** Paige’s POV **
“I wasn’t fair to you,” I whisper. “Before it happened. I was scared and confused. I ran without exining myself, and then I thought… God, I thought… what if thest thing you remembered from me was rejection?”
His brow furrows, but his hand tightens around mine.
“Are you rejecting me, Paige? Because I remember your kiss,” he says, his voice shaky. <i>“</i><i>And </i>that didn’t feel like rejection.”
“I saw you that morning, Cal… in the woods… with Remy,” I admit.
Callen sucks in a breath, and then winces.
“s**t. Paige. I’m so sorry. I convinced myself you’d be okay with it. That when you said to do whatever it takes, you were giving me permission, but then afterwards, when I wasn’t lost in the heat of the moment, I had some time to think about it. I realised what a d**k I was. We were going to tell you, tell you all, but
then you ran away before we got a chance. I fully understand if you want to reject me,” he says, turning his
head away from me as if he can’t bear to look at me.
I squeeze his hand. “I didn’t run because I felt betrayed, or hurt. I ran because I liked what I saw, Callen,
and that scared me.”
“Wow, I mean that’s so hot, but not what I was expecting, or what I deserve,” he says, swallowing audibly.”
But why did that scare you?”
“Because it’s not who I am. I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything, and every time I think I’m
week, I was living a normal, boring life.”
“Yeah, it’s been a week for you, huh?” he rubs his thumb over the back of my hand, giving me the only
physicalfort he can.
“You could say so, and you only know half of it,” I halfugh. “So forgive me if I need a moment to catch up, and maybe freak out a little.”
“You’re right. It’s all been too much, too soon. I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have dumped all this on you so fast, but in my defence, it was extreme circumstances. I couldn’t let you leave with Jax that day. You needed to know, and I couldn’t hide the mate bond from you. That would have only left you more confused about why you felt drawn to me.”
I nod. I understand what he’s saying, and why he did some things he did. I also know exactly what he means about me only being more confused if he hadn’t exined the mate bond. Maybe if Parker had told me sooner, I wouldn’t have been so flustered about how he was making me feel, or how watching Callen and Remy together had affected me.
< Chapter 40
“So… you and Remy, huh.” I smile. “How long has that been going on?”
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Callen groans. “Too long for it to be nothing,” he admits. “Remy told Parker yesterday, but Ryder doesn’t know yet. We’ve kept it hidden. We were going toe clean yesterday, to you and Rye, but then I kind of
got attacked.”
“You’re stupider than I thought if you think Ryder doesn’t know<i>,</i><i>” </i>Iugh.
“Why, what did he say?”
“Nothing, but he’s your brother, your twin. Do you really think he wouldn’t have seen the way you and Remy are around each other? Hell, I worked it out in a couple of hours.” I shrug.
“I doubt it. You don’t know what he’s been like, he barely knew what day it was <i>most </i>of the time, never mind what I was up to. I always knew something was bothering him, but I didn’t realise it was this serious. It all makes so much sense now, and I can’t wait to finally know the real version of my brother now that he
has his mate back.”
His words strike something in me. Has Ryder really been suffering that badly all this time? Has he been missing me as much as I’ve missed him?
“You have no idea how important you are to us, Paige, but I promise, if you give us a chance, we will make sure you understand.”
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my
throat.
We sit in silence for a moment. His hand in mine. My heart thudding too fast, too full. There’s so much I want to say, but <i>none </i>of it feels like enough. I need to tell him about Remy and Parker, but it doesn’t feel right, not yet. It’s a conversation the five of us should have together.
“Have you spoken to Remy today?” I ask.
“No, the nurse said he came in earlier, but I was sleeping. I tried to reach out to him when I woke up, but
I’m not strong enough yet.”
“Through the brain link?”
Callen smiles. “The mind link, yes.”
“Sorry, I’m still learning,” I roll my eyes.
“You’re doing well, freckles, So well. I can’t wait to teach you everything about us, whilst we learn everything about you. We are going to make you so happy, I promise,” he says, his words turning into a mumble as his eyes flutter closed.
I blink at him, warmth flooding my chest so <b>fast </b>it steals my breath.
His hand goes loose in mine, and I watch him for a moment, processing his words while he sleeps. He’s so
sure about me, there’s no doubt, no hesitation, and for some reason, that doesn’t scare me.
I wait quietly, watching Callen until my dder decides it’s time for a toilet break. I know Ryder told me
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< Chapter 40
not to leave, but I’m sure going to the bathroom is okay.
