84Mags

It’s the move. Try on those Saturday Night Fever pants and you’ll be right back with us! Seriously, Caleb is imperfect and has a lot to atone for. I understand not really liking him right now. But, this story starts in an exciting spot. Caleb is lost to his depression and separated from his wolf. As a shifter he should be one with his wolf, yet he’s created internalized emotional and physical distance. Caleb did the same with Vann, his pack, and during the sexual relationship with Vann’s mother. He is doing it with the current pack. It will be fascinating to learn what is behind all of the life long emotional distancing. Caleb’s betrayal weighs heavily, except there is more to all of this. If nothing else, for now, enjoy the thought of Cowboy Caleb. Well worn Wrangler jeans, snap button shirt stretched tight over untamed muscles, rugged physicality, sweaty brow, the creak of a saddle as he rides… yep, I’m here for it. And let’s not forget there is a mysterious farrier who is probably just as fire. 🔥

I honestly didn’t think I’d start my comments pretty much the same way I ended my comments in Spirit Wolves but here I am, once again, saying Oh, Caleb! What an exceptionally well done opening chapter; it pulled us all right back into this exciting world. Last week I read over the first two stories and the comments. Initially there were only a few readers on @Mrsgnomieand my team wanting Caleb to live and have a chance for redemption. Well, and, @CincyKrisrecommended considering some type of shifter community service 😂!! By the time Shadow Effect was completed, Caleb had pretty much won over everyone. So no, just no, he is not gonna die in chapter one. It’s time Caleb figures out that he’s got to fight for his life, not just in this situation but in all situations. I’m taking this cliffhanger as a challenge to Caleb. It really is his time to look for that light at the end of the tunnel.

⬆️ I agree and was also just coming back to clarify that I am not asserting Reid is someone to be overly worried about. In my mind he’s actually a bit like Mitch in Larkspur and will need the time and wisdom that comes with age to better understand himself. We don’t really know much yet, but it seems that he’s putting being a good sheriff ahead of his own personal life. And there’s nothing wrong with that. He and Lucas obviously have some sort of history and I believe it was more than friendship. His term for Lucas, along with that young man hanging out after midnight, leads me to believe he likes men younger than himself. Maybe he sees himself as a mentor, but whatever the situation Lucas is clearly a bit chafed. Happy birthday @FanLit I think you’ll like your 50’s.

I went back to chapter 4. As several commenters mentioned, the hints are there that Reid and Lucas have a past which perhaps Reid isn’t ready to be over. Even so, Reid was at ‘work’ after midnight with a younger man, who kept his hat pulled low and was not Deputy Samuel. Seems Reid might like his partners a bit younger than him. From this chapter’s interactions, it doesn’t necessarily make trouble for Lucas and Jubal, but jealousy can grab ahold of some. It’s not a situation where Lucas has enough trust yet in Jubal to fully disclose what’s going on. But, they will get there. I’m more concerned about the rope mark on Jubal’s neck. That speaks to what could have been a very dangerous and agonizing ordeal.

I agree. What grabbed my imagination is Michael thinking to himself that wolves didn’t typically feel hate and they’d all just been fed. But your point is well made. Is there another animal nearby and if so what would cause such strong emotions?

Another option is that there was no fight. Frank and Rory told Martina about the alleged fight. Martina also alluded to them saying Michael had episodes of being forgetful or perhaps losing time/memory. Martina didn’t witness the fight or any of the behaviors she was told about. What if none of it happened? What if he is being set up? It’s hard to believe in yourself if you have ‘trustworthy’ friends/co-workers saying something about you. With Michael’s past he is even more likely to doubt himself. I agree, Michael is unfortunately ticking all the prime suspect boxes. One other thought: the wave of energy that Michael felt of anger, hate and hunger sounds like an addict needing a fix. We later learn that Rory was somewhere nearby. Coincidence?

This chapter was worth the extra few days wait. Let’s start with Max; I adore him!! I am not quite at Caleb level, but I have to say that Max has a lot of interpersonal intrigue with just enough angst to make for his own story. His insights into why he went full on crush / fan boi swoon over Perry and then his ability to set that all aside and focus on what Kyan needs shows what a truly extraordinary person he is. Max deserves to find his forever person. Kyan’s bedding invention is remarkable. I agree that in its prototype form it’s unworkable, but with Jed’s suggestion of a zipper tweak, Kyan may have found a way to be a self supporting stay at home dad. And kudos to Jed for intervening. He did what is so hard for most of us, admitting where we went wrong and working to make amends. He gave solid advice and support without pushing. He didn’t speak ill of Danya but was honest about her shortcomings. Jed explained and took appropriate responsibility for some of Perry actions. Kyan and the kids are lucky to have this man in their lives.

Yes, THE Caleb ❤️❤️❤️

Calming. Such a perfect, all encompassing word.

