Page 61 of The Patron Saint of Timber Hollow

"How have you been, Aggie?" I ask before taking a big bite.

"Good. This is my time of the year. I love it."

"Want me to send the boys over to help decorate? You don't need to be up on ladders if they're around." Aggie always had thebestholiday decorations. We'd always set them up around this time of year. Neither Aggie nor I are particularly invested in any holidays around this time of the year, but we both like the lights. How….magicala house looks when it's glowing from strings of twinkling lights. When I was a kid, she'd wrap me in abig blanket after decorating her home, shoving a steaming mug of hot chocolate in my hands.

"Artemis,"Aggie says flatly, rolling her eyes. "I'm not going to put the Alpha on a ladder to hang my decorations up, either."

"Sure, but then there's always Saint and Dante," I remark, shrugging. "They would do it."

Aggie doesn't say anything, chewing on her bread. I smile, knowing I've won.

"When is Family Dinner?" Aggie questions, and my face falls. She chortles, covering her mouth with her hand.

"I don't know, I was hoping everyone forgot."

"Oh no. Your mother askedmeabout it the other day. Someone told her it was happening," Aggie says, still chuckling.

I groan, dropping my head back to look at the ceiling. "Well, that's amazing. Love that for me."

"It'll be fine. There will be so many people there that she won't be able to focus on you."

"One can hope." I agree, trying not to stress myself out about it. "Saint will be cooking; maybe he will blowChef Daisy out of the water."

"Does he do more gourmet things?" Aggie asks, taking another sip of what looks like cranberry and soda water in a fine crystal glass. The crystal has the impression of leaves stamped into it. Her favorite drink.

"I don't think there's anything Saintcan'tmake. If it comes from the kitchen, Saint is your guy."

"Hmm," Aggie hums, then asks, "How do you like working at the bar?"

"I love it. I'm glad you knew Ivy was looking for someone."

"She's a good shifter, that one. Takes care of her own."

"Ivy's a good friend," I agree. Knowing someone like her is exactly what I needed here.

I would have stayed with Sam if it hadn't been for Ethan's proximity to her and any life I would have tried to have for myself in California. It all worked out, though, because Sam followed me to the Hollow.

And Ivy is steady in a way I am not. I can't help but wonder if Aggie sent me towards her for that very purpose. I needed a reason tostopmoving, and my family would never be that for me.

But a steadfast friend? APackof my very own? I could stick around for that.

"You should come by sometimes. Come up on the bar with us for fire night!" I propose, waggling my eyebrows at her.

Aggie laughs, practically howling with it. Her wolf is on the smaller side, a petite salt-and-pepper grey. My aunt's howl is a lonesome one, and it's been a long time since I've heard her make the clarion call without wanting to sob after.

She and my mom have that in common: their grief changing their wolf. Aggie, though, sees Rhea and Jeeran in everything she does. She loves them and remembers them with her every breath. Their death may have changed Aggie, but not the way Dad's death changed Mom.

Then again, My dad's death didn't change my mom's wolf the way that Aggie's had changed after Rhea and Jerran.

Everyone processes grief differently. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

"Sure, I'll do that," Aggie says, clearly only being sarcastic.

"Good. I'll tell Ivy you're in."

"Sure, you will." Aggie snorts, and I pull out my phone, raising an eyebrow.

"Won't I? Come on. You need an Aggie's night out."