55

Caden spots me from across the field where he’s sparring with Ryan. The second he sees me, his whole face lights up with a grin—right before Ryan clocks him across the jaw, laughing as Caden drops like a turd in a toilet. Caden glares up at him, shakes it off, and bolts straight toward me.

I glance at Dad, waiting for direction as Caden closes in. “Does he know yet?” I ask.

Dad nods. “Yep. He was very excited to hear he could kill him.”

“He is not killing him,” I snap, like a petulant child. “He’s mine to kill!”

Dad snorts, shrugging one shoulder just as Caden reaches me and pulls me into a crushing bear hug.

“I missed you,” he murmurs, stepping back. He lifts my chin so I’m looking at him and plants a kiss on my forehead.

“Are you sure I can’t have a real kiss?” I pout.

He smirks and runs his thumb along my bottom lip. “Maybe later.”

I roll my eyes but pull him into another hug anyway, inhaling his intoxicating scent.

“I missed you too. So… shall we do this?” I ask.

Caden steps back, his expression shifting to his Alpha face. “Let’s do it, Luna,” he says with a wink.

I snort and march past him, heading straight for Tim. He’s at the edge of the field fighting with Micky. As I approach, Micky immediately backs off, avoiding eye contact—probably still feeling awkward after last night.

“Tim, can we talk?” I ask.

He turns, frowning as Micky walks away. But the moment he sees me, his face splits into a grin. He skips over like some idiot puppy. “I knew you’d come to your senses!”

I’m honestly shocked at how easily he lies—and in front of an entire army, no less.

“Yes, Tim. I’ve finally seen sense. Took a while, but it’s all crystal clear now.” I answer sweetly, stepping up beside him.

He glances over my shoulder, frowning. “What about Caden?”

The sound of Caden’s name in his mouth almost makes me growl, but I swallow it down. No way am I tipping my hand.

“Caden won’t be a problem anymore,” I say with a grin.

Tim beams and grabs my hand. “I’ve got so many ideas for our first date. I mean—territory!”

There it is. Lenny was right. Tim just confirmed it.

I tighten my grip on his hand and bat my lashes at him. “Yeah, about that—” I snap his arm with one swift twist. He screams as he falls back, gasping in shock and pain.

Caden and Dad step up beside me. Caden kisses my forehead again, his eyes locked on Tim. Then he lifts my face.

“You okay?”

“Never better,” I say with a grin.

Tim’s face twists in rage. “YOU BITCH!”

But then his eyes glaze over—someone’s linking him. His face drops when he realizes he’s screwed. He takes off running.

Caden snorts. “Does he really think he’s getting away?”

I shrug and step forward, pulling on my aura until it radiates through the clearing. Once it peaks, I shout, “STOP!”

Everyone around me freezes. Even Dad, mid-step, stands completely still, staring at me like I’ve grown horns. Caden shifts uncomfortably but isn’t fully frozen.

“Shit, sorry. EVERYONE BUT TIM CAN MOVE!”

Dad gasps as the command lifts. He breathes hard, his expression a mix of amazement and confusion. I’ve never used my command on this scale before—just enough to get rogues to talk, usually.

“We’ll talk later,” Dad says, not angry—just impressed.

I nod and head after Tim. He’s frozen in place, clutching his broken wrist like the coward he is. My wolves circle him, snarling.

“Tim, walk to the cellar,” I command.

Wordlessly, he obeys, limping toward the cellar surrounded by my wolves.

⸻

When we arrive, Dad frowns. Tim’s parents are there, but his sister isn’t.

“Where is the other one?” he asks Simon.

“She wasn’t home when we got there. We’ve got people out looking.”

I growl and turn to Aspen. “Find her. Get her scent from the house and share it with the pack. I want everyone of age on it.”

Aspen snarls at the shaking Tim before racing out.

Tim’s parents go pale as the weight of their situation sets in.

“Please, don’t—she had nothing to do with this!” his mother pleads.

Caden growls. “Who put her in this mess? You were going to kidnap and sell my mate. You think any of you are walking away from this?”

“But Mel didn’t know—”

I slam Tim into the wall and shackle him with silver, ignoring the sting.

“If that were true, you wouldn’t have brought her here. Stop wasting time. I’m killing all of you.”

I grab Tim’s other hand and snap it. He screams, thrashing, but I hold him in place and lock it in another shackle. The weight of his body pulls against his broken wrist, tears streaming down his face.

“YOU BITCH!”

I chuckle and step back, just as his mother spits at me. She misses by millimeters.

“Ew. Unsanitary.”

Dad’s on her instantly, slamming her into the wall and choking her.

