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Of any answer.

Soren reaches for me with his free hand, pressing it against my lower back—a solid, warm weight tethering me to reality. His voice, when he answers, is soft, but strong and sure.

“You are our Mate.” He leans in, pressing a soft kiss right below my ear. His words vibrate pleasantly against my skin, making me shiver.

“You are your mother’s daughter.”

Tears rush to fill my eyes, his words a purposeful echo of my mother’s declaration the night she died. I hadn’t realized he was close enough to hear her.

Caelan’s forehead meets mine, and his answer is no less tender. “You are everything, Idril. The beginning, and the end.”

My Mates sit with me, letting their words carry the weight of all they haven’t said out loud. And in this moment, surrounded by their scents and warmth, I believe them.

Soren’s breath catches, and I feel him go supernaturally still beside me. He tilts his head to the side, brow furrowed like he’s listening to something only he can hear. Then his head whips toward the door, and he shoots from the bed in a full-blown panic.

“My Pack.”

That’s the only explanation he offers before he’s gone, taking off so fast he’s nearly a blur. He doesn’t even stop to throw on a shirt with his joggers.

I don’t hesitate to follow. I fling off the blankets and jump out of bed, racing after him. There’s no need to glance back and check for Caelan. Even if I couldn’t feel him in the Bond, I can hear his footsteps echoing steadily right behind me.

Soren’s already all the way down the hall, so even though I want to call out to him, it’s pointless. By the time I think to ask him where the heck he’s going, he’s rounding the corner and disappearing from view.

“Idril, get behind me, please!” Caelan sounds legitimately afraid, so I don’t argue. I slow down just enough for him to pass me, then pick up my pace.

Halfway down the corridor, a door to the right swings open and a barely awake Vae peeks out.

“What in the Fates is going on?” he asks, rubbing his eyes.

Caelan scarcely pauses long enough to glance back before he answers. “Don’t know. Something with Soren’s Pack.”

That’s apparently enough of an explanation for Vae. The door to his room slams shut behind him. He shoots across the hall, banging his fist against the door opposite his own.

I’m getting antsy, shifting from foot to foot, shooting worried glances after Soren. Caelan looks as eager to get going as I am. The second Dax opens the door, we take off, leaving Vae to explain what’s happening.

Thankfully, I can tell exactly where Soren is through our Bond. By the time we arrive at the side door off the kitchen, we’re right in time to see Soren’s back as he disappears into the forest without us.

I nearly run into Caelan when he stops at the door, throwing an arm out to prevent me from racing after Soren.

My instincts don’t care that my head knows Caelan’s not keeping me from Soren to be mean. So I feel ultra-bad when an Omega whine slips from my lips as a persistent, unbearable need to get to my Mate pulses through me.

Worse, I can feel his fear through the Bond. The fact that he’s not shielding me from his emotions sends my anxiety spiraling.

Suddenly, Daxen’s here, shouldering past us and pushing through the open door. He stills. The muscles in his back tense, standing out in sharp relief, and his spine is suddenly ramrod straight. I’m close enough that I easily hear when he curses.

“What the fuck….”

Caelan elbows around him. Whatever he sees is enough to warrant an even louder curse of his own.

I fight to choke down another whine, but it’s a struggle. My heart’s racing, and my hands are clammy with sweat. I wipe them off on the fabric of my sleep shorts, pulling my cardigan tighter around me.

A flash brightens the sky, turning the Alphas in front of me into dark silhouettes. It’s so bright I have to squeeze my eyes shut, fearing it might blind me.

Soren’s fear is getting worse. I can feel it through the Bond and hear it in his tone as he shouts orders somewhere off in the distance. Each command he issues is followed by a chorus of male voices—ones I don’t recognize, but pray to the Fates belong to Soren’s pack.

There’s a loud SNAP from the tree line, and the ground heaves beneath my feet, with a sound like rumbling thunder.

And just like that, I’m done.