CincyKris

Jubal replenished himself with hard work, ingenuity, nature, deep sleep, good food, with some hopes and dreams thrown in for good measure! He is still doubting his gut, it will have to be Lucas making the first big gesture, but he is going to stay as long as Lucas needs him. Which will hopefully be forever. I absolutely loved this productive and positive chapter.

Just had a thought, if Deirdre and Jasper do become a problem, and I think we all agree that our author is just biding his time on that problem, having a good friend in high places may be very beneficial!

I think Russ has been so focused on his businesses that he has lost his close relationships and not built new ones. Big businesses and lots of money take on a life of their own, so I hear. He may be at a point where he is feeling this isolation and wanting a change. I don't think he is trying to hijack Brian and Gordon's life, just insert himself into it. Although he is doing it in rather a pushy way, but I don't think he knows how to not be pushy.

I think the timing was perfect, Colin has spent too many years contemplating coming out, he needed the fed-up approach! Let’s hope the coming out to his guys goes as well.

Well it finally happened, we all knew it was coming. One of the big questions remains, did Micco really do it or was he set up? And the looming hurricane is presenting herself. What will happen to the wolves and panthers?

Even though we didn't check in with Asa in this chapter, I feel better about his situation. I think the guards will screw up just enough for Asa to shift. Just because Huntington's spies told him the good guys have a light shifter doesn't mean that he has ever dealt with one directly. They are very rare. I'm looking forward to seeing Nat again, I wonder what that snake has been up to.

I'm all caught up to the rest of you! Sometimes the help we get from people that have been through similar circumstances is the best medicine. Charlie and Michael may not know about Danny and Jason's stories yet, but I think the speed of the younger boys' acceptance is due to their own years of "living rough". I think Charlie will excel at his new job, I wonder if Stacy knows anyone in the non-drag performance industry? Harry will help the boys heal and be healed in the process. I'm thinking that Michael would be a good caretaker when Harry gets released.

I'm sure Noah is thankful for his opportunity to visit such a fun, relaxed household. We all remember how much Toby enjoyed the change. Although Noah has two parents who love him, his home is more like living as a guest in a fancy house. Kids need interactions, not more stuff.

I agree with a lot of the comments, I think that Huntington had everything to do with the delays, he probably has the poor pups and their families imprisoned. Going off on their own was a poor but well-meaning decision. But, if all characters behaved intelligently all the time, there would be a lot of boring books and stories. And absolutely no horror movies.

Very cozy chapter. I like that all the little steps are adding up with a few bigger steps snuck in by Owain. But the spectre of Colin's horrible mum looms over them at the end. I'm really hoping he makes at least a little stand against her ridiculous demands.

I liked Edward, I don't think that they have anything to worry about him. A paparazzo would not have an expensive studio like that. As for the party, we'll see. Well we won't, but the lucky party goers will!

Great get to know you chapter, I hope we see lots more of these boys. As in the twins get adopted by Asa and Caleb and Marcel gets adopted by Colin! I’m looking forward to the Russian reconnaissance, I’m just hoping there is not a shadow shifter or other elemental that pulls them out of light mode.

Mhairi is a lot more like her parents than she realizes. If she wants a relationship with her son as an adult, she is the one that needs to change. I hope she will realize this over the next year or so. "Built like a brick shithouse" is still a saying in the good old US of A, perhaps in part due to the old Commodore's song "Built Like a Brick House". Of course Lionel Richie had to drop the "Shit" to get radio play, but everyone knew the missing word. For those unfamiliar, the meaning is that a shithouse, or outhouse, is typically not a sturdy structure, so one built of brick is very well put together. I like the direction and pace that Colin and Owain are going, it feels natural. Colin was forced to make his big change all at once at 18 years old. To expect Colin, and even Mhairi, to change just as quickly is unrealistic.

This big meeting turned out to be successful and stress-free. I'm not surprised that Toby and company got on well, Toby has such an infectious, happy personality, now that he's allowed to be himself. I'm a little surprised at the group coming to look at the balcony jungle, what an unusual gathering of individuals. Toby keeps collecting a diverse group of friends and family.

I’m betting Marcel will go back with Asa and Caleb. As for the brothers, who knows?

Colin grew a pair! Hopefully his first step in standing up to his mother will get him to realize that she's going to bitch and moan regardless. She's been biting the hand that feeds her for years. I hope her free ride is about to end. Standing up to Jimmie was a no-brainer, there was no downside. Colin has been so stuck in his rut, he is just now realizing how easy it is to make some small changes. The big changes are still down the road, but you've got to start somewhere.

The best way to get fresh eggs is to have a neighbor that raises chickens, great eggs with no hard work! Although the bastards ate a third of my very best heirloom tomato (grapefruit sized!) and several other good ones. Regarding Jubal's scars, I had the same thought as @drpaladin, maybe his father was responsible. But, I don't think the timeline works for that. His dragging scars were incurred "last fall". I get the feeling he left his father's home as soon as he could and never looked back. He also has spent some time cowboying. I bet he's got some really old scars from the miserable old man, not to mention all the emotional scars.

I wondered what happened to you, but never expected a stroke! Who does? Get better and take your time, we’ll be here when you’re ready.

I'm more than happy that we are following what feels like a natural pace. Nothing takes me out of a realistic story faster than an artificially fast pace. In no real world, would Jubal and Lucas have survived their ordeal and hooked up and played house in two weeks. Also, it means we get to enjoy "Bearpaw Mondays" for a long time!

This is a very promising start. I liked that you got your point across without a ton of exposition. It allows the reader to be there with the characters, rather than us being force-fed an information dump. I'm also impressed with just the right amount of emotion without being maudlin. I'm looking forward to the next chapter and the showdown with the caseworker.

I eagerly look forward to the day when "frisky activity" will be possible for them!

Jubal is doing his best to keep his mind too busy to dwell on fears. It may only be partially successful, but he sure is getting a lot of work done! He may be primarily thinking of helping his friend, but he's building his own home, whether he'll admit it or not. I am hopeful that Lucas is improving, I think he did respond to Jubal's touch. Also, I'm jealous of his 2 1/2" boards, you don't find that much anymore, at least not in my price range.

I love how well Brian and Gordon balance each other. Brian is a natural worrier, but not in a self destructive way, possibly because Gordon pulls him out of that. Having that one person he trusts assuaging his worries keeps him from going overboard. I'm also concerned about Deirdre, she's like a looming dark cloud upwind from them, not destructive yet, but could be when it arrives.

I agree that Colin will probably be found out, rather than come out. Hopefully he has a few weeks of dating Owain to get more comfortable before he had to deal with the consequences. While I firmly support everyone coming out on their own terms, Colin has stretched being in the closet to an unhealthy level. Being accidentally outed will force him to change his relationships with his family and employees, some much needed changes.

I find myself both sad and happy that I was right about the night 15 rears ago. It's just so desperately sad that a teenager's fear and panic caused a divide that never should have happened. It should be mentioned that Chase also responded with fear and panic and fled, rather than talk to Micco at the time. But happy that Chase is as much in love with Micco as Micco is with him, there is hope for the future. As for the possible gaslighting, I hope so. But then we have the inconvenient fact that Micco has lost time. Why can't he remember? Dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) would explain the lost time, the uncharacteristic behavior reported by others, and has only been reported in people who have experienced severe trauma. If he is being gaslighted, someone is doing a hell of a job at it.