Auren POV

She held my gaze a moment longer searching, assessing before something steadied inside her. Her expression sharpened with resolve.

“I can do this. Go take care of your girl.”

She pulled the truck door shut and jogged back toward the pack house.

I exhaled slowly, adjusting Lorien’s legs to give her what little comfort existed in the cramped seat. Then I leaned back. “Go. Head east. There’ll be a sign before Chestnut Trail. We turn about a hundred yards past it off-road, ...