There were nights he made me laugh so hard my ribs ached, mornings when he kissed my forehead before work, times I thought he truly loved me. Those memories clash violently with the truth of what I know now; that maybe all of it was a mask, a role he played to keep me blind. Ye, how do you erase years of believing you mattered to someone? How do you separate the man who held Jaxon as a baby from the man who might have been watching us for the hunters all along?
Part of me grieves what I thought we had, while another part burns with anger that I was too na?ve to see the truth. And somewhere in the middle, there’s a hollow ache, because I don’t know which version of Greg was real, or if either of them ever were.
“We will keep patrols tight near the borders. If Greg or any hunters are watching, they’ll be looking for an opening. And if they know about Paige and Jaxon, we can’t risk them getting close.”
Remy nods in agreement. “I’ll continue to take extra patrols. We need to act like they’re already out there.”
“Which means,” Parker adds, glancing toward me, “Paige and Jax should never be alone, even in the house. At least one of us needs to be with them at all times. Not until we have eliminated the threat.”
I bristle at their words. “I don’t want Jaxon to feel like he’s locked in a cage.”
“You won’t be,” Ryder says quickly, softer this time. “But if Greg was what we think, then both of you were targets long before we realised it. We can’t risk you out in the open without backup.”
It feels suffocating. But the way Ryder’s hand finds mine, the way his eyes hold mine with a plea in them, makes it harder to argue.
Not because I don’t want my freedom, but because I don’t want to risk Jaxon’s safety.
“What about Jaxon?” I ask quietly. “What do we tell him?”
The question makes them all pause.
“Nothing yet,” Callen finally says, measured. “He’s a kid. He doesn’t need to carry this weight until we have proof. Let him keep his innocence a little longer.”
Relief washes over me. “Good,” I murmur. “He deserves that much.”
Ryder exhales slowly, his shoulders relaxing at last. He looks around at all of us, his gaze lingering on his brother, then Parker, then
Remy. “So we agree. Patrols remain tightened. We dig into Greg’s past, and we don’t let Paige or Jaxon out of our sight until we know the truth.”
No one argues.
The decision isn’t perfect. It isn’t even a solution, not yet, but it’s something. A plan, a way forward.
I lean back against Ryder, his hand still warm around mine. For the first time since Greg’s name was spoken aloud, I let myself breathe a little easier. No matter what the outcome, I know these men are in this with me, and they’ll protect my son at all costs.
** 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 take the night off, that he’s been working too hard lately. I thought, no, I believed that after giving in to the mate bond, he’d finally want to be here, with me. With us. But he insisted on going, his voice clipped, his jaw tight, refusing to rest. Like I wasn’t even a reason to stay.
A lump forms in my throat, and my eyes sting. I blink back the tears when I hear Callen’s quiet steps behind me.
“You’re brooding,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing but not unkind. His hand brushes over my shoulder, instantly comforting me.
“I’m not.” The lie is obvious even to my own ears.
Callen just smiles faintly, like he sees straight through me. He probably does. Without a word, he slides his fingers down my arm and laces them with mine, tugging me gently toward the hallway.
“Come with me.”
I let him guide me, confused, until he pushes open the door to the bathroom. The space is luxurious; it almost feels like something stolen from a dream. Callen leans over the wide jet bath and starts the water running, twisting the taps until steam rises. The sound is soothing in itself, filling the silence between us.
When he turns back, his eyes are soft. “You need this.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “A bath? Are you saying I stink?”
“No, a break. Some peace. Some time for yourself.” He presses a kiss against my temple before backing away. “I’ll give you space. Call if you need me.”
He slips out, leaving me staring at the steaming water. I let out a breath, and the pressure in my chest lessens.
By the time I sink into the tub, the heat has melted away some of the tension in my shoulders. The jets hum, bubbles rise around me, and I close my eyes. For a little while, I let myself just be me. Not the mother who has to be strong, not the mate left behind, just me, floating in the water.
When the water starts to cool, I drag myself out, dry off, and slip into one of Ryder’s T-shirts I’d stolen days ago. It smells faintly of cedar, comforting me whilst making me long for Rye at the same time.
When I step out of the bathroom, Callen is waiting in the hall. He looks me over once, his eyes catching on the oversized shirt, and I swear a smile tugs at his lips before he schools his features into something softer.
“Feel any better?” he asks.
“A little.” I sigh. “I just miss them, and I just… I thought Remy would want to be here more. With me. Now that…” I trail off, unsure how to say it without sounding pathetic.
“Now that you’re mated,” Callen finishes softly, and steps closer. “Paige, he does want to be here. Don’t doubt that for a second. But Remy’s instincts… they’re tearing him up right now. He’s a protector by nature, and that bond just makes it worse. He feels everything more intensely now. His wolf won’t let him rest if there’s even a chance you might be in danger. Being away from you hurts him, but staying behind when there’s a threat?” Callen shakes his head. “That would be worse. Give him some time. Once he’s sure there’s nothing out there, he might come back.”
I think about his words, not sure if they make me feel better or worse. “So what you’re saying is, I’m not the problem. His instincts are.”
“Exactly.” His eyes go distant before glittering with mischief, and a smirk forms on his face.
I eye him suspiciously. “What?”
“Come with me,” he says, the smirk turning into a full grin.
He grabs my hand before I can question him and tugs me toward the stairs.
“Callen…”
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