Chapter <b>8 </b>


    **Paige’s POV **


    Under no circumstances do you spring a surprise like this on Ryder Madden. Especially when I’m so filled with anger and likely to snap at him.


    The Ryder I knew had a very short temper, and whilst I’m confident he wouldn’t hurt me. I’m sure he will find someone to pick a fight with, and that won’t end well.


    Thest thing I need is for him to end up in prison just when I finally found him.


    Hatred simmers in me. How could he do this? Why couldn’t he pick up a phone and let me know he was okay? Hell, he could have even emailed me, or sent a postcard, a carrier pigeon… anything.


    All these years I’ve struggled, raising our child alone whilst grieving for him and my parents, and he’s been here, reunited with his brother and pretending I never existed.


    I’m happy he’s alive and well, and that he has found family, but I can’t help but be furious, too.


    How do I handle this? There’s no guidebook for my situation.


    “Where did Cal go?” Jax asks as hees downstairs in his pyjamas, freshly washed and ready for bed.


    “He had to go… there was a leak at his house, but he told me to tell you good night,” I lie, squashing down my guilt to deal with


    “Oh, I wanted to show him my teddy,” he says with an adorable pout, clutching the wolf teddy against his chest.


    “You can show it to him next time,” I reassure him. “How about Ie and read you a story in bed?”


    “Yes, please. Can we read the robot one again?” He asks, bouncing on the balls of his feet.


    “Sure thing. You go on up and get the book. I’ll be up as soon as I finish these dishes.”


    Jaxon runs upstairs, his small feet thudding on the stairs, making Him sound more like a baby elephant than a small child.


    I wash the dishes, wishing I hadn’t made Callen leave. I should have had him stay until Jax was asleep and then told him the truth. He might have been a good ally to have through this. Instead I’d freaked out and told him it was time for him to leave. He probably thinks I’m a nutter now.


    After putting the dishes away, I head upstairs to find Jaxon waiting in bed with the book open, looking at the pictures. We read his book twice before he starts to get sleepy.


    “Good night, baby boy,” I say, pulling up the duvet and kissing his head. “I love you.”


    “I love you too, mummy” he says, his eyes fluttering as he tries to light his sleep.


    1 spend a couple of hours trying to work on the manuscript I have que, but the hotspot on my phone is just not cutting it. My mind is elsewhere, and I need a real inte connection.


    With a sigh, I close myptop lid and head upstairs for a shower, then go to bed. I spend hours thinking about Ryder, and when I do finally fall asleep, I see him there too.


    Ryder looks at me with a soft smile. His dazzling blue eyes trying distract me from what is important.


    “Why didn’t youe back for me?” I demand.


    “I couldn’t. I wanted to, but I witnessed a crime, and they put me der witness protection. They didn’t allow me to contact you because it could endanger you,” he exins, wrapping his arms around me.


    “Why didn’t you take me with you?” I ask, rxing in his hold where I feel safe.


    “I didn’t want to ruin your life, You had wonderful parents and a sister that idolised you. I couldn’t rip you away from that.” Ryder lifts my face with a finger under my chin and leans down to unite his lips with mine. All my worries and hurt fade away with that simple kiss.


    I wake up even more angry at him, and myself. Even my brain is trying to make excuses for him now. There is nothing he can say that will excuse what he did. Well, maybe amnesia or something like that.


    Jax helps me make pancakes for breakfast, and then we bake cookies for our newndlord’s visit. The doorbell rings at exactly 10:30 just like we had agreed, and I open the door to find a man who looks to be in his fifties or sixties. His hair is grey, and his cheeks are a deep red. He wears a friendly smile and his green eyes look kind.


    “Mr Sanderson,” I greet, “Please,e in.‘


    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Paige. Please, call me, Paul,” he smiles before stepping in and following me to the kitchen ind, where the te of freshly baked cookies sits.


    “Hello, Lord, we made you cookies,” Jax says proudly, and Paulughs.


    “Well, that’s the first time anyone has addressed me as Lord. You must be Jaxon?” he says with fondness.


    “I am. Thank you for letting us stay in your house. My bed isfy” Jax says before slipping off the chair and heading into the lounge to put the TV on.


    “Cute kid, I have a granddaughter around his age. She is a whirlwind,” Paul smiles as he watches Jax go.


    “Thanks. Yes, they can be such little balls of energy sometimes,”ugh. “I really appreciate what you did for us, letting us move in on such short notice.”


    I make coffee for us, and we go through some paperwork to make things official.


    “That’s all for now. If you have any issues, don’t hesitate to call,” he says as he stands to leave.


    “Thanks Paul. This is a beautiful house. I think we will like it here, especially with the woods at the back to explore,” I say as I follow him to the door.


    Paul puts a hand on the door handle, and then he sighs before turning back to face me. “Keep out of the woods at night. My wife was sure wild wolves inhabited the woods. I didn’t see myself, and I didn’t believe her, until I heard them one night. Keep that boy safe,” he says before turning and pulling the door open.


    “I will. Thanks.”


    I saw something in the woods when we first arrived. Could it have Been a wolf? I’m sure wild wolves are not native here, though. I’ll need to check that. Thest thing I need is to run into a pack of eral wolves.


    The sun is out again, so we walk to school via the park to order his niform before his afternoon session.


    Regina assures me Jaxon will be fine, and he doesn’t hesitate to join the other kids for lunch. I leave the school and make a n to tackle the Ryder situation.


    I have three and a half hours before I need to pick up Jax, which means I have three hours to track down my wayward ex, get my answers, and get back here before the end of school.


    I haven’t decided if 1 will tell him he is Jaxon’s father yet. I guess that depends on what he has to say tor himself and what he is like now<i>. </i>Thest thing I want to do is introduce Jaxon to a father at doesn’t want him, or will hurt him in some way.


    I pull out my phone and call the number Callen had given me yestoday.