Paige POV
When I wake, there’s a steady beeping that isn’t my alarm. A faint light peeks through unfamiliar blinds. For a second, I don’t know where I am, just that there’s warmth at my back, an arm draped loosely around my waist. Then Callen shifts beside me with a sleepy hum, and it all floods back.
I lift my head, blinking the sleep from my eyes, and my heart jolts when I see him sitting up in the bed opposite, alive and watching me. His skin is still slightly pale, but there’s colour creeping back into his face, and a smile touches his lips when our eyes meet.
“Morning,” he says softly, voice rough but warm.
Callen stirs at the sound, groaning as he rubs a hand over his face. “You look like hell,” he mutters without opening his eyes.
Ryder chuckles weakly. “You don’t look much better.”
Callen opens one eye and gives his brother a lazy grin. “Yeah, well, near-death experiences aren’t my best look. Don’t ever do that to me again.”
I sit up slowly, brushing my hair from my face, and the wave of relief that hits me makes my eyes sting.”
You’re okay,” I whisper, almost to myself.
Ryder nods, still watching me like he’s afraid I’ll vanish if he blinks. “Thanks to you.”
The lump that forms in my throat makes it hard to speak. I shake my head. “It wasn’t just me. Everyone helped.”
“Maybe,” he says. “But you’re the reason I’m still breathing.”
Callen shifts upright behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Told you, miracle girl.”
I let out a shaky laugh. “I was terrified,” I admit.
Ryder nods, looking guilty. For a moment, none of us speaks. There’s only the sound of the rain still pattering softly against the window and the rhythmic beeping of the monitor that feels more reassuring now than clinical,
Ryder breaks the silence first. “Parker linked with Remy a few minutes ago,” he says, a small smile curving his mouth. “He’s on his way here with Jax.”
My heart skips a beat. “Do you feel up to visits? I can meet them outside if you need to rest more.”
Ryder shakes his head. “He insisted,” he says, amusement flickering in his tired eyes. “Apparently, he wanted to make sure we were all still alive.”
Callen snorts softly. “He’s definitely my nephew.”
I swat his arm lightly, shaking my head.
The door creaks open before I can respond. Remy steps inside, bringing the scent of coffee with him. He carries a tray of steaming cups. Poppy follows him in, her eyes heavy like she’s not slept all night.
“Morning,” she says, smiling as she crosses the room. “We figured you three could use this.”
Remy hands a cup to Ryder first, who accepts it like it’s the best thing he’s ever been given. Then he passes one to me, then Callen.
“Thank the Goddess,” Callen mutters, inhaling deeply before taking a long sip. “You’re a saint, Pop.”
“Saint might be a stretch,” she snorts, sinking into the chair beside me. “How are you all feeling?”
“Alive,” Ryder answers simply. “And hungry.”
As if summoned by the word, Ronnie appears in the doorway, holding a brown paper bag that smells like heaven. “Good thing Lola made enough bacon sandwiches to feed a small army,” he says, dropping the bag onto the nearest table.
“Lola,” Callen says, with a hand on his heart. “An angel among wolves.”
Ronnie smirks. “You can tell her that yourself when you’re strong enough to walk over to her cabin.”
I can’t help laughing as I take one of the sandwiches and peel back the paper. The smell alone nearly makes me dizzy. The first bite is bliss, salty, greasy, perfect. I’ve not had a chance to meet Lola personally yet, but I’ve heard about her from the guys and Jaxon. She’s almost like the pack nanny. She has been making lunch for the pack kids while they are having their school sessions here. She loves to cook and always makes sure the patients in the healers’ cabin are well fed.
Callen grins around a mouthful of his breakfast. “Ryder should almost die more often so we can save him if this is the reward.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” I warn.
Callen groans dramatically. “I’m just saying that the only time I get breakfast in bed is when I’m here. You’d think as Alpha I’d get special treatment like this daily.”
Ryder throws a piece of bacon at him, missing by inches. The easy laughter that follows is the first sound of pure normality in what feels like forever, but under the laughter, I can feel Ryder’s gaze on me. When I meet his eyes again, the humour fades, replaced by something raw and intense.
He sets his half-eaten sandwich down and leans forward slightly. “Paige,” he says quietly, “I meant what I said earlier. You saved my life.”
The way he says it, so full of awe and emotion, makes my chest ache.
“I would’ve done it a thousand times over,” I whisper. “You know that.”
He nods slowly. “I do, but hearing it… after what I felt last night…” His throat works as he swallows. “It’s not just what you did. It’s that I felt you. I felt you pull me back. Like you reached right inside the dark abyss I was trapped in, grabbed me, and refused to let go.”
Tears well in my eyes again. “You scared the hell out of me,” I admit.
He gives me a weak smile. “I scared myself too.”
Callen nudges me gently. “You should’ve seen her, Rye. She was glowing like something out of a movie. It was wild.”
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