LOGINHis mouth twitches slightly, but he doesn’t quite smile.“Good,” he says.Good? I stare at him.“That’s not an answer.”“No,” he agrees. “It isn’t, but you also didn’t ask a question.”My hands clench at my sides, which is more Leo’s style than mine. I force them to relax.“Ronnie…”“When something
** Jake’s POV **That baby should have died. The thought swirls in my mind, no matter how many times I try to push it aside. I’ve seen enough births to know the difference between a close call and a miracle. That wasn’t a close call; it was impossible.I stand at the end of the bed, watching as the
“Poppy,” Jake’s voice calls, softer than before.I glance over at him. He’s watching me now.A flicker of unease slides through me.“Yeah?” I call back, forcing a small smile.His gaze narrows slightly, as if he’s trying to piece something together that doesn’t quite fit.“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Jake watches me closely.“I’m fine,” I insist, before he can say anything. I know he doesn’t fully believe me, but he doesn’t argue.We step out into the corridor together, and I hear a few voices drift in the distance. “Jake,” Leo says quietly beside me. “What’s going on?”Jake exhales slowly as
** Poppy’s POV **Spending my first night after completing the mate bond back in the clinic was not on my bingo card, but here we are. I wake up stiff. Like I slept too heavy for too long. Jake and Leo insisted we spend the night here, which makes no sense. Yes, I had a bit of a funny turn, but I r
The baby cries a second later, strong, clear, alive. Relief floods the room. I hand the baby to my assistant, who quickly runs through checks before passing him to Mum.My chest tightens at the sight, but it’s tainted by an uneasy feeling, because I just witnessed a miracle, and in my experience, th
** Paige’s POV **I try to shift subtly, pressing my thighs together, but they notice.Ryder’s arm tightens around me, his muscles tensing. He brushes his nose against my hair, and a low growl rumbles from his chest.Callen stiffens at my side, his grip on my thigh tightening almost to the point of
“I’m not sure if you and Parker have already discussed with her about sealing your bonds yet, but I think you should hold off for the time being. If her body is already answering to us the way it is, is it wise for two more to lock in? It could make things worse for her.”“Oh, that’s easy for you to
** Paige’s POV **The air in the living room feels heavier than it should, like it knows what’s coming. Ryder sits back on the couch, legs spread, shoulders relaxed in a way that doesn’t fool me for a second. He’s watching me, his eyes too intense to be casual. Callen leans forward, his elbows resti
** Paige’s POV **Before I can catch my breath, before Ryder even has a chance to steady me, Callen is lifting me, his movements sudden and urgent. His hands grip my waist, pulling my ass towards him until I’m on my hands and knees above Ryder.Callen doesn’t wait, he doesn’t warn me, he just presse







