“But you still carry the weight. I see it. You might not be physically present with Jax all the time, but mentally, you’re always there. Planning for every outcome, just waiting to jump in if we get overwhelmed.”
His voice is low and steady-no judgment, only honesty.
I exhale slowly, releasing some of the tension that’s been locked in my shoulders. “It’s hard to stop. When it was just me and Jax, I had no choice. Every fear, every worry-I had to hold it all because there was no one else.”
“You don’t have to anymore.”
My throat tightens. “I know. But habits are hard to break. Besides, I don’t think a mother ever truly stops worrying about her kids.”
“I get that. But I hope, with time, you’ll let us take some of that mental load off your shoulders.”
I smile softly. “I’d like that.”
Turning toward the window, I still crave the sun’s warmth on my skin.
“Want a coffee?” Parker offers.
I pause, then shake my head. “Not yet. I need some sun first.”
“Then let’s get some sun.”
–
As we step onto the porch, Parker’s hand brushes against mine, and the simple touch sends a soothing calm through me.
“Come on,” he says gently, nodding toward the winding path that skirts the side of the house. “You need fresh air, not caffeine.”
I laugh, pulling my cardigan tighter around me as we descend the steps. “You’re saying I look that bad?”
He grins. “Not bad-just drained. There’s a difference. You’ve been holding your breath for days, Paige. You should let it out sometimes.”
We walk in companionable silence for a while. The early sunlight filters softly through the trees, and the air feels crisp and clean. When we reach the small gardens that border the back of the main cabins, I pause near the low stone wall marking the edge of the training grounds. From here, I can see almost everything-the younger enforcers running drills, while a few of the older ones spar under Callen’s watchful eye.
I can’t help but imagine how different life might have been for Callen and Ryder if they’d grown up here-surrounded by wolves who looked out for one another, who never hid their true selves. Seeing it now, I’m struck by how much they missed out on. The energy of this place hums quietly in the air.
Parker leans against the wall beside me, folding his arms loosely. “Every time I see you around the pack lately, you seem calmer. Not like a deer caught in headlights anymore,” he says softly. “You’ve settled in more than you realize.”
I glance at him, smirking. “You really think so?”
He nods, eyes still fixed on the training field. “Yeah. But there’s something else, too. Since that night… when you healed Ryder.”
The mention of it tightens my stomach. I look down at my hands, recalling the strange surge I’d felt that night-a power rising from deep within me, responding to something I couldn’t fully understand. “What about it?”
He hesitates, jaw working as if weighing his words carefully. “You feel different. I can sense it. Your energy… it’s stronger. Wilder, almost. The others feel it too, even if they can’t quite explain it.”
I frown. “You mean I’m making people uncomfortable?”
He shakes his head quickly. “No, not uncomfortable. Just… more aware. You’ve always had a quiet strength, but now it’s more pronounced. It’s like something inside you unlocked that night. Maybe it was always there, just waiting.”
A breeze sweeps through, pushing strands of hair across my face. I tuck them behind my ear, trying to wrap my mind around his words. “Unlocked how?”
Parker meets my gaze, his eyes warm but searching. “That’s what I want to figure out. It’s nothing bad, I promise. Just some observations, maybe a few exercises to see what triggers it. Would you be open to that?”
I hesitate, glancing toward the training ground where Callen and Remy have started a new round with two of the older enforcers. Callen moves with fluid confidence, while Remy’s every motion is sharp and powerful. Watching them feels strangely intimate, like witnessing two sides of the same storm.
“Observation, huh?” I murmur, still watching them. “You make it sound like an experiment.”
He chuckles softly. “Maybe it is. But I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it could help you. You need to understand what you’re capable of. That night, you healed something no healer could- not even Jake. You deserve to know what that means.”
A chill runs through me at his words, but curiosity wins over. I nod slowly. “Okay. Just… tell me what to do.”
“Nothing yet,” he says. “For now, let’s just watch. See if you notice anything unusual.”
And so, we do.
**Paige’s Perspective**
For a brief moment, everything seems to settle into a strange kind of normalcy. I lean my hands against the cool, rough surface of the stone wall, seeking something solid to hold onto. Then, with a sudden thud, Callen lands hard, taking a blow to his ribs. He barely flinches, but I feel it-a sharp, piercing ache that presses against my chest like a physical echo of his pain.
I blink rapidly, gripping the edge of the wall to steady myself. That sensation lingers beneath my skin, warm and vibrating softly, and before I can gather my thoughts, Remy takes a hit to his shoulder. The pull inside me tightens again, this time stronger, a strange heat curling low in my belly. My heart races, pounding faster in my chest.
“Parker,” I whisper, voice barely audible.
He turns instantly, his eyes narrowing as they lock onto my face. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, breath catching. “It’s like… something’s reacting. Every time they get hit, I feel it. Like my body wants to…” My words falter as Remy grunts and sweeps his opponent off their feet. The shock of contact ripples through me, sharp and undeniable.
“Okay,” Parker says quickly, stepping protectively in front of me. “That’s enough for now.”
He reaches out, his fingers brushing my arm, and the strange pull suddenly weakens. The energy drains away, leaving me feeling shaky and lightheaded. Without hesitation, Parker guides me away from the wall, gently steering me back toward the path we’d come from.
“Breathe,” he urges softly. “In through your nose, out through your mouth. You’re going to be okay.”
I nod, forcing myself to match the slow, steady rhythm of his breathing. Gradually, the world around me stops spinning, though my hands still tremble faintly.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs, voice low and regretful. “I shouldn’t have pushed you into that. I didn’t realize it would be so intense.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper back. “It just… felt like my body was trying to reach out to them. Like something inside me was trying to fix things before they even got hurt, or protect them somehow.”
Parker stops in his tracks and turns to face me fully. “You mean, like you were trying to heal them?”
“Maybe,” I say quickly, almost embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to. It just happened. I could feel their pain, the rush of adrenaline, like I was part of them.”
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