Page 124 of Taken By the Pack

The salty breeze rolls off the water, the gentle rocking of the boat making the world feel a little looser around the edges. I take a sip from the beer Rowan just passed me, watching as Jake stands behind Grace, his hands over hers, guiding her through the motion of casting her line.

She’s grinning, eyes bright, enjoying the simplicity of the moment.

Rowan leans against the railing beside me, his gaze locked on them. I can tell he’s deep in his head, something simmering under the surface.

I nudge him with my elbow. “You good?”

He exhales, cracking open his beer before answering. “Lena being brought up always catches me off guard… That and… the curse. Or the supposed curse.”

I study him for a second, noting the tension in his jaw. “You think maybe you haven’t let her go yet?”

His groan is immediate, running a hand through his hair. “Maybe.”

I let that sit between us for a beat before deciding to shift the energy. “All right,” I say, standing up, stretching my arms over my head. “Let’s swim.”

Jake laughs, reeling in his line. “Man, you and the ocean.”

Grace’s eyes light up. “We’re really getting in?”

“Of course,” I say, already pulling my shirt over my head. “It’s beautiful out here.”

Rowan’s face twists with discomfort, a flicker of unease in his expression. “I?—”

I shake my head. “Nope. No excuses. We helped Jake face the cliffs. Now it’s your turn with the sea.”

His throat bobs with a hard swallow. “Ash…”

Grace is already peeling off her shorts, wearing nothing but a thin tank top and her bikini bottoms. Jake’s watching her like she’s the only thing that exists in the world, his admiration so blatant it’s almost tangible.

I glance at Rowan. “It’s just water, man.”

His grip tightens around the railing, but I see it—the struggle, the way his pride wars with his hesitation. I step up beside him, lowering my voice.

“I won’t let anything happen. You know that, right?”

He exhales sharply, his shoulders sagging a fraction. “Yeah.”

“Then let’s go.”

Jake’s already climbing onto the edge, his grin sharp. “Grace, you coming?”

She nods eagerly, her excitement infectious. She steps up beside him, and with barely a second’s hesitation, she jumps. The sound of her laughter echoes as she splashes into the deep blue below.

I turn to Rowan, raising a brow. “No turning back now.”

He mutters something under his breath, but before he can talk himself out of it, he pulls off his shirt and follows us to the edge. One last deep breath, and then we dive in.

The water is cool, lapping around us like an embrace, and I can feel the tension in Rowan’s body from where I tread water beside him.

Grace is already swimming a few feet away, her laughter echoing across the waves. Jake treads water near her, grinning as he flicks droplets at her face.

But Rowan—he’s frozen. Watching.

I place a hand on his shoulder. “You okay?”

He exhales sharply, shaking his head. “I—” His voice falters. “I haven’t been in the sea since Lena died.”

The words hit the air like a confession. Even Grace and Jake pause, their easy smiles fading.

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