“Fine,” Remy growled. “But if anyone even looks at her wrong, I’ll rip their throat out.”
“You’ll get no argument from me,” I said firmly. I meant it-I’d go to war with the entire world for her.
The link went quiet for a moment. The only sounds were the rumble of the engines and Jaxon’s soft breathing from the far seat, where Poppy cradled him awkwardly-his growing body already too big for her small frame. He’d finally fallen asleep, his small hand clutching her sleeve.
“She really did it,” Callen whispered suddenly, unable to hide the grin spreading across his face. “She saved us all.”
Ryder’s gaze dropped to Paige, his hand still gently stroking her hair. “Yeah,” he said, voice heavy with awe and grief. “She did.”
I felt it too-that complicated mix of pride and fear. The raw wonder of her power, and the terrifying weight of what it meant.
The word echoed in my mind: Lunarae. Our Lunarae.
If what Ronnie suspected was true-that she was the bridge between the sun and the moon-then tonight was only the beginning.
The truck jolted suddenly, hitting a rut in the road. The movement yanked me back to reality. Paige stirred again, mumbling something too soft to understand. I squeezed her hand gently, and the glow beneath her skin flared once more, bright enough to catch Jake’s attention.
He looked up sharply. “Her energy levels are still fluctuating. It’s like she’s bleeding light.”
“Can you stop it?” Ryder asked, his voice tight with concern.
Jake shook his head. “No. But it’s weakening. Give it time. Maybe once she’s rested, it’ll fade completely.”
“Let’s hope so,” I muttered. “The last thing we need is her glowing like a lantern when we cross into their territory.”
Ryder gave me a grim smile. “She’d still be the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen.”
Despite everything, that earned a small laugh from me. “Yeah. She always is.”
I turned to Jake. “Do you think it will always do this to her? Drain her to the point of unconsciousness?”
He studied Paige for a moment before shaking his head. “I think she just needs time to adjust. Remember what it was like when we first shifted? We were exhausted afterward, but eventually, we built stamina, learned to manage our energy. She expelled an enormous amount tonight; this could be a turning point for her.”
The road began to level out, and through the back hatch, I caught the first glimpse of Midnight Pack’s territory. The treeline thinned, opening into wide fields. We passed a few homes, their warm lights glowing softly in the windows. I felt it then-the safety of another pack, the protection of another Alpha’s domain as we crossed into their territory. But that safety came with its own weight: questions waiting to be asked.
The trucks slowed to a stop, and wolves from Midnight rushed forward to greet us. Others gathered near a large brick building, waiting silently for orders.
Here we go.
Whispers fluttered through the night air like restless shadows. Word of the attack was spreading rapidly among the packs, and the dazzling display of light we’d left behind only served to fan the flames of speculation.
Ryder remained silent, his gaze locked on me, one hand protectively draped over Paige’s. Jake crouched attentively beside her, fingers gently pressing to check her pulse. Nearby, Poppy’s voice was a soothing murmur as she coaxed Jaxon awake.
“Where are we?” Jax mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
“Somewhere safe, baby,” Poppy replied softly, her tone tender.
“Somewhere the bad men can’t find us?” he asked, eyes wide with innocence.
“Yes,” she assured him.
A sharp pang tightened my chest. Goddess, he was far too young to be caught up in all this chaos.
Wolves from the Midnight Pack hurried forward to assist the wounded, offering blankets, water, and steady hands. I could sense their confusion and sympathy pressing at the edges of my mind, but beneath it all was a simmering curiosity. They could smell it on us-the charge in the air, the faint ozone tang left behind by spent power.
They knew something had happened.
I hated to admit it, but I was relieved Paige’s healing blast hadn’t touched the entire pack. We still had some injured among us, which made our appearance less suspicious. If we’d arrived without a single scratch, questions would have been inevitable.
“Callen, you take point. Parker, stay with the pack. If we’re going to downplay her condition, we can’t all look like we’re guarding her,” Rye’s voice came through the mind-link, calm but firm.
I was the first to step down, my Alpha presence immediately drawing attention. “We’ll need medical space for at least a dozen,” I announced, surprised by the strength in my voice despite my exhaustion.
The Midnight Beta nodded and signaled his team to move. Ryder followed, still carrying Paige in his arms. The wolves nearby fell silent at the sight of her. Even unconscious, she commanded every gaze, the faint golden glow beneath her skin catching the light from the windows like liquid fire.
“Easy,” Jake said, stepping close to shield her from view. “Let’s get her inside before anyone starts asking questions,” he added quietly through the mind-link.
I grabbed a spare blanket from the seat and draped it over Paige, making sure it covered her hands. The glow dimmed completely beneath the fabric.
Ryder met my eyes, his jaw clenched tightly.
“We’ve got this,” I told him, trying to inject confidence into my voice.
As we carried her toward the med bay, I stole a glance back one last time. The Midnight wolves lingered, whispering behind cupped hands. Suspicion hung faintly in the air like a scent we couldn’t shake. We’d have to tread carefully. Tonight, Paige hadn’t just saved us-she’d changed everything. And if the world ever discovered what she truly was, no pack would remain untouched.
A woman approached, her presence radiating calm healer energy. She looked to be in her fifties, with kind but sharp eyes that took in Paige’s fragile form. “We have private accommodations you can use for your Luna if you want your own healer to care for her,” she offered as she walked toward us.
Ryder nodded, cradling Paige a little closer. “That would be perfect, thank you.”
“Your Luna is human, isn’t she?” the healer asked, her gaze lingering on Paige’s wrapped figure.
“She is,” I confirmed. “Which is why we need to get her inside and warm as soon as possible. Humans don’t handle cold well, especially after a head injury,” I explained, positioning myself between the healer and Ryder with the friendliest smile I could muster.
The healer searched my eyes for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yes, quite fragile, aren’t they? Follow me.”
“Thank you,” I breathed as she led us toward a small brick house, its windows dark and unlit.
“I’m Leah, by the way. Head healer here. We also have a human hospital nearby if she needs further care.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Jake interrupted, jogging up beside Poppy and Jax. “Her injury isn’t serious. I sedated her as a precaution.”
“Good call,” Leah said with a wry smile. “Humans can be quite dramatic when hurt. We have two in the pack, and honestly, I wish I could sedate them every time they get a scratch.”
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