“Food is ready!” Parker calls, and I hit pause, already moving towards the kitchen.
My stomach has been rumbling since the food started cooking, and the smell filled the house.
“Better hope your uncle Callen doesn’t eat all of this before we sit down,” Parker says as
Jaxon follows me in.
“Oi, if anyone’s stealing slices early, it’s you.” I scoff, pointing at the pizza on the plate with a slice obviously missing.
Jaxon gasps dramatically, clutching Parker’s jeans. “You started without us?”
Parker puts a hand over his heart and stands straight. “Just testing the quality is good enough for our future alpha,” he declares with a bow, making Jax giggle.
After food, the four of us go back to play in the living room. The next few rounds are chaos, but the good kind. Jaxon throws himself across Parker’s lap to snatch a controller, Parker accuses him of cheating, and I nearly choke on my drink laughing at the pair of them. Even Remy cracks a smile from his chair, though he doesn’t join in this time. Something is bothering him.
When the game finally winds down, Jaxon collapses in the middle of the sofa, crumbs on his shirt and a victorious grin on his face that slowly fades. He’s asleep within minutes, the controller slipping from his hand.
Parker gently pries it from his hand and drapes a blanket over him. “Out like a light,” he whispers.
I nod, but my gaze flicks to Remy. He’s restless, his jaw tight and fingers tapping on the armrest. His eyes flick to the window like he’s hearing something we can’t.
“You heading out?” I ask.
“Thinking of starting patrol early,” he says, his voice gruff.
Parker and I share a look. There’s definitely something bothering him again. Since he gave in to the bond with Paige, he’s not been as eager to be on patrol.
Remy clenches his jaw, standing too fast. “I need some air.”
I stand too. “I’ll walk with you.”
Parker doesn’t stop me. Just gives me a nod of understanding and scoops Jax up to carry him to bed.
Outside, the night is cool, and moonlight shines silver on the grass, soothing my wolf as it touches my skin.
“What’s going on, Rem?” I ask.
Remy paces at the edge of the porch, his fists clenched. “I’m fine.”
“Bullshit,” I scoff.
His head snaps toward me, eyes flashing with his wolf. “Drop it, Callen.”
I step closer. “Don’t shut me out. If something is wrong, then tell me, let me help.”
“You wouldn’t understand because you don’t know what this feels like yet. The bond doesn’t care that I’m not the one touching her right now, I feel it anyway. It’s like my every nerve is on fire. It’s taking everything I have not to go find her,” he says, voice strained.
I low out a breath. I’d forgotten about this part, because he’s right, I don’t feel it yet.
“She’s ours, Remy. Even if Ryder’s the one touching her, the bond doesn’t care. It bleeds through, and I may not know exactly how that feels for you, but I do understand. I know this is not how any of us ever expected our mating to go. I always thought I’d be with Rye when it happened, but now everything has changed, and we all have to work around it.
“
He clears his throat, but he doesn’t speak. The tension in him is clear as day. He’s close to snapping.
I put a hand on his shoulder. “So it seems you’ve got two choices here. Either you let me help you find a way to block this out, to shut the bond down enough that it doesn’t drive you feral, or…” I pause, lowering my voice to a whisper as I lean in. “Or you come upstairs with me, and
I’ll help you take the edge off another way.”
His breath catches. For a moment he just stares, torn between torment and temptation, the wolf in him pacing, urging him to go to his mate.
I don’t move or push him to decide. I just let him see the truth in my eyes. That I meant it.
That I won’t let him deal with this alone.
The pack-link hums again with quiet check-ins, confirming the borders are still safe.
I run my fingers down Remy’s arm, and he closes his eyes, his lips parting slightly as he tilts his head back. His breath stutters, a shiver running through him as my fingers trace lower, wrapping around his wrist.
“Callen…” he breathes, half a warning, half a plea.
“I’m right here,” I murmur, stepping in close until my chest almost touches his. “You don’t need to fight this alone. Not tonight.”
His jaw clenches, his teeth grinding like he’s trying to resist, but then he exhales and nods. Okay.” tt
That single word ignites something in me. I lean in, capturing his mouth with mine. He kisses me back with a desperate hunger, his hands fisting in my shirt like he’s drowning, and I’m his air. I know exactly what he needs from me tonight, and it’s not soft and sweet. He needs me to pull him out of his own head; he needs me to take control for him.
I slide my hand up the back of his neck, tugging him closer. “Good,” I say against his mouth. ” You’re going to follow my orders tonight, aren’t you?”
His answering groan sends fire down my spine.
“Yes, Alpha,” he whispers, and for the first time, my wolf becomes interested in him too.
Interesting.
I nip his bottom lip before pulling back, breathless. “That’s what I needed to hear.”
I take his hand, not giving him the chance to second-guess, and lead him back inside.
Parker’s already upstairs with Jax, and the house is quiet and dark.
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