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“He was turning both of them in.”

“And I want to make sure it happens.” He snarls the words, reminding me of the animal I used to think he was. I know better now. Inside the scary exterior is a soft man who’s seen too much.

I wish I could do more to help him. I know he’s struggling with the fact that he didn’t kill Antonio, but letting him go took more strength than Lynx is giving himself credit for. I watched him struggle with the choice. I saw the exact moment he realized he couldn’t do it.

All I want is to help, and I can’t.

“Where are you meeting Wilde?”

“The Cutty. It’s where all our meetings take place.”

“Are you sure there’ll be a meeting?”

His gaze darkens as he looks out across the fields. “Yes.”

“Can I come?”

Whatever thoughts he had, his focus shifts, and he turns to me instead. Some of the intensity bleeds from his face, and he reaches over to swipe my cheek with his thumb. “Will you be okay to see him?”

“Yes.” Sure, I was terrified when I thought he might kill me, but this is the goal I’ve had ever since I left Wayward, and it’s a relief to know that I’m not the one who will have to deal with it all.

Lynx studies my face, like he’s trying to find a lie, so I lean into his touch instead. It’s like a warm anchor, the way his touch can stop me from spiraling. Just keeps me feeling safe, the way he’s always done.

He steps closer, pulling me against him with the arm not in a sling, and presses his lips to my temple. “You’re incredible.”

My cheeks heat under his praise. While it’s easier on me to focus on Lynx and all the ways he might need me, that’s only because it stops me from focusing on all the ways I fucked up. Lynx warned us all that outsiders would cause problems, and he was right. Antonio was only here because of me. Lynx went through all of that because of me, and the guilt of that has been gnawing at my gut since I first clued in to the cubs being involved.

I pull away sooner than I want to.

“Should we go?”

The openness in his feline features tightens. “Yes.”

I give Lynx space to lock up his house, but Bob hovers close by. He’s been worse than I have when it comes to fussing over Lynx, and it makes my heart happy to see how much he cares. Lynx can deny it all he likes—that animal is bonded to him for life.

We take the trail to the Cutty, and I keep a close eye on Lynx the whole way, making sure that he’s okay with one arm. Luckily, it’s not his dominant side, but it’s still throwing him off, particularly when we get to areas that are harder to pass through.

As I’m watching him, I’m overly aware of the way my heart hurts. I can’t get past how much blood he lost and the way he got a bit hazy there as I sewed him up. How his bloody hands pawed at my face. The way he kept muttering beautiful over and over.

The feelings I have growing for him are beyond the need to make a powerful man want me, and if I’m honest with myself, they scare me. When sex is a game, it’s easy. When it’s an exchange of power, it’s easy. But this … this way my heart is tied to him, and everything about him has the ability to wreck me. It’s terrifying.

It’s a relief when we reach the Cutty and I can drown my thoughts out. Lynx’s cubs are waiting on the front deck, and as soon as they see Lynx, Sammy breaks away from the group and runs at him. She hits his midsection with an oof and wraps him in a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Lynx awkwardly pats her on the head. “Of course I’m okay.”

Of course. Like he wasn’t fucking shot.

She pulls back, visually tucking her emotion away. “It was exactly what you trained us for.”

“Yes,” he says stiffly. “You did good.”

Sammy beams.

“But the smartest thing you can do to keep yourself safe is run.”

JJ approaches us. “Not when someone you love is in danger.”