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    The moming light filtered through the enormous windows of our bedroom, casting a golden glow across the room. It was normally a sight that I looked forward to every morning, but today, I found it hard to appreciate. Sleep had eluded me afterst night. I couldn''t let go of the image of that door lying open in the tunnels, of the implications that it held. Was Edward back? Was it with a vengeance?


    Enzo stirred awake as I tossed in bed, shifting to face me. "Morning," he mumbled, his eyes still bleary.


    "Is it really a good morning?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.


    He sighed, sitting up against the headboard. "We need to talk about it, don''t we?"


    I propped myself up on my elbow, facing him. "The possibility that Edward was the one who let the burr out... it''s terrifying, Enzo. Edward should be long gone. Why would hee back here after everything?"


    "I don''t know," Enzo said, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "But you''re right; I was thinking about it a lotst night, and we can''t just ignore the signs. The burr was held in a ce that Edward once had ess to. He''s the only outsider who could potentially know our security protocols. Or at least, he should be."


    I felt my breath hitch. "So you do think it could be Edward?"


    Enzo hesitated, his eyes searching mine. "Listen, I don''t want to jump to conclusions, but we have to be prepared for that possibility."


    "And if it is him?" I asked. My voice trembled more than I would have liked it to. "What then?"


    Enzo''s face darkened. "Then I''ll find him. And I''ll stop him. Once and for all." The determination in Enzo''s gravelly voice sent shivers down my spine, but it was alsoforting in a strange way.


    There was a silence between us, but it wasn''t our usual morning silence. The implications of what happened yesterday filled the space between us with a negative sort of energy, like a live wire sitting in a puddle of water.


    "Is it bad that I''m scared, Enzo?" I found myself asking, my voice no more than a whisper. "Scared of what we might find, or what might find us?"


    Enzo took my hands in his, bringing them up to his lips and gently kissing each knuckle. "It''s human to be afraid, Nina. But remember, if he''s lurking in the shadows, then he''s the one who should be afraid, not you."


    His eyes held mine, steady and unwavering, but it wasn''t enough to fully ay my fears. "And what if hees for me again?" I asked. "What if he tries to drag me back into his twisted world like he did before?"


    "I swear I won''t let that happen," Enzo vowed, his eyes darkening, the veins in his hands standing out as he gripped mine a little tighter. "I will be beside you, every step of the way. If he so much as thinks of evening close to you, he''ll have to go through me first."


    "But you can''t be with me every second of every day," I argued, even though the thought of him protecting me eased some of the knots in my stomach.


    "I can and I will," he murmured. "I will have members of the pack keep watch when I can''t be there. We''ll increase security, consult with Luke''s witch about strengthening her spells. We''ll do whatever it takes to ensure you-and the baby-are safe."


    I leaned into him, my head finding theforting crook of his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift just a little.


    "But what about you?" I asked, pulling back to look at him. "I don''t want you to get hurt because of me, because of Edward."


    He cupped my face with his hand, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. "I can handle myself, and I can handle Edward."


    I searched his eyes, searching for any hint of insecurity, but instead found nothing but a blend of resolve and softness there. "Promise?"


    He kissed me tenderly, lingering for a few seconds before pulling away. "I promise. Trust me," he whispered into my ear, his warm breath sending a chill down my spine.


    I nestled deeper into his embrace, holding on to him as if he was a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty. "Okay. I will."Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    The day went by in a blur of preparations and errands. Enzo strengthened the pack''s security about not just our home but Mountainview as a whole, and sent out new orders for Luke and his scouts to search for Edward. Finally, it was well after dinnertime, and both of us were exhausted.


    We were curled up on the couch, half-watching an old movie that neither of us were paying all that much attention to. His arm was around me, making me forget the trials of the day, if only for a moment.


    But then, his phone buzzed on the coffee table, shattering our serenity. He nced at the caller ID and frowned. "It''s Tim," he said, almost reluctantly picking it up. "I should take this."


    I nodded, trying to stifle the disappointment that crept up on me. "Go ahead."


    He pressed the phone to his ear and got up, pacing around the room as he talked. "Tim, how are you? It''s been a while... What? An incident?... Are they okay?... Yeah, of course, I''ll look at the files... A week?"


    His eyes met mine, clouded with hesitation and something else I couldn''t quite ce. "I don''t know, Tim. I''ve got a lot going on here... All expenses covered?... Let me think about it and get back to you."


    He ended the call and set the phone down on the table, his eyes heavy with thought. "That was my recruiter. There''s been an incident with the team I''m supposed to coach. Apparently one of their best yers broke his ankle hiking this weekend, and the team is in shambles. They''ve got a gameing up soon and Tim wants me toe down and give them some coaching for a week."


    "And what did you say?" I asked, sitting up.


    "I told him that I''d think about it," he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "They''re offering good money, Nina. They''d cover the flights and lodging, but-"


    "But you don''t want to leave me here," I finished for him, my eyes narrowing as I tried to gauge his reaction.


    He looked at me, his gaze almost imploring. "Not with everything that''s happening, no. Not with Edward possibly lurking in the shadows. I don''t like the idea of leaving you alone, even with the pack around."


    A knot formed in my stomach. "So you''ll turn it down?"


    He sank into the couch, dragging a hand through his curly brown mop of hair. "I don''t know, Nina. I don''t want to turn it down, but the timing is just... I don''t know if it''s a good idea, you know?"


    The weight of the situation settled on my shoulders, and I realized that in that moment, Enzo''s dilemma was also mine. "Well, what if you didn''t have to choose?" I blurted out, surprising even myself.


    He looked puzzled as he nced up at me. "What do you mean?"


    "It''s just a week, right? What if I came with you?"