Then—
She glanced back at the house.
At him.
Or at least… in his direction.
Axel didn’t move.
Didn’t step back.
Didn’t give any indication he was watching.
But his jaw tightened as her attention turned back to Hunter.
Her shoulders sank slightly. Her gaze dropped to the ground. And something about that—something about the way she looked in that moment—sat wrong in his chest.
Too soft.
Too… guilty.
Before he could think too much on it, Hunter reached for her—quick, firm—and pulled her into a tight hug.
Axel’s hand curled into a fist at his side.
Not enough to make a sound.
But enough that his knuckles went pale.
Harmony didn’t hesitate.
She hugged him back.
Not stiff. Not distant.
Familiar.
That was worse.
Axel forced himself to stay where he was, even as something low a
