By the time we had made it back to the states, I was more than worn out. The plane ride hadn’t been like the others, and as much as I wished it would have been, I couldn’t help but think that was partially my fault.

I wasn’t as forthcoming as I was before.

“We’re here,” Hale whispered softly in my ear as I looked up at him. I was still pressed firmly against him in the back seat of the car as we drove from the airport to the pack house.

“Finally,” I ...