Chapter 5

Paige sat silently on the edge of the couch, her hands trembling as she smoothed a crease in Alec’s blanket. His soft breathing filled the room—steady but fragile, like a clock ticking down. Across from her, Dawn leaned forward, her crimson hair creating a fiery halo in the dim light.

“You can’t keep running, Paige,” Dawn said, her voice firm yet gentle. “Alec doesn’t have time for you to figure this out on your own. You know what needs to be done.”

Paige’s eyes shot up, a storm brewing in their grey depths. “Don’t you think I know that? But how can I go back after what they did to me?”

“‘They’?” Dawn tilted her head, arching an eyebrow. “Or ‘him’?”

The word hit Paige like a slap. She didn’t need to say his name to feel the searing pain in her chest. She could still see the haunting image—Jinwoo standing in the pack’s ceremonial clearing, his hand clasped tightly with Roxanna’s, while Paige stood alone, feeling betrayed and discarded.

“He made his choice, Dawn,” Paige hissed, her voice quivering with anger and grief. “He chose her. He chose Roxanna as his Luna. He didn’t even look at me.”

Dawn’s expression softened, but her gaze remained steady. “I know he hurt you, Paige. I know he broke you in ways no one else could. But this isn’t about him anymore. It’s about Alec.”

Paige’s resolve wavered as she glanced at her sleeping son. His pale face, framed by unruly platinum hair, looked so peaceful now, but she knew the truth. The wolf inside him was awakening too quickly, its strength too much for his tiny body to handle. She had seen the blood on his pillow and the fevered tears streaming down his cheeks. She was losing him.

“What if they try to take him from me?” Paige whispered, her voice cracking. “What if Jinwoo—what if Roxanna—uses this to tear him away?”

Dawn leaned forward, gripping Paige’s hands tightly. “You’re his mother, Paige. No one can take that from you. Not Jinwoo, not Roxanna, not the entire pack. Alec is yours. But he won’t survive without the Alpha’s blessing. You know this magic, Paige. It’s ancient. It’s in his blood, whether you like it or not.”

Paige shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. She hated the truth in Dawn’s words. She hated that the one place she had sworn never to see again was the key to saving her son.

“I’ve lived years without them,” Paige said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Without him. I don’t know if I can face them again, Dawn. Seeing him with her—” She broke off, her throat tightening as the memory overwhelmed her.

“You don’t have to face them for you,” Dawn replied, her tone softening. “You face them for Alec. He needs you to be strong now, Paige. You’ve done it before; you can do it again.”

Silence hung heavy in the room, broken only by Alec’s soft murmur as he shifted in his sleep. Paige’s heart clenched. She couldn’t lose him.

“I’ll do it,” she said finally, her voice firm but hollow.

Dawn exhaled, relief flickering in her eyes. “Good. One step at a time, Paige. That’s all it takes.”

Paige stood and moved to Alec’s side, brushing a strand of hair from his damp forehead. He stirred slightly, leaning into her touch even in his sleep.

“I’ll take you there,” she whispered, her voice filled with fear and determination. “But I won’t let them hurt you. Not Jinwoo. Not Roxanna. No one.”

She kissed his temple softly, a silent vow pressing against his skin.

“No matter what it takes,” she murmured.

******************************************************Note from the Author****************************************************************

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the story. Please like and leave a comment to tell me how you feel about the story and if you like it. If you want to love the story I am writing, please request an update so I can know if I should update it sooner and if people love what I am writing.

I hope you all have a good weekend.

Thanks,

Selenyx

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