Chapter 82. Shadows Of Distrust

Heather POV

“Get ready,” he said shortly. “I’ll order breakfast.”

And just like that, the fragile warmth of the moment was gone. He was back to being distant, all business, and it hurt more than I wanted to admit. But I pushed the feeling down, shoving it into the void where all my other unresolved emotions lived. I didn’t have the luxury of feelings right now—not when my mother and Mona were still in Colt’s clutches. Not when Colt was hunting the second key.

The rest of the morning passed in silence. Even breakfast was awkward, the tension between us almost unbearable. When Stella and Damon finally arrived, I welcomed the distraction, though I didn’t miss the way Stella’s sharp gaze flicked between Kayden and me. She could sense the strain between us—it wasn’t subtle.

“Let’s get down to business,” Alpha Damon announced, cutting through the tension like a blade.

“On it,” Kayden responded, already unfolding the letter.

“Next stop: