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“Before you what?” Kai asked, breathless and confused by the sudden shift.

Caleb’s smile was strained but still playful, even as his wolf clawed at his control. “Before I decide to find out just how sturdy this counter is.” He stepped forward for one more quick kiss, but even that brief contact had his wolf howling. “Sweet dreams, baby.”

He practically bolted for the door. The rain hit him like a physical shock as he ran to his car, his wolf fighting to break free.

The forest, Derek’s voice came through their bond.We’re waiting.

Caleb’s hands shook on the steering wheel as Scout’s worried whine echoed from the cottage porch. His faithful companionwas clearly torn between following him and staying to guard their mate.

“Stay with him,” Caleb managed through clenched teeth, his wolf fighting to break free. “Keep him safe.”

Scout’s answering bark was both acknowledgment and promise as Caleb forced himself to drive away. The taste of Kai lingered on his lips, and his wolf howled for more. He needed to run, to hunt, to do anything to forget how close they’d come to claiming their mate completely.

The forest called, and his brothers with it.

He barely made it to their meeting spot before the shift took him, clothes shredding as his wolf burst free. The transformation was violent, driven by need rather than control, but he welcomed the pain. Anything to distract from the memory of Kai’s taste, his scent, the perfect way he’d responded to every touch.

His brothers were waiting, their forms emerging from the shadows. Marcus’ pitch-black wolf regarded him with knowing eyes while Derek’s gray form radiated understanding. Shadow and Storm flanked them, the pack guardians alert and watchful.

Rough night?Derek said dryly,, but there was sympathy beneath the teasing.

Caleb’s answering growl held no heat.Like you’re one to talk. At least I made it to the car before losing control.

Both of you need to focus, Marcus cut in, with more resignation than rebuke.The Blackwoods are testing our borders again. We need to run patrol.

Lead the way, Caleb agreed, grateful for the distraction. His golden-brown wolf fell into formation with his brothers, their movements perfectly synchronized despite their different styles. Where Derek moved with military precision and Marcus with calculated grace, Caleb’s wolf prowled with fluid playfulness—even now, unable to completely suppress his natural exuberance.

But as they patrolled their territory, his thoughts kept drifting back to the cottage. To Scout guarding their sleeping mate. To the memory of Kai’s lips, his gasps, the way he’d melted into every touch…

Focus!Marcus’ command snapped him back just as he nearly ran into a tree.

Sorry, Caleb sent back, shaking his head.It’s just… he fits so perfectly. With all of us. Even our differences don’t matter when we’re with him.

We know. Derek’s tone was gentle now.But we have to be careful. The timing has to be right.

The waiting is killing me, Caleb admitted, leaping over a fallen log.How much longer?

Marcus’ answer held both promise and warning.Soon. But only if we don’t scare him away first.

They ran in silence after that, three powerful wolves moving as one through their ancestral forest. But even the thrill of the hunt couldn’t fully distract Caleb from thoughts of their mate, safe in their territory, watched over by his faithful Scout.

Soon, he told himself as they chased down another rival wolf foolish enough to cross their borders. Soon they wouldn’t have to hold back anymore.

But for now, the rain and the hunt would have to be enough.

Chapter 21

Stone & Page—I’d grown to love this place over the past week, which was surprising given my initial plan to flee Cedar Grove as fast as humanly possible. There was something magical about the bookstore’s atmosphere—the floor-to-ceiling shelves of leather-bound classics mixing with new releases, the hidden reading nooks with their overstuffed armchairs, and the constant aroma of freshly brewed coffee from our tiny café corner.

“Good morning, Mr. Patterson,” I called out as our first regular of the day shuffled in at precisely quarter past eight. The retired history professor made a beeline for his usual spot in the Historical Fiction section, his tweed jacket as dependable as his timing. His golden eyes always seemed to gleam with hidden knowledge when he looked at me.

“Kai, my boy!” He beamed, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses. “How’s that copy ofThe Last Kingdomtreating you?”

“Halfway through, sir. You were right about the battle scenes.”

“Ah yes, the ancient battles,” he mused, his voice taking on an odd tone. “Speaking of the Stones—I mean, stones—did youknow this area has quite the fascinating history of territorial disputes?”

Before I could answer, the bell chimed again. A group of elegant women from Port Angeles swept in, led by Mrs. Rivera, who’d been visiting daily since I started. They all moved with an eerily similar grace, like dancers in perfect sync.

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