** Paige’s POV **

    More Rewar

    The clearing is packed with wolves. Some shifted, some still in human form, all eyes are

    trained on us as Ryder and Callen lead us forward. Jaxon squeezes my hand tighter, his little chest puffed out,pletely unbothered by the weight of so many gazes. I wish I had half

    his confidence.

    Ryder’s voice carries, steady andmanding. “Phoenix Pack. Thank you for joining us on

    such short notice. I know rumours have been spreading, and you’ve all waited for answers.

    Today, you’ll have them.”

    A ripple of anticipation sweeps through the pack. Callen steps closer, his hand brushing my back, steadying me. “This is Paige.” His voice is firm, unapologetic. “She is our mate.”

    Gasps, murmurs. Someone in the back snarls softly. My pulse kicks up, but Ryder doesn’t give anyone a chance to speak.

    “And this,” he continues, lifting Jaxon effortlessly into his arms, “is my son. The alpha heir.”

    Silence. Then, as if on instinct, bodies bend low. Dozens of wolves bow to the little boy in Ryder’s arms. Jaxon giggles, waving like he’s royalty, which, I guess, he is now. But not everyone bows to me. A few nod respectfully, but others stay rigid, their eyes hard and

    assessing.

    “She’s human,” someone whispers, not quietly enough.

    A scoff follows from another voice. “How can a human be Luna?”

    The words sting, even though I knew they’de. Ryder’s arm tightens around me like steel, but before he can snap back, a woman steps forward. Her gaze is fixed on the side of my

    neck, and she lifts her chin, sniffing the air.

    “She wears the Beta’s mark.” Her tone is sharp and using. “How can she im to be mate

    to both Alphas and a Beta?”

    All eyes lock onto the faint scar on my skin where Remy’s mark sits. Heat floods my cheeks. I

    open my mouth, but Ryder beats me to it, his tone a warning growl.

    “You will not question the bond gifted by the Moon Goddess.”

    The woman doesn’t back down. “The Moon Goddess may bind, but how many of our men is

    Chapter 60

    More Rewards

    she tied to? How can we trust a human fated to multiple powerful men? This could be the

    work of witches. There is a rumour they are uniting with the hunters. How can we be sure this

    is not a trick of theirs?”

    The murmurs grow louder now, suspicion growing thick in the air. My throat tightens. A man

    in the crowd raises his voice.

    “The hunters.” He points at me as if I’m already guilty. “They starteding at the same time she arrived. You bring a human into our territory, mark her as mate, and suddenly we’re under

    attack? You expect us not to question that?”

    A low rumble of agreement follows, with a few voices muttering darkly. My stomach flips.

    Every instinct screams at me to shrink back, to hide, but Ryder steps forward, his Alpha

    “Enough!” The word vibrates in my chest. The wolves closest to him flinch, heads bowing

    automatically. “Paige is mine. Ours. She is Luna, chosen by the Moon Goddess, whether you

    ept it now or not. And Jaxon is my blood, your heir. If any of you dare disrespect them

    again, you’ll answer to me.”

    The force of his voice silences the crowd, but I can still feel the unease, like a current under

    the surface. Their doubt doesn’t vanish, it’s not that easy. It doesn’t matter what any of my mates say, I will have to prove myself.

    Callen’s hand brushes mine, his eyes soft even as his voice is steel. “You want truth? Then,

    here it is. Paige is not only bound to us. She is fated to Remy and Parker, your betas, as well.”

    The announcement causes more whispers. Some are shocked, some horrified. A few seem

    almost awed, I think.

    I stand there, every muscle trembling, but I keep my chin lifted. For Jaxon. For Ryder, Callen,

    Remy, and Parker. They can question me all they want, but what they won’t do is see me

    break.

    “That’s impossible,” someone mutters.

    “The Moon Goddess wouldn’t bind one human woman to four of our strongest,” another

    argues.

    “There’s no way they’ll all ept her.”

