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. “
That explanation sits uneasily in my chest. “Then why did I see a man kneeling by the creek? And hunters, I remember that clearly. But there’s no one here.”“Visions don’t always show things as they are,” Ronnie says. His tone softens. “They speak in symbols. The figures you saw might not have been
Callen doesn’t let go of me as we step inside. His hand rests at the small of my back, steady and grounding, but I can sense the tension rolling off him. He’s trying not to show it. He always tries not to show it.Remy moves ahead of us, his stride purposeful, but I can see the tightness in his jaw.
Their laughter is quiet, relief disguised as humour. Even Ronnie’s lips twitch before he hides it behind his hand. For a moment, the room feels lighter. Then, something shifts in the air, subtle but undeniable.It starts as a prickle along my spine, a sudden pulse that doesn’t belong to me. My finge
Ryder goes to her first. I hang back, giving them space, but my focus doesn’t leave her. His hand cups the back of her neck, his voice low. I don’t listen to the words, not because I can’t, but because his tone is private, and I respect that, but I can feel the bond between them settle.I let out a