Yikes! This fits the ‘nothing good happens after midnight’ proverb. One has to wonder if this conversation would have went better over breakfast after a good nights sleep. Kyan has valid points. It feels lousy to not only be kept in the dark by Dayna’s family, but then Perry admitted to undercurrents during their entire friendship/relationship. Perry sort of word vomited a lot of information in what became a big misunderstanding. Both men loved Dayna. Both will always grieve her loss, however their losses are not the same. They each need time to think. Perry is so worried about losing what he’s always wanted that he’s over cautious and taking missteps. The idea of actually, permanently being with Kyan seems impossible. And, Kyan has to truly consider his future outside of Dayna and any decisions she might have made. It’s time Kyan really face what’s ahead. I think he’s up for it.

Along with the ball dropping, Ava also dropped quite the bomb! Ringing in the new year is the perfect time for new beginnings. The good news is that the family already knows or at least suspects. It’s just Kyan that isn’t ‘in the know’ and has, what he will learn, is unjustified concerns. Ava just did her dad a favor.

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Well, I’m more thinking Max has his own very unique story to tell. @FanLitthrew out a couple interesting options. So I’m open to ideas. Just not Caleb. ❤️

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Um, no.

Isn’t it funny how this guy has wormed his way into our hearts? I like the way you think.

This chapter illustrates how Perry is completely interwoven in the lives of his family. He has close relationships with everyone, especially his nieces and nephews. It’s second nature, not an afterthought. His relationship with his parents is almost textbook for how a close knit family works. He hasn’t missed out on life by not having a ‘significant other’. He hasn’t sat around pining for Kyan. He has been living his life. Perry and Kyan are on solid ground. I was never ever the parent on puke duty. I was the parent holding a towel to my nose and gagging with watery eyes as my poor husband dealt with it. I was great at cuddling a sick one. But nuclear waste duty was not in my job responsibilities. Poor Henry.

I forgot to mention during my earlier comment, did anyone else notice that Perry got Reid’s email? You usually get an email when you want to start a bigger conversation, such as business. Would be kind of cool if Reid and his friends not only stayed in contact but also expanded the friendship. And then there is also… Max.

Kyan is such a great dad and, it seems, was a wonderful husband with Dayna. However, it really isn’t until he has the conversation with Jed and Trudy that he becomes aware of what a healthy, intact, functional and loving family truly is. It never occurred to Kyan that they would put his and the children’s best interests first, solely because that is what caring parents do. Jed and Trudy are everything Kyan’s parents aren’t. Luckily they have the financial means to support their children and grandchildren, but more importantly they both have an endless capacity for love.

It is Soooooooo good!!!!

I wasn’t going to wade into the whole “kept man” comment thread yet here I am! This story takes place in the US so I found three widely used sources. Merriam-Webster: man who is kept as a lover by someone. The Free Dictionary: a man who does not work and receives money and provisions from his romantic partner. Oxford Learners Dictionary: a man who does not work but is given money and a home by somebody who he is in a sexual relationship with. Kyan and Dayna married young because Dayna was pregnant. By all accounts they loved each other. They decided together the best plan was for Kyan to be a stay at home dad WHICH IS WORK while Dayna went to school and later to work outside the home in order to provide not just for Kyan but for the family. Their ‘fine’ sexual relationship wasn’t monetarily based. Although very young, they were joint parenting and marital partners. The last couple chapters have been about Kyan waking up from a fog of grief and realizing he has some sort of feelings for Perry, that he hasn’t been handling the finances, feeling like an burden, etc. Added to that, Kyan realized once the insurance money ran out, Perry began paying for him and the kids to maintain their lives with zero strings attached. Kyan continues to work as a stay at home dad but now seems ready to figure out how to work outside the home and parent full time. He initiated the conversation about finances for a reason. In my opinion Kyan was never and isn’t now a kept man.

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Oddly enough, money/finances are a primary reason couples enter into counseling. It is very much so an internal issue. Money can represent power and oftentimes creates an imbalance in relationships. Some stay in really bad situations solely based on financial need. How we think about money is individualized and is a mindset filled with personal beliefs and attitudes. Couples have to figure out a way to join together. Kyan is completely broke and has been for most likely a few years now. He has limited skills and all of his resources, to include emotional, are with Dayna’s side of the family. Perry is not only financially supporting him, but has actively allowed Kyan to not have to think about money. Now that Kyan’s becoming aware of his feelings for Perry, it is a really mature decision to face the conversation head on. He’s been skirting around it for awhile, but finding a tee shirt that he couldn’t really afford much less the ridiculously priced Hawaiian shirts, seems like the nudge he needed to talk.

Very well said. This chapter felt to be all about reflection, contemplation and self-examination. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to acknowledge what is in the past.

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