“For that, we’ll wait for your daughter. See how you like it when Baylee’s wolves tear her apart,” he snarls.

I yawn and stretch. Caden glances toward the door.

“Go. Eat. Rest. I’ll call when we find Mel—you didn’t get much sleep.”

I glance at the prisoners. “Then you two should come too. Simon’s got this.”

Simon, Mom’s most trusted guard, had been promoted to head of security years ago. Once he found his mate, Gary, even Dad started respecting him. He was family.

“It’s fine,” Simon says. “Go. You’ve had a long night.”

“See?” I grin. “And it’s waffle day. We can’t miss that.”

At the word “waffle,” Dad’s stomach betrays him with a growl.

“Fine,” he grumbles. “Simon’s got this—and we need to talk.”

We head back to the packhouse.

⸻

“How the hell do you think your mom and I would feel if one of you died out there? Fighting, hiding, playing around like it’s a game? We get it, Caden, you’re cautious. But it’s time to let Baylee decide what she’s ready for. I’m not willing to lose my kids because you’re too stubborn to see sense!” Dad growls.

He’s been ranting for over an hour, emotions pouring out of him.

“You two are going to lead this pack,” Mom adds gently. “Enough lies. Stop hiding your emotions—it helps no one.”

I glance at Caden. He gives me a small smile, both of us feeling guilty. The last few days have been chaos, but for the first time, I feel grounded. I can control my emotions. Caden isn’t blocking his. We’re not officially a couple—but maybe, finally, we’re something real.

“I’m not willing to complete the bond until the mate bond falls into place,” Caden says. “But I promise to stop hiding behind my fear. That’s all I can offer for now.”

I smile and squeeze his hand.

“I agree. I think we can handle this—together—even without completing the bond.”

Caden looks shocked. I roll my eyes.

“Oh please. Don’t look so surprised. I’m logical. As long as you don’t hold back your emotions—even the ones that make you want to kiss me—I’m good with this… us.”

He frowns. “I agree. But you need to understand that when I hold back, it’s because I can’t control myself. If that happens, I may need to step away.”

“If you’re okay with being natural,” I grin, “then I’m okay with that.”

I launch myself into his arms.

“Yesssss!” I squeal.

He chuckles, shaking me side to side in a hug. But just as I pull away, something inside me tears. My soul rips in half.

I scream.

“Baylee, what is it?!” Dad shouts.

I collapse, sobbing as unbearable pain explodes through me. Ben—my wolf—he’s gone. I’ve never felt this before. I never want to again.

Then—another jolt. Bill.

I scream again.

Caden stares in horror. He doesn’t understand, but I can’t speak.

“My wolves…” I sob. The pack outside begins to howl.

Caden stands. “Can you find them?”

I nod, shaking with rage.

“Follow me!” I snap, bolting into the forest.

Near the border, I sense them—my remaining wolves. They’re furious. Bloodthirsty.

We round a corner and I freeze.

Mel is cornered by my wolves. Blood covers the ground. She’s holding a knife, trembling, pressed against a tree.

“DROP THE KNIFE!” I roar.

Her hand opens. The knife hits the dirt.

“Stand still… as they eat you alive,” I hiss.

Her eyes widen in terror. She pleads—but I don’t care. Aspen charges first, biting her hand and dragging her into the center. Joey leaps next, tearing into her leg. Her screams echo through the pack.

I open a link to Tim and his parents—let them hear it. Let them know what they caused.

I watch as my wolves shred her.

When it’s over, the pain returns. Nothing has changed. Ben and Bill are gone.

I kneel beside them, running my fingers through their soft, grey pelts. My twin boys. I’d watched them be born.

“Let’s bring them home,” Caden says softly.

I nod.

⸻

Dad and Mom deal with Tim’s family while we prepare for the funeral. I lie beside Ben and Bill, holding them one last time.

“They need a warrior’s funeral,” I whisper.

“They’ll get one,” Caden promises, resting my head on his knee as the pack pays their respects.

⸻

“I’ve got an early meeting in the city tomorrow, but I’ll be back for breakfast,” Caden says later that night.

I frown as I crawl into bed beside him. May climbs into her bed next to Ryan. It’s our birthday tomorrow. Just like every year, we’re having a sleepover so the boys can be the first to wish us happy birthday.

“But that means you’ll be last to wish me happy birthday,” I pout.

“I’ll be the first—you just won’t hear it because you’ll be asleep,” he teases. “Please don’t be mad. It was either the morning or the night, and I didn’t want to miss your big day.”

I groan, cuddling into his side as May starts a horror movie.

“It’s fine. You can make it up to me when you get back,” I wink.

He grins, pulling me close.

I drift off to sleep in his arms, more exhausted than I realized.