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.
“No,” I say firmly. “Paige doesn’t need more stress, and, like it or not, Greg is using the human authorities as a layer of protection. If anything were to happen to him whilst he has an open court case, Paige would be the first person they’d look into. We need to deal with the hearing the regular h
** Paige’s POV **Breakfast almost settles me, almost, but not quite.The guys keep trying to act normal, but the bond is a mess of tangled emotions. Curiosity, awe, worry, and something sharper threading through all of them… fear.Not fear of me but fear for me, and it’s Ryder who keeps glancing at
Another silence settles, comfortable and familiar. It feels like being teens again, sitting outside after dinner, talking about crushes.“Hey,” I say softly, nudging her. “How are things with Leo and Jake?”She chokes on her coffee.I blink. “Um. Is that… a bad sign?”“No!” she squeaks, voice too hi
A sick feeling churns in my stomach as a thought comes to me.“Poppy,” I whisper, “what’s Annie’s full name?”She looks up with a frown. “What? Why does…”“Please,” I say, voice trembling. “Just tell me.”Something in my tone must convince her, because she swallows and hesitates. “Leanne. Leanne Moo







