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Through their bond, Cade felt Keir’s mind working—cataloging every detail of the incident, planning retribution with the strategic precision that made him the most dangerous of the three when truly angered.

“Drew, you can stay with your guests if you’d like,” Keir added, his emphasis on “guests” making it clear exactly what he thought of them.

Drew hesitated, clearly torn between his loyalty to Finn and his obligations as host. “I should come with you guys?—”

“Stay,” Finn managed to rasp against Cade’s chest, his voice raw from coughing up lake water. “I’m fine. Just need to rest.”

Cade tightened his hold protectively, feeling how fragile Finn seemed in his arms. His wolf howled within, demanding they get their mate away from danger immediately. The scent of the Blackwood cousins—artificial pheromones now soured with the acrid smell of thwarted intentions—was becoming intolerable.

Drew didn’t look convinced by Finn’s assurance but nodded slowly. “I’ll check on you later.”

“I’m so sorry about your fall,” Sophia said, reaching toward Finn with perfectly manicured concern that didn’t reach her calculating eyes. “If there’s anything we can do?—”

Logan moved with predatory speed, positioning himself between them like a living wall, his back to Sophia as if she wasn’t worth acknowledging. “Can you walk?” he asked Finn, his voice gentler than Cade had heard it in weeks.

Through their bond, Cade felt Logan’s wolf clawing for control—the primal urge to eliminate threats to their mate battling with human restraint.

Not here, Cade reminded him.Not with witnesses.

They tried to drown our mate, Logan’s internal voice snarled back, raw with protective fury.

And they’ll pay for it, Keir promised through their connection, his internal voice colder than Cade had ever heard it.But properly. Calculated. When Finn isn’t watching.

Finn attempted to stand but swayed dangerously, his legs buckling beneath him. Without hesitation, Cade swept him into his arms, cradling him against his chest. The contact soothed hiswolf marginally—their mate was safe, in their protection, away from those who would harm him.

“We’ll take the spare boat,” Keir announced, already moving with purpose toward the stern where the tender was secured. His eyes never left the Blackwood cousins, memorizing every detail of their expressions for future reference.

Logan was already lowering the yacht’s tender—a sleek motorized dinghy kept for shore excursions or emergencies. His movements were precise and efficient despite the rage Cade could feel pulsing through their bond. The smaller craft bobbed alongside the anchored yacht, ready for their escape.

Watch your back, Keir warned through their bond as Logan helped Cade carefully transfer Finn to the smaller boat.I don’t trust them not to try something else.

“I’ll check on you later,” Drew called down, his expression troubled as he watched them prepare to depart.

As Keir started the tender’s engine and pulled away from the yacht, Cade caught the exchange of looks between Sophia and Mia at the railing—a flash of frustrated calculation quickly masked by manufactured sympathy.

The ride back to shore was silent, but their bond hummed with shared protective fury. Cade cradled Finn against his chest, cataloging every shiver, every breath, every flicker of discomfort that crossed his mate’s face. Keir piloted the small craft with tight control, his usual fluid grace replaced by tense precision, while Logan maintained a vigilant watch, his enhanced senses scanning for any potential threats.

With each passing minute, Cade became more aware of how light Finn felt in his arms—too light, bones too prominent beneath his wet clothes. The realization that their mate had been wasting away while they’d been giving him “space” sent a fresh wave of self-recrimination through him.

“I’m cold,” Finn said, his voice small and tired.

It was an admission of need, however minor. Cade immediately pulled him closer, sharing his body heat.

“We’ll be home soon,” he promised. “Elena will make her special hot chocolate.”

“With cinnamon?” Finn asked, a ghost of a smile touching his lips.

“With cinnamon,” Keir confirmed, his eyes meeting Finn’s in the rearview mirror with gentle affection.

The rest of the drive passed in silence, but Cade noted that Finn didn’t pull away from his embrace. Small progress, but progress nonetheless. By the time they reached the mansion, their mate’s eyes were heavy-lidded with exhaustion, though he remained stubbornly awake.

“Elena!” Keir called out as they entered, his voice carrying through the house.

Elena appeared from the kitchen, her expression shifting from welcome to concern in an instant. “What happened?” she gasped, rushing forward.

“Lake accident,” Cade explained tersely. “He needs to warm up.”

Elena’s eyes narrowed, taking in Finn’s fox features and the brothers’ protective stances. “Accident, hmm? I’ll make hot chocolate. The good kind, with cinnamon.” She gave Finn’s wet hair a gentle stroke before hurrying back to the kitchen, muttering about “those Blackwood girls” and “should have known better.”