But it was finally over.
She glanced at Max beside her. His arm slipped around her waist as he pulled her closer. The contact sent a soft, steady warmth through her—something grounding and real. She leaned into him without thinking.
Grateful didn’t feel like a strong enough word.
She was grateful she was here. Grateful Max was here. Grateful that somehow, through all of it, they’d both made it to the other side.
“Since we’re all here, I have another update to give you all,” Ruby announced.
Everyone turned toward her.
“Rowan called me earlier,” she said. “She’s coming home. She’s on her way now. Driving here from California.”
Caleb straightened. “What? Really? Why?”
Ruby shrugged, though her expression held a hint of concern. “I don’t know. She didn’t say.”
Wyatt pushed off the wall, his brows drawing together. “Something must be wrong. That’s the only reason she’d come home.”
“Maybe she just misses us,” Naomi offered, though even she didn’t sound fully convinced.
An unspoken understanding passed between them all. There was more to the story.
Hadley felt it too. But instead of worry, she felt something closer to anticipation.
Rowan’s return would bring its own set of answers, its own story to unfold.
And Hadley would be glad to see her.
But not right now.
Right now, she was aware of something else. Of Max beside her. Of the way his arm still rested around her waist. Of the fact that, in the chaos of everything that had happened—interviews,questions, statements repeated over and over to different law enforcement agencies—they hadn’t really had a moment.
Not a real one.
Max shifted as if he’d come to the same realization. “I think we should go check on Juno.”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
His hand slipped down to find hers, and he led her toward the door. As they stepped outside, the noise of the house faded behind them. The crisp air met them, fresh and clean.
The kennel stood just ahead.
And for the first time in days, Hadley felt like she could finally breathe.
The kennel was quieter than Max expected.
Not silent—it was never silent—but calmer. The frantic edge from a few nights ago was gone, replaced by the steady rhythm of animals settling back into routine. A few dogs lifted their heads as he and Hadley stepped inside, tails thumping against the sides of their runs.
It feltnormal. The word felt almost foreign.
Max let the door close behind them then walked to Juno’s pen.
The dog was already on her feet.
She let out a soft, eager sound and padded forward, her tail wagging as she reached the gate. The puppies tumbled clumsily behind her, a wiggling pile of legs and curiosity.
Hadley smiled as she crouched down despite the slight stiffness in her movements.
