~Wesley~

He really could've used those extra minutes outside, breathing in that brisk Highland air. But just like every other waking moment since arriving in Scotland, they didn't have time to relax. Standing around the large table that had been moved into Ewan's office, he and Abby listened to Arran speak.

The poor kid looked nervous, still gun shy every time one of them moved too quickly. He looked to be in his early teens but he was young for a Faye — according to Soryn, very young. Under normal circumstances, he would've stayed home in Wyeona for another few decades before going into the mortal world. Wesley knew Abby felt bad, wished there was some way to comfort the boy. But after hearing about the things he saw, Wesley wasn't sure there was anything they could do. Only time healed wounds like that.

"I'd forgotten, with everything else going on, but I heard some people speaking while I hid. Before I got out of the city. It was a group, maybe five or six men. They were talking about meeting in some location, that they would find more of their allies there." Arran rubbed his hands together, as if to warm them, before glancing at Soryn beside him. The Faye rested a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. Wesley had never felt so thankful that Soryn had accompanied them. "I did not catch a name of the place they were going, but I saw their faces — they had been some of the ones to set the fires. One of them used a lot of magic, spells I am not yet familiar with."

Wesley shared a glance with Abby before meeting Ewan's eyes across the table. The Alpha nodded minutely. Turning his attention back to Soryn and Arran, Wesley tried to sound as nonthreatening as possible. "It's okay that you forgot, Arran. You had a lot on your mind. Was that all you remember? Anything at all could be useful."

The boy glanced at Soryn again before slowly shaking his head. "No, that was all. I am sorry. I feel as if I have been no help at all. I don't understand why my mother insisted that I run here."

Ewan, having stayed quiet as to not scare the boy more, finally spoke. His voice was incredibly gentle, "Because your mother knew where you'd be safe. Where you'd find allies. And she was a dear friend who will be missed dearly. You're always welcome here, son."

Arran looked slightly uncomfortable but nodded his head nonetheless. A muttered thank you could barely be heard, even for werewolf ears.

Wesley didn't know the entire story of Arran's mother, and why she had clearly known Ewan MacKay, a werewolf. But if Wesley had learned anything recently, it wasn't to hold the Faye or the werewolves to certain beliefs. Things were never as they seemed to be.

As if by some silent queue, Ewan's mate, Maisie, came into the room. She usually sat in on the meetings they had, her quick mind a useful edition to their ever-growing team. But whatever she had been cooking must have needed her close attention. Regardless, the smells that accompanied her into the room were mouth-watering. "Dinner is ready, if all of you could spare a moment to fill your bellies. Problems always look smaller on a full stomach."

Beside him, Abby smiled warmly at the woman. Through their bond, Wesley could feel the growing affection she had for her. "Thank you, Maisie. It smells amazing."

The woman smiled, lines appearing beside her eyes. "It's a bit chilly today, so I thought stew would be a good choice. Vegetable stew for those who would prefer not to eat meat, of course." She winked in their direction, causing Abby to smile wider.

"Thank you for being so accommodating, really. It means a lot to us." Abby nodded towards the two other Faye in the room as she spoke.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head, child. It's my pleasure. Now come, all of you, before it gets cold."

Straightening to his full height, Ewan gestured for the door, "Well, best follow her then. She could get quite cross if we take too long."

As Soryn and Arran led the way out of the office, followed closely by Abby, Wesley paused. Ewan laid a hand on his shoulder as he did, so he wouldn't run right into him. "Do you know of anyone who might have ears towards Faye business? We need to find the location Arran heard about." His shoulder was squeezed tightly.

"We will figure it out, Wesley. Worry about filling your stomach for now, ay? And maybe call your father tonight, yeah? I'm betting he might be getting worried about you."

Chuckling, Wesley nodded as he led the way down the hall. "You know, Abby was thinking the same thing earlier. I called him yesterday, you know. It's not like I don't talk to him."

"Yes, I do know. But I also know what it feels like when your son leaves home for the first time. There's a war going on, boy, don't forget that." Just as Wesley was about to step into the dinning room, the smells of stew and sheep's meat filling his senses, Ewan grasped his shoulder again. "Alex will always be worried for you, Wesley. But right now, even more so. Don't let his fears get the better of him, ay?"

Sighing, Wesley nodded. "I hear your words, Ewan. I'll give him a call, I promise."

The alpha smiled, squeezing his shoulder one more time before entering the room before Wesley. He headed straight to the head of the table where Maisie was dishing out heaping bowls of steaming stew, kissing her on the side of the head, smiling warmly at her as she chuckled.

Wesley wondered why Ewan spoke so ominously sometimes. Maybe he would ask Alex when he called him after dinner. Sitting down beside Abby, the warmth of her presence instantly calming him without her needing to even touch him, he couldn't help but smile. War time or not, he couldn't help but agree with his Mate. They needed to come back here in the future. Especially if Maisie was going to be cooking for them.

~~~

"Everything's been fine, Alex. I talked to you yesterday. I promise, nothing has changed since then." Wesley leaned against the window in his and Abby's room. The fire was lit, sending warmth into the room, but he could still feel the chill coming from the window. As modern as the castle was, it clearly still held some its old charms. If draftiness was a charm.

"Yes, Wesley, I know we spoke yesterday. But you seem to keep forgetting how much can change in twenty-four hours."

The clipped tone of his father's voice still made Wesley cringe, even over the phone. It didn't help that Abby raised a brow at his own tone of voice, from where she sat in front of the fireplace, her father's book in her lap. Repressing the sigh that so badly wanted to escape, Wesley tried to soften his voice. "You're right, I'm sorry. The stress has been getting to me, I guess."

"I'd be surprised if it wasn't." Alex's voice had lost the edge to it. "I had hoped our dear Abigail would be enough to keep you in check."

Hearing the chuckle in Alex's voice, Wesley smiled. "It's not for lack of trying, believe me." Turning towards the window, his eyes scanned the hills around the property. They hadn't met all of the other wolves in Ewan's pack since arriving, they all had their own houses in the area. But it never stopped Wesley from looking out for them in the fields. He knew, without a doubt, that they had patrols set up. "Hey, Alex? Does Ewan have a son? He said something to me today that made me wonder."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for long enough that Wesley pulled the phone away from his ear, expecting the not-so-great service to have lost the call. But it was still connected. A small sigh crackled through the phone. "He does have a son, only a few years older than you, actually. About the same age as Kyle. He left home a few years ago and I don't think Ewan has heard from him since."

The words Ewan had spoken to Wesley made a lot more sense all of a sudden. No wonder he had wanted Wesley to call Alex. "I didn't realize. They don't talk about him."

"No, I'm sure they don't. I suspect it would upset Maisie too much. What did he say to make you ask me this?"

"He just told me to give you a call. That he knew what it felt like when your son leaves home and that you would be worried."

Alex chuckled, but there was little humor in the sound. "Well, he is right about that. I do worry about you, both of you. If there had been any way to keep you here, or for me to go with you—."

"I know, you would've come if you could. We miss you too, just so you know."

"And I miss you, my boy. Now, unfortunately, I need to get going and you should be heading to bed. You both need all of the rest you can get."

Smiling, Wesley nodded as he turned back to the face the room. The smile only grew when he noticed that Abby had fallen asleep in the chair, her crystal necklace and the book held tightly in her hands. "Yeah, you're right. We should be going to bed. Tell the others we say hi."

"I will and give Abby my love, too."

"Sorry for waking you. Go back to sleep. We love you, dad."

Wesley could hear the smile in his father's voice. "Don't ever worry about waking me up with a phone call. Love you too, Wesley. Talk to you again soon."

Pulling the phone away from his ear, Wesley headed to the bedside table to plug it in for the night. Despite what he had said to Alex, he was being honest when he said the stress was getting to him. Little things like keeping his phone fully charged was a good clue.

Turning to the fireplace, he smiled softly as he headed towards his Mate. She had been so tired lately, he wasn't at all surprised she fell asleep sitting up. He knew the ghosts had been taking a lot out of her, and they hadn't been making it easy for either of them to sleep soundly. They had cleansed the room after their first night of barely any sleep, but maybe it was time to do it again. The necklace and talismans only did so much. He couldn't feel any spirits in the room, but they managed to get passed his senses sometimes.

Gently, as to not disturb her, he took the book out of her hand and set it on the coffee table. She had been reading it every chance she had, still finding hidden messages and letters from her father. Wesley worried that is was taking a toll on her; she couldn't seem to stop. But being surrounded by the culture and scenery of his own father, Wesley couldn't exactly blame her. He hadn't spent so much time thinking of his paternal father in years than he was now.

Leaving the necklace in her hand, knowing she would want to tuck it under her pillow, Wesley lifted her into his arms. Her breathing barely changed, her body fully aware of who was carrying her and that there was no cause for alarm. Tucking her into the lush blankets, he then went to his own side of the bed. Pulling his sweater and jeans off, he crawled into bed beside her. Pulling her close and smiling when she snuggled into the crook of his neck.

Between the fireplace and the blankets, he often woke up too warm. But he knew his Mate would be cold if it wasn't for the flames heating the room. So he did the best he could and slept with little to nothing on. Abby didn't seem to mind, at any rate.

Sighing, he finally allowed his muscles to relax and let the stress of the day leak from his bones. They could worry about everything again in the morning. And there was plenty to worry about. But right then, his body really did need the sleep. Kissing Abby's head, he held her close and let her even breaths ease his mind into sleep.