Chapter 92 Between Cold and Warmth

Chapter 92 Between Cold and Warmth
Phoebe
Finley told me that Hayden was preparing a special pavilion for the guests from the three major packs: Mystic Guardian—my father’s pack, Light Walker—Zion’s pack, and Dark Crimson—Adonis’s. Even some Elders from those packs were considering moving to Thunder Bite after seeing me and my four mates together. They said our territory had the potential to become the next great wolf domain, especially if the Elders helped guide it.
That thought was still spinning in my head when the snowstorm that had been roaring since morning finally calmed. Heavy footsteps echoed from upstairs—Hayden coming down from his office.
“Bee,” he called, leaning down to kiss the top of my head. “Can you make some grilled sausages and ginger cookies? I wanna snack with Henry on the west terrace.”
The simple request made me smile. Ever since Anastasia was born, Hayden had been trying so hard to balance his time for the family, even though an Alpha’s work never truly stopped.
I prepared the snacks quickly. The warm scent of ginger filled the kitchen, making the cold afternoon feel a little softer. I carried the tray toward the west terrace, the place where Hayden usually spent time with Henry whenever the weather behaved.
When I slid the door open, the sight in front of me melted my chest.
Hayden was crouched beside Henry, teaching him how to form a snowball. Henry was only three years old, but his small hands were already quick—his enthusiasm even bigger than his tiny body.
“Press it gently, not too hard. If it’s too dense, it’ll break,” Hayden said.
“But Daddy, this snow is naughty,” Henry complained while trying again.
Hayden laughed—low and warm, the kind of laugh that always did something to my heart.
I almost forgot about the sausages and cookies. I just stood there for a moment, watching them. There was a strange kind of pride blooming inside me every time I saw Hayden with our children.
I only started walking toward them when the scent of milk and lavender brushed past my nose. Zion appeared from the hallway, carrying Anastasia, who was fussing and whining.
“She’s hungry,” he said, his voice calm even though his face looked slightly panicked.
“Come here.”
I took Anastasia from him and held her close before sitting on the fur-lined seat by the terrace wall. I loosened my coat so she could nurse comfortably. The moment her tiny lips latched onto me, her crying faded.
Zion sat beside me, looking relieved. “Sorry, Phoebs. I tried holding her, I sang, I walked around… she still wanted you.”
“It’s okay. She gets fussy fast when she’s hungry.”
While feeding her, my eyes drifted back to Hayden and Henry. They had moved on to building a snowman—Henry working on the head, Hayden on the body. Both were so focused they didn’t even notice I had been watching the whole time.
When the snowman was done, Hayden lifted Henry into his arms and walked toward us.
“Look, Bee. Henry’s first masterpiece of the season.”
Henry beamed. “Mommy! That’s Snowy. But Papa said the name is ugly.”
“I only said we could find something better,” Hayden argued as he sat beside me.
Henry leaned closer to look at Anastasia, who was still nursing. “Baby sis hungry again?”
“That’s how she is,” I smiled.
Henry poked her cheek gently. “Hi, Nastya. After you eat, play with Henry, okay?”
Anastasia hummed softly. Henry giggled, proud that she reacted. The sweet moment broke when Finley appeared with a thick folder in hand, looking a little tense.
“Hayden, this is the draft for the Thunder Bite–Dark Crimson partnership. Adonis wants you to check it before we send it.”
Hayden glanced at the folder, then shook his head.
“Tonight. I’m spending time with my kid right now.”
Finley’s shoulders dropped a little. Relief washed across his face.
“Alright. I’ll leave it in your office.”
He turned to go—but stopped.
“Oh, one more thing. We need a permanent Seer for divination during major rituals. Especially since Thunder Bite’s going to be very active.”
Both Hayden and I turned toward him. So did Zion.
Zion raised a brow. “I can ask my mom. She’s from a Seer bloodline, and she still has connections to the other branches. If someone fits, she’ll know.”
Finley brightened immediately. “If your mother can recommend someone, we can appoint the best one as Thunder Bite’s Seer.”
