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“Nope. Erica’s got her way. I’ve got mine. I have a plan,” Helena says with a sharp grin.

“Why are witches always cryptic? Erica wouldn’t tell me hers, either. What is this big, mysterious plan?” I ask.

“Conley runs a security firm,” Helena says, clearly savoring every word. “I’ll set up a meeting. You two? My bodyguards. Big, brooding, and intimidating. Just threatening enough to sell it.”

The front door creaks open. I jump, spinning so fast my neck twinges. A hulking silhouette fills the doorway—Raul, backlit and unbothered.

“It’s perfect,” Raul says, sounding far too awake for someone who drank half the night. “No need to go scorched earth. We isolate the human, extract what we need, and disappear.”

“You heard all that?” I ask. Raul looks at me, the surprise clear on his face that I would even ask. He arches an eyebrow but Ray snickers, jerking my attention back to him. “What?”

Ray points at his ears, shrugging.

“Wolf,” he murmurs.

“But he was…” My voice trails off as realization hits—and my cheeks burn.

Oh god. If he heardthisconversation from outside, then he’s definitely heard—I can’t even finish the thought.

If he can hear this conversation from outside the house, there’s no way he can’t hear me when… oh god. I am suddenly very interested in the pattern of the kitchen counter, unable and unwilling to meet anyone’s eyes. Ray slips a comforting arm around my waist.

“Exactly,” Helena says breezily, ignoring my meltdown entirely. “Let’s not give him a heart attack, hmm? Not every day you meet three giant wolves in business casual.”

“We’ll be careful.” Raul claps Ray on the back. “Now get your hungover ass moving. We’ve got work. And a hunt tonight.”

Ray straightens and stretches. I can’t miss the way the muscles roll as he does, which only makes my skin burn hotter.

“Yes, Alpha,” he says, heading up the stairs to dress.

I watch them move together, instinctively in sync. The way they read each other, the silent bond—it’s back. I hadn’t realized how broken it was until now. Sam’s return didn’t just heal a wound. It completed them.

They aren’t just a pack.

They’re a force of nature.

And if I were this so-called Human Exterminator?

I’d start running. Now.

26

RAY

Two phone calls. That’s all it takes for Helena to land a meeting with Jason Conley.

The first one goes nowhere. His secretary puts her on hold before she can even spin her lie. On the second call, Helena's voice slips into a perfect mix of grief and wealth.

“I’m the widow of a North African diamond merchant,” she purrs—and suddenly, she’s through.

The name, the accent, the promise of millions in rare gems—it works like a charm. Literally. By the time the call ends, she has the appointment, and the plan is in motion.

Thirty-six hours later, we arrive in North Haven. Raul’s behind the wheel of a sleek Mercedes S-Class, leased for the occasion. Helena sits beside him, resplendent in a sky-blue Dior dress Monica managed to source at the last minute. She looks like she belongs in a fashion magazine spread on power widows.

My brothers and I ride in the back, stiff in black suits and sharp red ties. None of us are comfortable in this kind of attire. Hell, the only time I wear a tie is if someone’s died or getting married—but tonight, we’re playing the part of a high-end widow’s bodyguards.

The drive is smooth. The car is filled with the scent of leather and Helena’s perfume. It’s strangely calming. Despite the danger of our mission, I don’t feel anxious. There should be no need to fight and we don’t have plans to kill. All I have to do is watch over Helena. It’s the first time in my life that I’m not a fighter, I’m only here for presence. Just another part of the theater Helena’s conjured.

Conley’s estate rises like a fortress. A fifteen-foot high stone wall stretches around the property. The wall glitters oddly—embedded with glass shards sharp enough to tear flesh. It’s a deterrent to anyone attempting to climb the wall.