All she knew was that it had changed everything.
Chapter 16 - Grayson
Grayson leaned against the railing of the wraparound porch outside the town’s community building, a temporary base they’d been using for strategy sessions. The place was rarely used. Nestled behind overgrown shrubs at the edge of the main road, the building offered privacy without attracting attention.
Sleep had been elusive, chased away by memories he couldn’t shake and the weight of the moment he couldn’t forget.
Emily’s face haunted him in those hours between dusk and morning. Her soft and melodic laugh echoed faintly in the back of his mind. She’d had a way of teasing him that always caught him off guard. Something playful in her voice made him forget the danger they lived in—until the day he couldn’t protect her—until the day the danger caught up with her instead of him.
He closed his eyes, trying to shove the memory back into the box where it belonged. It didn’t matter how many years had passed. The guilt lingered like a constant companion. He’d been too late to save her, too focused on the mission, and now…
Now, there was Cora.
Her laughter wasn’t soft—it came with an edge she didn’t bother to hide. It cut through the armor he wore, but they didn’t wound. They reminded him that he was still here, still fighting, even if he didn’t know how to admit he needed someone like her.
The night before had changed everything. The feel of her lips on his, the way she’d melted against him, had unraveled something inside him. He wanted her, craved her in a way that went beyond the bond. But that was the problem, wasn’t it? Wanting her meant risking her. Letting her in meant opening her up to the same danger that had stolen Emily away.
He didn’t know how to protect Cora without pushing her away. He didn’t know how to keep her safe without smothering her. And worst of all, he didn’t know how to let himself feel something for her without the fear of losing her ripping him apart.
The sharp sound of a door clicking open behind him broke his thoughts. Ryder stepped out, and he crossed the porch toward him.
“They’re inside,” Ryder said, gesturing toward the room behind him. The makeshift meeting space was cramped and cluttered with maps, notes, and empty coffee cups—a testament to the long hours they’d spent planning their next move.
Grayson straightened, adjusting the collar of his jacket. “Let’s go.”
Zane and Zach were already seated at the table with a worn map of Bellefleur and the surrounding areas spread out between them.
“Look who finally showed up,” Zane commented with a grin. “Thought you were too busy with your accidental wife to bother.”
“Keep talking, and I’ll send you to babysit the perimeter patrol,” Grayson shot back as he dropped into a chair. “What’ve we got?”
Zach leaned forward and traced one of the roads on the map with his finger. “Theodore’s people are holed up north of Cedar Hallow, near the old logging mill. We’ve got movement in and out at night—small groups, heavily armed. It’s not just a safe house; it’s a hub.”
Grayson frowned as his eyes scanned the map. “How many captives?”
“Hard to say,” Zach admitted. “Our scouts couldn’t get close enough without risking exposure. But we know they’re holding witches and shifters. Maybe some humans, too.”
“They’re trafficking them through the mill,” Ryder added. “Using the woods as cover. It’s smart. Isolated, easy to defend, but close enough to the main roads for transport.”
Every detail painted a clearer picture of the operation, and none of it was good. “We need eyes inside,” he said. “Someone who can get close without tipping them off.”
“I’ll do it,” Zane offered. “I’m good at this kind of thing. Theodore doesn’t know me, and I can play the part of a buyer looking to make a deal.”
Grayson didn’t bother hiding his skepticism. “You think you can just walk in there and charm them into spilling their secrets?”
“It’s worked before,” Zane replied, flashing a grin. “And let’s be honest—you’re not exactly easy to miss, Kane. They'll spot you a mile away if you go anywhere near that mill.”
“He’s right,” Ryder said reluctantly. “You’re too recognizable. If Theodore gets even a hint you’re involved, he’ll shut everything down and move his operation somewhere we can’t find it.”
Grayson hated that they were right. His history with Theodore ran too deep, and the bastard would recognize him on sight. But the thought of sending someone else into the lion’s den didn’t sit well either. He’d seen too many missions go sideways because of bad intel or overconfidence, and the stakes here were too high.
“You’ll need a solid cover story. And an exit strategy. If anything goes wrong—”
“I’ll improvise,” Zane interrupted.
“Not good enough,” Grayson snapped. “If you’re going in, you’re doing it my way. No cowboy bullshit.”
Zane raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fine. No cowboy bullshit. Happy?”
