The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Whispers are already rippling through the air. News of an attack spreads fast between packs, and I’m sure the light show we left behind will only fuel the rumours.

Ryder stays quiet, eyes fixed on me, one hand resting protectively over Paige’s. Jake crouches beside her, still monitoring her pulse. Poppy’s voice is soft as she soothes Jaxon awake.

“Where are we?” Jax mumbles sleepily.

“Somewhere safe, baby,” Poppy answers softly.

“Somewhere the bad men can’t find us?” he asks.

“Yes.”

My chest tightens. Goddess, he’s too young for any of this.

Midnight wolves rush forward to help the injured, offering blankets, water, steady hands. I can feel their confusion and pity pressing at the edges of my mind, but beneath it all, curiosity. They can smell it on us.

The charge in the air. The faint ozone tang of spent power.

They know something happened.

I hate to even think it, but I’m glad Paige’s healing blast hadn’t reached the whole pack, and we still have some injured. Otherwise, it would have been highly suspicious if we’d turned up without a single scratch

on any of us.

“Callen, you take point. Parker, stay with the pack. If we are going to pass her condition off as no big deal,

we need to look like we aren’t all protecting her,” Rye says through the mind-link.

I jump down first, my Alpha presence instantly commanding attention. “We’ll need medical space for at least a dozen,” I say, impressed with how strong my voice sounds despite the exhaustion.

The Midnight Beta nods and gestures for his team to move. Ryder climbs out next, still carrying Paige. The

wolves nearby fall silent when they see her. Even unconscious, she draws every eye, the faint glow under

her skin catching the light from the windows like liquid gold.

“Easy,” Jake says, stepping in close to shield her from view. “Let’s get her inside before anyone starts

asking questions,” he adds in the mind-link.

I grab the spare blanket from the seat and throw it over her, making sure it covers her hands. The glow

dims to nothing beneath the fabric.

Ryder meets my eyes, jaw tight.

“We’ve got this,” I reassure him.

As we carry her toward the med bay, I glance back one last time. The Midnight wolves are still watching,

whispering behind their hands. The scent of suspicion is faint but present in the air. We’ll have to tread carefully. Because tonight, Paige didn’t just save us… she changed everything, and if the world ever learns what she really is… there won’t be a pack alive that won’t come looking for her.

“We have private accommodation you can use for your Luna if you want your own healer to take care of her,” a woman who looks about fifty and oozes healer energy says as she walks to meet us.

Ryder nods, holding Paige a little tighter. “That would be perfect, thank you.”

“Your Luna is human, isn’t she?” The healer asks, her eyes scanning over Paige’s wrapped form.

“She is, which is why we need to get her inside and warm as soon as possible. Humans don’t handle the cold as well as we do, especially not after a knock to the head,” I say, positioning myself between her and Ryder with the friendliest smile I can manage.

The healer searches my eyes for a second before nodding. “Yes, quite fragile, aren’t they? Follow me.”

“Thank you,” I breathe as she turns and begins walking us towards a small brick house that is in complete

darkness.

“I’m Leah, by the way. Head healer here. We do have a human hospital close by if she needs it.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Jake cuts in, jogging to catch up with Poppy and Jax. “Her injury is nothing to

worry about. I sedated her as a precaution.”

“Good call; humans can be quite dramatic when they’re injured. We have two in the pack, and honestly, I

wish I could sedate them every time they get a scratch,” she scoffs.

I bristle at her words, biting my tongue to stop myself snapping at her. This woman clearly hates humans,

but we have to remember that Paige is not her Luna, and we are not her Alpha’s. We are guests here, and

the last thing we need to do right now is cause a problem that may cause Josh to withdraw his help or

draw attention to us whilst Paige is so vulnerable.

“Get rid of her,” Ryder growls through the mind-link.

“Yeah, we humans don’t have the magical healing you do,” Poppy says sweetly, matching Leah’s tone.”

Guess it builds character, or maybe patience. Something you wolves could use a little more of.”

Leah hums in response, clearly not sure whether to feel insulted or impressed, but she doesn’t comment

further.

I catch Ryder’s smirk out of the corner of my eye. It’s small, fleeting, but it’s there, a flash of pride in Poppy’s sharp tongue before he schools his expression again. He’s barely holding it together, but so far, we’ve managed to play our parts.

The healer leads us down a narrow path that winds between the houses. The air here smells different; it’s fresh, cleaner somehow. Less smoke, more pine and wet earth. The Midnight Pack’s territory feels colder

than ours, quieter too. Like even the wind holds its breath here.

Leah unlocks the front door of a small brick house and gestures for us to come inside. The space is dim,

the only light coming from the lamp Leah flicks on by the door. It’s simple but clean, two couches, a table, and the faint scent of polish, as if someone was in here cleaning recently.

“Put her on the couch,” Leah says. “I’ll get some bandages in case she’s bleeding under those blankets.”

“Not necessary,” Jake says quickly, stepping forward. “I’ve already checked her over, no open wounds. She’s stable. I’d prefer to monitor her myself if you don’t mind.”

Leah’s eyebrows lift, her gaze flicking between Ryder, Jake, and Paige. For a second, I think she might push it, might insist on seeing for herself, but then she just sighs. “Suit yourself. I’ll bring some tea. Everyone looks half-dead.”

She disappears into the kitchen.

Ryder lowers Paige onto the couch with a care that makes my chest ache. Jake crouches beside her, checking her pulse again before covering her up to her chin with the blanket. Poppy sits on the other couch, wrapping an arm around Jaxon. His eyes are wide, but he’s quiet now, taking in the new space.

I move to the window, checking the treeline. “We can’t stay here long,” I mutter through the mind-link. “The hunters will regroup, and the Midnight Pack will want details before sunrise.”

“Agreed,” Ryder answers. “We’ll give them the bare minimum. The less they know, the better.”

Jake glances over his shoulder. “I’ll stay with her tonight. She’s stable, but her vitals are odd. It’s like her

system’s still realigning itself.”

“Meaning?” I ask.

“Meaning her body’s adjusting to whatever the hell that power was,” Jake replies. “She’s fine for now, but

she’ll need rest and quiet. A lot of it.”

I nod, then glance at Ryder. He’s still kneeling beside Paige, one hand tangled in her hair. The glow beneath

her skin flickers faintly, golden light catching along his wrist. He doesn’t move his hand away.

Leah returns with a tray of cups, setting them down with a clatter that makes me jump. “Tea,” she says curtly. “Chamomile. For shock.” Her eyes linger on Ryder for a moment longer than I like. “The cupboards

in the kitchen are stocked. I’ll have some spare clothes and blankets brought over. And… I’ll let Alpha Josh

know you’re here.”

“Appreciated,” I say quickly before Ryder can respond. His patience is worn thin, and the last thing we need is him snapping. “We’ll update him in the morning.”

She gives a curt nod and leaves.

Poppy kneels by the couch, brushing Paige’s hair back with gentle fingers. “She looks peaceful,” she

whispers.

“Yeah,” I say quietly. “Let’s hope it stays that way.”

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