FAZER LOGIN“I only detected five scents in the pack centre,” Bastian says. “The sixth entered here.”He points to a patch of flattened fern that none of us had even looked at.“They were already travelling together.”“That’s what we thought,” Leo says.Bastian doesn’t answer. He simply keeps moving, following
** Jake’s POV **Every instinct I have is telling me to turn around. To go back to Poppy. But Bastian is right. She’s safe. My wolf knows it, and my soul knows it. And maybe this is exactly what she needs. Time with Alaric without the rest of us hovering. A chance to learn the man beneath the disast
** Bastian’s POV **Silence returns to the cabin. Good. Most people think silence is empty; it isn’t. Silence is the best time to gather information. The coffee machine clicks as it cools. Someone walks by the cabin with a slight limp, their steps uneven. Poppy takes another sip of her coffee. There
Her brows knit together in the most adorable way.“I’ve seen him walk into burning buildings because someone was trapped inside. Stand between children and rogues without blinking. Track a wounded wolf through a blizzard with nothing but a drop of blood and instinct.”“He doesn’t hesitate?”“Never.
** Alaric’s POV **Maybe we are monsters. Just not in the way humans tell stories about. We’re wolves, alphas, predators by nature, protectors by choice, but no matter which way you look at it, we are dangerous.“I’m sorry,” I say.Her laughter fades. “For what?”“The coffee shop. The bus station. F
** Alaric's POV ** Poppy’s smile fades as her gaze suddenly loses focus. For a heartbeat, she doesn’t seem to be looking at either of us at all. “Are you okay?” I ask. She blinks and rubs lightly at her temple. “I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to that.” “The mind-link?” I ask. She nods
** Ryder’s POV **We don’t celebrate. We don’t howl with victory cries or shake ourselves clean of blood and fear. We simply settle, our shoulders relaxing after carrying too much weight. Maybe all that will come later.The pack moves quietly. Not in shock or grief, but in assessment. Enforcers regr
Callen sits beside her on the couch, arm draped loosely around her shoulders. She leans into him without hesitation, and I see the way his presence steadies her.Parker catches my eye from across the room and gives a small nod.“She’s stable,” he says through the mind-link.I nod back.Later, when t
Paige inhales sharply.I feel it through the bond, the spike of heat, the pull, the very human want she hasn’t let herself acknowledge yet.Good.“Touch him,” I say quietly.She hesitates just long enough for me to know she’s asking permission, not defying me.“Yes,” I answer before she can speak it
** Paige’s POV **The sentence lands heavily, but I can’t say I’m totally shocked.“What?” I ask softly.She finally looks at me then, eyes bright and too guarded all at once. “I’m not staying, Paige. Not here. Not now.”My chest tightens, but I don’t interrupt.“I need space,” she continues, her vo







