Chapter 153

Logan

The car hums steadily beneath me, tires rolling over asphalt that glows silver in the moonlight. The world outside is blurred, trees flashing past like ghosts, but inside, everything is contained, warm, fragile. Peter sleeps in Emily’s lap, his tiny chest rising and falling with the soft rhythm of innocence. Every so often, his fingers curl around hers, a faint, grasping touch, and I feel my chest tighten, a raw, unfamiliar ache that makes me want to hold them both close and never let go.

Emily leans back against the seat, eyes half-lidded, hair damp and plastered to her forehead. She looks exhausted but awake. Alert. Alive. That alone is enough to make me swallow hard against the lump in my throat.

I glance down at Peter, the tiny, perfect bundle in her arms, and I can’t help the way my lips twitch into a smile I didn’t know I had in me.

I want to ask questions — hundreds of them. Why she ran, why she disappeared, why she kept me in the dark but I know now isn’t the time. Not with Peter, not with Emily just starting to breathe again as herself. Instead, I reach out a hand, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead, my touch gentle but grounding.

“You’ve been quiet,” I murmur. My voice feels low and cautious, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile calm in the car. “How are you feeling?”

Her eyes shift to mine, wide, searching, almost hesitant. And then she speaks, soft but firm: “My wolf…she’s awake.”

I swallow, catching the faint tremor in her hands, in her shoulders. I understand what she means. The fire that’s always been inside her is fully alight now. She’s not just Emily anymore.

She’s whole, awake, attuned to the strength that was always hers. My wolf stirs faintly in response, a reflexive quiver of recognition. I nod slowly.

“How does that feel?” I quietly ask, unsure of what else to say.

“Better than I ever have before,” she says with a small smile, fragile but real. “I feel…good. Really good.”

Her words settle over me like a warm blanket, slow and steady. I shift slightly, my hands gripping the wheel tighter as I absorb it.

“You’re destined for great things,” I say softly, awe threading through my tone. “I’ve always known it.”

Emily laughs quietly, a sound that’s more relief than amusement, the sort of laugh that makes my chest ache.

“Destined for great things? No. That’s you, Logan. You’re the great one. I’m just…along for the ride,” she looks away with a smile, staring out of the window.

Her honesty makes my throat tighten. I reach across, covering her hand with mine, brushing the warmth into my palm.

“You don’t get to downplay yourself, but…” I hesitate, recalling the strain her disappearance caused, “…I forgive you. Whatever happened before, it’s behind us. You’re here now. That’s what matters.”

She exhales, relief flickering across her features, but I see the guilt lingering still. Her lips tremble slightly as she turns to face me.

“I’m sorry for everything. For leaving, for not trusting you, for—”

I shake my head, cutting her off. I wave my hand in her direction and she takes it into her own, keeping Peter supported in her lap with the other arm.

“Stop. Don’t apologize anymore. You don’t have to. We have…this,” I gesture lightly at Peter, his chest rising and falling gently between us, “and we’re here. That’s enough.”

“I’ll make it up to you,” she whispers. Her voice is quiet, determined, full of a sincerity that makes my chest ache. “I’ll be a good partner. A good wife. I promise.”

I squeeze her hand, feeling the strength in her fingers, the warmth in her touch. It feels nice to have her back in my life, even if we were separated for just a few hours.

“You have to earn back my trust,” I say, voice firm but gentle, “especially tonight…with the Alpha King voting. That’s not something we can ignore.”

“I understand. And I will. I’ll make it right, Logan. I’ll be better,” her nod is slow, deliberate, and I see the determination flicker across her exhausted face.

A small laugh escapes me, soft and almost breathless, more relief than amusement. She looks at me with a shocked expression before rolling her eyes, gently hitting my arm.

“Good,” I murmur, “because I need you. Both of you. And I can’t do this without you.”

“You’ll never have to,” she says. Emily smiles faintly, leaning back into the seat, cradling Peter closer. “I’m here. We’re together. We’ll face everything…together.”

In that moment, listening to her speak, watching Peter breathe peacefully, the world shrinks to just us. Three hearts, fragile but beating in sync. It doesn’t matter what comes next or how high the stakes are. Right now, this is enough.

I reach out, brushing my fingers over her knuckles, feeling the pulse beneath her skin, the warmth of life and love threading through my chest.

“You’re amazing,” I say softly. “And we’re going to be okay. I promise.”

“I believe you,” she whispers. Her tired smile meets mine, quiet but unwavering. “And I’ll do everything I can to prove it.”

The car hums around us, tires rolling against the asphalt, and the silence is not empty. It’s alive. Filled with small breaths, soft sighs, and Peter’s tiny, rhythmic breathing. For the first time since I found her, since all the chaos began, I feel a sense of peace, solid and steady, threading through me.

I glance down at Peter again, his little fists curling and uncurling. I take in every detail: the slope of his nose, the tuft of dark hair at his crown, the way he twitches in his sleep. His new habits etch into my memory. I want to remember all of it. Every sound, every movement, every heartbeat.

Emily shifts slightly, pressing against me just a little, and I can feel the heat of her body, the steady strength beneath her fatigue.

“You’re incredible,” I murmur, leaning slightly closer. “You brought him into the world. You’ve always been strong, Emily. And now…you’re unstoppable.”

“I feel strong,” she admits softly. Her eyes shine with quiet pride, though her exhaustion is evident. “Better than I ever have. And having you…having him…” She trails off, looking down at Peter. “It changes everything.”

I nod slowly, letting the words settle.

“Everything,” I echo, softly, almost reverently. “We’ll face everything together. And I’ll be there. Always. You, him…we’re a team now.”

Peter stirs slightly, stretching his tiny arms, and I catch the faintest hint of a yawn escape him. Emily adjusts him carefully, pressing him closer to her chest. My chest aches with love I didn’t know I could feel, a heavy, steady ache that settles deep in my ribs.

For the first time in weeks, I allow myself to breathe all the way in. I don’t have to chase her, don’t have to wonder where she is, don’t have to fear losing her again. She’s here. Peter is here. And we’re together. That’s all that matters.

I glance at her again, taking in the curve of her jaw, the way her lips press together when she exhales, the gentle rise and fall of her shoulders as she breathes with Peter in her lap. She looks peaceful, and my chest warms. I squeeze her hand again, a silent vow passing between us.

“You’re my family,” I whisper. “We’re going to be okay.”

She presses her forehead against mine for a heartbeat, soft, tired, but certain.

“We already are,” she says, and I believe her.