(Third-person’s POV)

Olivia stared at the thermos in astonishment and nervousness. “Impossible, Victoria brought it herself.”

“I’ll call a healer right away.” Not daring to dy, she was about to call for help when Matthew held her in his arms.

His warm breath tickled her ear as he asked, “What kind of soup?”

Olivia felt her ear itch and tried to dodge, but couldn’t. “Venison with moonlight herbs…” she mumbled.

“Oh, moonlight herbs… Why would there be an aphrodisiac? Did you add it?” Matthew’s breath grew hot as he kissed her ear, making her mind buzz.

“If my Luna wants it, she just has to ask,” Matthew’s voice was low and raspy, a faint smile on his lips. “My body is very good.”

Her face instantly burned.

My heart stutters. I already know without a shadow of a doubt that he’s Jaxon’s father, but since they took the test, I’ve had this strange anxiety that the results will get messed up somehow. Greg might bribe theb, even though he doesn’t know we were doing this, and I’m sure he doesn’t even know anyone who works in a DNA analysisb.

“Well?” Callen says, his tone impatient.

“It’s confirmed, we have solid proof,” he grins, pushing the phone across the table toward me, his hand trembling.

The email is open. The words are formal, but I skip over them, getting right to the important part… Probability of paternity: 99.9999%.

Relief floods through me, not just mine, but Ryder’s, Callen’s and Remy’s too.

“Suck on those eggs, Greg,” Callenughs as he reads the email over my shoulder.

“We need to forward that to the solicitor and make an appointment to make this official,” Ryder says, jumping straight into proactive mode.

And just like that, we’re pulling outptops and phones. The men hover over me like overgrown bodyguards while I type in the request for the registry office appointment, Ryder’s hand steady on my shoulder.

“Earliest appointment is next Thursday,” I say, scrolling down the list. “Ten in the morning.”

“Book it,” Ryder says without hesitation.

“Wait. We need to think about this,” Remy says, and all eyes go to him. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it; I’m just saying… we can’t just stroll into the city like it’s nothing. Not with the current threats. We need to n this first.”

There’s a long silence before Parker nods. “He’s right.”

Ryder growls. “I don’t care if we have to fight every hunter between here and the registry office. I’m not waiting any longer. He’s mine, and I want it official so no one can try to im him as theirs again. No one is taking him from us.”

“I know,” I say gently, reaching for his hand. His warm fingers close over mine instantly. “I think what Remy is trying to say is, can we risk taking Jaxon out there?”

At the mention of our son, Ryder falters. His eyes flick instinctively to where Jaxon is crouched on the floor, driving his toy truck through a river of spilt water. Completely unaware of what’s going on around him.

Callen exhales, running a hand through his hair. “Obviously, we all have to go to protect Paige. So the question is… do we take him with us, or do we leave him here with the pack?”

The words make me go cold. Take him into danger, or leave him behind. Neither option feels good.

Remy is the first to answer. “Leaving him is smarter.”

“No,” Ryder snaps instantly. “He should stay with us. Where we go, he goes.”

Parker shakes his head. “You know that’s a risk. The registry office isn’t secure. There are too many unknowns. If hunters have been watching, if they catch wind of the appointment…” He doesn’t finish the thought. He doesn’t have to; we all know what could happen.

“You won’t protect him by putting him in a kill box,” Remy adds. “One lucky shot, one good. Hit and everyone in the car is dead or injured. In fact, we should travel there separately in two or three cars.”

The tension in the room spikes, and Jaxon looks up from his truck, frowning at the raised voices. My heart twists.

“Enough,” I say sharply, louder than I meant to. All four of them turn to me, startled. I square my shoulders, swallowing down my own fear. “Take your emotions out of it. If this weren’t me and Jax, how would you handle this?”

Ryder closes his eyes, taking slow deep breaths. His wolf is pacing close to the surface; I can feel how restless it is.

After a long moment, he opens his eyes again and nods once. “We split up. Two of you stay here with Jax and the pack; the rest of us go to the registry office with a couple of enforcers.”

Callen nods in agreement. “Which means now we decide who goes, and who stays.”

The room goes quiet again.

“Well, I’m going obviously, I need to sign the new birth certificate,” Ryder says immediately.

No surprise there.

“I’m going with you,” Remy says firmly.

“What about me?” Callen asks. “I want to be there.”

“You stay,” Ryder says.

Callen’s jaw tightens. “The hell I do.

“Yes, you do,” Ryder growls. “If anything happens to us, you are Jaxon’s guardian and Alpha of the pack. You will be needed here.” His gaze flicks to Jaxon, who’s now humming to himself, oblivious. “And there’s no one I trust more than you to protect our son.”

“Well, s**t,” Callen sighs, a mix of honour and disappointmenting from him through the bond.

“I’ll stay too,” Parker says, his voice calm but certain. “We can handle things here. Between me, Callen, and the pack enforcers, nothing touches him.”

For once, there’s no argument. We all know Parker’s steady presence is exactly what Jaxon will need if something goes wrong.

I exhale slowly, letting the n settle into ce. “So… me, Ryder, and Remy go to the appointment. Callen and Parker stay with Jaxon. We take two enforcers with us, maybe three.”

“Four,” Ryder says.

I arch a brow. “We’ll draw too much attention if we turn up with an army.”

“Three,” Remy cuts in. “I will go inside with you, and the enforcers will be stationed outside the building.”

Ryder res at him again, but this time he doesn’t say anything.

Parker leans forward, folding his arms on the table. “We’ll run drills with the pack before you go, Make sure everyone knows the n if things get ugly. Jaxon won’t be left unguarded for a second.”

The others nod, and I almostugh at the situation. Not because it’s funny, but because it’s so unbelievable. Who would have thought that a simple trip into the city would be a dangerous mission that needs military–level nning? What has my life be?

Jaxon suddenly looks up from his truck. “What’s happening?”

I swallow, forcing a smile. “Daddy’s going to put his name on your birth certificate next week, so everyone knows he’s your dad.”

Jaxon’s eyes go wide. “Like… forever?”

“Forever,” Ryder says, his eyes shining.

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