**Paige’s POV **
Callen’s home. He’s right here, looking as if nothing ever happened, but it still doesn’t feel real..
my
He’s sitting beside me on the couch, his thumb tracingzy circles against the inside of wrist like he’s been doing it for years. Like he didn’t almost die. Like I haven’t spent every day since reying the moment I thought I’d lost him for good.
I rest my head against his shoulder, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing. It’s strong.
“I missed you,” I whisper.
He hums and tilts his head to rest against mine. “Me too.”
For a few minutes, neither of us says anything. We just sit there, tangled up in the quiet, in the warmth of something familiar and new all at once.
But even in thefort, the guilt creeps in. Because Callen’s not the only one I missed. I close my eyes and remember the touch of Parker’s kiss on my lips. The way his hands. gripped my waist. The heat in his gaze when I told him I wanted him to kiss me, and the way Remy looked at mest night… just for a second, but I caught it.
They’ve kept a distance from me for the past two days. With Remy barelying home and Parker backing off. I know why. We need to talk and get everything out in the open. There shouldn’t be any secrets if we stand any chance of this working, and every interaction feels like another secret to add, another guilt to carry.
A soft knock breaks the silence, and Parker pokes his head into the room.
“You both okay?” he asks me, his eyes flicking between me and Callen.
I nod, sitting up a little straighter. “Yeah. Just… sitting.
“Figured you might want some tea. I made a fresh pot.”
“Thanks,” I say, voice quiet. “I’lle grab some in a minute.”
He lingers, as if he wants to say more, then seems to think better of it. “Okay.”
He disappears again, leaving me with that familiar,forting ache in my chest that I’ve
More Berwarde 5.
started associating with him.
Callen watches me carefully. “Something is going on between you and him.”
My heart skips. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know, but I can sense something is off. Did you two argue?”
I shift, guilt rising as I lie again. “No, it’s just been a strange few days for us all. Have your seen much of Remy?”
He shakes his head. “He’s been avoiding me, I think. I tried to talk to him through the mind link this morning, but he just brushed me off.”
“He’s barely been home thest two days, but no one has really. I’ve mostly been here alone. with Jax and some scary enforcers guarding the house.”
“I know Rye and Parker have been busy strengthening our borders. They’ve installed motion sensors and deer cams. If anyone gets anywhere near ournd, we’ll know. I’m sorry if you’ve felt abandoned. Safety is the top priority at
e moment, but I’ll make sure at least one of us
<b>is </b>home with you from now on.”
“It’s okay,” I smile. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. Will the kids be returning
soon?”
<i>to </i>
school
“I’m not sure, I’ve been a bit out of the loop, but we will work something out, even if it’s just
the pack kids and Regina in the social cabin for a few weeks.”
I nod. “I should go check on Jax and Ryder, it’s gone suspiciously quiet up there. Can I get you anything while I’m up?”
“No, thanks. I’m going to head up for a shower anyway. I need to wash the smell of the healer’s cabin off me before my skin crawls right off,” he says, wrinkling his nose.
“Can you manage on your own?”
He closes his <b>eyes </b>and tilts his head back against the back of the couch as if pained. “Now
I’m debating whether I should pretend I’m not fully healed, just to get you in the shower with
me.”
“Nice try,” I snort augh and get up, holding a hand out to him.
Callen wraps his hand around mine and gets up. I turn and walk out ahead of him.
“Goddamn, I’ve missed your ass,” he mutters behind me.
215
Chapter <b>43 </b>
I leave Callen behind with a smile still tugging at the corners of my lips. It feels good tough again, even just a little.
Upstairs, I find Jaxon’s room open, but empty. My stomach does a little flip as I turn toward
1 Ryder’s room. When I reach the bedroom door, I pause.
Jaxon’s voice drifts out. It’s soft and calm. I peek inside and stop in the doorway and find them both on the floor.
Jaxon is lying t on his back on a folded nket, hands resting on his stomach, eyes closed. Ryder mirrors him beside him, his massive frame making the space seem smaller, but his presence calm.
