Parker glances toward the treeline. “They should be here soon. I told Callen to let us know as soon as they clear the border.”
I can feel Paige’s nerves, subtle but there, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her hoodie, and her gaze flicking toward the path that leads into the trees. I’move closer, letting my hand brush hers briefly.
“They’re allies,” I remind her. “They will respect you.”
She exhales, the tension in her shoulders easing a little. “I know. I just want them to feel welcome. I don’t want anyone thinking this pack doesn’t have its act together.”
I smile faintly. “Paige, you are the act. They’ll see that.”
My wolf shifts restlessly beneath my skin, uneasy at the thought of strangers crossing our borders. Logic says this alliance is the safest move we’ve got. Instinct says trust like this always comes with a price.
Parker snorts softly through the bond, amused. “Smooth.”
I ignore him.
“They’re here,” Callen’s voice floats into my mind, and I see Paige startle as she gets the message too.
A small crease forms between her brows.
“What’s wrong?” I ask quickly, the words coming out before I can stop them.
Her eyes meet mine, and she sighs, shaking her head. “It’s just this mind-link thing. I can’t work it out.”
“Maybe you’re not supposed to,” I suggest. “It might not be a gift you have.”
“That seems unfair. If you guys can talk into my head, I should at least be able to respond.”
Parker wraps an arm around her shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “We have time to work it all out, Paige. You don’t need to learn everything straight away.”
Paige nods, and her eyes meet mine for a brief second before the faint sound of wolves approaching catches my attention.
“They’re close,” I say, nodding towards the trees.
Moments later, a small group led by Callen and Ryder emerges from the trees. I straighten instinctively, my wolf stirring as the first enforcer steps forward from the group. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in only our usual jersey shorts that Callen probably insisted they all wear; his eyes are sharp and assessing. He takes in the cabins, the surroundings, and then us.
Paige steps forward before either Parker or I can move, her chin lifting with confidence.” Welcome,” she says, her voice warm. “I’m Paige. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
The man bows his head. “Luna Paige,” he greets respectfully. “I’m Rowan, head enforcer of the Midnight Pack. These are my men.”
There’s a brief round of introductions, all the men greeting the three of us in the respectful way wolves do. I watch Rowan and see the moment his gaze softens slightly. I know he’s seeing what I do in our Luna as she speaks like she’s been doing this all of her life.
She leads them through the cabins, explaining which rooms are theirs, pointing out the kitchen and communal space with enthusiasm. Parker handles the logistics, talking rotations and patrol routes with Rowan, which is usually my job, but I can’t seem to focus on anything except her.
She doesn’t even realise what she’s doing, how she makes people feel seen, how she turns something as simple as introductions into more of a pleasant event rather than a boring necessity. She makes everything so much more… human.
When the tour is over, Ryder and Callen excuse themselves, taking Paige with them, leaving Parker and me to finish the arrangements. I watch her walk back toward the house, and I ache to follow her.
Rowan glances after her too, then looks at me. “Your Luna’s impressive.”
I meet his gaze, something proud and possessive growing in my chest. “You don’t know the half of it.”
He smiles faintly. “I can only imagine.”
When we return to the house later, the scent of roast chicken fills the air. Paige is at the stove, humming again, stirring something that smells incredible. Jaxon sits at the table drawing, his little feet swinging, and he beams when he spots us.
“Dad said I get to show the new wolves where the pond is tomorrow,” he says proudly.
“That sounds like an important job,” I tell him, ruffling his hair.
“It is,” he nods. “I’m going to keep them safe.”
Paige glances over her shoulder, smiling softly at us.
Something inside me softens completely at the sight of them, the woman I love and the boy who’s quickly become family.
Maybe this is what the Moon Goddess meant for me all along. Not wishing I could rewrite the past. Not trying to be someone’s almost. But this… a home, a purpose, a love that feels both wild and safe, and I know now that I’d do anything to protect this. To protect her.
** Ryder’s POV **
The forest is quiet tonight. Too quiet.
It’s the kind of quiet that makes every instinct in me hum with warning.
Before we set out on our first patrol together, I’d gathered the new enforcers in the clearing outside the cabins. They stood in a semicircle, Midnight wolves, strong and disciplined, waiting as I extended the pack link.
It’s a strange feeling, letting outsiders in, even temporarily. The pack link feels different when it touches foreign wolves. It’s cooler somehow, but necessary. Their Alpha had agreed without hesitation, understanding the risk of patrolling together without being able to communicate in their wolf forms.
“For the duration of your stay, you’re under my command,” I told them, my voice carrying through the night air with the authority only an alpha has.
Sometimes I still can’t quite believe I’m an Alpha. The title is my birthright, but it still feels strange after growing up with humans, and not knowing what I was. I’ve seen Alphas like Josh, blunt, traditional, carved from old pack law and instinct, and I wonder if I’d have turned out like that if I’d grown up under my father’s rule instead of among humans. Some still think it makes me weaker, that empathy softens a leader. Maybe they’re right. But in a world that’s always changing, I think it gives me an edge the old bloodlines lack. I know one thing for certain: if I’d lived that life, I never would’ve met Paige, and never would’ve had Jaxon, who is the most amazing kid with a heart of gold. I’ll be damned if I raise my son to be ruthless for the sake of pride. I want him to grow up kind and strong. The kind of Alpha this world actually needs.
“You’ll have access to the pack link for safety and coordination.” I continue. “There could be a major threat at any given moment. We work in groups of three or four at all times. No one wanders off alone, no one crosses the border without a direct order. Clear?”
A chorus of “Yes, Alpha,” rings out, firm and respectful.
Now, as we run through the forest, I can feel their presence threaded into the pack’s mental hum, steady heartbeats, shared focus, the rhythm of many wolves moving as one. It’s efficient and safer, but there’s a nervous undercurrent. A reminder that trust is something you build, not assume, and this is only the start of building that trust.
The moon hangs low and full tonight, cutting through the trees in pale beams of light as Parker and I lead the first patrol with the Midnight enforcers. We move fast, the air cold in our
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