-Alexia-
I reshuffle the cards badly, a few slipping from the stack and scattering across the blanket. Jasper lets out a dramatic sigh from the floor, and Kaia snorts beside me on the bed.
"Tragic," Jasper says, collecting the cards with exaggerated slowness. "Truly, the worst shuffle I've ever seen."
"Oh, hush," I say, nudging him with my foot. "It's not my fault they're slippery."
Finn chuckles, the low rumble making a warm coil in my chest. For a moment, the room feels safe, regular, the laughter pushing back the lingering weight of the blue-eyed man in my dreams. Then I realize something.
"Wait," I say, tilting my head. "Where's Asher? He's not here."
Finn scoffs, his mouth twitching in annoyance. "Seriously? You just notice now?"
I shrug, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Well, yeah. You guys are always together. So, where is he?"
Jasper sprawls out further, looking up at the ceiling. "Probably out in the woods, brooding, talking to the moon, glaring at a tree—take your pick."
Kaia grins. "Probably mad he can't beat me at cards."
I laugh softly. "Classic Asher."
Finn leans forward, elbows on his knees. "Look, we've known each other a long time. We meet here at Whisperwind. We're close. Like family."
"Family?" I echo, curious.
Jasper glances at me, his smile softening. "Yeah. We've seen each other at our best and worst. Shared wins, losses, and stupid mistakes. It's complicated, but… we stick together."
Finn shrugs. "We look out for each other."
Kaia snorts. "Sounds like you guys have your secret handshake or something."
I giggle, the warmth of the moment making me bold. "No secret handshake, but… it's kind of like a bond, right? Like how I have my bond with Finn?"
The room goes dead quiet.
Jasper freezes, cards half-dealt, his eyes flicking to Finn, then Soren. Soren, who has been quiet in the corner, straightens slowly, his dark eyes sharpening, shadows shifting almost imperceptibly around him.
Finn's jaw tightens, his fingers drumming once against his knee before stilling. "Alexia—"
"What?" I blink, looking between them. "It's not a secret that Finn and I have a mate bond. I'm just asking… if it's like that for you guys. Your connection, I mean."
The silence turns heavy, pressing against my ribs. Kaia shifts beside me, glancing at the boys, then back at me, her brows furrowing.
Jasper's smile slips, his eyes darkening with something that isn't playful. Hurt. Anger, maybe. "Yeah," he says, voice quiet, "something like that."
Soren's gaze is unreadable, but there's a tension in his jaw, a flicker of something in his eyes that makes my stomach flip.
Finn lets out a slow breath, his eyes closing for half a second before he looks at me. "Yeah, princess," he says softly, though there's an edge in his voice that makes me flinch. "Something like that."
I open my mouth, unsure what I've said wrong, but no words come out.
Kaia clears her throat, forcing a bright, awkward laugh. "Okay, who's up next? Because this is getting weird."
Jasper tosses the cards down, pushing himself to his feet without looking at me. "I'm out," he mutters.
Soren stands too, his shadow stretching across the floor as he moves toward the door. "We'll talk later," he says, his voice low, eyes flicking to mine, unreadable.
Finn hesitates, his hand brushing against mine for the briefest moment, something like regret in his eyes before he follows the others out, the door closing softly behind them. The room is quiet.
Kaia lets out a breath, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "Well… that was something."
I stare at the door, confusion and guilt churning in my chest, the warmth from before gone, replaced by a cold that settles deep in my bones. I don't understand what I've said wrong. But I have a feeling I'm about to find out.
The door clicks shut, and the room falls quiet.
I stare at it, the laughter and warmth from just moments before gone, replaced by a cold that seeps into my chest. My fingers twist in the blanket, the cards lying forgotten between us.
Kaia lets out a low whistle. "Well, that went… somewhere."
I swallow. "What just happened?"
Kaia glances at the door, then back at me, her brows pulling together. "You tell me, Lex. One second, you're all giggles, asking about Asher, and the next, they look like you stabbed them in the foot."
I shake my head, confusion tightening in my throat. "I don't get it. All I said was… I thought it was like the bond I have with Finn. That's not wrong, is it?"
Kaia shifts, pulling her knees to her chest. "No, it's not wrong, but…" She pauses, searching for words. "Alexia, you know they care about you, right?"
"Yeah," I whisper.
She sighs. "It's just… you know how guys are. They have this whole 'protect the tiny human girl' thing going, and they don't exactly talk about their feelings. Or… whatever it is they're all tangled up in."
I frown, hugging the pillow to my chest. "But they said it was like family. Why did it feel like I broke something by saying that?"
Kaia rubs the back of her neck. "Maybe because it's not as simple as family for them, Lex. You're… different for them, even if you don't see it."
I blink at her. "Different how?"
She shrugs, but her eyes are soft. "I don't know. But I see the way they look at you, even Asher, when he thinks no one's watching. You're important to them, in a way that's more than just 'family.'"
My chest tightens, guilt twisting in my stomach. "I didn't mean to hurt them."
"I know," Kaia says gently, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "You didn't do anything wrong. You're just… asking questions. And they're being cryptic, as usual."
I let out a breath, slumping back against the pillows. "It feels like there's something I'm missing."
"There probably is," Kaia says honestly. "But that's on them, not you."
I bite my lip, staring at the cards on the bed. "Do you think they're mad at me?"
Kaia rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. They're probably outside pacing in circles, brooding about how to fix this without actually talking about it. It's what boys do."
That makes me laugh, a slight, shaky sound. "You're probably right."
Kaia smiles, bumping her shoulder into mine. "Of course I am. Now, do you want me to go kick Finn's ass and drag him back here, or do we let them sweat it out a little longer?"
I crack a smile, the knot in my chest loosening just a bit. "Let them sweat."
Kaia grins. "That's my girl."
And for a moment, the world feels steady again.