At around 3 a.m., Helena Tanner’s phone screen lit up. Being careful to not wake her mate, she shifted slowly to reach her phone on her night stand. Her eyes squinted in the dark as she read the message from a number she was careful not to add into her contact list but knew by heart. She threw her covers and stood, which was when her mate asked groggily, “Where are you going? What happened?”

She tried to mask her worry and responded in a flat tone, “Just work. I have to check on something.”

“Now?” Her mate asked in disbelief as he checked the illuminated figures on his alarm...