21. Mylo

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

MYLO

Had I messed everything up? I knew I was the one who ended things with Holden, but that didn't stop the ache in my chest.

For the past three days, I'd been holed up in my cabin with the curtains drawn, my phone off, trying to shut out the world. I wasn't proud of it. My eyes felt raw from all the crying, and the worst part? It didn't make anything better. If anything, I was left with more questions—questions not just about Holden but about myself. Why did I let my fears take over, driving a wedge between me and the only person who made me feel safe and wanted?

Noah had stopped by at least twice, his knock loud enough to be heard over the pounding in my head. I stayed on the couch, pulling the blanket tighter around me, hoping he'd get the hint. I didn't want to see anyone—not even him. Especially not him. Because if I opened that door and saw his kind eyes, I'd break down all over again. And I was done breaking. Besides, I was still mad at him too.

Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe… maybe I'd made a mistake. Sure, Holden was keeping something from me, something big. And yeah, it hurt to be left in the dark while everyone else seemed to know. But did it really matter? So what if my mind had run wild—turning him into a serial killer or cult leader? Maybe—just maybe—I should've been more patient, given him the time he needed. Because whatever he was hiding, it couldn't be worse than this emptiness gnawing at me now.

I shut that thought down quickly. This wasn't who I was. I wasn't the kind of guy who let people keep secrets from him, even if they thought it was for my own good. I'd worked too hard to become independent, to trust myself, to let that happen again.

But damn, I missed him. I missed his voice, his warmth, that ridiculous half-smile that made my stomach do stupid little flips. And I hated myself for still loving him, even after everything.

I needed out of here—out of my head, out of this cabin, and away from the endless loop of self-pity that wouldn't quit.

I pushed myself off the couch, grabbed my jacket, and pulled on my boots. Fresh air. I needed fresh air. And maybe a ride—that always helped. Holden and I had been riding almost every day, and even without him, the thought of taking Snowdrop out brought some comfort.

The late afternoon air hit me the second I stepped outside, sharp and cold, but it felt good. It reminded me that the world was still out here, even if my head was a mess. I made my way to the stables, shoving my hands deep into my pockets as if that might help me hold everything in.

When I reached the stables, a guy—Mark, I think—gave me a small smile. "Hey, Mylo. Haven't seen you in a few days."

I managed a weak attempt at a smile. "Yeah, just needed some time."

He didn't press, thank God. He just nodded and led me over to Snowdrop's stall. "Heading out for a ride?"

"Yeah," I said, rubbing Snowdrop's neck. Her warmth and steady strength beneath my hand were grounding. "Just need to clear my head, you know?"

Mark gave me a knowing nod. "I'll get her ready for you."

In no time, Snowdrop was saddled, and I guided her away from the main grounds, letting her set the pace. The gentle sway of her gait, the cool breeze against my face, the rhythmic clop of her hooves—all of it helped. It didn't fix anything, but it gave me something solid to hold onto, something real.

As I rode, my thoughts wandered to what it would mean if I left. Tyler had offered me a place to stay, even a job at his family's restaurant. I had options. But the thought of leaving Holden behind—leaving behind this feeling of belonging—made my chest ache.

Holden was here. As much as it scared me—the idea of some awful secret lurking beneath the surface—I didn't want to leave him. I didn't want to lose this chance at something real, something good.

Snowdrop's ears flicked as we rode deeper into the property, and I realized I hadn't been paying attention. The trees grew thicker here, the air cooler. I wasn't sure where I was.

Then I heard it—a low growl that made my heart jump into my throat.

Snowdrop tensed beneath me, her ears flattening. I looked up and saw them—wolves. Three of them, their eyes locked on me, bodies low to the ground, muscles coiled. Panic clawed at me, my heartbeat hammering in my chest as I tried to stay calm.

Snowdrop shifted beneath me, sensing my fear. I tightened my grip on the reins, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Easy, girl," I whispered, my breath shaky. "We're okay. We're okay."

But we weren't. The wolves were circling now, closing in, their growls growing louder.

