Chapter 187

** Ryder’s POV ** By the time we reach our cabin, the midday sun is high in the sky. Paige’s fingers stay threaded with mine for the walk home. She doesn’t shake. She doesn’t stumble. If anything, she grows steadier with every step. I don’t miss the way she keeps lifting her face to the sun, soaking up its rays. But the Twiceborn?... they’re another story. Nine wolves pad silently behind us, their paws almost soundless on the leaf-littered ground. When Paige slows, they slow. Their eyes glow with a strange silver-gold light, not threatening, just watchful. The second we step out of the trees and into the clearing around the cabin, they fan out without a word, forming a perfect perimeter around the house. Remy whistles low. “Well… that’s new.” Callen snorts. “Fantastic. We’ve got an honour guard.” Parker rubs his jaw. “More like a cult of very enthusiastic bodyguards.” Paige turns, anxiety trickling through the bond. “I didn’t tell them to do that.” “You didn’t have to,” I say softly. T