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. “
I close my eyes and push through the haze, throwing everything I have into the mind link.“Danger. North woods. Hunters. Wolfsbane. Ambush.”It’s like yelling underwater, but this time I feel the pack stir, voices overlapping, questions surging into a jumble of sound I can’t comprehend.“Callen?!” R
** 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







