<b>Chapter </b>82
** Ryder’s POV **
More Hawards
I stay beside Paige as we watch the pack kids. Jax is ying with them as if he’s always been here. They don’t treat him like the new kid or an outsider. They don’t look at him like a leader either. To them, he’s just a pack kid the same as any other. Watching him run andugh with them does something to me. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling, and my heart swells in my chest. We should be getting Paige home, but I let myself watch for a moment longer than I should.
Inside Cora’s cabin, Paige asked the questions she had been afraid to ask us. What the heat felt like, if she’d still be herself, whether a body like hers could be made into something else by those who loved her.
Cora’s answers had been exactly what was needed, and she had given Paige condoms until we could get her to a human doctor for something more permanent. Growing up as a human, condoms were not a foreign concept to me, but here, in wolf packs, they’ve never really had a
purpose.
My human side wars with my wolf side on the subject of contraception and procreation. My beliefs as a wolf are that, with our poption declining, we should be doing everything we can to increase it with as many strong pups as possible, but the part of me that was raised human has different views. It should be a choice, not an expectation. Not everyone wants children, and that’s okay. Yet when I look at my child, the one I never nned, I can’t imagine choosing not to have him.
I wonder how Remy and Parker are going to feel about it all? They have been raised as wolves their whole lives. They only know this way of life. To them, one of the main purposes of finding a mate is to breed.
My mind keeps looping back to the way Paige rxed when Cora said, “You don’t have to be enough for them, you already are.” I watched the relief settle over her shoulders, and I wish I could hold it there forever.
The pack’s safety is always my job, but Paige’s feelings and sense of self–worth need a different kind of guarding. I would do anything to protect her that way too, even if I have to fight a battle with her other mates. I won’t let them make her feel less if she doesn’t want more children. As a human, that is her right, and I’ll make sure she keeps it.
I feel the mental prickle that tells me the mind–link is opening, and I let it.
“So what did she say?” Callen asks.
<Chapter 82
Hour Pewaris
I brace for an argument, schooling my features so Paige doesn’t suspect it’s happening. “The heat is simr to a wolf’s, but as a human, there are measures that can be taken to prevent pregnancy. Cora gave her condoms as a temporary solution.”
There’s a beat of silence before Remy speaks. “Condoms?”
“Human things.” Callen says. “They’re better than nothing, but they can break, especially with
heat.”
“I know what they are. I have watched TV, you know,” Remy snaps. “But why would we need them? The whole point of a heat is…”
“It doesn’t matter what the point is for us.” I cut in. “Paige does not have the same instincts we do. She gets to decide, it’s her body, her choice.”
“Agreed,” Parker says. “Let’s drop this until we have a chance to discuss it with her. This is. Conversation she should be a part of.”
“There’s something else we need to discuss between ourselves before we talk to her, though. Something you may not like,” I say cautiously.
Callen is the first to respond. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure if you and Parker have already discussed with her about sealing your bonds yet, but I think you should hold off for the time being. If her body is already answering to us the way it is, is it wise for two more to lock in? It could make things worse for her.”
“Oh, that’s easy for you to say now that you are already bonded to her.” Callen snaps. “It’s driving me mad that I’ve not imed her yet, my wolf is bing impatient.”
Ever the voice of reason, Parker responds next. “He’s right, Cal. We can wait. We should wait, at least until this heat cycle is over.”
“Okay, we wait. We won’t pressure her intopleting anything.” Callen gives in. “At least it gives us more time to n making it perfect for her, but let it be known, that if I turn out to be the man who says ter‘ and then has the world take thatter away in some fight with the hunters. I’ll haunt your asses forever.”
Remy snorts augh out loud, drawing Paige’s attention, and she narrows her eyes at him.
“Smooth, Rem, real smooth. No ass haunting for you now,” Callen teases.
“Okay, conversation over. Let’s get home,” I grumble.
I look at Jax working together with his new friends, and hate that I have to pull him away. Tomorrow I’ll make ns for Regina to start teaching the kids in the vige. If we can’t take
215
< Chapter 82
them to school, then we will bring the school to them. Jaxon needs it.
With my hand on Paige’s back, I guide her toward the small clearing where Callen has the
kids building a lopsided fort. I crouch and pick up a long stick, then hand it to Jax. “Good job,
I tell him, and I mean it. He looks up with a bright grin, and for a second I forget all the problems we are dealing with. He has a way of doing that, his smile and giggles drowning out everything else.
Later, when we’re home and the day is over, we will all sit with Paige and talk things through.
