Page 12 of The Patron Saint of Timber Hollow

Charming

Artemis

We're moving into the new house today. I don't know who's more excited, me, the boys, or Sam. While she's beensleeping in my old bed, the entire house is in disarray while we pack all our belongings.

Dante has been in charge of bubble-wrapping the little trinkets scattered around the house, which has taken all of his focus. Since Marcus' flight was pushed back a few days, Sam will have the house to herself when the boys and I are gone before my cousin returns.

Sam's moving truck hasn't arrived yet, and she's been living out of my closet. Despite her suitcase being stuffed to the brim, what she packed isapparentlyinsufficient for her to choose outfits. She's "given" me a handful of clothes since she's been here too. She impulsively picked this or that up at an airport and now realizes she doesn't want it. Or so she says. I pretend not to notice the tag on a black silk skirt with a side slit. There are more zeros on that little paper rectangle than there should be. Admittedly, the skirtissomething that I would pick up and admire in a store only to eventually put back because I would tell myself I have nowhere to wear it. And Sam, being the only one I shop with, knows it.

The new house extends farther back than I had assumed from my one look from outside with Jay. The boys had already moved the bigger stuff into the Cabin, and when we came with our last load, I took a quick tour around. There is a large basement with workout equipment dotted around the space and a big kitchen that looks almost industrial to my untrained eye. There are a bunch of rooms upstairs, one of which is mine and Jay's. I'm sure there is an extra bedroom available here for Sam, and usually, I'd ask her to stay with me here, too. But there's an edge to her today, and I can tell she needs space. She's not a packanimal. Doesn't usually join the cuddle puddles Jay Saint and I fall into. Sometimes, Dante is there, and even less often, Sam lies with us on the couch.

I can tell that while she would accept the offer if she had no other option, living with the four of us has already frayed her nerves.

An enormous couch, much bigger than what was at the Grimes place sits proudly in the new living room, complete with a big footrest and boxes stacked around it. Sam and I sit in the window seat on the second level, having retreated here after depositing several boxes in my new room. My friend looks phenomenal, even in leggings and a big powder blue shirt. Wearing leggings and one of Jay's grey tees myself, I can't help but feel grubby with all of the sweating and moving we've done.

"So we haven't talked about the tension between you three," Sam says, knocking shoulders with me.

"What do you mean?" I ask, turning to look at my friend. Everything is moved in, well... At least the boxes are. There are many,manyboxes to be unpacked in front of a colossal bookshelf just over her shoulder. Jay is absolutelygetting laid tonight. Justfor that bigbeautifulfucking thing.

"I mean,obviously,Jay and you are magnetic. I'm talking about You and JayandSaint." My friend smirks, her grey eyes carefully watching my face.

"Saint is just a flirt." I shrug.

"Mmmhm." Sam hums, raising her eyebrows. "Bold of you to flirt back in front of your boyfriend."

"Jay doesn't care. He's not like that. To quote him, he'doesn't do jealousy.' Saint is harmless. Entirely too good looking for his own good, but harmless." I feel her eyes burning into the side of my face as she watches me, watchingthem.

Jay and Saint wear cut-off tank tops and shorts, armholes big enough to show off the cut of their ribs, and a sheen of sweat across bulging muscles. I havenottold her about what happened on Angel's birthday. That would just prove her point.

"You keep telling yourself that." Sam finally says, returning to watching the boys arrange furniture in the new house. The window seat is positioned so that you have a near-perfect field of vision when sitting in it. From here, I can see the drive up to the house, the surrounding forest, and everything going on downstairs. It's anabsolutelyperfect perch to read on.

"Are we ever going to talk about what happened toyouin California?" I ask, firmly turning the conversation away from me.

"Yeah…Just not yet. Not while we're unpacking your house, at least," Sam says quietly.

"Fair enough, but that doesn't mean in three months, either, 'kay?" I press, picking at the ragged edge of my thumbnail. I'd accidentally broken the nail when I jammed it on the doorframe.

"I imagine I have to talk to the Alpha, right?" Sam asks, tilting her head to the side. "Since I'm taking over your lease."

"Yep. Honestly, I don't even know if Magnus has ever met an Anaconda." That makes Sam snort, but she doesn't say anything else. "Jay and I will take you if you want."

"Thanks... Though I'll probably just go by myself." Sam replies, squeezing my hand gently. I return the press of her fingers, giving her a small smile.

"How are you liking your new house?" I cringe because, if anything, I can at least admit that the old Grimes house isn'tquiteSam's style—not like her warehouse apartment. I remember how excited she had been to find and decorate it.

"It's…..charming,"Sam grumbles, making me laugh. "When does…. Marcus? Come back?"

"Yes, Marcus. Later this week, I think." I can't remember for sure, though, so I pull my phone out of my leggings to look for the confirmation in the messages from Aggie. "Yes. Friday. Just in time for the Full Moon."

"Is that going to be weird for me?" She hedges, fiddling with the bracelets around her delicate wrist. Snakes aren't subject to the pull of the moon like Wolves are. They aren't ruled by the need to chase the moonlight between the trees.

"No. Not everyone runs with the Pack anyway. Me and the boys don't. If you want company, Aggie doesn't run with the Packanymore. She goes out before everyone else and is inside by the time we are all in the trees."

"Cool. Maybe I can hang with Aggie." Sam says, crossing her legs under her. Being alone on Full Moon would get lonely in a town full of shifters.

You would know. My wolf remarks, golden eyes flashing.

"She'll supply you with your weight in baked goods to pass the time." I chortle, sending a message to Aggie to see if she'd be up for hanging with Sam.