Ace stirred at the sound of her name. For a moment, her body tensed. Instinct kicking in before memory could catch up. The hum of an engine filled her ears, steady and low, and muted sunlight filtered through tinted glass. She blinked rapidly, pulse racing as she took in the unfamiliar space. Black leather seats, faint smell of pine and metal, movement beneath her. Panic spiked until a warm, calloused hand closed around hers. Tingles rushed through her fingers, sparking across her skin like a familiar melody she hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath for. Her wolf eased instantly. “Hey,” a deep, gentle voice murmured. “Alpha,” she breathed, relief breaking through as her gaze found him. Kai sat beside her, broad shoulders filling the seat, his expression soft but alert. There

