LOGIN“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
** Jake’s POV **I don’t want to move. Every instinct in me is screaming to stay right here, with her. But I don’t get that choice. Because I’m a healer, and right now, something else needs me.“Leo,” I say tightly, not taking my eyes off her. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”“Not a chance,” he re
“Everything okay?” my assistant asks, catching the shift in me now.“No,” I say bluntly.Because it’s not. Not even close. I strip the gloves off, tossing them aside as I move toward the door.The cold is stronger now. Not in the room, but through the bond. Through her. It’s wrong, so wrong, and for
** 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
** Paige’s POV **The card looks so small compared to Ryder’s big hand, but the way he holds it like it’s as fragile and priceless as glass makes my chest ache. His whole world is right here, wrapped in the arms of a six-year-old who has no idea how much power he holds over us both.Ryder tucks the
Her fingers squeeze mine, firm, certain. “You already do.”The silence stretches, but it isn’t heavy, just full. I rest my head against Paige’s hair, just absorbing this moment. And as the small town comes into view, my grip tightens on Paige’s hand. Because Jaxon is waiting just beyond the trees, a
** Callen’s POV **Dinner is going well, although my attempts to do some digging into Poppy have failed miserably. Paige had known instantly that I wasn’t just making polite conversation; she had sensed my intentions had ulterior motives. I can’t wait to see the fallout later. Hopefully, it will end







