So, scream it out

Hunter brought the sleigh to a stop. Dahlia straightened up, her gaze meeting his.

"Whatever’s eating at you, Dahlia, it’ll pass. You’ll work it out," he said.

She threw her arms around him, squeezing tightly, her eyes shutting as she breathed him in.

He ran a hand through her hair, and when she pulled back, she planted a quick kiss on his lips.

"Alright, Hunter, let’s move. I’m not in the mood to get my ass handed to me by Todd," she said.

He chuckled.

She dialed Lupin. "Todd wants you at dinner too. You coming?"

"Obviously. I’ll catch you there," Lupin replied.

Wengen - Bear Resort Restaurant

Todd was nursing a glass of wine when Dahlia and Hunter approached the table.

"My gorgeous girl," he said, pulling Dahlia into a hug. "Hunter," he nodded.

"Todd, Jason" Hunter replied, shaking his hand.

Lupin strolled in, his long hair tied back, scruffy but not shaved. He shook hands with Todd, Jason and Hunter then leaned in to kiss Dahlia on the cheek. Todd let out a grunt of disapproval.

"I’ll take some wine," Dahlia said, glancing up to catch Todd’s stern look. "Oh, come on…we didn’t know Jane would spike the drinks."

"You shouldn’t have drank it," Todd said firmly. "Fine. One glass, young lady."

"I’m here to have fun, not to..."

"Jason, tell Todd I’m having three glasses if I feel like it," Dahlia cut in.

"Tell her that’s not happening," Todd shot back.

Lupin and Hunter exchanged a look, then burst out laughing. Todd glared at them, and their laughter died off, faces going serious.

The server arrived, and they placed their orders. Lupin grabbed Dahlia’s hand. “Excited for tomorrow,” he said, pressing a kiss to her knuckles, his gaze locked on hers.

Todd cleared his throat loudly. “After dinner, we’re having a little chat,” he said, pointing between Lupin and Hunter.

They ate, exchanging light banter, and Dahlia polished off her glass of wine. Once the server cleared the plates, Todd turned to Dahlia. “Head to the bar. Stay where I can see you. Have a drink while I deal with these two.”

Dahlia slid off her chair and wandered to the bar, settling into a stool. She signaled the bartender and ordered a drink.

“Alright,” Todd said, leaning forward, his voice tight. “Someone better start explaining what the hell is going on, because none of this adds up.”

A guy approached Dahlia at the bar, and both Hunter and Lupin tensed. Hunter started to rise, but Todd yanked him back down.

“She can handle herself,” Todd snapped, louder than he intended. “Turn your damn chairs around and look at me. Now, explain.”

Hunter hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’re… well, shit, Lupin, I can’t just say it.”

“Wolf. Shapeshifters,” Jason said bluntly.

“Yeah, we figured that much. Now close your mouth.”

“What pack are you with?” Lupin asked, leaning in.

“We’re rogues,” Jason replied. “Chose to live as humans.”

Todd’s voice softened, but there was an edge to it. “This girl… she’s been through hell. When we found her…” He trailed off, his eyes glistening. “She had this innocence about her, but even then, I knew she was something special. One morning, I was brushing her hair, Hunter saw her hair, they chuckled. I saw it…

He took a deep breath, his voice turning cold. “So, I’m warning you now, if either of you mess with her, I’ll shift and tear you apart, and I haven’t shift in…

Five years, Jason finished

“She doesn’t know what you are?” Lupin asked.

“Of course not,” Todd said.

“Jason’s a corporate lawyer with connections, he continued. He’s got a friend who can find anyone, anything, ghosts, needles in haystacks, you name it. We’ve been digging, but there’s no trace. And this guy who showed up tonight? I don’t trust him. Call it a gut feeling. Someone out there wants her gone.”

"You’re just confusing her more. After this week, you’re both staying away from her. Got it?" Jason said, arms crossed.

"Yeah, loud and clear," Hunter replied

"And how’s that going to work? You work with her," Lupin shot back, leaning casually in his chair.

"Nice homework, Lupin. I can be invisible, work from home…when I want to," Hunter quipped, smirking.

Todd leveled them with a sharp look. "You’re staying away. Let her figure things out on her own."

"Besides," Jason added, tapping the table, "if I remember right, how the bond works…"

"Is her call," Hunter mumbled under his breath. His eyes flicked to the bar where another guy had slid into the seat next to Dahlia.

Hunter growled, standing up. Lupin followed suit.

"Sit down," Todd barked. "Let’s see how she handles it."

It looked like she was giving the guy an earful, but he wasn’t budging. Dahlia stood, clearly pissed, and the guy just grinned. She stormed over to the table.

Both men rose to their feet. "Need help?" Hunter asked, glaring at the guy.

"No, I’m fine. He’s just… persistent," Dahlia snapped. "Are you done talking about me?"

"Come on," Todd said, gesturing for her to join him. "Let’s take a walk, Dahlia."

The cold air bit at her cheeks as Dahlia clutched Todd’s arm. “Todd, I love you,” she said, her voice cracking.

“Kid, you know I’d do anything for you,” Todd replied gruffly. “Now, quit stalling and spit it out. What’s eating you?”

Dahlia groaned, throwing her head back. “I’m so confused. With Hunter, it’s like… home. But Lupin? There’s this pull I can’t explain. I don’t want to choose. I feel like I’m losing my damn mind.”

Todd raised an eyebrow. “So, scream it out. Since when you give a shit what anyone thinks?”

She blinked at him, then took two steps back and let out a yell that echoed across the snow. A few heads turned, but Todd just grinned.

“Louder, kid. My ears aren’t what they used to be,” he called.

Dahlia flung her arms wide, tipped her face to the sky, and screamed again, snowflakes falling on her face.

From a distance, Hunter, Lupin, and Jason watched.

“I love her,” he whispered.

Jason turned to him “Fucking hell, man.”