brown wolf with white and light brown patterns.
The wolf in response whimpers and starts pawing at the floor. Her amber eyes pleading as she nudges Milo’s chest.
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Marie and Sweetheart steadily make their way up the stairs, they hear the familiar sound of bones shifting.
When the two of them look into the room, they are greeted with the sight of two wolves curled around each other