The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 142

**Paige’s POV **

Callen leads me to the bathroom, flipping on the small light over the mirror. The glow is warm and golden, giving the room a cosy feel. He rolls his sleeves and starts the water running in

the tub.

For a moment, I just watch him. The quiet focus on his face, the way his shoulders move when he leans over the side, it’s such a simple, domestic thing, but my chest warms at the sight. There’s something grounding about seeing him like this, stripped of his Alpha posture, just a man making sure the people he loves are cared for.

“You know,” I say lightly, leaning against the doorframe, “I am capable of running my own bath.”

He glances over his shoulder, eyes glinting with amusement. “Yeah, I know.”

“Then why are you doing it?”

“Because I like taking care of you.” He reaches for the tap again, testing the temperature, and then adds more cold water. “And because right now, you probably shouldn’t be trusted to do this yourself.”

I arch a brow. “Oh? And why’s that?”

He glances at me, that teasing smile tugging at his mouth. “Because I’m not sure if your nose is sensitive enough to scent–check the water.”

That sobers me. “Do you really think the hunters will try to poison our plumbing?”

His smile fades, replaced by a flicker of something serious. “No, we are on the main water supply. If they still value human life as much as they claim, they won’t risk contaminating the village’s water too. But I think it’s better to be careful. We can’t take chances, especially when it comes to you and Jax.”

That quiet protectiveness hits something deep inside me. I move closer, resting a hand on his arm. “You’re sweet, you know that?”

“Don’t tell the others,” he grins. “I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

The lightness of his tone doesn’t match the tension in his shoulders, though. I don’t even need the mate bond to know something is bothering him; I can feel it even through the thin fabric of his shirt. Something’s gnawing at him.

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“Callen,” I say softly. “What’s wrong?”

He shakes his head without looking at me. “Nothing. Just… tired.”

“Try again.”

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That earns me a quiet huff of laughter, but it’s humourless. He shuts off the tap and straightens slowly, running a hand over his face before resting both palms on the edge of the tub.

“It’s Remy,” he finally says.

My heart skips a beat. “Remy?”

He nods, jaw tightening. “Something’s… off between us lately. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like he’s pulling away, like there’s this wall I can’t see but keep slamming into.”

I tilt my head, watching him carefully. “You’ve felt disconnected from him before?”

He hesitates, then gives a slow nod. “Not like this. Before, it was a distance because we couldn’t be what we wanted to be. I kept it buried for so long… how I felt about him, what I wanted… and now that everything’s out in the open, now that we could have something real, he’s the one retreating.”

His words are quiet, almost ashamed.

I step closer, the warm scent of eucalyptus filling the air as steam begins to rise from the bath. “Do you think it’s something you did?”

He lets out a breath. “Not anything I can think of, and it wasn’t a sudden change, more of a growing distance.”

“Maybe it’s not you, it could just be the stress of everything going on,” I suggest.

Callen shakes his head. “No, I thought about that, but he’s not pulling away from you, he’s growing closer, and I’m happy for that. I truly am. You both deserve that kind of connection. Maybe this is my karma.”

“Karma for what?”

“I’ve been replaying that day in the woods in my head over and over. How I kissed him. How sudden it was. I didn’t even think about what it meant for you. I just…” He breaks off, shaking his head. “I should never have done it that way. Not without talking to you first. It feels like I betrayed you, and the more I think about it, the worse it feels.”

The guilt in his voice makes my throat tighten. I rest my hand over his, squeezing gently. ”

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Callen,” I whisper, “you didn’t betray me.”

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His gaze flicks up to mine, his eyes uncertain. “It doesn’t feel that way to me. I should’ve known better.”

“You were acting on instinct,” I say. “On love. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

He gives a humourless laugh. “That’s easy for you to say.”

“It’s not,” I counter softly. “But I meant what I said before, Callen. You and Remy… you’ve always had something between you, and you had it before I came in and stepped right into the middle. It’s not cheating, it’s connection. You’re both my mates. You’re connected to me, and to each other. The bond doesn’t separate us; it ties us together.”

He stares at me, eyes flicking between mine like he’s trying to believe me but doesn’t quite know how. “You really don’t hate me for it?”

“I could never hate you,” I say, smiling faintly. “When I saw the two of you together, it didn’t feel wrong. It felt right. Like a missing piece finally clicking into place. You weren’t betraying me, Callen. You were finally being honest with yourself, and with him.”

His face softens, and he exhales slowly, the tension draining from his shoulders. “You always make it sound so simple.”

“It’s not simple,” I admit, “but it’s true.”

He looks away, staring into the water. “You think he knows that? That I still…” His voice falters. “That I still want him?”

“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “But he’s been through a lot, and so much is changing for him. He’s probably still trying to find his footing.”

He’s quiet for a long time after that. The only sounds are the soft drip of the tap and our gentle breathing.

Then, almost in a whisper, he says, “I love him, Paige.”

The honesty in his voice makes my chest ache. There’s no hesitation, no confusion, just raw

truth.

“I know,” I say gently. “And he loves you too. Even if he’s scared right now.”

Callen swallows hard. “I spent years pretending that what I felt was something else…just a passing attraction, brotherhood, loyalty, whatever excuse I could come up with. I told myself

it was wrong, that it was easier to bury it. And now that I can finally say it, he won’t even look at me the same way.”

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I reach up and brush my thumb along his jaw. “Give him time. You know Remy; he struggles to allow himself to feel things. He can’t escape me because the mate bond won’t allow him to shut me out anymore. He’ll come around.”

Callen’s lips twitch into a faint smile. “You always see the best in us.

“That’s because I know what you’re all capable of,” I say. “Even when you don’t.”

He huffs out a small laugh and presses a quick kiss to my forehead. “You’re too good for me.

Callen kneels by the tub again, swirling the water once more before switching off the tap.

“Perfect temperature,” he declares. “No poison.”

I press a quick kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

He smiles, with a hint of that familiar mischief returning. “In you go, Luna. You need this more than you think.”

I hesitate for a moment, then start to undress. He turns away, giving me privacy, but lingers by the door. When I slip into the water, the warmth envelops me instantly, melting the tension from my muscles. I sigh, sinking deeper until it laps against my shoulders.

Callen glances back, eyes soft. “Better?”

“Much.”

He nods, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe. “You should get some rest after this. You’ve been on edge for days.”

“I will,” I promise, watching him quietly. “You could use some too, you know.”

He shrugs. “I’ll rest when my head shuts up.”

I give him a sympathetic smile. “You’re thinking too much again.”

“Always.”

The silence that follows isn’t uncomfortable. I feel a sense of pride that he trusts me this way, that he feels he can speak to me about anything and knows I won’t judge him.

After a moment, I ask softly, “Callen… do you ever think about what it’ll be like when it’s all over? When the hunters are gone?”

He blinks at the question. “Honestly? Not really. I’m not used to thinking that far ahead.”

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“I do,” I admit. “I think about peace. About what it might feel like to finally breathe without fear.”

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