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Max nodded. “I thought about Isaac, but I don’t think he could have done it. The aunties sent him to work the fishery up in Daghukkoda after what he did. He hasn’t left the village since he arrived, according to Sue Taalona p>
“Sue would know,” Anthony said thoughtfully. “Nothing gets past
her p>
Tessa shoved her hands into her pockets so nobody would see them
shake. “I just… I don’t know who would have done this p>
“Don’t be afraid,” Max said gently. “The whole Valley is looking out for you p>
“Except for whoever sabotaged my truck p>
Max’s expression turned stormy. “I’ll figure it out, Tessa. We won’t
let you be hurt, okay p>
She nodded. “Yeah. Of course. Thanks, Max.” She stepped back, pulling on Lucia’s arm. “We should probably get to school p>
“If you think of anything that might help, give me a call right away p>
Max said.
“I can’t–I lost my phone. That’s why I couldn’t call for help on
Monday. I’m waiting for a new one to get shipped in p>
“Your phone went missing right before your truck broke down p>
Max asked sharply. “When exactly did you last see it p>
Cold leached into Tessa’s bones as she realized why he was
asking–whoever cut her fuel line might have stolen her phone to
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prevent her from calling for help. “I–I’m not sure. I thought I had it
in the morning when I left for Eagle Ridge, but I’m so used to always
having it with me, I might just be imagining that I did p>
Max was quiet, contemplative. “Alright,” he finally said. “If you think
of anything you saw out of the ordinary, anybody who’s been acting
strange, anything at all, have my mom get ahold of me p>
Tessa was silent in Lucia’s passenger seat as they drove to school.
“It’s going to be alright, Tessa,” she said gently.
Despite the looming threat of whoever had cut her fuel line, the next
few days passed peacefully. A bunch of people apologized for
jabbing at her about running out of gas. Harry didn’t exactly apologize, but he did go on a tirade about Not Being Able To Trust Anybody These Days, which Tessa considered about as good as she was going to get from him. On Tuesday, Wade handed over a package–her new phone. On Wednesday, Anthony called to let her
know her truck was ready.
Tessa was never wholly satisfied with life. That unhappy otherness still stained every friendship, but she was trying not to let it take up too much space in her mind. She spent her days in class, her nights in The Spruce’s dining room, grading assignments, preparing lesson plans, or reading for her own pleasure. Jess and Elena joined her most nights. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Declan wasn’t at breakfast or dinner. Not that Tessa was looking for him. Elena told her weather had kept him grounded in Anaktuvuk Pass. Not that Tessa was asking about him.
Thursday afternoon, his truck was back in The Spruce’s garage. When Tessa got to her door after school, she found a shopping bag hanging from the knob, stuffed full. She stared at it for a second. When that yielded no answers, she pulled one of the loops free and
looked into it.
Knitting supplies filled the bag. There was a gorgeous set of steel
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needles in a black canvas case. There were nine different sizes, with interchangeable tips to turn regular needles into double–pointed or
circular needles. There was a container of stitch markers. And then there were four skeins of a pure merino yarn in a gorgeous cobalt blue. Somebody had gotten her knitting supplies, and not just basic supplies, but really nice stuff. Whoever had gotten it either knew about knitting or had asked someone who did. Tessa brushed one of the skeins against her cheek, thinking.
It hadn’t escaped her that the knitting supplies had shown up after Declan returned from a supply run. But who was really behind this? The only person she’d talked extensively to about knitting was Jess. Had she asked him to do it? Tessa tucked the lovely cobalt yarn back into the bag and brought the whole thing into her room. It had to have been Jess.
At dinner, Tessa sat beside Jess at one of the small tables by the
windows, and quietly thanked her. “You have to let me pay you
back. Those needles had to be insanely expensive and the yarn
would’ve cost at least fifty dollars in the lower–forty–eight. God
knows what it’d go for in Alaska p>
Jess scrunched her face, clearly baffled. “No offense, Tessa, but there’s no way I’d spend fifty dollars on yarn. It wasn’t from me p>
Tessa’s stomach plunged. The was only one other likely culprit.
“Shit p>
Jess’s expression transformed into one of glee. “It was Declan! I told
you he wants you p>
Tessa shushed her, looking around the dining room. No Declan.
After dinner, she went straight up to her room, gathered the knitting supplies back into the bag, and hung the bag on Declan’s doorknob.
Friday morning, the bag was back on Tessa’s doorknob. Clenching her jaw, she pulled it off and hung it back on Declan’s door.
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Friday afternoon, she got back from school and found it on her door again. Swearing under her breath, and smiling despite herself, she hung it back on his doorknob. After a second, she darted into her room and snagged a roll of tape. Wrapping the tape around several times, she secured the bag to his doorknob.
When she came back up from dinner, she found the bag gone, but all of its contents were taped to the front of her door.
“Son of a bitch!” she choked out on a laugh.
As she pulled knitting needles and yarn skeins off her door, a door further down the hall opened up. Lucia poked her head out. “Tessa? What are you doing p>
“Getting revenge. You have some time to help me p>
Lucia came into the hall. “I’ve always got time for revenge p>
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.