Page 65 of Paws & Order

Young.

Happy.

Frozen forever inside a moment neither of them knew would matter.

Miss Nettles studies it carefully.

Then sighs. "Someone wanted her remembered."

The words settle heavily in my chest. Because I think she's right. Not revenge. Not anger. Memory.

The meeting wraps up shortly after that.

No breakthroughs or revelations.

Just one more piece of a puzzle that still refuses to come together.

When I leave Town Hall, the sky is finally clear.

The sunlight spills across downtown in bright gold ribbons.

For once, Blackthorn Bay looks almost normal.

I make it halfway home before my phone buzzes.

Cassian: Outside.

My pulse immediately picks up. I hate how easily he does it.

When I reach the apartment building, his truck is waiting at the curb.

I climb inside.

He glances over and his expression softens immediately. Like it always does now. The realization still catches me off guard.

"How'd it go?"

I shrug. "Still a mystery."

His hand finds my knee.

Casual. Possessive. Comforting.

Every nerve ending in my body immediately notices.

"Hey."

I blink. "What?"

"You've been staring out the window for three blocks."

Heat floods my face. "I've had a long day."

His thumb brushes my knee. Once. Slow. My brain completely abandons its post.

The smug wolf knows exactly what he's doing.

Back at the apartment, the files remain untouched.