LOGINOf course, the voice remains completely silent. Coward.“So what am I?” I ask.No one answers quickly enough. Jake steps closer, crouching in front of me so I have to look at him and not the horror show printed on the paper in my hands.“We don’t know yet,” he says. “But we will.”I want to believe
** Poppy’s POV **The room feels too small and too hot.I swallow. “Not the same how?”Jake exhales slowly, reaching for another sheet. “Paige’s blood showed abnormal energy markers, mostly consistent with what Ronnie later connected to Dawn energy, cleansing, regenerative and life-based.”“Sounds l
Rain… Headlights… Control it, Poppy. I push the thought down hard.Leo is already dressed by the time I sit up, pulling on his boots near the edge of the bed. His hair is damp from a shower, and his expression is locked into the serious mask he wears when he’s pretending not to be worried. It does n
** Poppy’s POV **Leo sets a glass down in front of me far more carefully than necessary. He’s slow, deliberate, as if he’s half expecting it to explode the second it leaves his hand. My eyes flick to Jake across the kitchen, only to catch him watching me too.The rest of the day passes in a strange
** Poppy’s POV **Shiver’s run through me. Starting from my chest and spreading out, but everything else calms. My heart stops pounding, my breaths come easier, and the cold that was creeping in is slowly replaced by a comforting warmth.It’s them, my mates. They’re anchoring me. Whatever this power
“Hey,” I say, dropping to my knees in front of her, not caring about the glass. “Look at me.”Her eyes snap to mine, and for a second, they’re not right. There’s something deeper in them. Something darker flickering beneath the surface like a storm trying to break through. The hairs on my arms lift.
** Paige’s POV **We go through the details for another half hour. Mr Keating talks about documents, deadlines, and witness lists. I take notes as if I’m back in college. Ryder asks questions I’d never have thought of, and the others keep quiet, although Callen can’t resist the occasional smirk when
I can feel him now. Not just the heat of his body against mine, but his emotions spilling through. They’re warm, fierce devotion, and something so deep it makes more tears escape my eyes.“Don’t cry,” he whispers, brushing his thumb across my cheek. His voice is rough, but laced with tenderness. “Yo
** Paige’s POV **Poppy washes her hands before putting the equipment in a bowl and pouring boiling water over it. She kneels beside Leo again, her face pale, but her hands are steady. She sucks in a breath, closing her eyes and muttering a prayer before her eyes snap open and she looks down at Leo
** Paige’s POV **Back at my rental house, I hold my breath as Ryder unlocks the door and pushes inside with Remy right behind him. My gaze drops automatically to the floor just inside the entryway. No ominous letters are waiting for me this time. I let out a relieved breath.We wait outside for the







