I nod, feeling a tightness in my chest. “I never wanted to hurt him. I still don’t. What we had-it was real. It still is, just… different now. We’ll see where it goes.”
Parker hums thoughtfully. “Different how?”
I pause before answering. “He’ll always be part of me. But it’s not the same kind of love anymore. It’s quieter, familiar-like something settled instead of burning. Paige changed everything. She brought out a side of me I didn’t even know existed.”
He smiles faintly. “The soft side?”
“Don’t push it.”
He laughs, but it fades quickly. “You deserve that, Remy. All of it. For years, you held everyone together, hiding the cracks. It’s good to see you finally letting someone take care of you.”
His honesty hits me harder than I expected. I look away, swallowing hard. “Before her, I didn’t know how to let anyone in. Not really. I thought if I did, I’d fall apart.”
“And now?”
“Now I know falling apart isn’t always the worst thing.”
He nods slowly. “She’s got that effect.”
“She does,” I whisper. “On all of us.”
We continue walking until the trail narrows and the forest thickens around us. Suddenly, a rabbit darts across our path, stirring my wolf’s excitement. The air is rich with the scent of wet moss and wild creatures. No sign of hunters tonight.
It’s peaceful-but that peace doesn’t erase the danger lurking beyond.
When we reach the old boundary marker-a half-rotted post carved with a ‘P’-I stop to check the ground. An uneasy feeling creeps over me, like unseen eyes watching. My wolf stirs, alert. I scan the area carefully, but everything is clear. The scent markers remain strong. No traces of intruders, no hint of wolfsbane or mercury toxins. Just the familiar smells of earth, pine, and wolf. Probably just paranoia-the exact reaction the hunters want.
“Clear,” I say, standing tall.
Parker nods, eyes sweeping the horizon. “Good. The last thing we need is more trouble.”
“Don’t jinx it.”
He grins. “Come on, where’s your faith?”
“In the pack? Unshakable. In your luck? Not so much.”
He bumps my shoulder playfully. “Asshole.”
I grin back. “Takes one to know one.”
The teasing fades as we loop back toward home. The trees thin, and soon we can see the cabins again. Smoke curls lazily from chimneys, and an owl hoots softly nearby.
“You know, I used to think our lives would always be like this,” Parker says thoughtfully. “Patrolling, watching the pack, the same routine every day. But lately…”
“What?”
He shrugs. “I can actually imagine a future. A real one. Not just surviving, but truly living.”
I smile. “Paige has that effect too.”
“Yeah,” he agrees quietly. “She makes everything feel possible again.”
We arrive at the clearing behind the training field, where a few of the newer enforcers are sparring in the shadows-a necessary skill. I recognize two of the Midnight wolves, Orin and Ryan, paired against our trainees, Lila and Lee. It’s good to see them integrated, laughing, not constantly looking over their shoulders.
The alliance with their pack is working better than I ever expected. For the first time in years, there’s a genuine sense of unity between us. I can’t help but think Paige has something to do with that. People listen to her in a way they never did with just us. She inspires belief. I’m not sure if it’s part of some power we’re still discovering or if it’s simply because she is enough on her own.
We pause to watch. Orin gets knocked flat on his back, groans, then bursts out laughing. Lila offers a hand, and I catch the spark in their eyes before either of them realizes it’s there.
“Mates,” Parker whispers. “You can already see it.”
“Yeah,” I say, a soft smile tugging at my lips. “Guess it’s in the air.”
He chuckles. “Careful. You’re starting to sound romantic.”
“I blame Paige.”
“Obviously.”
We linger for a while, helping with drills, correcting stances, checking balance. It feels good-normal, even. We fought so hard for this kind of life without realizing it.
By the time we head back to our cabin, it’s nearly ten o’clock, but I’m still wide awake. As we step onto the porch, the rich aroma of beef stew wraps around me. No doubt Paige’s doing. My stomach growls in response, and Parker shoots me a knowing grin.
Inside, Paige stands by the stove, ladling stew into bowls. Her hair is messy, tumbling over one shoulder. Ryder sits at the table, speaking quietly with Callen as they both focus on something on the laptop.
Paige looks up as we enter, her smile easy and warm. “Perfect timing,” she says. “Supper’s ready.”
Parker doesn’t wait for an invitation. “You truly are a goddess, you know that?”
Paige rolls her eyes. “Flattery won’t get you extra portions.”
“Doesn’t hurt to try.”
I take a moment to drink in the scene before crossing to her. “You didn’t have to cook tonight,” I say softly. “It’s late, and you’ve been running on empty.”
She shakes her head. “Cooking helps me relax. Besides, everyone’s been stretched thin lately. I figured a proper meal wouldn’t hurt, even if it’s late.”
“You were right,” I admit. “It smells incredible.”
Her smile softens. “Thanks.”
I reach out, brushing my fingers lightly against her back as I pass to grab the bowls she’s set aside. She leans into the touch without hesitation, and for a brief moment, everything feels right in the world again.
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