LOGIN“Hey,” Paige says softly.“Hey,” I reply, my voice cracking. Her smile fades and her eyes narrow as she studies me. “What happened?”“Nothing, I’m okay.”Callen snorts a laugh, and I shoot him a look. “Callen, get out,” Paige orders.“Well, that’s rude.”“Out,” she demands, and he wisely retreats,
** Poppy’s POV **The door closes behind us with a soft click, and I finally take my first real breath in hours. I want to freak out. I want to shout that this isn’t supposed to be happening. But allowing myself to get worked up is not good for anyone or anything. Stuff will break, people will pani
“I was trying to figure you out,” he shrugs.“You were lurking.”Callen gasps. “Shadow boy was lurking?”Bastian’s eyes narrow. “Shadow boy?”“Oh, don’t worry,” I say. “It suits you.”For one strange moment, his expression softens. Not much, but enough that I see it. Enough that my heart skips a bea
** Poppy’s POV **The branch is still lying where it fell. I try not to look at it as we walk away, but my eyes keep finding it anyway. Split wood, torn bark, and leaves scattered across the ground as if it had exploded from the inside out. Because of me.One stupid argument. One moment when everyth
“At least she didn’t pass out this time.”Poppy groans. “Callen.”“What?” he shrugs innocently. “That’s personal growth. I’m proud of you.”“Pass out?” Bastian frowns. “Yeah, when she found out Leo was her mate, she tried to run. But she ran right into Jake, who immediately told her she was his mat
** Leo’s POV **“No, seriously, humour is my thing,” Callen says enthusiastically. “True,” Ryder nods."Aww, thanks, Rye. It's nice to finally be appreciated.""Last week you got stuck in a camping chair," Ryder continues. "I have to admit that was pretty funny."Callen's face drops immediately. “
** Paige’s POV **The walk back to Phoenix feels nothing like the one we made leaving it.Leaving was panic, chaos, running, then darkness for me. Going back feels heavier.Every step feels like wading through a swamp of last night’s fear, the fear of every member of our pack who fled in the dark wi
** Remy’s POV **Dawn creeps in slowly. The forest outside the Midnight Pack’s border hums with life again, birds calling, wind shifting through the trees, but it’s wrong. Too quiet in the places that should be loud, too still where the world should move.I haven’t slept. None of us really have, but
“I’ve got you,” Leo says, and for the first time in what feels like forever, my brain actually hears it.Leo settles on the floor beside the sofa. He lets out a breath, looking uncomfortable. He’s an enforcer, a warrior. Not a doctor or therapist, but he tries anyway. He places one hand lightly over
The thought should scare me; it doesn’t.“Is everyone safe?” I ask finally. “The pack?”There’s a pause before Callen answers. “Most of them. We lost nine. The rest made it to Midnight.”Nine. I swallow the grief that swells in my throat. Every death weighs on us, but tonight… tonight they were mine







