“I never wanted to leave,” Loren said. “But I wanted – I was trying to protect you guys.” And they’d all respected her too much to dig deeper. “You don’t need to protect us, Calla,” Max said. “You’re part of the family now, which means we stand together. Against any threat.”

“I never wanted to leave,” Loren said. “But I wanted – I was trying to protect you guys.” And they’d all respected her too much to dig deeper. “You don’t need to protect us, Calla,” Max said. “You’re part of the family now, which means we stand together. Against any threat.”

— Kayla Edwards