35-
CADEN – POV
Her arms leave mine too soon.
I want to stay there—just another few seconds with her heartbeat against my chest, her breath syncing with mine—but we can’t. We’re not just training anymore.
We’re preparing for war.
Baylee steps back, wiping sweat from her brow, her lips parted, breathing hard. I can still feel the echo of her cracked rib vibrating through my side, even though she’s the one who took the blow. I’ll never get used to it. But I don’t want to shut it out anymore.
We can’t keep pretending our bond is something to hide. It’s a weapon. A weakness only if we let it be.
She doesn’t speak. She just looks at me—eyes burning, steady—and I nod.
That’s all we need.
Matt shouts the next match-ups and I’m across the field before the next Alpha can blink. Baylee move