“Breathe in through your nose,” Ryder says gently, his voice barely above a whisper. “Feel your chest rise. Count to four in your head. Now let it out slow through your mouth.”
Jaxon obeys, a steady breath escaping his lips.
I blink, surprised by the calm stillness in my normally fidgety son. His chest rises and falls in
perfect sync with Ryder’s. I clear my throat softly.
Jaxon opens one eye and gives me a sleepy smile. “Hi, Mummy.”
“What are you two doing?” I ask, stepping into the room but keeping my voice quiet, like I
might disrupt the peaceful energy if I’m too loud.
“Dad’s teaching me how to calm down when I get big feelings,” Jaxon says proudly, sitting up a little. “He says it’s going to help when I get older.”
Ryder sits up beside him, his hair a tousled mess and his shirt rumpled. “<b>Helps </b>me too,” he
says, offering me a small smile. “Figured it couldn’t hurt to give him some tools now.”
My chest swells, warm and tight all at once. I crouch beside them and run a hand over
Jaxon’s hair.
“Do you feel rxed, baby?<i>” </i>
He nods eagerly. “Yes. I got angry. It was just because the enforcer guy wouldn’t let me go
outside the front door, but I’m not mad now.”
“That’s good,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss his forehead. “I’m proud of you
“I’m proud of him too,” Ryder says quietly. “He’s strong and brave, and he knows now that we are only keeping him inside to protect him.”
I nce at Ryder and meet his eyes. I hope he hasn’t scared him. I haven’t told him about the
threat. Maybe I should have, so he understands the importance of not trying to wander off, but I don’t want him worrying.
“You’re doing a good job,” I murmur.
“So are you.”
There’s a moment between <b>us</b>. Something tender. But I step back before it can be tool
much.
“I’ll leave the two of you to it. Just don’t fall asleep on the floor,” I tease, brushing Jaxon’s cheek again before standing.
Ryder chuckles. “No promises.”
I head back down to the kitchen, where Parker is moving around. He looks up when I enter and nods toward the mug already set out on the table. “Still hot.”
“Thanks.” I sink into the chair with a soft groan and wrap my hands around the mug.
He leans against the counter across from me, arms crossed, watching me. “How’s Jax?”
“On the floor upstairs doing breathing exercises with Ryder.”
Parker lifts a brow. “Seriously?”
“Dead serious. Apparently, he was mad earlier, and Rye used it as a teaching moment. It was
sweet.”
His lips twitch into a half–smile. “Sounds like him. He gets all gruff and broody, but give him a kid, and he turns into a golden retriever. He’s always been great with the pack kids.”
Iugh into my cup. “It’s true. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jaxon that calm. And Ryder was just
calm too. Like he needed it just as much.”
Parker pulls out the chair beside me and sits, resting his forearms on the table. “I think we should talk tonight.”
I blink. “Talk?”
“Yeah. All of us. You, me, Ryder, Callen… and Remy, if I can get him here.”
I hesitate, every muscle in my body tensing slightly. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Callen only just got home.<b>” </b>
Ο
475
“I think it’s the only idea. You’re walking on eggshells trying not to upset anyone, and we’re all dancing around this bond thing like it’s going to solve itself. It won’t. The sooner we tell them, the sooner we can work it all out.”
I sip the tea to stall for a moment. He’s not wrong. “I just… I don’t want to overwhelm anyone. Especially Callen, he’s just had such a huge ordeal.”
“He will be fine. He can handle more than you think. If anything, I actually think he will see this as good news.”
I nod slowly. “Okay. Tonight then. Once Jax is asleep.”
His gaze softens. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For trusting me with this. With you.”
I look down, flustered, as I whisper, “You make it easy.”
He stands then, brushing a hand lightly across my shoulder as he heads toward the back door. “I’m going to meet Remy. See if I can drag his stubborn ass home.”
I smile, my heart thudding louder than it should. “Good luck.”
He turns at the door. “I’ll be back soon.”
Then he’s gone, leaving me alone in the kitchen with nothing but the ticking of the clock and the sudden rush of nerves fluttering like butterflies in my chest.
Tonight, we talk, and no matter what happens… at least everything will finally be out in the open.
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