Peyton elbows him sharply.I set the tray down and help her clear the counter.Despite the disaster, the room smells like cinnamon and vanilla.Warm and soft, like home.
The alarm finally stops screaming.Peyton sighs dramatically and leans against the counter.
“You’d think after all this time I’d get better at baking.”
I smile.“It’s ...experience.”
“Trauma,” Calum corrects, smirking.
Peyton waves him away and takes my hands in hers.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says softly.
My chest warms.“So am I.”
She busies herself wiping flour off her apron.“Silas is hovering today.”
“He always hovers.”
“Mmm.”She smirks.“You love it.”
I roll my eyes, but my smile gives me away.
For a few minutes, we move around the kitchen in comfortable silence, cleaning up and preparing a new batch of dough that Peyton will undoubtedly burn.
Her presence is calming.Her energy soft and familiar.A sister, not by blood, but by battle and bond.My truth sits heavy inside my chest, waiting.When the counter is finally clean, Peyton leans against it, tilting her head as she studies me.
“You’re chewing your lip,” she says.
“I am not.”
“You only do that when you’re nervous.”
My stomach twists.“Maybe.”
She folds her arms.“Aria.What’s wrong?”
Nothing is wrong.But something is ...big.Life-changing.I take a breath.
“Peyton...I want to tell you something.”
Her expression softens instantly.“Anything.”
I twist my fingers together.“I want to find them.”
“Find who?”
“The others.”
Her brow furrows.“You mean ...the hidden leopard clans?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes widen.
I keep talking before fear can choke me.“They’re still out there.Scattered and hiding.I don’t know how many, or where, or what shape they’re in.But they don’t know.They don’t know what the Hunters are doing.They don’t know how bad the world has gotten for shifters.”
Peyton steps closer.“Aria...”
