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Abbie doesn’t love me; she knows that, not in that sense anyway, and it is the first thing we explained to her when Gannon started to pick up on it a few days ago.

“Ready to go?” Dustin says, coming over to us, and I nod to him. Dustin knows about the strange sire, and he glances at Abbie. Not with jealousy, just worry about Gannon. Yet, he needs not worry. Gannon will take care of it, and she will be just fine.

“Yeah, let’s go,” I tell him, tossing my arm over Dustin’s shoulder, when I hear a voice behind me, making me stop.

“Abbie, are you okay?” Gannon asks, and I peer over at them; her eyes are at the forest edge, though she startles, looking up at Gannon.

“Sorry, I thought I saw something,” Abbie says, and I peer around, not seeing anything. Dustin and I walk ahead a little.

“Saw what?” Gannon asks her.

“Nothing, I am being silly; my mind is playing tricks on me,” she laughs nervously.

“Well, if it’s silly, you have no issues telling me then,” Gannon quips, and she sighs heavily.

“Abbie?” Gannon asks, and this time, Dustin stops, peering back at her.

“Must it be the sire bond thing?” Dustin suggests, but her next words sent my blood cold.

“It’s nothing; it’s impossible, and you’ll laugh,” she says, and Gannon gives her a stern look. “I thought I saw…” she shakes her head and sucks in a breath. “I thought I saw my grandmother,” she laughs, rubbing her temples. Gannon tugs her closer.

“Everything going on, it’s normal to see things,” he tells her.

“I know it’s impossible…” Her words turn to background noise as my eyes nervously scan the forest. But that’s the thing, it’s not impossible. I know because when I went back to bury Vivian’s body, she wasn’t there. I swallow thickly when Gannon drops his hand on my shoulder.

“Are you alright, brother?” he asks, and I force a smile on my face.

“Just thinking about our skewered friend,” I chuckle, and Dustin peers up at me.

“What’s going on?” Dustin asks as we head toward where the camp is set up.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I answer.

Chapter

Fifty-Three

DAMIAN

My grip on the steering wheel tightens as the gates of Silvershadow Pack come into view. My jaw is set, determination and apprehension etching across my features. The road trip has been tense, mainly because we are hoping Larkin is right and that Paige is, in fact, alive. In the back seat, Kyson and Azalea talk in hushed tones, their concern palpable in the cramped space of the SUV like a heavy fog. Liam and Dustin are in another vehicle. We didn’t tell Tandi where we were going today; I didn’t want to get her hopes up, so she and Hunter are with Abbie and Gannon. Gannon doesn't want to risk opening old wounds for Abbie by bringing her back here, so they continue on the trip to Landeena, believing we are just making a pit stop.

“We’re almost there,” Kyson announces, his voice steady but laced with a cautious undertone that sends a chill down my spine.

“Thanks for the reminder,” I mutter, trying to push away the knot of anxiety in my stomach. I can’t help but wonder what we’ll find at the end of this road - if we’ve come all this way just to facemore disappointment. But I shake off those thoughts; I have to believe that we’ll find answers here, that we’ll find Paige.

“Hey, Damian,” Azalea says softly from the back seat, her voice barely audible above the hum of the engine. “No matter what happens, Tandi will be okay.” I nod my head, praying she is right.

As we approach the gates, I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever comes next. We’ve come too far to back down now. And if there’s even the slightest chance we can bring Paige home, it’s worth coming here, but if she is dead, Brock will meet his maker, too.

We through the gates, noticing the guards’ eyes studying us, their scrutiny palpable even from behind the windshield. I force a smile and nod in their direction. The car glides forward, bringing the packhouse and the town square into view. Towering pines loom over the property, casting eerie shadows across the dying lawn. Mist curls around the house, making it appear as though it is floating on a cloud. Though I must admit, the place looks a lot better now that Katrina is running the pack.

As we pull up to the packhouse, my heart hammers in my chest. This is it—the moment of truth. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

“Let’s do this,” I murmur, pushing open the car door and stepping out onto the gravel driveway. Kyson follows, and I see Dustin and Liam climb out of their car and lean against it, watching our surroundings. My boots crunch underfoot as I approach the door.

“Damian,” Azalea calls out softly, her voice laced with concern. “Call out if you need me.”

I glance back at her, offering a small smile despite the storm raging inside me. “I will,” I promise, turning my attention to the front door before us.