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I look at Blaise and the guys again, still wondering. I know there’s something I’m missing, something important about them. The way they move, the way they carry themselves – it’s obvious they’re more than just...ordinary. But I still don’tknowwho they are, not really.

And it feels like something that should matter more, something I should have asked about long before now. But in the whirlwind of everything, I hadn’t thought to question it.

“Blaise,” I say, my voice hesitant, “why was she so...hyped? Who are you guys?”

Blaise looks over at me, his expression softening, though there’s a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He doesn’t answer right away, and I wonder if he’s trying to figure out how to explain it to me – how to explain them.

His grin returns, a little more playful. “Guess we’ll have to tell you everything soon, Eviana. But for now, let’s just get out of this storm. We’ll head home, get everything set up and then we can talk.”

I glance at the guys, still uncertain, still feeling like there’s so much more to this than I understand. But for now, I follow them as they load the bags into the car.

I still don’t know who they are, but there’s a part of me that’s starting to wonder if maybe...maybe that doesn’t matter as much as I thought.

The storm is relentless now, the rain slamming against the car like a thousand tiny fists, while the wind howls as though it’s trying to rip us off the road entirely. The wipers swipe back and forth in a losing battle to clear the windshield. I grip the edge of the seat, my knuckles white, my chest tight with unease. Every gust of wind sends the car rocking, and I feel like I’m one wrong move away from losing it.

I can’t believe it’s already Sunday. This week has been the longest and shortest of my life. Definitely the strangest. My omega feels like we’ve known these guys our whole life, but what happened in the store just proves that we’re all still strangers. And it’s freaking me out.

“Relax, Evie,” Blaise says from the passenger seat, glancing back at me with a grin that’s far too relaxed for the situation. “Xar’s a great driver. Worst-case scenario, we end up in a ditch, but it’ll be a soft landing with all these pillows.”

I let out a shaky laugh, but it does little to calm my nerves. My pulse is racing, my chest tight, and I can’t stop my mind from spinning with all the ways this could go wrong.

“It’s fine,” Xar says, his voice steady from behind the wheel. “The storm’s bad, but I’ve got it under control.”

I want to believe him, but the car lurches slightly as we hit a deep puddle, and a small yelp escapes my throat. Before I can fully process my own embarrassment, Xar pulls the car to the side of the road, the tyres crunching against gravel.

“What are you—?” I start, but Dane’s already unbuckling his seatbelt and turning in his seat towards me.

“Get over here,” he says, his voice softer than I expect but leaving no room for argument.

“What?” I blink, confused.

“Come here,” he repeats, his hand reaching out. “You’re shaking like a leaf, and I can feel your fear from here. Can smell it. Taste it even. Need to fix it.”

Before I can protest, Blaise pipes up, grinning. “Wow, look at you, Dane. I didn’t know you had it in you to be so nurturing.”

“Fuck off, Blaise,” Dane mutters, flipping him the bird.

Despite the tension in the car, the corner of my mouth twitches. But I’m still frozen in place, unsure of what to do.

“Evie,” Dane says again, his voice lower now, almost a rumble. “Come here. Trust me.”

I hesitate for a moment before finally undoing my seatbelt and crawling over the armrest in the middle seat.

Dane’s arms wrap around me as he pulls me into his lap, tucking me against his chest. The warmth of his body envelops me instantly, his scent – particularly the comforting amber – washing over me in waves.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his voice vibrating through me. A low, rumbling sound follows, and I realise he’s...purring?

Wow. I’ve never heard that from an alpha before. It’s…really nice actually.

The sound is soothing, natural, and my body instinctively relaxes into his hold. My cheek rests against his chest, the steady thrum of his heartbeat grounding me.

“Christ,” Blaise says from the front seat, feigning shock. “That’s the worst purr I’ve ever heard. No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend, mate.”

“Fuck off, Blaise,” Dane says again, but there’s no heat in it.

I can’t help it – I giggle. It’s small and shaky, but it’s there. Dane’s arms tighten around me slightly, and I feel the rumble of his laugh through his chest.

“Shut up, Blaise,” I mumble, surprising myself. “I think he’s doing just fine.”