"As happy as this is," Sinclair said, folding his arms and looking around at the four of us. "And it is happy," he added, glancing at Cora and Roger to emphasize his sincerity. They nodded in understanding. "We still have a problem," he said, nodding toward Rafe in my arms.

"Yes," I said, looking eagerly at Cora. "Henry found out more about the cult—I'll tell you all about it. It'snot good," I said, grimacing slightly.

"Oh," she said, furrowing her brows. "Okay—yes, I want to hear everything." I nodded, tugging at her waist to guide her into the house. Sinclair and Roger followed closely behind.

"Did you find anything else?" Sinclair asked Roger.

"No," Roger replied apologetically. "Just what we sent you from the library. Was it useful?"

"Incredibly," Sinclair confirmed gratefully. "But yes, we found out more"

My mate and I took Roger and Cora into the small office and told them everything, seating Rafe in a little swing we'd temporarily placed there because we'd been spending so much time working on this issue. They were as horrified as we were to discover that we likely had someone in our midst working for the cult, someone who had already betrayed us or soon would. Though they racked their brains, they, like us, couldn't identify a viable candidate.

"We need more information," Sinclair growled thoughtfully, flipping through the paperwork his investigators had produced, as if hoping to find something overlooked. I nodded in agreement, but noticed Cora looking pale.

"You haven't slept, have you?" I asked, concerned.

She smiled apologetically, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Ella," she said. "I want to help, but I think"

"Upstairs," I said firmly, giving her a playful swat on the rear. "Immediately. Sleep."

"I'll take her," Roger offered, stepping forward to take Cora's arm.

"No!" I said, placing a hand on his chest and gently pushing him back. Although I wasn't strong enough to stop him, Roger complied, laughing and stepping back. "I said sleep, not bed."

Roger chuckled, raising his hands. "I promise," he said, "I just want to see my mate comfortably tucked in. All right?"

"All right," I said, narrowing my eyes before pecking Cora's cheek. "We'll figure it all out when you wake up, okay?" I nudged her toward the door.

"We will," she agreed, giving me a steady look. "Really, we will." Then she took Roger's hand and went upstairs with him.

I moved to Sinclair's side as we watched them go. "I'm so happy," I said, leaning against his chest and sighing contentedly. He wrapped his arms around me, kissing my cheek.

"Me too," he said, holding me close. "They're idiots for not doing it sooner."

I was silent for a moment, considering the obstacles they'd faced. "It's not going to always be easy for them," I sighed. "Not like it was for us."

"Ella," Sinclair said, shaking his head against my neck. "You almost died, like, four times since we've been together. How was that easy?"

"Because," I said, turning in his arms and looking up at him sincerely, "we always had Rafe. And once we figured out we loved each other, and especially that I was a wolf too, then" I shrugged, "at least for us, it was always smooth sailing."

"I see what you mean," he said, looking calmly into my eyes. "But their love is a big love, Ella," he said, nodding. "Like ours. They're going to work it out."

"I hope so," I sighed, resting my head on his chest and closing my eyes. "That's all I want. For both of them."

The next five days passed, and that seemed a very real possibility. Cora and Roger stayed with us, partly because I kept inventing reasons for them to remain, and it filled my heart with joy each day to see them growing closer. I loved seeing the small touches he placed on her back when he leaned down to speak in her ear, and the way she tilted her face up to him, laughing at his dark, wry jokes.

But on day six, Cora took me by the shoulders and gave me a little shake, insisting she had to return to the clinic.

"Whyyy?" I whined, tilting my head back and groaning. "Just stay here with us. We need you!"

"You don't need me," she said, dropping her hands and folding her arms. "You're just trying to keep me in a little love bubble with Roger so I don't change my mind or something."

"Well," I said, raising my eyebrows and giving her a too-innocent smile, "is it working?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "I'm not changing my mind, Ella. I'm in love with him." I squealed, but she held up a finger, stopping me. "But I have a life. And a boyfriend I never broke up with. And a job that requires me to actually help people. And I have to go deal with all of that! Okay?"

"Okay," I mumbled, looking petulantly at my shoes. "Did you seriously never break up with Hank?" I asked, glancing up at her.

"No," she admitted, raising a guilty hand to her forehead, embarrassed. "I kind ofghosted him. But I need to be a big girl and godo it."

"Okay," I said, rubbing her arm comfortingly. "Be nice to him, all right? I like Doctor Hank."

"I like him too," she said, shaking her head. "I feel terrible, Ella. ButI've got to go set it right. Okay?"

Roger appeared from the kitchen, carrying a lunch bag clearly labeled "To Cora from Roger" in black pen. I smirked.

"What is this?" Cora sighed, snatching the bag from Roger's hand and glaring at him.

"Your lunch," Roger replied innocently.

Cora peered inside, then glared again, shoving the bag back at him. "There's nothing in there except an apple and the Sharpie you used to write the message."

"What!" Roger protested, laughing. "It's nutritious, and doctors are always losing their pens."

Cora crossed her arms. "You're just trying to make Hank get the message the moment I walk in the door instead of letting me do this on my own time."

"Um, yeah," Roger said, as if it were obvious. I laughed. "But," he continued, gesturing to the bag, "an apple! For strength!"

"Roger," Cora said, laughing and moving close to him, pressing against him. "You're sweet, but also a little bit psycho. Can you please let me go do this?"

"Fine," he murmured, kissing her hair. "But then I'm not saving this apple for you. Ella will probably devour it, as she does everything else in this house anyway."

"My apple to begin with," I muttered, snatching the bag.

Cora rolled her eyes and kissed Roger before blowing me a kiss as she left.

"See you, Cora!" I called. "Come back as soon as you can!"

"I promise," she called back, laughing. I closed the door with a happy sigh, expecting to see her that night.

But five days later, she still hadn't returned.