LOGINThe dread was still there. Heavy. Insistent. The mate bond warning that danger was—was coming. That Emily's plan was—was bigger than we'd anticipated. "Tell me about the dread," Hope said quietly. "Caden, describe it. What—what exactly are you feeling through the bond?" "Warning. Like—like somet
"And while we're watching Liam's meeting—while we're focused on gathering evidence against Emily—she's—she's gathering evidence against you." Hope's calm was gone now. Replaced by real fear. "Caden, she could—could destroy the bond by making me think you're—you're not committed. That you're—you're p
The Next Generation Caden pov One hour until Liam's meeting with Emily and I felt—wrong. The mate bond was humming with tension. With—with warning that something wasn't right. I watched Hope pace the Reed-Castellan living room, phone in hand, expression calm. Too calm. Like she was—was preparin
"I trust you too. Caden, I trust that—that you chose me. That you'll keep choosing me. That Emily's pursuit doesn't—doesn't tempt you. Doesn't make you question whether comfortable friendship with her is—is easier than complicated bond with me." "It's not about easy. It's about right. You're right
Caden kissed my shoulder. "You're devious. Hope Reed-Castellan, you're absolutely devious and I love it." "I'm protecting the bond. Emily wants to play games? Fine. We play smarter. We—we gather evidence instead of just reacting. We build case that gets her exiled if she doesn't back down." "I'l
The Next Generation Hope pov I sat in Caden's lap, comfortable and warm, his arms around me while we watched a movie. The mate bond hummed contentedly. Three days since we'd acknowledged it, and already it felt—felt natural. Right. Like we'd always been meant to be exactly here. My phone rang.
We spent the next hour going over every detail. Vampire positions. Communication protocols. Contingency plans if things went wrong. Extraction routes if Emma and Grace needed to be pulled out quickly. It was thorough. Professional. Exactly the kind of planning that should have made me feel confide
"Emma, three hostiles approaching your six," I said into the comm. "Don't react. Let them get close. Vampires will handle it." "Copy." Her voice was steady. "I trust you." Those three words. After everything we'd been through. After all the betrayals and rebuilding and impossible choices. She
"What do you recommend?" "Full security. My vampires surrounding the meeting location. Your father and Marcus present but armed. Emma and Grace nowhere near the actual meeting—they stay upstairs, protected by my best warriors." He paused. "And you need to be prepared for them to say things designe
The honesty was refreshing. And somehow more reassuring than empty promises would have been. "Fair enough." I started up the stairs. "Forty-five minutes. We'll be ready." I checked on Emma and Grace first—both still sleeping peacefully. I left them there, closing the door quietly, before heading







