I leave Callen behind with a smile still tugging at the corners of my lips. It feels good to laugh again, even just a little.
Upstairs, I find Jaxon’s room open, but empty. My stomach does a little flip as I turn toward Ryder’s room. When I reach the bedroom door, I pause.
Jaxon’s voice drifts out. It’s soft and calm. I peek inside and stop in the doorway and find them both on the floor.
Jaxon is lying flat on his back on a folded blanket, hands resting on his stomach, eyes closed. Ryder mirrors him beside him, his massive frame making the space seem smaller, but his presence calm.
“Breathe in through your nose,” Ryder says gently, his voice barely above a whisper. “Feel your chest rise. Count to four in your head. Now let it out slow through your mouth.”
Jaxon obeys, a steady breath escaping his lips.
I blink, surprised by the calm stillness in my normally fidgety son. His chest rises and falls in perfect sync with Ryder’s. I clear my throat softly.
Jaxon opens one eye and gives me a sleepy smile. “Hi, Mummy.”
“What are you two doing?” I ask, stepping into the room but keeping my voice quiet, like I might disrupt the peaceful energy if I’m too loud.
“Dad’s teaching me how to calm down when I get big feelings,” Jaxon says proudly, sitting up a little. “He says it’s going to help when I get older.”
Ryder sits up beside him, his hair a tousled mess and his shirt rumpled. “Helps me too,” he says, offering me a small smile. “Figured it couldn’t hurt to give him some tools now.”
My chest swells, warm and tight all at once. I crouch beside them and run a hand over
Jaxon’s hair.
“Do you feel relaxed, baby?”
He nods eagerly. “Yes. I got angry. It was just because the enforcer guy wouldn’t let me go outside the front door, but I’m not mad now.”
“That’s good,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss his forehead. “I’m proud of you
“I’m proud of him too,” Ryder says quietly. “He’s strong and brave, and he knows now that we are only keeping him inside to protect him.”
I glance at Ryder and meet his eyes. I hope he hasn’t scared him. I haven’t told him about the threat. Maybe I should have, so he understands the importance of not trying to wander off, but I don’t want him worrying.
“You’re doing a good job,” I murmur.
“So are you.”
There’s a moment between us. Something tender. But I step back before it can become tool much.
“I’ll leave the two of you to it. Just don’t fall asleep on the floor,” I tease, brushing Jaxon’s cheek again before standing.
Ryder chuckles. “No promises.”
I head back down to the kitchen, where Parker is moving around. He looks up when I enter and nods toward the mug already set out on the table. “Still hot.”
“Thanks.” I sink into the chair with a soft groan and wrap my hands around the mug.
He leans against the counter across from me, arms crossed, watching me. “How’s Jax?”
“On the floor upstairs doing breathing exercises with Ryder.”
Parker lifts a brow. “Seriously?”
“Dead serious. Apparently, he was mad earlier, and Rye used it as a teaching moment. It was sweet.”
His lips twitch into a half-smile. “Sounds like him. He gets all gruff and broody, but give him a kid, and he turns into a golden retriever. He’s always been great with the pack kids.”
I laugh into my cup. “It’s true. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jaxon that calm. And Ryder was just calm too. Like he needed it just as much.”
Parker pulls out the chair beside me and sits, resting his forearms on the table. “I think we should talk tonight.”
I blink. “Talk?”
“Yeah. All of us. You, me, Ryder, Callen… and Remy, if I can get him here.”
I hesitate, every muscle in my body tensing slightly. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Callen only just got home.”
?
“I think it’s the only idea. You’re walking on eggshells trying not to upset anyone, and we’re all dancing around this bond thing like it’s going to solve itself. It won’t. The sooner we tell them, the sooner we can work it all out.”
I sip the tea to stall for a moment. He’s not wrong. “I just… I don’t want to overwhelm anyone. Especially Callen, he’s just had such a huge ordeal.”
“He will be fine. He can handle more than you think. If anything, I actually think he will see this as good news.”
I nod slowly. “Okay. Tonight then. Once Jax is asleep.”
His gaze softens. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For trusting me with this. With you.”
I look down, flustered, as I whisper, “You make it easy.”
He stands then, brushing a hand lightly across my shoulder as he heads toward the back door. “I’m going to meet Remy. See if I can drag his stubborn ass home.”
I smile, my heart thudding louder than it should. “Good luck.”
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