At the mention of Hailey—sweet-faced, ever-sheltered Hailey—Lenora’s lips curved faintly, though the expression held resignation rather than warmth. She gave no reply, but her silence was mistaken for consent. Relief softened the men’s shoulders as they turned toward the den.
Then both froze. Stacked by the door were several boxes.
“What’s this?” Raymond asked. Evan echoed him, bewildered.
Lenora didn’t meet their eyes. “I resigned from the intelligence division. Alpha Nathan approved it this morning.”
The words struck them silent. Shock rippled across their features, disbelief thick in the air. They knew how fiercely she had clung to that position, how she had fought past every weakness of her body to keep serving. Evan’s brows drew together, his lips parting as though to question her—but no sound came. Raymond fumbled for words too, but the sharp trill of a phone cut through the silence.
Evan answered. Hailey’s trembling voice spilled into the room. “Evan? My lights went out. It’s so dark—I’m scared. I don’t know what to do.”