FanLit

I also wondered how Asa was able to determine Caleb was poisoned with just a kiss….was the poisoning recent, done long ago or ongoing….is there a traitor in Giles’ pack too? Maybe it is a shade (?) shifter’s ability to detect illness-where Kage could detect it and inflict it, Asa may be able to detect it and heal it?

Unless depression is poison?

Umm, Caleb isn’t getting rid of Asa at all, LOL!!

Asa has automatically fallen into the role of Caleb’s mate: “I’ll come clean about what I know and how I fit in, but not until I explain it to Caleb first. If we are mates, like you say, my primary obligation is to him.” “Giles? Don’t force him. He ran for a reason. If he needs time, I’m alright with it.” Btw, I love the name Asa….first time I heard it was as a little girl watching “One Life to Live” & have always thought it a strong, compact name. Asa made Caleb feel as if they were a team from the very beginning, something he needed to be prodded into in perhaps the way only Asa could. “Can you call Beef & Reef and order some takeout? I like just about everything on their menu except the coconut shrimp.” So Asa’s mate smells like coconut (and new leather) but he doesn’t like coconut shrimp? Hmm….I feel ya, Asa, I’m a coconut lover and am not that fond of coconut shrimp or pina coladas. Few issues in life are black and white….even bad choices-especially bad choices. Asa’s shades of gray acceptance of what Caleb did shed light on his darkness he refused to this point. There is hope, always has been, Caleb just had to feel worthy of accepting it. You do not disappoint when it comes to the drama, lol. It’ll be interesting to see who poisoned Caleb and to what end.

I agree.

Deirdre’s foolishness precipitated Brian, Gordon and Toby being happy families sooner as opposed to later….frankly I hope this does allow a change where Brian has primary custody, which I don’t really think Deirdre wants-she wants to do what she wants, when she wants, with no concern for anyone else’s time, especially Toby’s. Deirdre may love Toby in her own way, which clearly is not a healthy way for her son….she best be careful what she wishes for, as she just might get it, and then some. Am anticipating Brian and Gordon’s meetings with their respective in-laws. Also, kudos to Gordon’s easy acceptance of his new role as stepdad….in Toby’s case, he will truly be a bonus parent.

JL would give you a better understanding of why he is the way he is.

And Sven really was more a side character than supporting like Jay’s & Loe’s friends.

I’ve always liked Caleb, just not as much as @Mrsgnomie & @84Mags. His heart always showed through his treachery. You & @Mrsgnomie both (or is that just one? lol) have a knack for writing incredible supporting casts to your main characters. If I had to campaign for someone, I’ve been waiting for Sven’s Mr. Right since JL.

Lol. He’s a side character in “Jay’s Loelife”, one of Loe’s former hookups, pre Jay.

Lol!! Hardly. I’m a lover, not a fighter. 😊

You are still as likable as ever to me, even with differing opinions, lol. To address you & @raven1 both: I can see the sparks that already exist between Reid and Max, I also remember Max’s confession to Kyan about his miserable romantic situation (the quote I referenced: the “toxic not-relationship with a guy I can’t stand, but can’t walk away from either.”) Everything we’ve seen about Max shows he has his head on straight, he calls it like he sees it on everything, even himself, hence his Desperate Debbie routine over Perry. Unless our esteemed author states that Reid is not the aforementioned “not relationship”, I’m rooting for Sven. Sven is smart, sexy, loyal and “flexible”….all admirable traits to anyone, even good ol’ boys-that is if Reid is truly from Texas & that’s not just his sales territory (Max did call him a wannabe cowboy). I’m Team Sven and Team Max-if they aren’t paired up together, it’ll be because someone better is in store for each & that’s my ultimate hope for both of them…. I just happen to see a golden future for the two together. 💏

Possible but I’m going on Max’s assessment and I really want someone good for Sven.

Your way with words are non-pareil, @84Mags. I can imagine that gift weaving a masterful tale. What an empathetic, effective, counselor you must be. 🎁

Yes, please.

#ReMax!!!! I didn’t even try to ship their names because it seems their ship is already wrecked, lol.

I’m all here for Max, too….someone so obviously successful in his professional life but a mess in his personal life, that’s an all too common dichotomy, 😉. Max shaking the Reid monkey off his back and finding love with Sven….Dichotomy of Love II? (It can be a short story, lol).

This was fantastic. For someone who doesn’t understand acts of service as love language, they wouldn’t know that is what is being said to them….Kyan has so much to learn about receiving healthy love, it truly is amazing he’s the incredible father he is given what he came from. Would Dayna really have gone so apeshit on Perry over a crush or attraction? Did she see more than either guy did? “fish only grow as big as their environment allows. “⬅️ love this phrase. Lol, well….I guess Max and Reid won’t be a couple, LMAO!! Good. Max and Sven. Reid seems to be Max’s “toxic not-relationship with a guy I can’t stand, but can’t walk away from either.” Good. Max and Sven. Sven needs a beautiful, reformed bad boy/ex spy (?) who will give him the excitement, passion and love he deserves. Max and Sven ❤️ Max and Sven❤️Max and Sven❤️ It was thrilling to see Kyan and Max hang out, this relationship is so important for him to cultivate to have a better rounded life….he and Perry will be crazy in love with each other and he’ll have outside friendships, which his future husband will 1000 % support. The only other question I have from this chapter is if Reid is just bad for Max or a bad character all around? Impressive lock picking skills, “Mitter Max”….Kyan is not the only one who wants to know so much about you.

Excited to see what the new normal looks like for Brian and Gordon.

I soooo missed that, lol!! I was focused on Asa smelling like ozone and real wintergreen, lol. Going back to look….

Perfectly and compassionately said, as usual, @84Mags. Thank you. ❤️‍🩹❤️

It’s not a pity party. “Depression is a common mental disorder. “ “There's no single cause of depression. It can occur for a variety of reasons and it has many different triggers. For some people, an upsetting or stressful life event, such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries, can be the cause. Different causes can often combine to trigger depression.” It’s not a pity party.

Caleb ain’t gonna make it easy, is he? Lol Man. Watching Caleb refuse all assistance, even the most minimal when he first woke up, hurt. His dark place punishes himself so he feels he doesn’t deserves the care and concern of others. “He thought of his promise to Giles about seeing a therapist after the round-up. He knew it wouldn’t help. No one, anywhere on this earth, could take away his guilt. It shrouded him with its darkness. There was no good way to explain to someone how bleak and worthless he felt. Luke asked for the truth, but Caleb knew he wasn’t ready to hear it. His friend still remembered the old Caleb, who was trustworthy and honest. That man ceased to exist the day he decided to betray his pack. So he veiled the lie behind the truth.” Those two paragraphs explain Caleb’s interactions with everyone, it also underscores why he ran after coming face to face with his mate….how indeed “could he love and care for a mate when he couldn’t stand himself?” I look forward to seeing Asa’s reception to having a mate….does a light shifter’s powers become stronger if they couple with their mate?