A chill moves through me.
“They think she’s connected to the hidden clan,” Peyton adds softly.“Even if she isn’t—”
“She is,” I cut in.I can feel it.The way she talked about ‘the others.’The longing in her voice when she looked at the forest.“She knows where she came from.”
“And she’ll tell you when she’s ready,” Peyton says gently.“But you need to understand the danger that puts her in.”
“I do,” I whisper.
The anger simmering beneath my skin sharpens.The Hunters didn’t just break her, they hunted her because she’s rare.Precious.Something they wanted to weaponize or destroy.
“Do you want us, her, to leave?”I ask, facing Peyton.I knew this moment would come eventually.
She glares.“Don’t be an asshole.You became a part of this pack the moment you came back with Lola and Thomas.We don’t leave our own when times get tough.”
I feel like a chastised child.I nod my understanding.“I swear to you,” I say quietly, “I won’t let them touch her again.”
Peyton nods, but her eyes soften with worry.“That vow is going to cost you something, Silas.”
“I don’t care.”
Marc claps a hand on my shoulder.“We’ll manage the perimeter.You handle her.But the pack needs you briefly.Ten minutes.Tops.”
I stiffen.“I can’t leave her that long.”
“You can,” Peyton says gently.“She’s resting.And if there’s danger, we need your input.”
I hate the logic.But they’re right.I exhale slowly.“Fine.Ten minutes.”
Peyton squeezes my arm once before they turn to go.
I slip back inside the room, heart beating harder from the conversation.Aria is curled in the same spot, hand unconsciously stretched toward where I’d been sitting.That simple gesture almost drops me to my knees.
I take the blanket and pull it gently over her hand, so she doesn’t wake up reaching for something that isn’t there.
“I’ll be back,” I whisper.She shifts, brow softening.“I promise.”
I rush through the compound until I get to the main pack house.I want this over quickly so I can get back to her before she wakes up.When I get inside the tension is thick enough to choke on.Godrick and the twins lean against the wall, arms crossed, brows heavy with concern.
Caine stands at the head of the room.
The moment he sees me, he gestures to the map table.“They wanted us there, Silas.Whoever’s running these Hunters, it’s not the same unit we’ve seen before.”
I nod stiffly.“They’re more coordinated.”
“More ruthless,” Godrick adds.
“They expected us to grab Aria,” Sayer says.“We walked right into their plan.”
“But we got out,” Rayleigh counters.“And now they’re pissed.”
Caine looks at me.“There’s another issue.”
My jaw clenches.“What now?”
“The council.”He hesitates.“They want to see her.”
A blast of heat spikes through my chest.“Absolutely not.”
