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She nods slowly. “The older route language keeps opening.”

We follow the bank on foot from the old landing. A wider maintenance trail curves inland beneath pines and palmetto, but a narrower flooded path continues east beside the spring-fed current.

I stop. “Dry path.”

Pepper checks the map. “No.”

“It’s safer.”

“It also follows the closed marks.” I look over her shoulder as she traces the symbols with one finger. “The marks that curve back toward the cemetery are closed. The open marks continue east with the current.”

The water path is narrow, uneven, and full of roots. My body rejects it before my mind finishes measuring risk.

Pepper looks up at me. “You asked me to read the route.”

“I did.”

“This is where it goes.”

“You’re sure?”

She considers the question instead of rushing. “I’m sure enough that I’m asking you to trust me.”

Ezra steps beside her. His shoulder brushes mine. “We’ll be careful.”

“That word has a flexible meaning with you two.”

Pepper smiles. “Alpha?”

The word on her lips is an invitation, not a challenge.

I take her hand. “Stay between us.”

We step into the water. It reaches Pepper’s ankles first, then her calves. She makes a delighted sound when the cold hits. “Oh, that’s wonderful.”

“It’s slippery, be careful.”

“Yes, expedition daddy.”

Ezra laughs as he takes her other hand.

She looks back at me, her face full of a tenderness I can’t begin to understand. “Thank you, alpha. I’m being careful, promise.” She stands on her tippy toes and plants a kiss on my cheek.

I stare at her for a moment, completely enchanted by the unexpected omega who asked to enter my gate. I’m so damn grateful I let her in.

We move slowly, all three connected. Pepper tests each step with the toe of her boot. I keep my grip loose enough that she chooses her footing. Ezra becomes more solid with every yard, his pale outline filling until sunlight catches cleanly on his hair.

Pepper swings their joined hands once. “Look at you.”

Ezra lifts his chin. “A swamp prince.”

“Pastel warning colors would suit you.”

“I’m willing to be styled by my frog queen.”

The drowned footbridge appears around the next bend. Most of it lies beneath the water. Two warped rails lean toward each other above the current. The far end has collapsed into reeds.

Pepper stares at it with open delight. “It’s gorgeous.”