~Abby~

Fog hung low over the green covered hills as Abby looked out the castle window. She could just make out Soryn in the back garden, speaking to the young Faye boy who they had flown all the way to the Highlands to see. She hugged herself tight — the news the boy had brought wasn't good.

Sighing, she turned away from the window of the bedroom that had become hers and Wesley's upon arrival and headed for the door. The room was a massive thing, with a fireplace bigger than her Mate and a bed big enough for three extra people. But the deep wood details and the rich red fabrics found throughout the room made the large space feel impossibly cozy.

Pausing briefly to eye the talisman that hung above the door — and to check that her father's necklace was secure around her neck — Abby headed out of the room. For some reason, ever since arriving in Scotland, Abby had been having trouble with spirits, again. Sometimes she could keep them away and yet other times no barrier seemed to stop them.

The wood and stone walls continued into the hallway where accents of animal heads and portraits of long dead family members littered the walls. Abby thought they were both equally creepy. The eyes on the paintings seemed to follow her and the animal heads were un-tasteful, in her opinion. Especially when the land surrounding the house and the building itself was swarming with ghosts of the past. She felt tired all the time, constantly trying to keep her mind focused on the tangible world around her. Not on the misty one overlaying it all. The talismans given to her by Claire only helped so much.

They were in the ancestral home of the MacKay's, where the Head Alpha of Scotland — Ewan Mackay — kept his pack. The scenery and imposing building had taken Abby's breath away when they had arrived a week ago. The land in the area different shades of green, bright like her own eyes and rich and dark like the pine trees back home. The stone castle, looking like it had been pulled right out of a history book, had ivy growing up the corners and flags flying from the highest points. If it wasn't for the weight of war heavy on her shoulders, she could almost believe that she had stepped into a fairytale.

Descending the oak stairs, Abby made her way into Ewan's office that sat just beyond the formal living room. It had become the center of activity in the house as of late and Abby wasn't at all surprised to find Wesley leaning on the desk, his brows pulled tight. He had been looking over maps and correspondences ever since they arrived. She could barely pull him out of the office at the end of the day, no matter how exhausted he was.

Leaving the rest of the pack behind in New York had taken a toll on him. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, she could see the effects of being so far away from his family. She would make sure to give Alex or Warren a call before they went to bed. The voices of his family would be able to ease some of the tension she could see coiled in his muscles.

"Ah, there she is. We were wondering if you had gotten lost again." Ewan MacKay's voice was thick with a Scottish accent and almost always held a laugh in every word. He was a big man, far stalkier and taller than any of the werewolves back in New York. But most of the Scottish wolves were. Abby found it all very fascinating.

Smiling, she raised a brow in his direction. "Very funny, I got lost once. Once, on the very first day here. And no one can let me live it down."

His blue eyes twinkled. "Not on your life, lass."

Shaking her head, but unable to wipe the smile from her face, Abby made her way over to Wesley. He hadn't even lifted his head when she walked into the room, but she had felt his consciousness brush against her's like a feather. Resting her hand onto his back, she pushed some warmth from her magic into him, her hand tingling strangely as she did. It had been doing that a lot since arriving at the castle. Feeling more like bees vibrating under her skin than the flow of water she was used to. "Find out anything useful amongst all this mess?"

Wesley let out a frustrated sigh, "Nothing we don't already know." Straightening to his full height, he rubbed his hand over his face. "Have you heard from Elazar yet? We need to know if The High Forest is having the same trouble as Wyeona."

Biting her lip, Abby slowly shook her head. She had sent a message to Elazar as soon as they arrived and heard of the destruction of the Faye city of Wyeona. But she hadn't heard anything back yet. "If the Faye in the Forest had wanted to turn against the Council, they would've done it as soon as Haryk was found guilty."

"Maybe. Maybe not. I mean we didn't even hear of the war breaking out in Wyeona until we arrived here. It must have started right after Haryk was found out. Why didn't the Council hear about it? Why didn't Elazar?"

With nothing to say, Abby lifted her shoulders in a weak shrug. "I don't know, Wes. I feel like I don't know anything right now."

Meeting her eyes for the first time since she walked into the room, Wesley raised a hand and brushed his thumb across her cheek. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to direct my frustrations on you." He gave her a sheepish smile, "I've been doing that a lot lately, haven't I?"

Leaning into his touch, Abby smiled softly. "Maybe a bit, but it's nothing I can't handle. Don't worry about it. We're all a little tense right now."

Touching their foreheads together, Wesley's consciousness pushed against her own. It wasn't like the light touch when she had walked in the room, this had more intent behind it. She was so used to his presence in her mind that she put up no resistance. His mind melded with her own and between the two of them, their anxieties melted away. They would figure it all out. As long as they had each other.

