Then let me make it easier for you.

Ryder’s POV

The smell of coffee and sizzling bacon filled the kitchen, the morning sun streaming through the windows as I sat at the table, watching my brothers and Amara move around. It was oddly peaceful, the first time in weeks that things didn’t feel like they were about to shatter.

Jaxon was his usual self, cracking jokes as he piled food onto his plate. “Don’t blame me if there’s no bacon left. You snooze, you lose,” he said with a smirk, earning an eye roll from Caden.

“Maybe leave some for the rest of us, oh mighty hog,” Caden retorted, shoving Jaxon lightly as he reached for the coffee pot.

Amara laughed softly, the sound like a balm to my frayed nerves. Her smile was small but genuine, and it made something in my chest tighten. She was trying. We all were.

We ate together in relative quiet after that, the occasional clatter of silverware breaking the silence. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.

Once breakfast was over, Jaxon and Caden grabbed their things and headed out, mumbling something about errands. I didn’t question it. I was just glad for the chance to be alone with her.

Amara started clearing the table, her movements deliberate and precise. She looked so small, so fragile, yet there was a strength in her I couldn’t ignore. I watched her for a moment, my heart pounding.

“Amara,” I said, my voice softer than I intended.

She froze, her back to me, before turning slowly. “Yes?”

I stood, closing the distance between us in a few strides. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and wary, and it made me hesitate. But my wolf was relentless, clawing at me, demanding her touch, her presence.

“I can’t keep pretending,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Pretending that I don’t want you. That this bond isn’t driving me insane.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out. I stepped closer, my hand brushing hers as I reached for the plate she was holding.

“Ryder…” she started, her voice trembling.

I set the plate on the counter, my fingers lingering on hers. “Do you also feel it too? This pull? Like no matter what I do, I can’t escape it.”

She nodded slowly, her breath hitching. “It’s not just you. It’s all of you. And it’s tearing me apart.”

Her honesty hit me like a punch to the gut, but it didn’t stop me. If anything, it pushed me forward. I tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at me.

“Then let me make it easier for you,” I murmured.

And before I could second-guess myself, I leaned down and kissed her.

It wasn’t rushed or desperate—it was soft, searching. Her lips were warm and hesitant against mine, and for a moment, I thought she might pull away. But then she melted into me, her hands gripping my shirt as if I were the only thing holding her up.

My arms wrapped around her instinctively, pulling her closer. My wolf growled in satisfaction, the bond humming between us like a live wire. This wasn’t just a kiss—it was a promise, an unspoken vow.

When we finally pulled apart, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“Ryder…” she whispered again, her voice barely audible.

I pressed my forehead to hers, my hands cradling her face. “You don’t have to say anything,” I said softly. “Just… don’t push me away. Not now.”

she nodded, her breath shaky.

Her warmth lingered against my lips, intoxicating and maddening all at once. As I stood there with her still pressed against me, I realized how fragile this moment was—how close we were to breaking or building something that could last forever.

Amara’s hands trembled slightly as they rested on my chest, her fingertips brushing over my heartbeat. It was erratic, thundering like a drum that wouldn’t stop, but she didn’t pull away.

“Ryder,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper, “this… it’s too much. I don’t know how to handle this—any of it.”

I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. Her eyes, those beautiful, conflicted eyes, were swimming with tears she refused to shed.

“You don’t have to handle it alone,” I said, my voice low and steady. “I know this bond is a mess. I know it’s confusing and maddening, but Amara, you don’t have to carry it all by yourself. Let me be here for you. Let me help you.”

She shook her head slightly, her breath catching. “How, Ryder? How can I do that when everything feels like it’s pulling me in a hundred different directions? When I feel guilty no matter what I do? I don’t want to hurt you, or Jaxon, or Caden.”

Her voice cracked on their names, and it was like a knife to my chest. I slid my hands down to her shoulders, grounding her as best as I could.

“You can’t please all of us, Amara,” I said, my voice softer now. “And you shouldn’t have to. This bond? It’s as much our problem as it is yours. You didn’t ask for it. None of us did. But we’re here now, and we have to figure it out together. No more guilt. No more running.”

She looked at me, something shifting in her expression. Vulnerability. Hope. Fear.

“I don’t want to lose any of you,” she admitted, her voice so quiet I almost missed it.

“You won’t,” I promised, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I won’t let that happen. No matter how complicated this gets, we’ll find a way. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her lip quivered, and she blinked rapidly as if trying to keep the tears at bay. But then, to my surprise, she leaned into me, resting her head against my chest.

The world seemed to still in that moment. My wolf purred with satisfaction, the bond between us pulsing gently, no longer sharp and demanding.

“I’m scared, Ryder,” she whispered, her voice muffled against my shirt.

“I know,” I said, wrapping my arms around her tightly. “So am I. But you don’t have to face this alone anymore. I’m here. Always.”

We stood there like that for what felt like an eternity, the weight of everything we’d been through hanging between us. It wasn’t perfect. The scars of the past weeks hadn’t magically healed, and there was still so much we needed to figure out. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like we were on the same side.

Eventually, Amara pulled back slightly, her gaze searching mine. “What about the others?” she asked hesitantly.

I exhaled slowly, brushing my thumb along her cheek. “They love you too, in their own way. And I’ll admit, the thought of sharing you… it still drives me crazy. But I’m trying to see the bigger picture here. You mean everything to all of us, and if this bond is going to work, we need to stop fighting it.”

Her eyes softened, and for the first time that morning, a small, tentative smile tugged at her lips.

“You really believe we can figure this out?” she asked.

I nodded, my wolf howling in agreement. “I do. And if we can’t… well, I’ll fight every obstacle in our way until we do. You’re worth it, Amara. You always have been.”

Her smile grew, and she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me. This time, it was her who kissed me, her lips soft and hesitant but filled with something I couldn’t quite name.

When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against hers, letting the moment stretch out.

“We’ll take it one day at a time,” I said. “Together.”

“Together,” she echoed, her voice steady now.

In that moment, I knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. The bond was still a storm we’d have to weather, and the tension between me and my brothers wouldn’t vanish overnight. But as I held her in my arms, I felt something I hadn’t in weeks.

Peace.