LOGINWe step out into the corridor together, heading towards the room we’d seen him go into. “Hey,” I call as we spot Jake’s assistant leaving the room opposite. “Have you seen Jake?”She looks up, relief flickering across her face as if she’s glad it’s not another emergency.“Yeah,” she says. “He stepp
**Poppy’s POV **After the tree of death tried to kill me, we head back into the clinic for breakfast. Jake leaves to check on his patients, promising to catch up with us soon. I want to tell him no, that I need him with me, but that will only worry him and Leo. I feel fine; the chill I had last ni
His 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
I sit there, staring at the pattern on the marbled tabletop like it might tell me what the hell I’m supposed to do next. Then the door opens. Ryder steps inside, and everything else fades. He looks like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. His eyes lock on mine and soften,
“Mummy?” he calls, voice cheerful and sweet. “I’m done with the bath!” I stand quickly, wiping my clammy palms on my jeans just as the door swings open. Jaxon barges into the room, his damp hair sticking up at odd angles and wrapped in a towel that almost drowns him. Ryder follows, a wet t-shirt
“So you already feel it that strongly?”Parker nods. “From the minute my wolf scented you.”“And how does that feel?” I dare to ask.Parker sets his beer down and leans forward slightly, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful. “It’s hard to explain, but I’ll try. It’s a pull. Like your soul recognis
The silence between us stretches, but it isn’t uncomfortable. It’s full of everything we’re both thinking but not saying. Ryder glances at me now and then, and I can feel the weight of his gaze even when I’m not looking back. I let out a breath. “He’s really okay?” “He’s still healing,” Ryder