The kids small fort copses with a tter of sticks, and the whole group bursts intoughter. My son’s cheeks are pink from running, and his grin is wide enough to brighten anyone’s day. My chest aches with pride, love, and the bone–deep instinct to protect him <i>no </i>
matter what.
I clear my throat. “Come on, bud, it’s time to head home.”
The change in him is instant. His shoulders drop, his lower lip pops out, and he drags his foot against the dirt. “But Dad…” His voice is small, pleading. “I don’t want to go yet. I’m having so much fun.”
I ready myself for our first disagreement, but before I can speak, Paige puts a hand on my arm. “Rye<i>,” </i>she says softly, “he’s having fun. Can’t we give him a little longer?” Her eyes lock onto mine, warm but tired.
I should say no. She should be home, resting and having us look after her. But one look at Jaxon’s hopeful face and Paige’s gentle persuasion, and my wolf practically rolls onto his back in surrender. How can I say no to these two?
I sigh. “Fine. A little longer.”
“Thanks, Dad!” Jax cheers before darting back into the group.
“Thanks, Rye. It’s good for him to have somepany his own age,” Paige squeezes my arm.
Parker, who’s been leaning against a tree with his arms folded, pushes off the trunk and holds a hand out to Paige. “While he’s ying, do you want to take a little walk? Get a feel for the pack grounds?”
Paige hesitates for a second, but then nods. “Yeah. That would be nice.”
“I’lle too,” Remy says, already scanning the area like he expects trouble to spring from the bushes.
I don’t argue. The pack grounds are safe, and Parker and Remy can protect her, they’ll keep her close. I stay behind with Callen, both of us turning back toward the fort where the kids
<Chapter 82
are already rebuilding.
Jax waves at us with a stick in hand. “Come help, Uncle Cal!”
Callen grins and crouches down beside him, his big hands steadying the lopsided walls of twigs. Heughs and talks softly to the kids. I can see how much he loves it, being here, being the fun uncle, teaching Jax while making it interesting. My throat tightens. He’s a good father figure, he deserves this rtionship with Jax.
I crouch in the grass, keeping an eye on the treeline while watching the kids. That’s when she
appears.
An older girl, just turned neen if I remember right, approaches from the path. She’s tall, dark–haired, and slim, the way our kind always are. She’s smiling as shees closer, but it isn’t the kind of smile meant for children. It’s angled straight at Callen. Here we go again. “Hey,” she drawls, pushing her hair over one shoulder. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full.” Callen nces up at her briefly. “Yeah, they’re keeping me busy.” He turns back to Jaxon, fixing a crooked branch in the fort.
She steps closer, lowering her voice just enough that the kids won’t catch it, but I hear every word. “I’ve not seen you around muchtely.”
“I’ve been busy,” Callen replies shortly.
She smiles, unaffected. “Shame. We could’ve had some fun. Someone like you shouldn’t be wasting their time on a human.” Her eyes flick toward the direction Paige left, then back to him. “She can’t give you what I can.”
A growl rips out of me before Callen even has a chance to answer. My wolf bristles, wing at my insides, the possessive rage instant. But Callen handles it faster than I do. He straightens to his full height, his gaze cold and his voice heavy with his wolf’s rage.
“Don’t. I’ve got everything I want already. Don’t ever disrespect my mate again.”
The girl flinches, her mask slipping as anger reces her flirtation, and she hisses, “You’ll regret it when she fails you<i>.</i><i>” </i>Then she spins on her heel and stalks off, muttering under her breath.
I watch her retreat, my hands clenching into fists. My wolf wants to chase her, to make sure she never dares open her mouth again, <i>but </i>Callen exhales hard, shaking his head. <i>“</i>She’s not worth it,” he says, more to himself than to me.
I step closer, lowering my voice. “You handled that better than I would have. Please don’t tell me you have a history with her.”
< Chapter 82
Callen smirks faintly, though his eyes are still stormy. “Nah, although it’s not the first time she has tried to get my attention, she’s just a young girl aiming high.”
“Fancies herself as Luna, huh?” I snort, shaking my head,
“Don’t they all at that age? She’ll mature in the next year or two and be embarrassed about her behaviour.”
The kids cheer as the fort finally stands without copsing. I smile at them, telling them what a great job they’ve done, but my thoughts are on Paige, out there walking the vige with Parker and Remy. I’m d she wasn’t here to witness that, especially not while she is feeling so vulnerable. Our pack members won’t dismiss her or make shittyments any longer. I’ll fight everyst one of them if I have to.
2
Get Bonus (Ad) >
H
Vote
1.JK
615
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!