I smile and hand him a fork. “You can stir the eggs, but make sure you do it gently so you don’t spill.”
He climbs onto a chair beside me, his small hands concentrating hard on whisking while I steady the bowl. Callen pretends to supervise, though he’s clearly just watching us with that quiet, content smile of his.
It’s one of those moments that feels impossibly ordinary, and yet, for us, it’s everything.
We’re halfway through plating up when the sound of the back door opening catches my attention.
“Smells good in here,” Ryder says as he walks in with Parker and Remy close behind.
Jaxon squeals, abandoning his fork to race toward them. “Daddy! Remy! Parker!”
They each greet him. Ryder scooping him up, Parker ruffling his hair, Remy giving him a high five as he passes. The kitchen fills with laughter and warmth, all the tension of yesterday fading away to a quiet hum in the back of my mind.
Callen catches my eye over the stove; he grins at me. “Looks like breakfast just got crowded.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I say softly, watching as the men gather around the table, the people who’ve very quickly become my family.
Ryder sets Jaxon down and meets my gaze, something tender flickering in his expression before he nods toward the food. “You cooked?”
“Callen did most of it,” I admit, scraping the scrambled eggs onto a plate.
“Yeah,” Callen says, smirking. “Paige just supervised, as bossy as ever.”
I flick him with a tea towel, and he laughs, catching it easily before tossing it back.
After breakfast, I’m halfway through folding laundry when Ryder’s phone buzzes on the table. He’s across the room, talking with Remy about the next stage of their Rumour Roulette plan, but the sound catches his attention instantly. One glance at the screen, and his expression shifts, his shoulders straightening and jaw tightening.
He doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looks at the others. “It’s Josh,” he says, his voice low.
Remy and Callen both become alert. Parker, who’s been leaning against the counter watching the others, folds his arms. “Alpha Josh or Beta Josh?”
“Alpha,” Ryder confirms, already swiping to accept the call. “From the Midnight Pack.”
Ryder paces toward the window as the call connects. “Josh,” he greets, his tone shifting to something more formal. “It’s good to hear from you.”
The others go quiet, giving him space. I try to focus on folding a T-shirt, but I’m desperate to listen in, to question who Alpha Josh is and why Ryder seems so tense.
Finally, he ends the call and turns back to us.
“They’re coming here,” he says simply.
“Who?” Remy asks.
“Josh and his enforcers, and Marcus from the River Pack. They want to hold a meeting to discuss the hunters and possible cooperation between the territories.”
Parker whistles softly. “That’s… big.”
“Bigger than big,” Callen adds. “Josh doesn’t play nice with outsiders. Last time he met with another pack, it was because someone tried to take his land.”
“Which means this threat’s getting too big to ignore,” Remy says. “When are they coming?”
Ryder checks his phone again. “Tomorrow. Early afternoon. We will need to have the hall set up.”
I listen while the guys start throwing around plans. They talk about extra security, enforcers to escort them from the border, a pack meet to make sure the whole pack’s ready to play nice. They’re acting like royalty’s coming to visit… or worse, like we’re about to be judged.
Ryder’s pacing, his shoulders tight, that dangerous edge in his movements that says he’s already preparing for a fight. Callen keeps checking his phone, his jaw flexing as if he’s one message away from losing his calm. Even Parker, usually the steady one, looks wired, his fingers drumming on the counter, his gaze flicking to me like he’s making sure I’m still there. Remy is silent, too still, his eyes tracking each of them like he’s calculating every possible outcome before it happens.
Their tension hums through the room. I don’t know who these people are, but if they can rattle them this much… maybe I should be worried too.
A flicker of unease tightens in my chest, but it isn’t fear, not exactly. I might not understand all the politics or the history between these packs, but I do understand what’s at stake. This is my home now, my family, and I refuse to stand by while everything we’re trying to build is threatened.
The thought of anyone walking in here and trying to test Ryder and Callen’s authority or putting my mates on edge makes something fierce rise in me. I spent years surviving on my own; I can survive this too, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect what’s ours.
“Should we be worried?” I ask, finally daring to speak up.
Callen looks at me, his expression serious. “Midnight is one of the two largest neighbouring packs. They’re powerful, traditional, and not known for handing out trust easily. They have never agreed to a visit before.”
“If we can get them to agree to work with us against the hunters, we are in a much better position to hold our territory and bring safety back to the pack,” Ryder explains.
A heavy silence settles over the room. It’s not fear exactly, more the weight of understanding that this is a huge deal for them. If they can convince this pack to join forces with us, we might have a future here.
N.O Darling
Sorry for the lack of updates this weekend, it was my wedding anniversary and we took some time to celebrate.I just want to thank every one of you for reading my book and your lovely feedback. The Lost Pack is officially the number one 1 best seller on the app today!!
**Paige’s POV **
I feel something stirring in my chest that’s not nerves or self-doubt; it’s purpose.
“I want to be there,” I say.
All four heads turn toward me.
Ryder frowns, worry creasing his brow. “Paige…”
“I’m serious,” I say, stepping closer. “I want to be part of the meeting.”
Callen exhales sharply. “Babe, this isn’t just a discussion. These are Alphas. Old-school ones that don’t interact with humans or follow any of their social constructs. They don’t even let their Lunas sit in on council unless it’s to pour tea.”
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