He's good at this—better than most professional investigators I've worked with.
I'll look into it myself tomorrow morning. Run my own searches through different channels. Because if Reverie gains more popularity—which she absolutely will, her content is engaging and authentic and exactly what people crave—they might target her. Try to use her newfound success against her somehow, extort money, leverage her growing platform for their own purposes, or worse. I have to be ready for every possible scenario. Have to protect her from threats she doesn't even know exist yet.
I'm about to head into my own room—the one at the end of the hall with a view of the snow-covered pines—when I hear it.
A squeal.
High-pitched and delighted and unmistakably Reverie.
My protective instincts flare immediately.
I change direction without thinking, heading toward her room—the largest bedroom in the cabin, the one with the ensuite bathroom and the balcony overlooking the forest.
I need to make sure she's okay. That nothing's wrong. That she's safe.
Her door is open a few inches. I can see light spilling into the hallway, hear her voice animated and bright.
I push the door open slightly more and see her sitting cross-legged in the middle of the enormous bed, practically glowing with excitement. She's holding her old phone—the scratched iPhone 11 with the cracked case—and talking into it while showing her new pink iPhone 18 to the camera.
She's doing an unboxing live stream. Using her old phone to film because the new one is the subject of the video. Smart.
"So this is the new iPhone 18 Pro Max in rose gold," she's saying, holding it up to show all angles. "And you guys, it's SO pretty. Like, unreasonably pretty. I can't stop looking at it. It catches the light and just sparkles."
She talks about where she got it—TechSavvy Electronics in Millbrook, gives River and his shop a genuine shout out with enthusiasm that will probably send business his way.
Then she recaps the day's adventures—the horseback riding, the race, meeting Snowfall, the lodge tour.
"And we're staying at Winter Pine Lodge tonight," she continues, panning the camera to show the luxurious room. "Look at this place! It's absolutely gorgeous! I'm going to sleep so early tonight because I want to get up super early tomorrow todo Pilates on the deck. Can you imagine? Morning Pilates with a view of snow-covered pine trees? It's going to be divine!"
She talks about the clothes she picked up—mentions a bubblegum pink workout set with ornament prints that she's excited to wear, talks about the cashmere sweaters we bought her from the lodge's boutique.
Then she pauses, clearly reading comments scrolling past on her screen.
She laughs nervously—a sound that immediately puts me on alert.
"Well, yeah... this is the first time having a good... supportive pack?"
She stutters slightly, her usual confidence faltering.
"My last pack... well, they weren't the best for me. I'm coming to realize that now because, well... they hated everything I did. Everything I wanted to do. Every dream I had."
She laughs but it's hollow.Sad.She looks down at her hands, fidgeting with the phone case.
"This is actually the first real day I've gotten to spend with all three of them together. Nash, Grayson, and Theo. And wow..." Her voice softens with genuine emotion. "I've never felt so alive. So free and full and supported. Do you know how incredible it feels to be supported properly? To have people actually encourage you instead of tear you down?"
She takes a shaky breath.
"I don't have to overthink with them. I don't have to calculate every word or action. I just experience the moment in real time instead of constantly wondering 'what if I do this wrong' or 'what if they get mad at me for that.' It's weird... and so amazing. So different from what I'm used to."
Rage simmers hot in my gut. Her old pack did a number on her. Made her afraid to exist authentically. Made her second-guess every natural instinct. I want to find them and make them understand what real fear feels like.
She laughs again, shaking off the heavy emotion.
"Haha, I'm probably making the mood weird and emotional, so I'll end the live here! But thank you all so much for following me on this journey! I'm officially calling this the Knotty Christmas Series!"
She grins at the camera.
"Please follow me because I'm hoping to go on plenty of dates with my Alphas over the next few weeks! You guys can get into the Christmas spirit with us and maybe get ideas for things to do with your own packs! More adventures coming soon!"
