The force of his voice silences the crowd, but I can still feel the unease, like a current under the surface. Their doubt doesn’t vanish, it’s not that easy. It doesn’t matter what any of my mates say, I will have to prove myself.
Callen’s hand brushes mine, his eyes soft even as his voice is steel. “You want truth? Then, here it is. Paige is not only bound to us. She is fated to Remy and Parker, your betas, as well.”
The announcement causes more whispers. Some are shocked, some horrified. A few seem almost awed, I think.
I stand there, every muscle trembling, but I keep my chin lifted. For Jaxon. For Ryder, Callen,
Remy, and Parker. They can question me all they want, but what they won’t do is see me break.
“That’s impossible,” someone mutters.
“The Moon Goddess wouldn’t bind one human woman to four of our strongest,” another argues.
“There’s no way they’ll all accept her.”
“She must be lying. Manipulating them…”
“Enough!” Remy’s voice cuts through like a blade, sharp and furious.
He steps from the shadows at the edge of the circle, his presence commanding in a way I haven’t seen before. He locks his eyes on me, and they blaze with something between defiance and devotion. Then, without hesitation, he closes the distance and stands beside me, shoulder to shoulder with Ryder and Callen.
“It’s true.” His voice is steady, though I can feel the bond thrumming between us, pushing his emotions through me, giving me a confidence that isn’t mine. “She is mine. The Moon Goddess marked her for us. Deny it if you want, but I won’t.”
Gasps ripple through the crowd. Some wolves bow, as if Remy’s declaration seals something for them. Others bristle, their suspicion sharpening into anger.
Then Parker moves into sight, pushing through the crowd itself, ignoring the protests of those who try to stop him. His stride is deliberate, each step daring anyone to stand in his way. When he reaches me, his gaze softens, just for me, before he turns to the pack with his jaw set in a hard line.
“She’s mine too.” His words are quieter than Remy’s, but they carry just as far. “The Moon
Goddess bound me to her the moment I saw her. You don’t have to like it. But you don’t get to deny it.”
Chaos erupts as people shout over each other, disbelief, fear and awe mixing into a storm of emotion.
“She can’t lead us, she’s human!”
“She carries too much power. It isn’t natural.”
“This is a gift. Don’t you see? The Moon Goddess has blessed us!”
“She’ll destroy us…”
Ryder’s growl thunders through them all, silencing the voices in a split second. His alpha command forces heads to bow.
“You will not question the Moon Goddess’s will,” he snarls, his voice shaking with fury. “Paige is your Luna. She is ours. And anyone who dares speak against her speaks against me.”
Callen steps forward then, his tone colder, quieter, but it cuts just as deep. “And if you think the recent hunter attacks are her fault…” His eyes sweep the circle, hard and dangerous.”
Then you’re a fool. They hunt her because of what she means. Because she is meant to change everything.”
Remy’s voice follows, lower but full of fire. “And I’ll spill every drop of my blood before I let anyone lay a hand on her.”
Then Parker looks at me before lifting his chin to the crowd. “You can hate me for it if you want. But she’s mine. And I’ll protect her until my last breath.”
The pack quiets again, but this time, the silence is heavier. Not disbelief, but not yet trust, either. Something has shifted, though.
Beside me, Jaxon wriggles in Ryder’s arms, bored with the tension. He pats Ryder’s cheek and then shouts to the entire pack, his voice childish but somehow commanding in a way that makes my chest ache with pride.
“Don’t be mean to my mummy!”
For a moment, it feels like no one breathes. Then a few chuckles break the silence, easing the tension. More of them bow this time. Not all of them, but enough that I don’t feel completely rejected.
Ryder quietly dismissed the crowd, messing Jaxon’s hair up affectionately.
The meeting breaks apart slowly. Some wolves linger, watching me with suspicion. Others make a point of coming to the front to bow again before slipping away, their expressions unreadable. A handful, maybe the bravest or most loyal, offer me quiet smiles and respectful nods, but most avoid my eyes altogether.
When the last of them disperse, the tension I’d been holding in my chest spills out in a shaky breath. Ryder is the first to move, lowering Jaxon gently to the ground. Our son immediately runs to me, wrapping his arms around my legs.
I crouch, pressing my face into his hair, breathing him in. “I’m okay,” I whisper. A lie.
Strong hands settle on my shoulders. Ryder. Callen. Then Remy, kneeling down so his eyes are level with mine. Parker hovers just behind him, quiet but close enough that I feel his presence. They’ve boxed me in without even meaning to, a protective wall of muscle and devotion.
** Paige’s POV **
“That was so much harder than I expected,” I admit, my eyes meeting Ryder’s.
“You held your ground,” he says, voice low, pride and fury mixed in his tone. “You didn’t back down once.”
“I wanted to,” I admit, my throat tight. “The way they looked at me… like I didn’t belong. Like I was some… mistake. I wanted to turn and run.”
“You’re not a mistake.” Callen soothes. “You’re the one thing they don’t know how to handle. You are a change, and that terrifies them.”
I feel Remy’s need to touch me, but he doesn’t know if it’s the right time. I decide for him, catching his hand and squeezing it. His shoulders drop slightly, his jaw unclenching. “Let them talk,” he says, softer now. “They’ll see who you are soon enough. I’ll make sure of it.”
Parker clears his throat, stepping closer. “They’ll fight it. Some harder than others. But the pack isn’t blind, Paige. They saw the way Jaxon carries Ryder’s blood. That you were strong enough to produce such a powerful alpha. I don’t think you realise how big of a deal that is, even for a she-wolf. They also saw how we stood for you. That matters.”
Jaxon lifts his head from my chest, looking between all of them with wide, innocent eyes. Are they going to stop being mean now? It’s not her fault she doesn’t have a wolf.”
“
The question hits me like a punch to the gut. He shouldn’t have had to see me torn down like that; it’s too much for him. Before I can answer, Ryder pulls him into his arms again. “If they don’t, they’ll answer to me.” His voice is hard. Then he softens, kissing Jax’s temple. “But most will come around, pup. You don’t need to worry about it.”
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