** Paige’s POV **When the back door shuts behind them, it makes my chest ache. Ryder, Parker, and Remy vanish into the night together. I stand there far longer than I should, staring at the door like it might swing back open, like one of them might come rushing back with a grin and an apology that they couldn’t bear to leave me tonight… but no one does.I press my lips together and turn away, blinking hard. I want all of them around me. They’re my mates, my anchors, the ones who make me feel whole without even trying. The house feels too big when they’re gone, too still, even with Callen here and Jaxon tucked up safely in his bed.I can’t complain. I won’t. This is about safety, about keeping me and Jax alive while hunters still want to get to us. They’re out there, risking themselves, while I get the luxury of warmth and shelter. That should be enough.It doesn’t stop the disappointment from twisting in my stomach, though.What stings most is Remy. Everyone insisted he should ta
** Paige’s POV **Ryder finally stops pacing, his gaze locked on me. I can see so much pain and fury in his eyes.He blows out a shaky breath. “Paige, can you take a walk with me outside?”I nod and take the hand he offers me, letting him pull me up. The night air is cool and fresh and feels good on my flushed face. The moment the door closes behind us, Ryder pulls me into his arms, hugging me desperately.“I failed you.” His voice is low and rough. It cuts straight through me. “Both of you. I knew better than to leave you unprotected. I knew what kind of world this was, and still… I wasn’t there.”“Ryder…”“No!” He pulls back, and my breath catches. His eyes glow faintly, his wolf riding him hard. Grief and rage war behind his eyes.“Don’t tell me it isn’t my fault. You were vulnerable because of me. Jaxon was vulnerable because of me. And he…” Ryder’s chest heaves. “He could have taken everything. He was right there in your home, in your life, while I was hiding here.”The angui
**Paige’s POV ** Remy takes my hand again, his eyes searching mine. “Maybe we should keep this between us for now, just until we know if it’s a possibility. Ryder was…” “I’m not hiding this,” I cut in. “Not from them. If I brought a threat, they deserve to know.” Remy’s jaw works, but after a moment he nods, lacing his fingers with mine. We walk back towards the house in silence, our hands linked, and my mind buzzing with the weight of what Remy has just made me realise. Everything feels sharper now, more fragile, like one wrong move could break the balance we’re trying to find. The rest of the day slips by in a less tense mood. Jaxon insists we spend hours outside, having Parker shift into his wolf to chase him around the garden while Jaxon’s laughter bounces off the surrounding trees. I sit on the porch steps and watch them, smiling despite the churning in my stomach. For a while, it feels normal… sunlight, laughter, muddy shoes on the porch. Remy heads back out with
** Paige’s POV **I tug my cardigan tighter around myself even though the morning air isn’t cold. My nerves are the actual cause of the chill I’m feeling, as I watch Remy’s shoulders tense and relax like he’s fighting himself.He’s stopped us in a small clearing where the sunlight shines through, highlighting the beauty of the place. A fallen tree rests in the centre, its bark thick with green moss. The top is worn smooth as though it’s been sat on frequently. Remy doesn’t sit. He doesn’t even move. He just stands rigid in the stillness, fists clenched at his sides, as if the weight pressing down on him might break him.I swallow, my voice low. “Remy… you’re scaring me a little.”That makes him turn. His green eyes are so raw they nearly steal the breath from my lungs. “I don’t want to scare you. That’s the last thing I want.”“Then talk to me,” I whisper. “Please.”For a moment, he only stares, jaw tight, chest rising and falling like he’s forcing air into his lungs.“I’ve been t
** Paige’s POV ** The house falls quiet again after Ryder’s words. His gaze is steady on me, as though he is trying to memorise the exact shape of my face. I swallow, the weight of what we’d just talked about still sitting heavy in my chest. “Alright,” he says softly, shifting in his seat. “Let’s try this mind-link. Just relax and focus.” I nod, unsure how I can relax when I can already feel my pulse hammering. My palms go clammy as I close my eyes, trying to block out everything else, even Ryder’s steady presence at my side. I concentrate on the thread that tugs at me whenever I think of Remy. He’s out there, not far, though I can’t tell exactly where. Still, there is a constant pull, like an invisible string tying us together, tugging at my chest. “Remy?” I think the word, as clearly as if I am whispering it into the night. “Can you hear me?” For a heartbeat, nothing happens. Just silence. Then, like a muffled echo, I felt a brush of something against my mind. A voic
** Paige’s POV **The house falls quiet again.Parker is still upstairs with Jax, and Ryder is brooding silently at the kitchen island.“What happened out there?” I ask, sitting next to him.Ryder doesn’t answer right away. He lifts his gaze to meet mine, and then his eyes drift to my neck. I don’t miss the flash of anger before he turns his head away.“They came at us from three directions. It was an organised attack, but not as organised as our defence. We’ve had years to learn this land, and Ronnie has been preparing the pack to defend it as soon as they turn eighteen. We knew they’d find us one day; I’m just sorry it has to be now. I wish you could have joined us during our peaceful years. You’d have loved it here.”“Did you lose any pack members tonight?”I suddenly feel sick at the thought. I had been too worked up over Jaxon, the mate bond, and worrying about my mates that I hadn’t even given a second thought to the others out there fighting.Ryder reaches out and cups my c