    “She must be lying. Manipting them…”

    215

    “Enough!” Remy’s voice cuts through like a de, sharp and furious.

    More Rewards

    He steps from the shadows at the edge of the circle, his presencemanding in a way I

    haven’t seen before. He locks his eyes on me, and they ze with something between

    defiance and devotion. Then, without hesitation, he closes the distance and stands beside

    me, shoulder to shoulder with Ryder and Callen.

    “It’s true.” His voice is steady, though I can feel the bond thrumming between us, pushing his

    emotions through me, giving me a confidence that isn’t mine. “She is mine. The Moon Goddess marked her for us. Deny it if you want, but I won’t.”

    Gasps ripple through the crowd. Some wolves bow, as if Remy’s deration seals something

    for them. Others bristle, their suspicion sharpening into anger.

    Then Parker moves into sight, pushing through the crowd itself, ignoring the protests of

    those who try to stop him. His stride is deliberate, each step daring anyone to stand in his

    way. When he reaches me, his gaze softens, just for me, before he turns to the pack with his

    jaw set in a hard line.

    “She’s mine too.” His words are quieter than Remy’s, but they carry just as far. “The Moon

    Goddess bound me to her the moment I saw her. You don’t have to like it. But you don’t get to

    deny it.”

    Chaos erupts as people shout over each other, disbelief, fear and awe mixing into a storm of

    emotion.

    “She can’t lead us, she’s human!”

    “She carries too much power. It isn’t natural.”

    “This is a gift. Don’t you see? The Moon Goddess has blessed us!”

    “She’ll destroy us…”

    Ryder’s growl thunders through them all, silencing the voices in a split second. His alpha

    “You will not question the Moon Goddess’s will,” he snarls, his voice shaking with fury. “Paige

    is your Luna. She is ours. And anyone who dares speak against her speaks against me.”

    Callen steps forward then, his tone colder, quieter, but it cuts just as deep. “And if you think

    the recent hunter attacks are her fault…” His eyes sweep the circle, hard and dangerous.”

    Then you’re a fool. They hunt her because of what she means. Because she is meant to

     Chapter 60

    change everything.”

    More Rewards?

    Remy’s voice follows, lower but full of fire. “And I’ll spill every drop of my blood before I let anyoney a hand on her.”

    Then Parker looks at me before lifting his chin to the crowd. “You can hate me for it if you want. But she’s mine. And I’ll protect her until myst breath.”

    The pack quiets again, but this time, the silence is heavier. Not disbelief, but not yet trust,

    either. Something has shifted, though.

    Beside me, Jaxon wriggles in Ryder’s arms, bored with the tension. He pats Ryder’s cheek and then shouts to the entire pack, his voice childish but somehowmanding in a way

    that makes my chest ache with pride.

    “Don’t be mean to my mummy!”

    For a moment, it feels like no one breathes. Then a few chuckles break the silence, easing

    the tension. More of them bow this time. Not all of them, but enough that I don’t feel

    Ryder quietly dismissed the crowd, messing Jaxon’s hair up affectionately.

    The meeting breaks apart slowly. Some wolves linger, watching me with suspicion. Others

    make a point ofing to the front to bow again before slipping away, their expressions

    unreadable. A handful, maybe the bravest or most loyal, offer me quiet smiles and respectful

    nods, but most avoid my eyes altogether.

    When thest of them disperse, the tension I’d been holding in my chest spills out in a shaky

    breath. Ryder is the first to move, lowering Jaxon gently to the ground. Our son immediately

    runs to me, wrapping his arms around my legs.

    I crouch, pressing my face into his hair, breathing him in. “I’m okay,” I whisper. A lie.

    Strong hands settle ion /imy shoulders. Ryder. Callen. Then Remy, kneeling down so his eyes

    are level with mine. Parker hovers just behind him, quiet but close enough that I feel his

    presence. They’ve boxed me in without even meaning to, a protective wall of muscle and

    devotion.

    587

    H