Stay with me tonight.

Amara's POV

As I sipped my coffee on the porch later that evening, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting between us all. The bond, the tension, the unspoken emotions—it was all coming to a head.

I glanced up as Jaxon stepped out, his easy smile making my heart flutter. He sat down beside me, his presence warm and grounding.

“You okay?” he asked, nudging me gently.

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice soft. “Just… thinking.”

“About?”

“Everything,” I admitted. “The bond. You, Ryder, Caden. How complicated everything’s become.”

Jaxon nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “Yeah, it’s a lot. But we’ll figure it out. Together.”

His words, simple yet sincere, brought a sense of calm that I hadn’t felt in days. And as the sun dipped below the horizon, I allowed myself to believe him. To trust that, somehow, we’d find our way through this. Together.

---

The evening sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow across the room as I sat by the window, lost in thought. Jaxon and Ryder had gone out for a run, leaving the house unusually quiet. I liked the stillness, though it felt strange—like the calm before a storm.

I turned the page of my book, trying to focus on the words, but my mind kept wandering. Thoughts of Ryder’s intensity, Jaxon’s playful charm, and… Caden.

Just as I started to drift deeper into my thoughts, a soft knock at the door pulled me back to reality.

“Come in,” I called out, expecting Jaxon or Ryder. But when the door creaked open, it was Caden.

His usually confident posture seemed hesitant, his dark eyes meeting mine with a flicker of uncertainty.

“Hey,” he said quietly, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

“Hey,” I replied, sitting up straighter.

He hesitated, his hands tucked into his pockets as he leaned against the door. “I didn’t mean to bother you. I just…” He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor.

“You’re not bothering me,” I said, setting my book aside. “What’s on your mind?”

Caden sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know how to say this, Amara. I’ve been trying to figure it out for weeks, but… I can’t keep it in anymore.”

My heart began to race. His vulnerability was so rare, so unlike the guarded, brooding Caden I was used to seeing.

“Caden, you can tell me anything,” I said softly, standing and taking a step closer.

His eyes met mine, and I saw the raw emotion there—the conflict, the longing, the frustration.

“This bond, Amara,” he began, his voice low and rough, “it’s driving me insane. I’ve tried to fight it. I’ve tried to ignore it. But every time I see you, every time I even think about you… it’s like nothing else matters. And I hate that I feel this way because I know I’m not the only one.”

His words hit me like a tidal wave, and I could feel the weight of his struggle in every syllable.

“I hate that I want you this much,” he continued, his voice breaking slightly. “And I hate that I can’t seem to stop.”

I took another step toward him, my breath hitching. “Caden…”

“I’ve been avoiding you,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not because I don’t care, but because I care too much. I thought if I stayed away, maybe this feeling would fade. But it hasn’t. It’s only gotten stronger.”

He moved closer, his presence overwhelming in the small space between us. “And now, seeing you with Ryder, with Jaxon… it’s killing me. Because I want you to look at me the way you look at them.”

I swallowed hard, my emotions swirling into a chaotic storm. “Caden, this bond—it’s confusing for all of us. But you don’t have to fight it alone. You don’t have to fight me.”

His hand reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. “You’re everything I never thought I’d want, Amara. And it scares the hell out of me.”

I couldn’t find the words to respond, so I did the only thing I could. I reached up, placing my hand over his, letting the warmth of his skin ground me.

“I’m scared too,” I whispered. “But maybe we don’t have to figure it all out right now. Maybe we just… let ourselves feel.”

Caden’s eyes searched mine, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still. Then, slowly, he leaned in, his forehead resting against mine as his breathing steadied.

“I don’t deserve you,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

“That’s not for you to decide,” I replied softly, tilting my head to look at him.

Before he could argue, I closed the distance between us, my lips brushing against his in a kiss that was both hesitant and electric.

Caden’s arms wrapped around me instantly, pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss, his restraint crumbling. It wasn’t rushed or desperate—it was filled with all the emotions he had been holding back, a silent confession in every movement.

When we finally pulled apart, our breaths mingling in the quiet of the room, Caden rested his forehead against mine again, his hands still gripping my waist as if he couldn’t bear to let go.

“Amara,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I’ll try. For you, I’ll try.”

And as I looked into his eyes, I knew he meant it.

The air between us felt charged, heavy with unspoken words and emotions neither of us dared to name. Caden's hands remained firm on my waist, grounding me, holding me like I was the only thing keeping him steady.

“Caden,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I looked into his dark eyes, filled with longing and vulnerability. “You don’t have to try alone. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but instead, he just pulled me closer, his body pressing against mine. “You don’t understand,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, thick with emotion. “I’ve spent so long building walls, trying to keep everyone out. But you… you’ve broken through everything, and I don’t know how to be without you now.”

My chest tightened at his words. I cupped his face gently, my thumbs brushing against the rough stubble on his jaw. “Then don’t,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging in my chest. “Don’t be without me, Caden. I’m not going anywhere.”

His eyes searched mine, as if he were looking for some hidden truth, some reassurance that I wouldn’t slip through his fingers. Slowly, he leaned down, his lips grazing mine in a kiss so soft, it felt like a whisper.

I melted into him, my hands sliding up into his hair as the kiss deepened. It wasn’t rushed or urgent—it was deliberate, tender, and filled with every unspoken word between us. His lips moved against mine like they were made for me, like this was where we were always meant to end up.

When he pulled back, his breathing was uneven, his forehead resting against mine. “You’re everything to me,” he murmured, his voice raw. “I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I swear I’ll never let you go.”

“You don’t have to,” I whispered, my fingers still tangled in his hair. “I’m yours, Caden. Whether you believe it or not, I’ve always been yours.”

A soft growl rumbled in his chest, his wolf’s presence bleeding through as his arms tightened around me. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me, Amara,” he said, his voice both tender and laced with a possessive edge.

“Maybe I do,” I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips.

He chuckled softly, his forehead dropping to my shoulder as he held me close. “You’re dangerous,” he muttered. “But I think I like it.”

For a moment, we stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside forgotten. The bond between us hummed like a living thing, weaving us closer together with every breath we took.

“Stay with me tonight,” he said suddenly, his voice hesitant but hopeful.

I pulled back slightly to look at him, my heart swelling at the vulnerability in his expression. “Okay,” I said softly, brushing my fingers against his cheek. “I’ll stay.”

The relief in his eyes was palpable as he took my hand, leading me toward the bed. He pulled back the covers and motioned for me to climb in first.

As I settled under the blankets, Caden lay down beside me, his arm immediately wrapping around my waist to pull me close. My head rested on his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat soothing the lingering chaos in my mind.

“I’ve never done this before,” he admitted quietly, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm.

“What? Cuddled?” I teased, glancing up at him with a small smile.

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. “No. Let someone in like this. Let myself be… vulnerable.”

I reached up to touch his face, my fingers brushing over his jawline. “You’re safe with me, Caden. Always.”

His eyes softened, and he leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment. “You’re my safe place, Amara,” he whispered against my skin.

And as I drifted off to sleep in his arms, I couldn’t help but feel the same.