LOGIN“Because we didn’t,” Jake grumbles.“Why, is something wrong?” I sit up, needing to be able to see them both. Neither of them answers right away, which tells me everything and nothing. “It’s nothing you need to worry about,” Leo says, sitting up and rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “We ju
** Poppy’s POV **For the most part of the day, I hold myself together, the way I always have. Showing weakness and crying helps no one. I have been through loss before, and I made it out the other side. This isn’t as bad as then. I’m older now, and my sister isn’t dead; I just can’t be around her
“I’ve got you,” I whisper softly.She makes another noise that sounds remarkably close to my name as she turns to face me. She doesn’t wake up, not fully, but she knows I’m here. Her breathing evens out again, and I feel nothing but peace through the bond from her.I’m not sure how long I lay there,
** Jake’s POV **Today was not the happy, carefree day I had hoped for. I thought mating with Poppy would stabilise her the way it had with Paige, but we are very quickly learning that the sisters may be similar, but they are not the same.Seeing the devastation on her face when she realised there w
Mate.The word rolls heavily through me from my wolf.Mine.Beside me, Leo adjusts slightly in his seat, closer to me. It’s small enough that he probably doesn’t realise he’s done it, but I notice. His body language remains tense, but he’s no longer actively rejecting our proximity.Callen and Ryder
** Bastian’s POV **The silence inside the car should feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t. Which is odd. I sit in the back with my arm pressed against the door, one boot stretched beneath the seat in front of me whilst Leo sits in the space beside me like a trapped storm. He’s irritated enough that I
** Paige’s POV **For a few minutes, everything feels normal. I rest my hands against the cool stone of the wall. Then Callen lands hard after taking a hit to the ribs. He doesn’t flinch much, but I feel it, sharp and sudden, like the echo of pain pressing against my chest.I blink, clutching the ed
** Paige’s POV **The house feels alive again this morning.Soft laughter drifts from the living room along with the low hum of conversation. Jaxon is curled up on the couch, a blanket tucked around him, his cheeks flushed from coughing, but his fever has gone. Ryder sits beside him, his hand absent
** Paige’s POV **I wake to the sound of footsteps. Heavy, quick, and urgent.For a moment I think I’m dreaming it, but then I hear the whisper of voices from downstairs. They’re low and serious, definitely not the usual morning chatter. My stomach tightens. Something’s wrong.Sliding out of bed, I
** Paige’s POV **The first time I saw him, we were sixteen. He stood at the back of the classroom, hood up, headphones in, all in black, like the world had done him wrong, and he wanted everyone to know it. Everyone was afraid of him back then. He was the angry one, the troublemaker, the boy with e