My mind raced. What the hell was I supposed to do? Turn back? Try to run?

Snowdrop whinnied, her muscles bunching beneath me, ready to bolt. If she did, I'd be thrown. Or worse.

"Hey!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Back off!"

The wolves didn't flinch. If anything, they moved closer, eyes locked on me, teeth bared.

I was frozen—absolutely frozen.

The growling surrounded me, my heart pounding in my ears. This was it—I was about to die. I couldn't even take a proper breath, let alone think. Every instinct I had screamed at me to run, but I was frozen. Snowdrop shifted nervously beneath me, and I tried to steady her, but my hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold the reins.

I should've listened to Holden. I should've… I don't know, paid more attention to where I was riding instead of letting my mind wander. My eyes darted around, catching sight of the wolves inching closer, their eyes locked on me like I was prey.

I tried to turn Snowdrop around, hoping to find a gap to escape through, but as soon as I moved, a massive wolf—its fur almost black—stepped forward and growled. The deep, guttural sound made my heart stop.

This was it. I was going to die because I'd been stupid and careless. The pit in my stomach twisted painfully as I closed my eyes, waiting for it to be over.

Then a snarl ripped through the air—louder, sharper than the others. My eyes snapped open, just in time to see a large wolf leap between me and the others. Its fur was a deep auburn, muscles rippling as it landed in front of me, teeth bared at the three wolves.

For a moment, silence hung in the air. The other wolves hesitated, their ears flattening. And then chaos erupted.

The three wolves lunged at once, and the auburn wolf met them head-on—teeth gnashing, fur flying. Snowdrop reared back, her fear overwhelming her, but I was frozen in place, unable to move. My heart pounded so hard it hurt.

The auburn wolf was fighting to protect me, but there were three of them and only one of it. They tore into each other, and I could barely breathe as I watched. Time seemed to slow, the scene unfolding in jagged flashes—growls, yelps, bodies colliding—and then the auburn wolf hit the ground with a thud, one of the others sinking its teeth into its side.

I needed to do something. I needed to help. But I couldn't even scream.

The fight ended almost as suddenly as it had begun. The auburn wolf lay still, blood staining the dirt beneath it, and the three other wolves turned their attention back to me. My heart stopped. This was it. They were going to kill me. And I hadn't even been able to save the wolf that tried to protect me.

Before they could move, a roar shattered the air—deep, earth-shaking. I whipped around, eyes wide, just in time to see a massive bear charge out of the woods. It barreled into the wolves, swiping at them with paws bigger than my head.

The wolves scattered, their snarls turning into yelps as they fled, tails tucked between their legs.

My brain screamed that I should run too—because if three wolves were terrifying, what was I supposed to do with one bear?

The bear stood there for a moment, chest heaving with each breath, and then it turned, locking eyes with me. My breath caught in my throat as it padded over to the auburn wolf, nudging it gently with its nose.

Right in front of me, the wolf shifted—its body contorting, bones cracking—and suddenly Noah lay there, unconscious and battered.

"Noah?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The bear turned to me, and then it shifted too—its form blurring, rearranging itself—until Holden was standing there, fear etched into every line of his face as he looked at me.

"Oh," I said flatly, numbness washing over me. It was all I could manage.

Holden didn't waste a second. He moved to Noah, lifting him effortlessly into his arms, and then glanced back at me. "Follow me," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "We need to get him back."

I nodded, still too stunned to say anything else.

Holden leaned close to Snowdrop, his voice low but reassuring. "Go home, girl. You know the way."

Snowdrop whinnied softly, her ears flicking back as if she understood. With a nudge from Holden, she turned and began trotting down the trail toward the compound.

Holden carried Noah toward the main grounds, and I followed, my body on autopilot while my mind reeled.

Bear shifter. Wolves. Noah.

Somehow, in the strangest way, it all made sense. But I didn't know what that meant—for me, for Holden, for any of this. All I knew was that right now, I had to keep moving. I had to make sure Noah was okay.

Everything else… I'd figure out later.