"Why don't you two go take a walk, get some fresh air?"

Ewan's voice brought them out of their heads. Abby turned to look at the old Alpha, expecting to see a frown or some other uncomfortable expression on his face. Most people tended to get a strange look on their faces when she and Wesley got lost in their own little world. But his eyes were soft and the small smile looked like he knew a secret that no one else did.

"My sweet Maisie will have dinner ready shortly. Get some fresh air, ay? The problems of the world always look easier to handle when among the trees."

Abby was about to argue, assuming that Wesley wouldn't want to leave the office. But he surprised her by nodding, taking her hand in his. "That sounds like a great idea, thanks Ewan."

As Wesley gently pulled her towards the door, she met Ewan's eyes. He winked at her before turning back to whatever letters he had been reading before she had walked into the room.

~~~

The mist had lifted a fraction since Abby had been looking out her window. But it had been another snowy and cloudy day in Scotland, so she wasn't surprised to not be able to see the sky. If she was being honest, though, she liked the fogginess of it all. The rollings hills and mountains in the distance were so much more ethereal as they peeked out amongst the clouds and snow.

Heading towards the back garden gate, she had a moment to wonder where Soryn had gone. But then one of the wolfhounds that Ewan kept came barreling across the yard towards them. Why werewolves had pet dogs, Abby couldn't really understand. But then again, the hounds were just as big as the werewolves.

On the other hand, Wesley seemed to love them. She half expected him to ask Alex if they could get one, whenever they actually got to go home. The dog lumbered over, tongue hanging low out of his mouth. He leaned against Wesley's leg, smiling up at him in a way that always made her chest grow warm.

"Hey there, big boy. Where are your friends? They running around in the woods again?"

As if in answer, the hound yapped its jaw once before taking off back the way it had come. Abby suspected it was heading for the back door which was closest to the kitchens. If Ewan's mate Maisie was cooking dinner then those dogs knew exactly where they needed to be.

Turning from the yard, Abby watched as Wesley lifted his arms high and took a deep breath. As much as he wouldn't like to admit it, he seemed so at home here, despite being away from their family. She could feel it in the way his heart soared whenever he was running through the Highlands with the pack or simply sitting outside, enjoying the incredibly fresh air. His mind felt at peace here. It was so similar to the way she had felt while staying in The High Forest. Maybe they could get their own little cabin up there, to visit whenever they needed a break from Seattle.

"A break from Seattle, huh? I feel like we haven't been there in ages as it is." He smiled at her that little secret smile that was hers alone. She had been thinking too loud again.

Shrugging one shoulder, she bumped into him before going to stand beside him at the stone fence that surrounded the yard. Her gloved hands digging into the dusting of snow sitting on top. "It's just a thought. I wouldn't mind visiting this place again."

"No, I wouldn't either. But I'm sure we could always stay here. You know Ewan wouldn't mind."

Her nose crunched up. She liked the Alpha and his pack, but Abby was beginning to feel in desperate need of some privacy. She'd rather get their own place.

Wesley's laughter filled her ears, "Yeah, alright. I can't fault you there. I wouldn't mind a little privacy, either." Leaning closer, he kissed the side of her head, letting his lips linger just on the edge of her hair. His emotions ran through her like a breeze.

Sighing into the gesture, Abby closed her eyes against the world. "I miss home too. You're right, we haven't been home in a while."

After the events in New York City — after Haryk was killed — things had moved quickly. News of the betrayal spread faster than they had been prepared for. They had managed to stay in the City for Christmas, where Warren and Kyle joined them for the holiday. But then they had flown straight for London and subsequently arrived at Ewan's front door. And before that, they had been in The High Forest for weeks. No, they hadn't been home in a very long time.

Linking her fingers into his over the cold stone, she squeezed lightly. "We'll get home soon." At least she hoped so. She didn't like lying, even if it was by accident. The sound of crunching snow reached her ears at the same time as Wesley — their Bond was growing stronger every day. It wasn't just her hearing that had gotten better but her eyesight too. Seeing better in the dark certainly had its privileges. Turning, she saw Soryn walking towards them. His brows were pulled tight on his forehead and he didn't look happy. She couldn't even find joy in the frankly adorable knit sweater, coat unzipped, and jeans he was wearing. She would never get used to seeing the silver-haired Faye in mortal clothing.

"There you two are, I went inside to find you but Alpha Ewan said you'd come outside. We need to talk. I got more information out of Arran."

Abby sighed. So much for taking a break outside.