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 **Parker’s words soothe something inside me.I nod slowly, blinking back the tears behind my eyes. “I don’t even know where to start.”“Then don’t.” Parker’s voice is calm, solid. “Start later. Right now, just be here.”I glance toward the living room. Jaxon’s laughter floats out, an
** Callen’s POV **I let out a sharp whistle, and the kids freeze mid-sprint like someone hit pause. A couple of them groan, and a few flop dramatically into the grass, and one tiny omega throws his arms up and yells, “We demand extra time!”I grin, shaking my head. “You demand nothing, Greyson. You
“They’re fine,” I manage. “They’re home. Parker got them home. No one touched them.”His eyes flutter closed again for a moment, like just hearing it is enough to make his body relax. Like she’s the lifeline he was holding onto through all of this. Not me.The door swings open behind us, and Ryder s
** Paige’s POV **Ryder and I walk the woodland path in silence, our steps in sync, the guards keeping a respectful distance behind us. It feels strange being back here after yesterday. I’d been so worried, so stressed that I’m surprised I hadn’t left a track on the floor from all my pacing. Now it







