Chapter 103

** Paige’s POV ** When I turn, Ryder is already crouched naked on the floor. He reaches for the pair of shorts draped over a chair and pulls them on, then pushes to his feet, rolling his shoulders as if they ache. His eyes meet mine, still alert even through the exhaustion I can feel coming from him. “Sit,” he says simply, nodding toward the chair at the kitchen island. My legs feel unsteady, but I obey. Ryder drags a chair out and drops into it, his posture still rigid with tension that tells me the fight hasn’t fully left his body. A few seconds later, Parker reappears, sliding into the seat beside me. His thigh presses against mine under the table. The three of us sit in silence for a long moment. The fridge hums softly, and my pulse thuds in my ears. Finally, Ryder speaks. “The hunters knew what they were doing tonight. They came in coordinated waves, tried to pull our enforcers beyond the tree line where they’d set traps, but we didn’t give chase. They underestimated us again.” “S