When Avery woke up the next day, a sense of resolve washed over her. Amid the whirlwind of events, she realized that she needed to strengthen her individual bonds with each of her mates. These connections, she believed, would fortify the unity they needed for the upcoming ritual. She decided to start by spending some quality time alone with each of them, beginning with Shane.

She picked up her phone and called Shane, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The phone rang twice before ...