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"One crisis at a time."

I laugh. "Fair."

"Speaking of futures, you know we all saw the horse listings,” Tripp says, lightening the mood, and I immediately groan.

"Oh my God."

Clint grins.

"You weren't exactly subtle."

"I was browsing."

"You had seventeen tabs open of horses and SUVs."

I bury my face in my hands while all three of them laugh.

"You want a horse?" Clints asks.

I peek through my fingers. "Maybe."

"And an SUV?" Briggs adds.

I try not to smile.

Briggs just shakes his head.

"Once this stalker bullshit gets sorted out, we'll find you a horse."

My head lifts.

"Briggs—"

"No."

Clint nods immediately. "And a vehicle."

"You don't have to⁠—"

"We know." Tripp reaches over and steals my hand before I can keep arguing. "We want to."

At some point, I fall asleep like that, surrounded by my pack, my alphas, my family. The bond hums softly, reassuring me, telling me everything is going to be okay.

Chapter

Forty-Eight

Autumn

The mark on my shoulder is still sensitive. Every time I brush my hair, pull a shirt over my head, or my fingers accidentally graze it, I get a little zing.

The last few days have felt strange in the best possible way. Not because the stalker situation magically disappeared. It didn't. But something between the four of us settled, something I can’t even name.

I’m sitting on the porch with my feet tucked beneath me, basking in the late afternoon weather when my phone buzzes. I glance down absentmindedly, and nearly drop it when I see who it is.

Hunter- Hey baby sis.

For a second, I just stare at the screen. It’s been weeks of unanswered calls, my texts disappearing into the void.