** Paige’s POV **
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Callen lets out a sigh, running his hands through his hair. “Don’t worry about Jax, we will get him settled. You stay here and try to rx,” he says before turning to follow Rye.
“Thanks,” I try to say, but my voicees out weak, barely above a whisper as my mind
begins to spiral again.
The words in the letter keep shing through my mind, ying on a loop like they’re haunting <ol><li>me. </li></ol>
I don’t even realise I’m shaking until Parker moves closer. He lowers himself onto the edge of
the bed, slowly. His eyes soften, and when he speaks, his voice is low and steady.
“Hey,” he murmurs. “Breathe with me.”
“I can’t.” My voice cracks as my chest tightens. “It’s too much. He can’t… he can’t take Jax,
Parker. I can’t let him…”
“You won’t.” He cuts me off gently, his hand sliding over mine. “You won’t lose him, Paige. You have us, and Greg doesn’t stand a chance against that. Jaxon is this pack’s most
precious member. We will go to war for him if we have to.”
My eyes sting again, and I look away, ashamed of the tears. I know what he says is the truth, but I can’t stop the fear from creeping in. Parker doesn’t let me hide from him. He lifts my chin with a gentle hand, forcing me to meet his gaze.
“There’s no shame in being upset by this, but you are so much stronger than you think,” he says. “You’ve looked after Jax this far. You kept him safe through everything, even when you thought you were alone. Now you’re not. So let us carry some of that weight.” His lips brush over my knuckles, a touch so soft it makes me ache. “You don’t have to fight any part of this battle by yourself anymore, so if you want to scream and cry, then do it. We are here for it all,
Paige.”
A sob breaks free from my throat then, and I lean into him, pressing my face into his
shoulder. His armse around me instantly, solid and protective. “That’s it, let it all out,” he
soothes.
I do. He holds me while I let myself break down, knowing without a doubt that he is here, ready to help put me back together when I’m done.
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Remy doesn’t move at first. He stays leaning against the wall, watching us silently. When my tears begin to slow, he finally crosses the room. His hand rests on my back, and just the contact soothes something inside of me, it strengthens me. He doesn’t speak or try to fix it with words. He just stays a silent support, lending me his strength.
Between Parker’s whispered reassurances and Remy’s solid presence, the panic finally eases. My hands unclench, and my breathing evens out. I still feel the dread festering in a deep pit in my stomach, but it’s no longer threatening to consume me.
I pull back enough to look at them both. “How do you always know what I need?” I ask with a shaky voice.
Parker gives me the faintest smile. “Because you’re ours. It’s our job to know.”
Remy just squeezes my shoulder once, but it’s enough.
I know I must look a mess right now, with red puffy eyes and pale skin, but neither of them
looks at me with pity, only patience.
Remy finally speaks. His voice is low, but with a softness I rarely hear from him. “Skip the
shower. Let me run you a bath instead. A hot soak will help. You need to let your body catch
up with your head before you tear yourself apart.”
Before I can argue, he disappears out the door.
Parker moves to sit behind me on the bed, his hands smooth over my shoulders, and then he
applies pressure, massaging the knots I can feel there. “You’re carrying the whole world up
here,” he hums.
“It feels like it,” I say with a shakyugh.
“Then let me tell you something that Ronnie used to tell us as kids, back when we were
terrified and grieving.” He says softly. “Do you know why our Moon Goddess is always
painted with her hands open?”
I shake my head.
“Because she’s asking us to share our burdens with her, she carries what we can’t. That’s why
wolves look to her. That’s why we trust her.” He squeezes my shoulders gently, leaning closer
so I feel the brush of his lips against my ear. “You don’t have to hold everything, Paige. Let it
go, let her take it, let us take it.”
Tears sting my eyes again, but they’re different this time. I let out a shaky breath, trying not to
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think about Parker and Remy as scared kids and instead focus on thefort he’s trying to
bring me.
“I’d like to learn more about your goddess.”
Parker kisses the side of my neck softly before answering. “Then I’ll teach you<i>.</i><i>” </i>
“Bath is ready,” Remy’s voice floats into my mind like it’s my own thought, and I flinch. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to someone else’s voice inside my head.
Parker presses onest kiss to my neck before helping me up. His eyes hold mine. “One step at a time. We’ll get both of you through this.”
I nod before letting him lead me downstairs. Remy is waiting in the bathroom doorway, his sleeves rolled up and steam floating around him. He doesn’t say much, just offers me a
towel with one hand and a nod that says more than words ever could.
The warmth of the bathroom hits me first, the steam carrying the scent ofvender. The water ripples gently, inviting me in and promising to soothe every muscle. Remy was right, a
bath was a better choice.
“Go on,” he gestures to the bath as Parker steps into the bathroom, closing the door gently
behind him and shutting the three of us in.
I hesitate for a moment before I slip out of my clothes, aware of their presence but not
self–conscious. They don’t look at me like they’re hungry for something. They look at me like soldiers keeping watch, keeping my body and mind safe. I sink into the water, and the instant warmth spreads over me. I almost cry from relief. The tension in my body begins to melt
away.
Parker sits on the floor beside the tub, his back resting against the tiles. “Do you want me to
tell you more about the moon goddess?” he asks softly.
I nod, closing my eyes and tipping my head back against the edge of the tub.
His voice drops to a soft, soothing tone as he talks. He tells me stories meant to bring
me, it’s love.
Remy moves to sit beside Parker. He doesn’t add words, but he doesn’t need to. His presence and the bond say it all.
I keep my eyes closed, drifting somewhere between sleep and deep rxation. I’m not sure
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how long I stay like that, but the water is beginning to cool when Parker finally rises, rolling up his sleeves to help me out. He wraps a towel around me, and then Remy takes over, wrapping it tighter and tucking the edges in.
Between the two of them, they guide me back to the bedroom. Parker keeps an arm around
me while Remy trails at my other side, silent and protective. The sight of Parker’s bed makes
my whole body sag with relief.
Parker pulls back the quilt. “Come on, beautiful,” he says. “Let’s get you warm.”
I climb in, still wrapped in the towel, and sink into the mattress. The moment my head hits
the pillow, the weight of everything tries to drag me under again. The court date, Greg’s
written words, the risks we’ll have to take. Panic niggles at me again, but then Remy sits on the edge of the bed, his hand resting against my leg.
“Stay here,” he says. “Just stay with us.”
I understand his meaning. He doesn’t mean just physically; he means mentally. He doesn’t want me to spiral again.
Parker slips in on the other side, lying beside me, his fingers brushing through my hair. You’re safe,” he whispers. “With us, you’ll always be safe.”
<i>” </i>
“Can you tell me more?” I whisper, turning my head to face Parker. “About the Moon Goddess.
<i>” </i>
He smiles softly. “Another story?”
“Please,” I nod.
So, he does. He tells me about how the Moon Goddess chose fated mates, not to trap wolves but to strengthen them. She believed love wasn’t about possession, but survival. How bonds strengthen packs and ensure the best matches for offspring.
Remy adds a low rumble of agreement here and there, and finishes some of Parker’s sentences, his thumb tracingzy patterns against the back of my calf. Together, they create
a safe little bubble, where there’s no more room for fear.
Eventually, my eyelids grow heavy. Their words blur into the hum of the bond, and thest thing I hear before sleep takes me is Parker’s whisper.
“No matter what happens, we’ve got you, always.”
“No one takes what’s ours,” Remy’s voice rumbles as I finally let go.
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