Hayden’s POV
The moment I stepped into Emma sleek black SUV, I felt a strange mix of relief and apprehension. The car smelled faintly of leather and something else—something wild and earthy, like the forest after a rainstorm. It was a scent I was starting to associate with the supernatural world, though I couldn’t quite explain why.
Emma glanced at me as she started the engine, her smile warm but knowing. “You okay?” she asked, her voice gentle.
I nodded, though my hands were clenched tightly in my lap. “Yeah, just… nervous, I guess.”
“Don’t be,” she said, pulling out of the parking lot. “You’re safe with me. And you’ll be safe at the packhouse. I promise.”
I wanted to believe her, but the events of the past few days had left me on edge. Still, there was something about Emma—her