“Alright,” Zion nodded.
Not long after, Anastasia finished nursing and fell asleep in my arms. I stood up to take her back to her room when my phone vibrated.
Tyra’s name flashed across the screen.
“Phoebs? Are you with Phoenix?” she asked, voice tight and panicked.
“No. Why? What happened?”
“He didn’t come back to the dorm since last night. I’ve checked everywhere. Have you seen him?”
I inhaled sharply. “I—”
Fast footsteps cut me off. And when I turned, Phoenix was already standing at the edge of the terrace with the rest of the family, unnoticed until now.
I ended the call quickly. “Tyra, I’ll update you soon.” Then I hung up and faced Phoenix, who was very obviously avoiding my eyes.
“So you ran away again,” I said quietly, but sharply.
Phoenix scoffed. “I didn’t run.”
“Then why is Tyra panicking like that?”
Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck. “Because… she’s pregnant.”
The words froze the terrace colder than the snow outside.
I blinked, trying to process. “Pregnant? Phoenix—”
“I’m not ready to be a dad,” he blurted out, voice tight with fear. “I don’t know what to do. I’m still trying to understand myself. Then she tells me she’s pregnant and I just… I needed time.”
Hayden, who had been keeping Henry back so he wouldn’t run toward Phoenix—who was obviously unstable—finally spoke up.
“If you run, that makes you a coward.”
Phoenix glared. “Don’t start, Hayden.”
“I don’t care if you’re mad.” Hayden’s voice stayed calm. “You were adult enough to be with her. So you better be adult enough to deal with the consequences.”
Phoenix’s fists tightened. “Don’t act like you’re my dad.”
“I don’t need to be,” Hayden replied. “I’m just telling you the truth.”
I could feel the heat radiating off Phoenix. He was cornered, spiraling. But Hayden’s words hit him—the way his expression shifted told me that.
“And you know,” Hayden added, “if you don’t talk to Tyra soon, she’ll face everything alone. Is that who you want to be? A man who leaves his partner scared and by herself?”
Phoenix groaned in frustration. “Why do you have to say it like that?!”
“Because that’s what you need to hear.”
Silence fell—heavy and long. Then Phoenix finally exhaled sharply.
“Damn you, Hayden. “You always know how to annoy people, and you succeeded.” he muttered, voice cracking. “Fine. I… I’ll go home. I’ll talk to Tyra.”
He turned and walked away—fast, rough—but not running. Not escaping. More like someone who had finally made a hard decision. When he disappeared, Hayden nudged Finley with his elbow, giving him a tiny signal: Plan successful.
Finley let out a long breath. “At least he’s going to face it.”
Once everything calmed down again, I took Anastasia to her room. I settled her into her warm little bed and rocked her gently until her breathing evened out.
When I stepped back into the hallway, I saw Hayden standing by the window, watching the snowfall. The dim evening light traced the strong lines of his jaw—features I had admired for so long.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked, walking toward him.
He glanced at me and smiled softly. “Just… a lot of things are changing so fast.”
I stood beside him and rested my head on his shoulder.
“Especially you,” he added.
I looked up at him, and something settled quietly inside me. How steady he was. How mature he had become. The way he handled Phoenix—firm but never cruel. The way he chose family time over paperwork. The way he always knew when to be an Alpha, when to be a father, and when to be my partner.
Since the day I met Hayden, I knew he was strong. But today… I saw a different side of him.
A depth. A steadiness not many wolves ever reach. And somehow, it made me fall in love with him again—deeper, calmer, more certain.
I squeezed his hand. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“For what?”
For many things—but mostly for being the one place I could always return to.
“For earlier. You were incredible.”
Hayden smiled, lifted my hand, and kissed it gently.
“You’re welcome, Bee.”
Outside, the snow kept falling softly. But inside my chest, warmth spread—like the ginger cookies I baked this afternoon. And I knew that as long as Hayden stood beside me…our little family would never lose its way.