ASHTON   "I don't think I brought enough chips," Maddy complains as she stands beside me in the kitchen. We're preparing a plate of food for everyone. She examines the Tostitos in disappointment. "What was I thinking? Just one bag? Perth could devour a whole bag by himself. And why did I bring donuts? No one else likes midnight donuts except me."   I place both hands on her broad swimmer's shoulders. Maddy is tall, with long legs and arms, and when she's barefoot, she's almost six feet tall, just a couple of inches shorter than me. We could easily pass as siblings rather than cousins.   Our moms are sisters, and we share their striking green eyes. Our dads are half-brothers, and if I hadn't dyed my hair, we would also share our grandfather's dark brown hair. So yes, you probably know Madison Hayn

ASHTON Firecrackers exploded, shattering the tranquility of the night. My immediate reaction was to jump to my feet, and in an instant, all three bodyguards sprang into action. "Lennox!" Perth shouted, urgently pointing towards the front door, grabbing his radio from a nearby sleeping bag. "Perth to Alpha. Perth to Alpha." Lennox wasted no time and sprinted towards the exit. Fueled by anger and concern for my family's safety, I followed closely behind, my eyes narrowed with intensity. Someone had deliberately broken my window, and the possibility of gunshots raced through my mind. My vision became clouded with rage. Lennox reached for the doorknob, but he abruptly turned to face

LENNOX After finishing bandaging my arms, I take a moment to catch my breath. Ashton goes upstairs to check on Willow and make some family calls. We can't speak freely with security personnel everywhere. I sit down and recount the events of tonight to the Tri-Force, providing every detail in a detached manner. After what feels like an eternity, they finally release me. All I want to do is find Ashton. Finding him is my sole desire. I want to be with him. I make my way to the staircase, passing three Alpha bodyguards who pat my shoulder and offer words of congratulations. They commend me for my quick actions, as the man I pinned down had a handgun on him. If he hadn't been caught, it's believed that he and his accomplice could have easily

ASHTON I wake up to the sound of the most annoying beeping alarm at 5:40 a.m. It's way too early for my liking. Lennox is lying next to me, his head resting on my shoulder, our legs tangled together. I reach over and hit the snooze button on his phone, hoping for a few more minutes of precious sleep. This isn't the first time Lennox has stayed overnight in my bed. We've both been taking risks by allowing this to happen. Later, he'll go back to his own place, and hopefully, his partner Seth won't suspect anything. Lennox yawns and sits up, propping himself up on his elbows. His white hair is disheveled, his lips still red from the passionate kissing we engaged in just an hour ago. A smug smile starts to form on his face. It's undeniable.

ASHTON "King," I whisper as footsteps sound on the iron staircase. "Since this is Maddy's first meeting, can you ease her into it?" "Sure," King nods, rising to greet my cousin. The rest of us turn our attention to them. "Here, Maddy," Perth says, taking her motorcycle helmet while holding his own. "Thanks, Kits," Maddy replies, unbuttoning her denim Kinget. She's dressed in denim jeans and a plain white tee, with her dark hair cascading down her chest. King approaches Maddy and meets her gaze. "You must be King," Maddy says, extending her hand. Perth moves aro