Skye’s P.O.V. I wiped my hands on a rag, my mind barely on the engine I was fixing. The rhythmic clink of metal and the scent of motor oil usually had a way of centering me, grounding me in the here and now. But today, my thoughts were miles away, back at my house where Lila was likely wandering around, trying to make sense of her new reality. Lila. My one true mate. I still couldn’t quite believe it. I had spent years hearing about the concept from my brothers, rolling my eyes at the idea that fate could be so cruel—or so kind. But the moment she had crashed into me yesterday, it was as if my whole world had shifted. Everything before her seemed gray, dull in comparison. And the fact that I had almost lost her, that she had almost married another man, gnawed at me. I shook my head, trying to focus on the car in front of me, but it was no use. My wolf Cooper was restless, pacing back and forth in my mind, frustrated that we couldn’t just claim her on the spot, mark her, and make her ours, forever. But that wasn’t how things worked, especially not with Lila. Lila needed time. Time to heal, time to figure out who she was outside of her ex’s shadow. And as much as it pained me to think about it, time to mourn the relationship she had lost, even if it hadn’t been built on passion or true love, at least that was what Jenna had told me. Still, it was hard. Hard to push down the instincts that told me to protect her, to keep her close, to never let her out of my sight. And even harder to suppress the memories of that look in her eyes at breakfast this morning—the way her gaze had lingered on me, the spark of interest I had seen there. It was like she was seeing me, really seeing me, for the first time. And then there was the art. When she had talked about her passion for it, my heart had leaped. It was another connection, another way we fit together in a way that seemed almost too perfect to be true. I had spent years drawing in secret, never thinking it would amount to anything, but now… now I wondered if maybe it was meant to be shared with her. I tightened a bolt on the engine, my movements automatic, my thoughts still tangled up in Lila. What if she never got over Brandon? What if, after all of this, she decided to leave Fairview? To leave me, and go back to the life she thought she was supposed to have? My wolf growled at the thought, and I had to take a deep breath to calm him down. No, I wouldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t force her to stay, but I could give her reasons to. I could be there for her, support her in finding her path, and maybe, just maybe, help her see that there was a future here—with me. But I had to be careful. Push too hard, and I’d scare her away. Wait too long, and she might slip through my fingers. It was a delicate balance, and I wasn’t sure if I was up for the challenge. But for Lila, I would try. I sighed, finally pulling myself out from under the car. I needed to get my head in the game, and finish the job I was here to do. But even as I wiped the sweat from my brow, my thoughts drifted back to her. What was she doing right now? Was she thinking about me? Was she trying to figure out where she went from here? I hoped so. I hoped she was thinking about me, even just a little. Because I sure as s**t couldn’t stop thinking about her. As I moved to the next task, I promised myself that I would do whatever it took to help her find her way. Even if it meant stepping back and letting her go. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t what I wanted. What I wanted, was to see that spark in her eyes again, to see it grow into something more. And if I had to wait, if I had to be patient, then so be it. Because Lila was worth it. She was worth everything. I wiped the grease from my hands and pulled out my phone, leaning against the wall of the garage as I dialed the number for the art center. Right now, I just needed time… needed to find a reason for Lila to stay in Fairview, at least a little longer. My phone rang twice before a familiar voice answered, “Fairview Art Center, this is Maggie.” “Mags, it’s Skye,” I said, trying to keep my tone casual. “Skye Miller! Long time no hear. What’s up?” “I’m calling in a favor,” I said, getting straight to the point. Maggie laughed. “You? A favor? This must be big. What do you need?” “Well, it’s not for me, actually,” I began, my thoughts already turning to Lila. “There’s someone I know who’s looking for work. She’s got a real passion for art, and I was wondering if you had any openings at the center. Maybe an assistant or something?” Maggie paused, and I could almost hear her thinking on the other end. “We might have something. What’s her experience?” “She’s, uh… she’s more on the creative side. Maybe not a lot of professional experience, but she’s got the drive. And she’s going through a tough time right now, so she could really use the opportunity,” I explained, hoping I wasn’t overselling it, because this was maybe the time reality set in for me, that apart from me knowing that she liked art, I had never even seen something that she had made. Shit… What if she sucked at it? Maggie was quiet for a moment, and my heart thudded in my chest. I could feel my wolf pacing inside me, restless and eager. Why are you so nervous? My wolf Cooper’s voice broke into my thoughts, a mix of impatience and amusement. It’s just a job. It’s not just a job, I mentally shot back at him. It’s a chance to keep her here, to give her something to focus on. Or it’s a chance for her to leave us, Cooper growled. If she gets her life together, she might decide to go back to that fancy world she was part of. Then what? I sighed inwardly. She deserves to be happy. Even if that means she leaves. You’re an i***t, my wolf huffed. You should just tell her she’s ours and be done with it. Yeah, because that would go over well, I thought dryly. Hi, Lila. Nice to meet you. By the way, you’re my one true mate. Wanna move in permanently? Sounds like a solid plan to me, Cooper shot back, a smug note in his voice. Before I could argue with myself any further, Maggie’s voice brought me back to reality. “We could definitely use an extra pair of hands around here. We’ve been swamped with classes lately, and there’s an exhibition coming up that could use some help with the prep work. It wouldn’t be a full-time gig, but it’s something.” Relief washed over me. “That sounds perfect. I’ll talk to her and see if she’s interested. Thanks, Mags. I owe you one.” “You owe me more than one, Skye, like a drawing or two we could use in our exhibition.” she teased. “ Just make sure she’s good with kids—we’ve got a lot of them coming through here.” “I’m sure she’ll be great,” I said, already picturing Lila in the art center, surrounded by the vibrant energy of creativity. “I’ll bring her by tomorrow if that’s OK?” “Sounds good. See you then, Skye.” I ended the call and slipped my phone back into my pocket, feeling a small measure of satisfaction. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. If Lila could get involved with the art center, maybe it would help her see that Fairview had more to offer than she thought. Maybe it would help her feel like she could belong here. And maybe, Cooper chimed in, she’ll realize that she belongs with us. I couldn’t help but smile at that. You’re really not going to let this go, are you? Not a chance, my wolf replied. She’s ours. And the sooner she knows it, the better. Patience, I reminded him, though I felt the same restless energy coiling inside me. We’ll get there. One step at a time. Fine, Cooper grumbled. But if she tries to run, I’m not holding back. Deal, I agreed, though I knew it was more of a promise to myself than to my wolf. Because if Lila did try to leave… well, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to let her go. With a final deep breath, I pushed myself off the wall and headed back to the car I was working on. There was still work to be done, but now, with the thought of Lila’s potential job on the horizon, it didn’t seem quite so daunting. I just hoped she’d say yes—and that this small opportunity might lead to something more, for both of us.