My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

"Are you okay?" there was movement in the living room, and finally August focused on a shape resting on one of the sofas.

"Oh, Sam, you scared me," she let out a breathy laugh and set the glass down.

"I'm sorry," he said, shifting to a sitting position on the sofa. "You can't sleep?" he asked in a raspy voice.

"No. I'm sorry. I-I didn't expect you to be down here," she explained. "I just came for water."

There was silence until Sam finally spoke again. "He will be okay, August. He is the strongest lycan I know."

August smiled in the dark. "Okay. Thank you. It's just… harder than I thought," she said quietly.

"Trust me, it's hard for him too," he replied, and August could hear the empathy in his voice—that there were times when he had been separated from Greta. He understood this feeling.

August let out a deep sigh. It shouldn't give her comfort that Graeme was somewhere struggling with this feeling just like she was, but for some reason it did.

"You need to be strong for him," Sam's voice suddenly broke the silence again.

"Okay," she replied. It was all she could think of to say. Was he scolding her?

She saw the shadow of Sam run his hand over his face as if he was considering what else should be said. Maybe her presence was stressful. She was here in his home—and for some reason he was sleeping on the sofa rather than next to his mate.

"You're not an outsider here. Maybe you need to hear that," he mumbled as if to himself. "You need to be strong for Graeme, your mate, but… You also need to be strong for us. If you can do that, you will have endless loyalty and support from those around you. Nothing can match the strength and loyalty of a lycan pack. It's a family. You are our family now, August."

August stood frozen, gaping at the darkness from where Sam's words had come. Quiet, calm Sam. She had never heard him talk so much. And wasn't he just asleep?

A new gratitude and warmth started to prick and bloom in her chest. But lining that reassuring comfort was the sharp edge of expectation—an immense pressure that also made her uneasy, because she knew so little about her own specific place here.

Right now her position was so ambiguous. Could she possibly be what they needed? What was really even expected of her here? What strength could she provide?

"Thank you, Sam," she heard her quiet words answer. "I'll head back up," she said after a few moments. "Oh," she remembered, pausing her steps. "Something was out there… in the trees. Did you hear it?"

Sam let out a short grunt in reply. "Nothing to worry about," he mumbled before lying back on the couch.

August's eyebrows threaded together, but she returned to her room without another word. Sam was lycan—he obviously knew when to worry about mysterious noises in the forest.

The following day, August jolted up in bed. She had finally fallen asleep at some point, and now the sun was again shining with all of the optimism of a bright, warm autumn day. It would likely be one of the last of the season. She checked her phone for any texts from Graeme, but there weren't any.

'Good morning, Bun-Bun,' she tried, only to receive another red exclamation point. Ugh.

But the sun rising today meant she was one day closer to seeing Graeme, and today she had the pup's art lesson to distract her. They would get to start working on the forest sculptures, and she couldn't wait to see their responses to the project. She knew little Alexander would be into it, but hopefully the others would be interested as well.

Greta had the pups meet them at the warehouse. Six long tables were set up with chairs on either side in case more pups decided to show up in the future. Today, nine were present, which was one more than last time. But Lily still hadn't come. Maybe she and Greta could stop by her house and talk to the family at some point.

"Let me explain a little bit about this project we are going to begin today," August started before explaining the concept behind the sculptures that would be made with branches and other organic found material. She showed the pups the sketches she had made of possible designs they could do in their surroundings and explained the type of things they would need to look for.

"Okay, since there are nine of you today, why don't you split up in groups of three and make some sketches of your own, and then we'll go out and find some good spots to practice. Sound good?" Excited yips responded.

August watched as the pups split up with sketchbooks and started talking excitedly.

"This was a great idea," Greta observed. "It looks like they are really interested so far," but as she spoke, she covered her mouth like she was about to get sick.

"Oh no, Greta are you going to puke?" August asked. Greta had been queasy earlier in the morning, and it looked as if the nausea was still bugging her. August retrieved some crackers they had brought along. "Will crackers help?"

Greta shook her head while keeping her hand over her mouth. "I just need some fresh air. I'll be outside." August watched her exit out the door where sunlight was streaming in.

Over the next ten minutes, August walked around to see what the pups were sketching and offer suggestions. They had come up with ideas for everything from creepy looking stick dolls hanging from trees to a large spider web stretched between trunks to an ambitious spiraling portal large enough that people could walk through.

"These are wonderful! I think you are all ready. Should we go try this out?"

A chorus of excitement met her, and she watched as the pups ran and skipped out the door where Greta had exited.

"Miss August," Isaac tugged on her sleeve. He was the newest one to show up today, and it seemed he was happy he did, given the enthusiasm his team had for their project.

"Hey, Isaac. What is it?" She asked.

"I know a really good spot, but it's not by the warehouse. Can my team go that way?"

"What makes it so much better than a place closer to the warehouse?"

"It's a place where something bad happened.. Our creepy hanging dolls would be perfect there."

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