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Slipping quietly from Callen’s room, I nce back one more time to make sure he’s still asleep. His breathing is soft, even. He looks peaceful. I smile faintly, tugging the door shut behind me.
The small corridor outside is dimly lit and empty. I have no idea where the bathroom is, but I figure I’ll find it eventually. It’s not a big ce.
My shoes squeak against the polished floor as I make my way around the <i>corner</i>. That’s when I see the healer Ryder spoke to earlier, Nina.
She’s walking toward me, a clipboard in one hand, her white coat pristine and starched <i>like </i>something out of a hospital drama. She stops when she sees me, eyes narrowing slightly, not enough to be obvious, but enough that I catch it.
“You’re a long way from the human world,” she says, not unkind, but not kind either.
I freeze, my stomach twisting. “Sorry, I’m just looking for the bathroom,” I say, voice low.
She nods, but doesn’t move to help me. Her gaze trails down to my shoes, my clothes, like she’s assessing. Ryder warned me about this, so I force a smile, trying not to be awkward.
“You should be careful wandering around,” she says after a pause. “This isn’t a ce built for humans. We’re already working overtime to patch up one of our alphas. Thest thing we need is someone else
getting in the way.”
My mouth opens, but nothinges out. I shut it again.
I’m not even sure what I’d say to her if I could find the words. I don’t think she wants a reply. I think she
just wants to make it clear that I don’t belong here. That I’m not part of this world, no matter how many
shifters I’m connected to.
I’m not what the pack needs. They just see me as anotherplication.
“I’ll find my way back,” I manage, stepping past her, but she doesn’t move. Her shoulder brushes mine as I <ol><li>go. </li></ol>
It suddenly feels colder out here than it did before.
When I reach Callen’s room again, my chest is tight, and my eyes sting with unshed tears. I forget about needing the toilet. I just walk straight back in, close the door softly behind me, and sink back into the chair
beside him.
His hand is still limp on the nket, palm turned up like he’s waiting for mine. I slide my fingers back into his, and let out a shaky breath.
She’s right. I don’t belong here, but my son does, so I’m not leaving.
I watch Callen sleep for a while, trying not to conjure up the images of how he might have got each injury.
The door opens quietly, and Ryder steps in. “Hey.”
< Chapter 40
“Hey,” I say softly, brushing a thumb over Callen’s hand.
“He’s not much of a host, huh?” Ryder nods toward his sleeping twin with half a smile.
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“He passed out halfway through telling me how he’s going to make me happy,” I say, managing a faint smile of my own.
Ryder chuckles quietly as he crosses the room. “Sounds like him. Dramatic right up until the crash.” He looks at Callen, then back at me. “That’s normal, by the way. His body’s burning through energy to heal.
Give him a few days, and he’ll be back to his usual charming and annoying self.”
“I hope so.” I sigh. “I hate seeing him like this. It feels… wrong.”
“I get it,” he nods,ing to stand beside me. “But he’s strong. He’ll bounce back faster than you think.“.
I nod, my eyes still on Callen.
“You ready to head out?” Ryder asks. “I was thinking we could swing by your ce, grab the Lego I picked up for Jax yesterday.”
I smile at how excited Jaxon will be when he sees the Lego. “He’s going to love that.”
“You too,” he adds with a wink. “I saw the way your eyes lit up at the mini–figures.”
Iugh softly. “Okay, yes. I need to get some stuff from home anyway. I’ve got work piling up too.”
“Cool. I’ll grab a couple of enforcers to escort us, and then I’ll help Jaxon build it while you get some work done, if you’re okay with that?”
“You sure? Don’t you have things to do today?”
“Don’t say it like that,” he replies, as his hand settles on my shoulder. “Like I’m offering to babysit. He’s my son, Paige. Being there for him is not a chore. It’s an honour.”
The conviction in his voice hits me straight in the chest.
“Sorry,” I say quietly. “I didn’t mean… I’m just… not used to anyone else stepping up for him.”
“I know<i>,</i><i>” </i>he says gently. “But <i>you </i>don’t have to do it all alone anymore. You’ve got us now. We’ll figure it out
together.”
My eyes sting again. I’m not alone anymore. Because I was alone. Even when I married Greg, he was never there, <i>not </i>really. I had Poppy, and she helped when she could, but she was a grieving teen. It’s only in the
“I’ve got a patrolter this afternoon,” he adds, “but until then, I want to spend as much time as I can with
Jaxon.”
“Okay,” I nod and stand. I take onest look at Callen and lean over, pressing a gentle kiss on his forehead.