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As we left, I caught one last glimpse of Marcus and Derek squaring off against the Blackwoods, Elizabeth Grey and the council approaching with obvious concern. Their body language screamed controlled violence—powerful predators tolerating each other’s presence by the thinnest margin of civility.

The Blackwoods watched us leave, their eyes lingering in a way that made my skin prickle. When Xander’s gaze met mine, his slight smile held promises that had nothing to do with pack politics.

Something told me Cedar Grove’s supernatural drama was just getting started.

Chapter 16

The morning sun filtered through the kitchen windows as we gathered for what Imo had declared would be a “proper farewell breakfast.” Jorge and Imo had established an uneasy culinary alliance, resulting in a spread that covered nearly every inch of the dining table—Korean pancakes beside Spanish tortillas, kimchi next to paella, and at least three different types of protein shakes that Derek kept pushing in my direction.

“Eat,” Maria commanded, adding another helping of something to my already overflowing plate. “You need strength for training.”

The word “training” sent a nervous flutter through my stomach. After breakfast, Luke and Imo would head back to Seattle, and I would begin learning how to access my wolf side—whatever fraction of one I had. The brothers had been frustratingly vague about what that entailed, but their barely contained excitement was both thrilling and terrifying.

“Stop looking like you’re headed to execution,” Luke said, elbowing me as he reached for more kimchi. “Though if you end up with a tail, I expect photo evidence.”

“I hate you,” I whispered back, but there was no heat in it. I was going to miss him.

Across the table, Marcus watched our interaction with that intense focus. His eyes hadn’t left me all morning, tracking every movement as if memorizing me. Derek and Caleb weren’t any better—one of them always within touching distance, casual brushes of their hands against my shoulder, my back, my wrist.

It should have been annoying. Instead, each touch sent little sparks of heat through my body, the mate bond responding eagerly to their attention. Traitorous body.

“Now,” Imo announced, setting down a ceramic pot with suspicious-looking steam rising from it, “protective tea before journey. Everyone drink.”

The Stone brothers exchanged glances but accepted the small cups she poured. I’d learned enough about supernatural politics to recognize this as the gesture it was—Imo offering protection, the brothers accepting her as an ally.

“To safe journeys,” Marcus said, raising his cup in a toast. “And new beginnings.”

The tea tasted like herbs and something else—something that tingled on my tongue and seemed to settle warm in my chest. When I caught Imo’s satisfied nod, I knew this was more than just tea.

Loading the car became a production. Jorge insisted on packing enough food to feed a small army. ”For the drive!” he protested when Maria rolled her eyes. Derek personally inspected Luke’s car, checking everything from tire pressure to the engine, while Caleb programmed emergency contacts into both Luke and Imo’s phones.

“I’ve added direct lines to our security team,” he explained, showing Luke how to access the emergency protocols. “Any problems on the road, you call immediately.”

“Is this standard procedure,” Luke asked dryly, “or are you expecting trouble?”

The silence that followed was answer enough.

As the last bags were loaded, I was suddenly reluctant to say goodbye. Luke had been my anchor through all of this—the one normal thing in my rapidly shifting reality.

“Don’t look so pathetic,” Luke said, pulling me into a hug. “I’ll be back to visit your furry ass before you know it.”

“You better,” I mumbled into his shoulder. “Who else is going to appreciate my impending identity crisis?”

Luke pulled back, his expression suddenly serious. “Be careful with the wolf stuff, okay? And if anything feels wrong—anything at all—you call me.”

“Yes, mom.”

“I mean it, Kai.” His eyes flicked to where the brothers stood, giving us the illusion of privacy while obviously monitoring every word. “They’re good guys, I think. But there’s a lot happening that none of us fully understand.”

Imo swept in, enfolding me in a hug that smelled of herbs and home. “You listen to your wolf,” she said firmly. “It knows more than you think.”

She pressed something into my palm—a small pouch that felt warm to the touch. “For protection during transition,” she whispered. “Keep close.”

Then she turned to the brothers, her small frame somehow imposing as she fixed them with a stern look. “You take care of my boy,” she said, not a request but a command.

Marcus inclined his head, the gesture respectful. “You have our word.”

The goodbye stretched on with last-minute instructions, more food being shoved into the car, and Jorge extracting a promise from Imo to share more of her recipes. Finally, with a last round of hugs and warnings, Luke and Imo pulled away, the car disappearing down the driveway.