Chapter 63. She’s the Reason

Caliana’s POV

“Again?”

The word left Edward’s lips sharp and incredulous, slicing cleanly through the polite veneer that had settled over the entrance of the Black Stone Pack’s mansion. The moment stretched, thick with tension, and I could feel Edward’s body stiffen beside me, his arm tightening around my waist as though anchoring me in place. His tone wasn’t loud, but it carried—commanding, dangerous in its restraint.

Before I could form a response, before I could smooth the edges of the situation or choose my words carefully, Dean spoke.

“Oh yes,” he said easily, far too easily for my liking. “She and I jog in the same place. We’ve met a few times.”

A few times. The casual phrasing made it sound harmless, innocent, almost trivial, but I knew Edward wouldn’t hear it that way. I