The Ivy House: The Complete Series - The Ivy House, #7

A young man on the run. A magical house in the woods. A mysterious shape shifter who swears to serve them both. Dain has only the barest of plans when he runs away from his abusive brothers: travel through the cursed woods and head for Saltstone. Get a job. Live his life. The woods, however, have another idea and lead him to the Ivy House, a small building imbued with so much magic it is almost alive, and it wants a new master. The house is charming and Dain finally feels safe.
Whether that has to do with the Ivy House itself or the strange shape-shifting creature that comes with it, he's not entirely sure. The longer Dain stays and the more magic he learns, the more determined he becomes to not only live his own life, but to free his new friend to live his. Even if it leaves Dain alone in the woods.