Page 49 of From the Edge

Rowan looked around and saw a familiar face in the crowd. “Alora.”

Alora smiled and said, “I need to speak with Aspen.”

Aspen frowned. “Why?”

“Because you haven’t experienced a rut since you were cursed, and they are creating a cascade in your body. I am here to calm them so that you start with a clean slate.” Alora walked toward Aspen. “May I?”

Aspen paused and knelt. “Please. I can feel something building.”

Alora touched the sides of Aspen’s head, and she began to whisper. The whispering got faster, the first pulse of power happened, and Aspen swayed. Alora kept going.

Rowan watched the stunned expressions on the alphas and the women in turn. Another pulse and another. Alora ran through twelve ruts, and then Aspen swayed some more.

Alora kissed her forehead. “Well done, Aspen. Clean slate it is. Nice to meet you.”

“Pleased to meet you. You are a friend of Rowan’s?”

“Yes. We met after the attack that cursed you.”

Rowan sighed. “Alora is attracted to pain. Well, summoned by it. She came to me and got me help. Then, she got me more help. Then, we became friends.”

Avor said in a whisper, “You are a calmer.”

Alora looked at him and was silent for a moment before she said, “Duh.”

He chuckled. “That sounds like something my daughter would say.”

“How old is she?”

“Eleven.”

Alora grinned. “That tracks. I do a lot of babysitting.”

Mell perked up. “Do you have any certifications?”

“Sure. All kinds of child development crap.”

“Can I see your certifications?”

“Why?”

Rowan smiled. “She’s starting a daycare in the building out front.”

“If you add an afterschool program that goes until eight, I am in.”

Mell blinked. “Why?”

“Because working parents need dinners out and eight lets them go and have some fun but then return home before the child needs to get to bed. It also helps parents who are working more than one job or those who have a long commute.”

Alora smiled. “I was raised by a single mom, and a safe, warm place with a meal would have been really nice to help me study. So if we are playing wish-fulfillment games, that is my criteria. The afterschool program would not need more than one staffer to supervise, but it would need some kind of hot meal, either a pasta or stew or soup, allergies permitting.”

Avor paused. “Afterschool program?”

“Yes, it’s a place to put the kids who don’t need babysitters, but you don’t want to leave them alone. It assists in socialization and gives them a place to hang out with other kids in a supervised environment.”

Rowan looked at Mell. “So the daycare centre is getting a study room with a library and a gym?”

Mell smiled. “As soon as I see the certifications.”