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Michael’s smile fades. “Paige.”
“It’s been a long day.”
He looks at her for another moment. His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t argue with her in front of everyone.
I look away. Whatever happens between Michael and his mate is theirs.
Darlene reaches both arms toward me. “Daddy.”
I pick her up, and she immediately notices one of the cuts on my shoulder.
“Ouchy?”
“A little one.”
Her tiny face scrunches with concern. She kisses her fingers and presses them beside the cut. “Better?”
My chest tightens. “Much better.”
Damian grabs my free hand while Arlene steps against my side. Behind us, Pack Warriors lead the prisoners away for interrogation. Around us, some wolves head home with their families while others follow Martha and the Omegas toward the pack dining room.
Silver Moon is battered. Bloodied. But standing.
I look down at my mate and pups, then toward Joshua and his family. Michael stands nearby with Paige, his earlier smile gone. Rylan and Luna Selena are together again, their eyes moving over the pack they just defended.
My wolf settles inside me. Home.
This time, I don’t argue with him. Home.
25
Rylan's POV
“No casualties.”
The tension between my shoulders eases for the first time since Joshua started his report. Selena’s hand finds mine beneath the desk, and I lace our fingers together while Joshua flips to the next page in front of him. Jasmin sits beside her mate with her own notes spread across her lap. “None?” I ask.
“None,” Joshua confirms. “Plenty of injuries. A broken arm, bites, cuts, bruised ribs. Nothing the healers can’t handle.”
“Thank Goddess,” Selena whispers.
I squeeze her hand before looking back at Joshua. “Go back to Darian.”
His eyebrows lift. “What about him?”
“You said he went down.”
Joshua nods slowly. “One of the rogues hit him hard enough to knock him backward. He went down, the rogue went for his throat, and I caught him from the side.”
“And then three surrounded Darian.”
“Michael got one off his back.”
“After another nearly got Michael from behind.”
“Darian intercepted him.”
I release Selena’s hand and sit forward. “And when two came at you?”
