**Paige’s POV **
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Much to my disappointment, Ryder had ate–night patrol. Which meant he didn’t mark me, just kissed me softly and sent me off to bed.
I can’t deny I needed the rest, though. Even without him, I’d ended up curling into his sheets,
deciding to spend the night in his bed, anyway. It felt good to have <i>some </i>space to myself. I
hadn’t realised how much I needed it. As I drifted off, my mind wandered into dangerous
territory… thoughts of our future. Not the mushy happy–ever–after fantasy, but the practical
things. My work. Where I’m meant to live.
I know the guys aren’t going to let me go back to my quiet little house, the one I barely got to
settle into. Not with the hunters still out there. But honestly, I know they’re right. It’s safer
here, not just for me but for Jaxon. Still, that doesn’t mean I don’t crave some space of my
own.
I don’t want to be the girl who hops between beds every night. If this is going to work, if I’m
truly going to share a bond with four mates, then I need a room that’s mine. A space I can
breathe in. Jaxon has already imed the room he’s been sleeping in. I overheard him and
Ryder talking about decorating themes yesterday. Apparently, a space theme and glow–in–the–dark stars are on the table.
Eventually, sleep imed me, deep and dreamless, and when I wake up I feel refreshed, like a
whole new person.
When I go downstairs, I find the house quiet, but when I nce out the kitchen window I spot
Jaxon in the back garden with Callen. A pot of coffee sits on the counter, still warm. I pour myself a mug, cradling it between my hands as I move to the window to watch them.
The morning sun spills over them, making the scene look picturesque. Callen is guiding
Jaxon through some kind of stretching routine, slow and steady, his movements patient. Jax
mirrors him as best he can, his little brow furrowed in concentration. His arms wobble,
knocking him a little off bnce, but Callen just gently corrects Jax’s posture, his voice calm and encouraging.
Jaxon beams when he gets it right. That smile… it’s like a punch to the chest. My son looks so much happier here. Almost like a different child. He’s happy, at peace even, and I wish that
I could have given him this sooner.
<Chapter 63
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Callen is so good with him. They all are, each in their own way. Even Remy, though he pretends not to be.
The thought sneaks in before I can stop it… will they all want children of their own? Does epting this bond with all four of them mean giving them that? The idea doesn’t scare me, not really. I always wanted Jax to have a sibling, but four kids? Could I really handle that? Could they?
I can almost see it though… little versions of each of them running around the garden, Ryder barking orders like it’s a training session, Callen rolling his eyes and spoiling them anyway, Parker teaching them patience, Remy pretending he doesn’t care while secretly watching every step, ready to pummel the ground if it dares to scrape their little knees. The image makes meugh into my coffee.
A family of nine. We’d need a minibus just to go anywhere together. Do <i>wolves </i>even go on day trips? Holidays abroad? Could they? Do they even have passports? I don’t even <i>know </i>what they do to earn an ie. I doubt pack duties and territory patrols earn anything but
respect.
How can I stand here imagining this life with them when, truthfully, I still barely know them?
I’m already getting ahead of myself.
Out in the garden, Jax stumbles mid–stretch andnds on his backside with a dramatic
groan. Callenughs softly, offering him a hand up, his expression so full of warmth that my chest tightens all over again.
I slip out the back door, the mug still warm in my hands. The early–morning air is cool against my skin. The garden is wide and open, edged with tall trees that make it feel private, like the world beyond doesn’t exist, but I know better. Out there, creeping through the trees, are wolves, working to keep us all safe.
Callen spots me immediately, straightening from his stretch. An easy, genuine smile brightens his face. He jogs over, and before I can protest, he leans down and presses a gentle kiss against my lips. It’s quick, but it’s enough to make my stomach flip.
Of course, that’s when Jaxon pipes up.
“Uncle Cal,” he says, wrinkling his nose. “Why are you kissing my mummy?”
Heat floods
my cheeks. I turn away, not sure whether tough it off or pray for the ground to swallow me up. Callen crouches down to Jax’s level, his smile wide.
you remember how I
told you the Moon Goddess looks after all wolves?”
Jax nods seriously, eyes wide. “She gave us our wolves.”
“That’s right, and she also helps us find the people who are meant to be with us. The ones who make us stronger, kinder, better.” Callen nces up at me briefly before looking back at Jax. “We call them mates. The Moon Goddess chooses them for us, and when she does… it’s like our hearts recognise each other.”
Jaxon frowns, mulling it over. “So… my mummy is your mate?”
“She is,” Callen says gently. “And she is your dad’s, Remy’s and Parker’s, too. Sometimes, the Goddess chooses more than one mate for us. She knows better than we do what’s right for us.”
Jaxon’s little brows furrow in thought, and he chews on his lip the way he always does when he’s puzzling something out. “So… Mummy gets more than one mate, even though she isn’t a wolf?”
“Yes,” Callen says. “Because the goddess knows your mummy is strong enough, and her heart is big enough for more than one.”
My heart swells. Watching Callen exin something soplex in a way Jaxon can actually understand, makes me want to hug him and never let go.
Jax seems to consider this for a moment longer before his face lights up with a cheeky grin. “So<i>… </i>do I get more than one too? Like, lots of mummies and daddies?”
Callen chuckles, ruffling Jaxon’s hair. “No, bud. You only get one mum. And you’re very lucky, because she’s the best one.”
“I know<i>.</i><i>” </i>Jax beams at me.
My throat tightens, and I have <i>to </i>take a slow sip of my coffee to stop myself from crying right there.
“But when you are much older, the Goddess might choose a special person for you to love,” Callen adds.
“Watch this, Mummy,” Jaxon bounces on his toes like he’s got too much energy to keep still, then drops back down into the stretch Callen had been doing with him. His arms wobble, but he’s grinning the whole time.
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“Wow, that’s amazing, baby,” I smile at him.
“Show your mum what else we worked on,” Callen says proudly.
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Jaxon goes through a routine of stretching and bncing. It’s almost like an advanced yoga session. His extra strength makes him more capable of holding some of the moreplex
poses.
“Thanks for making such an effort with him,” I say quietly to Callen as we watch Jax’s
disy.
“No need to thank me; he’s my nephew, he’s pack, and he’s a part of you. It’s an <i>honour </i>to
spend time with him.”
Before I can say anything, a rustle at the edge of the garden catches Jaxon’s attention. His head snaps up, eyes wide, before a huge wolf bursts through the trees. Jaxon lets out a
squeal of delight.
“Remy!” he yells.
With a bark, the massive creature bounds across the grass, tail wagging like a giant puppy.
Jax races forward, and the wolf slows, lowering himself so Jaxon can throw his little arms
around his neck.
I hold my breath, but the wolf is careful, gentle even, as Jaxonughs into his fur. Then, with a yful nudge, he knocks Jax over onto the grass and bounds off, running circles around
him.
Jaxon bursts into a fit of giggles. “He wants to y!”
Callen chuckles beside me. “Looks like someone’s already recovered from patrol.”
I watch as my son scrambles up and chases after the wolf, who never gets too far ahead,
slowing his pace so Jaxon can almost catch him before darting away again. Watching him
like this and hearing himugh makes everything just feel right.
I step closer to Callen, brushing my arm against his. He wraps an arm around my shoulders,
leaning in to kiss the top of my head.
Ryder and Parker’s wolves soon join the y session, and something settles in me. I realise then that I can sense when my mates aren’t here. It’s like a part of me is missing, and I only feelplete when they are all here.
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