Robbie sat on the porch steps, his elbows resting on his knees as he watched the trees sway under the night breeze. The cool air carried the distant scent of pine and earth, grounding him in the present.

He adjusted his glasses—a habit more than a necessity—and exhaled softly. It had been one of those days where his thoughts felt too heavy, too tangled.

Then, he felt it. A shift in the tether.

The bond that connected him to the pack stirred, a familiar pulse that let him know someone was near. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was—the weight of that presence, the way it settled in his chest, told him everything.

A small smile ghosted his lips as he finally looked up to face Kelly. “Took you long enough,” he murmured, his voice lighter than his thoughts.