"My father is pushing them to keep tabs on me. I don''t think Richard poses any real threat. Sebastian seems distracted for reasons I can''t quite figure out, and Jeff— he''s far too eager for my liking. He''s never shown any interest in me or my training before, and suddenly he''s all in. No offense, but I doubt it''s just because Ben''s here now. He''s been oddly curious about what we''re researching and tracking, even though he could easily just tag along. Something about him feels off. I don''t want him anywhere near me or Junior. I think Richard senses this too-he keepsing up with excuses to pull Jeff away from our group."


    As we stood there, Ben pointed toward an overhang nearby. To me, it just looked like a perfect spot for cliff diving. "Look over there," he said. "At the base, there''s a grove of trees. Can you make out what''s beyond them?"


    Now that he''d drawn my attention to it, I couldn''t unsee the hidden opening in the cliff face, concealed by the trees. If I wanted to hide something secret, that would be the ideal ce to stash or exchange it.


    Without hesitation, we all started heading in that direction.


    “ra! Ben!” Junior''s voice called out from behind us, causing us to shift course.


    This kid has been so eager to work alongside us. He''s sixteen-young and ambitious, much like I was at his age-desperate to prove himself early on. We don''t have all the facts about his father''s death. I can''t bring myself to ask his mother about it, but I doubt it was just a straightforward attack or being outnumbered. The deeper we dig into this rogue problem, the more tangled it bes. His mother wants him trained but also recognizes that he''s an impulsive teenager. She''s asked us to gather information before involving him directly, not wanting him to rush headlong into danger unprepared and emotionally vulnerable. Ben and I exchanged a nce. We''de backter. This ce was only a twenty- minute run from Junior''s pack house.


    The territory here reminded me a lot of mine. The patchy forest surrounding the vastke grew thicker the further we moved from the water''s edge. Some trees were starting to bud early, though they''d likely pull back once the frost hit tonight. The evergreens carried a fresh, inviting scent that made me breathe a little easier. I loved being out here, and so did my wolf.


    We reached his packhouse quickly, and it couldn''t have been more different from mine if it tried. While my ancestors built a grand manor fit for a Jane Austen novel, Malcolm Jr.''s great-grandfather had constructed his home from the ground up, with his own two hands. Each log bore grooves and indentations from hand tools, carefully fitted together to create a seamless structure. It was stunning against the backdrop of dense woods, making me want to tear down my own house and build a replica. My family''s legacy felt more pompous and self-important. My grandfather and father had made some changes over the years, but only to rooms that needed to serve a specific function. They both believed in preserving the history, but to me, it felt like an endless contest of one-upmanship, giving off an off-putting vibe.


    The outdoor spaces at my home were my favorite. My mother and grandmother had done a remarkable job softening the ostentatious manor with nts, cozy seating, fire pits, and other weing touches. In contrast, Junior''s home radiated warmth just by existing.


    “ra! Ben, how are you?” Luna Samantha greeted us cheerfully. "Jaxon, Devon, Chance-hope you all had a good run. Come inside. I''ve got lunch ready, and I prepared rooms just in case this storm turns out worse than expected. This winter isn''t going down without a fight," she added with a giggle at her own joke.


    "Luna Samantha," I began.


    "Please, call me Sam," she interrupted with a smile.


    "Sam," I agreed, giving in. "Ben and I will join you shortly." She gave me a knowing look, which I chose to ignore.


    "Jax, can you and Dex and Chance fill her in on the rogue activity? See if anything matches what they''ve been experiencing."


    "Yes, ma''am,” he replied, walking off without looking back. Chance hesitated, though.


    Ben gave him a subtle nod, perhaps a silent instruction through the mindlink. Chance didn''t argue; he just followed my guys inside.


    I turned to Ben, took his hand, and we began retracing our steps back the way we came.