Chapter 86 The Quite Morning

Chapter 86 The Quite Morning
Phoebe
The little house we rented sat on the edge of town, not far from a small lake whose surface always shimmered orange every evening. Sometimes I thought Hayden chose this place on purpose—so I could finally breathe after everything that happened. No noise, no chaos. Just the wind and the soft hum of insects.
Hayden had just finished painting the back fence. His sleeves were rolled up, his face damp with sweat, but I could see the determination in his eyes.
“This fence’s gonna mark the border of your little garden,” he said, dropping the brush into the bucket. “Didn’t you say you wanted to plant freesias?”
I hugged myself, shivering a bit from the morning chill even though there was no snow. “I just hope they don’t die. My hands aren’t as good as yours with plants.”
“Phoebe,” he said with a small laugh, “even wildflowers would bloom if it’s you taking care of them.”
His gaze drifted toward the yard, thoughtful—the kind of look a man has when he starts imagining a future.
It had been almost a week since we decided to live together. Hayden rented this place using his savings. He said before he built his own pack, he wanted to make sure we had a place to call home. I never asked how much he spent. All I knew was that he was serious.
We were talking about long-term plans—about the pack he’d start after finishing his studies at the end of the school year—when a black car stopped in front of the gate. Through the window, I saw a familiar figure step out holding a large folder.
“Adonis?” I murmured.
Hayden nodded quietly. “He said he was coming from Dark Crimson when we talked earlier.”
Adonis walked into the yard with his usual confidence. But this time, his face looked more relaxed than usual—none of that shy look he often carried.
“Am I interrupting?” he asked politely.
“Not at all,” Hayden replied, patting his shoulder. “But Phoebe should rest soon. She’s been keeping me company out here all morning.”
They sat on the wooden bench behind the house. I made some tea and joined them, watching as Adonis pulled out several documents from his folder.
“This is the deed to the land and house in Maine,” he said. “It’s in the northern woods, right near the Canadian border. It’s safe—far from the cities. Perfect for your new territory.”
Hayden went silent for a few seconds before asking softly, “Are you serious?”
Adonis nodded. “Think of it as Dark Crimson’s contribution to your future with Phoebe. You’ve done a lot for us, Hayden. It’s time we give something back.”
Warmth filled my chest—maybe because of his words, or maybe because of the way Hayden looked at me right then, eyes full of quiet tenderness. For a young Alpha like him, that kind of recognition meant everything.
While they continued talking about the land, my phone buzzed on the table. The name Luna Clarisse flashed on the screen.
“Luna?” I answered quickly.
Her gentle voice came through the line. “Phoebe, dear. We just finished our meeting. I’ve transferred a deposit to Zion’s account. Consider it a small gift—for our future together.”
My throat tightened. I could barely say anything but thank you. I never thought they still cared this much after everything. When the call ended, I sat there quietly, letting the warmth spread through me.
“Luna Clarisse?” Hayden asked.
I nodded. “She said… it’s for our future.”
He smiled and took my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it.
“See? The world hasn’t stopped loving you, Phoebe.”
I smiled faintly. “And I haven’t stopped trying to be someone worth loving.”
That evening, I asked about Finley while clearing the cups.
“Why didn’t he come?”
“Evaluation,” Adonis had said before he left. “Some of Dark Crimson’s members will be reassigned to help Hayden’s future pack. Finley’s in charge of sorting the candidates under Beta Finn’s orders.”
The news made me both relieved and nostalgic. It felt like everyone around me was finally finding their place. Everything was moving in the right direction.
As I stood by the window watching the evening sky turn dark, soft footsteps came from the living room.
“Phoebe?”
I turned—and froze. “Mom?”
She smiled and opened her arms. I ran to hug her tight.
“Mom! When did you get here?”
“Just now. I wanted to talk to you, sweetheart.”
We sat on the couch. She pulled out a photograph from her purse—of a dark-haired woman with eyes that looked just like hers.
“Do you know who this is?”
I shook my head. “No… I’ve never seen her.”
“That’s my youngest sister,” she said softly. “Your aunt. I never told you because… she was exiled by the Mystic Guardians long ago. They were afraid—because she carried the same destiny as you.”
I stared at the photo for a long time. The woman was smiling beside three men, surrounded by seven children running on a beach.
“She looks happy,” I whispered.
“She is,” Mom nodded. “She lives in Argentina now, peacefully with her three mates. This photo was taken five years ago.”
My heart twisted with a strange mix of emotion—grief, relief, and something that felt like hope.
“So… I’m not the first,” I murmured.
Mom squeezed my hand and smiled. “When you and Phoenix were born, I thought what happened to her was a one-time thing. But I was wrong. Seeing you now, I realize—it’s not a curse. It’s a gift.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. “Mom…”
“Shh. I just want you to know—I’m proud of you. And I want you to build a happy future with them, just like my sister did.”
We hugged for a long time. When she left that night, it felt like a heavy shadow from the past finally lifted.
As soon as the door closed, Hayden walked in.
“How did it go?” he asked softly.
I exhaled and smiled. “Turns out I have an aunt with a story a lot like mine. Mom showed me her photo.”
Hayden looked surprised for a moment, then smiled gently. “Maybe that means you really were meant to change the world.”
“Not just me,” I said, leaning against his shoulder. “Us.”
He rested a hand over my flat stomach. “Us… and someone who’s on the way.”
I laughed. “You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
Then a familiar voice called from the door. “You two are starting to sound like an old married couple.”
Zion stood there, grinning. I tossed a pillow at him. “Zion!”
“Hey, just stopping by. And look at you—Hayden’s already acting all protective over a belly that doesn’t even show yet.”
Hayden shot him a look. “Jealous?”
Zion chuckled. “A little. But I’m not in a rush. I’m more worried about Phoebe’s health for now. After she gives birth, then we’ll talk about the marking.”
I looked between them, laughing. It was strange, but it felt so warm—two men so different from each other, both making my world feel complete, joking in our tiny living room like we’d always belonged here.
Night settled slowly. Outside, the stars began to scatter across Maine’s clear sky. I stood by the window, watching them—and I thought the future didn’t feel so far away. It felt real.