All Chapters of RUNAWAY BRIDE: BOUND TO THE BIKER ALPHA: Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Rhea's POV Jax obeyed, his small body tense with anticipation of the nightmares. Kael began speaking in a low, rhythmic tone, instructing Jax to visualize walls around his mind. Strong walls that he controlled, that he could use to keep out the visions he didn't want to see.I watched, amazed, as Jax's breathing slowly evened out. The tension drained from his shoulders. His grip on my arm loosened. Within minutes, he was asleep again. Real sleep this time, not the fitful tossing of before.Kael carefully lifted him, carrying him to his own bedroom. I followed, watching as he tucked our son into the race car bed with a gentleness that made my chest ache. This was the Kael I'd fallen in love with. The one who could be fierce and protective but also tender when it mattered.He kissed Jax's forehead and whispered something I couldn't quite hear. Then he straightened, gesturing for me to follow him back to the living room.Once we were out of earshot, I turned on him. "What did you say to

Rhea's POV Then Jax's facial expression changed into something soft. He looked at his father with new eyes, seeing past the alpha to the man underneath. "I want to really know you, not just one day. Every day."Kael's breath caught. "I'd like that. More than anything.""Me too." Jax turned to me. "Is that okay, Mom?"What could I say? My son had just found his father, found a connection he'd been missing his whole life. How could I take that away from him, even if it meant my own heart got more tangled in the process?"It's okay, baby. Of course it's okay."Jax threw his arms around Kael, hugging him with all the enthusiasm of a child who'd just found a missing piece of himself. Kael hugged back, his eyes closing as he breathed in our son's scent. When he opened them again, they were bright with unshed tears.That night, after dinner and a bath and more stories about Jax's day with his father, I tucked my son into bed. He was exhausted but happy, the nightmares from the previous nigh

Rhea's POV Before I could respond, the sound of motorcycles filled the air. With the sound I heard, they could be dozens in number or maybe more. The distinctive rumble of Steel Serpent bikes echoed through the compound, getting closer by the second. "Dammit." Rook looked toward the sound, then back at me. "That's Tank. He thinks I'm in trouble because I haven't signaled. He's bringing everyone in hot." "Call them off. Tell them I'm safe, you should tell them immediately.” "It's too late because they're already inside the perimeter." Rook started climbing up the rope, toward the roof. "Stay in here, lock the windows and whatever happens next, keep Jax away from it. Understood?” He disappeared over the edge, and I slammed the window shut, my hands shaking. This was very bad, we've the serpents here who were here to rescue me, and the Grim Howl wolves would see it as an attack. People were going to die because I'd hesitated and I couldn't make a clean choice. "Mom, what's happe

Rhea's POV "I know I did. I know I don't deserve her forgiveness or her trust. But I'm not asking for either. I'm asking for time, a time to prove to my son that I can be the father he deserves, some time to prove to her that I've learned from my mistakes." Kael's hand found mine, squeezing gently. "If after that time she still wants to leave, I'll let her go, I'll give her resources, protection, everything she needs to build a life away from me. You have my word as alpha." "Your word means nothing to me," Rook said. "Then take mine." I squeezed Kael's hand back, then released it, stepping forward to face Rook directly. "I promise you, I'm doing this for Jax. Not for Kael or for some romantic fantasy. I'm doing it for my son and when I'm ready to leave, when Jax has what he needs from his father, I'll call you. I'll come back to the Serpents. But right now, I need you to trust me, simply believe I know what I'm doing." Rook stared at me for a long moment. Then he shook his head s