He doesn’t notice me at first, too busy waffling on about his truck and how it can go “super fast, faster than Uncle Callen’s wolf, probably.” That earns him a rumbling laugh from Callen, who scoops him closer. Paige beams at them both, brushing Jaxon’s hair back.
Then Jaxon finally turns, and his bright eyes land on me. He pauses. Studies me with the sharp curiosity kids have.
“You’re here,” he says simply.
My mouth goes dry. “Yeah.”
He tilts his head, thinking it over. Then he shrugs and holds out the truck. “Wanna play?”
The bond surges. Paige watches me with a soft, encouraging look. And this kid, this tiny piece of her, is offering me a place in his morning like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
I take the truck from his hand, my voice rough. “Yeah, Jax. I’ll play.”
Paige’s smile could light the whole damn room. And for the first time, I let myself believe I belong here.
The morning brings me the kind of warmth I never had as a child, and I never thought I’d know. Jaxon laughs, Callen teases him with exaggerated crashes of the truck, Paige leans into both of them, and I feel I’ve found my place, my purpose, right here with the three of them.
“Are you four coming down for breakfast?” Parker calls up the stairs.
“Breakfast!” Jax shrieks, jumping from the bed and running from the room.
“Morning,” Ryder says as we come down the stairs. His gaze lands on Paige first, then Callen, then me. My jaw tightens. He’s not smiling. Not even a twitch of acknowledgment.
Mare re Rewards >
Parker tilts his head, studying us with a knowing grin. “Looks like someone finally took a break and spent a night at home.”
Jaxon is already sitting at the kitchen island, watching Ryder pour milk on his cereal.
The tension eases a little, but Ryder’s expression doesn’t soften. His eyes flick to me, sharp and calculating.
My wolf stirs beneath my skin, pacing. I can feel the protective surge, the frustration. I should retreat, take a step back, but Paige’s hand on mine keeps me in place. He might be my Alpha, but when it comes to her, our mate, he’s my equal.
Parker comes and scoops Paige up, making her squeal. “I missed you,” he hums, kissing the top of her head before sitting her beside Jaxon.
“I missed you too. How was patrol?” She asks, looking between Parker and Ryder.
“All quiet,” Ryder says, leaning down to kiss her head too.
I don’t know what to do with myself. I feel like a stranger in my home watching them all acting like this domestic set up is completely normal. I feel like I don’t belong. Callen moves to my side, his presence steady, reminding me I’m not alone.
“You’re really… handling this?” Ryder asks, his eyes locked on me.
I meet his eyes, straight and unflinching. “I’m here for Paige. That’s all that matters.”
“Good,” Ryder nods. “Because we need to show a united front today. It’s time to introduce Paige and Jax to the pack officially. The sooner they’re accepted, the easier it will be to protect them. Plus, I hate keeping them hidden away like a dirty secret.”
I nod, feeling the weight of the unspoken rule. My wolf hums low, a growl of agreement rumbling in my chest. And Callen’s hand brushes mine briefly, grounding me, reminding me that we’re united, even against the scrutiny of the pack.
** Paige’s POV **
More Rewar
The clearing is packed with wolves. Some shifted, some still in human form, all eyes are trained on us as Ryder and Callen lead us forward. Jaxon squeezes my hand tighter, his little chest puffed out, completely unbothered by the weight of so many gazes. I wish I had half his confidence.
Ryder’s voice carries, steady and commanding. “Phoenix Pack. Thank you for joining us on such short notice. I know rumours have been spreading, and you’ve all waited for answers.
Today, you’ll have them.”
A ripple of anticipation sweeps through the pack. Callen steps closer, his hand brushing my back, steadying me. “This is Paige.” His voice is firm, unapologetic. “She is our mate.”
Gasps, murmurs. Someone in the back snarls softly. My pulse kicks up, but Ryder doesn’t give anyone a chance to speak.
“And this,” he continues, lifting Jaxon effortlessly into his arms, “is my son. The alpha heir.”
Silence. Then, as if on instinct, bodies bend low. Dozens of wolves bow to the little boy in Ryder’s arms. Jaxon giggles, waving like he’s royalty, which, I guess, he is now. But not everyone bows to me. A few nod respectfully, but others stay rigid, their eyes hard and assessing.
“She’s human,” someone whispers, not quietly enough.
A scoff follows from another voice. “How can a human be Luna?”
The words sting, even though I knew they’d come. Ryder’s arm tightens around me like steel, but before he can snap back, a woman steps forward. Her gaze is fixed on the side of my neck, and she lifts her chin, sniffing the air.
“She wears the Beta’s mark.” Her tone is sharp and accusing. “How can she claim to be mate to both Alphas and a Beta?”
All eyes lock onto the faint scar on my skin where Remy’s mark sits. Heat floods my cheeks. I open my mouth, but Ryder beats me to it, his tone a warning growl.
“You will not question the bond gifted by the Moon Goddess.”
The woman doesn’t back down. “The Moon Goddess may bind, but how many of our men is she tied to? How can we trust a human fated to multiple powerful men? This could be the work of witches. There is a rumour they are uniting with the hunters. How can we be sure this is not a trick of theirs?”
The murmurs grow louder now, suspicion growing thick in the air. My throat tightens. A man in the crowd raises his voice.
“The hunters.” He points at me as if I’m already guilty. “They started coming at the same time she arrived. You bring a human into our territory, mark her as mate, and suddenly we’re under attack? You expect us not to question that?”
A low rumble of agreement follows, with a few voices muttering darkly. My stomach flips.
Every instinct screams at me to shrink back, to hide, but Ryder steps forward, his Alpha command snapping through the clearing like a whip.
“Enough!” The word vibrates in my chest. The wolves closest to him flinch, heads bowing automatically. “Paige is mine. Ours. She is Luna, chosen by the Moon Goddess, whether you accept it now or not. And Jaxon is my blood, your heir. If any of you dare disrespect them again, you’ll answer to me.”
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