Masuk“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. “
His eye catches mine, and my chest tightens. “You don’t need to either,” I say softly.He gives a little shrug, eyes flicking to the window. “Old habits. You spend enough years being told to keep everything hidden away, eventually you forget how to let it out.”“Remy…” I whisper. “You can, though. W
Parker closes the folder with a thud. “That’s enough for tonight,” he says. “If you keep going, you’ll burn out before you even step in the room.”“I’m fine,” I protest, though my eyes sting from reading.He leans across the island, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You don’t need to prove an
** Ryder’s POV **The forest is quiet tonight. Too quiet.It’s the kind of quiet that makes every instinct in me hum with warning.Before we set out on our first patrol together, I’d gathered the new enforcers in the clearing outside the cabins. They stood in a semicircle, Midnight wolves, strong an
Callen catches my eye over the stove; he grins at me. “Looks like breakfast just got crowded.”“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I say softly, watching as the men gather around the table, the people who’ve very quickly become my family.Ryder sets Jaxon down and meets my gaze, something tender fli







