LOGIN“They just moved here last week.”“Wow, you didn’t waste anytime,” Erika laughs. “At least give us local girls a chance. There’s not many single men our age around here, and you’ve somehow managed to bag four of them. You have to tell me your secret.”“Actually, I knew Leo and Jake before I came her
** Poppy’s POV **“All four?” Erika tries to whisper, but it comes out more like a hiss.“Keep your voice down,” I say, glancing over my shoulder to check we haven’t gained the attention of the entire shop before turning back to her.She stares at me, blinking slowly. “Poppy. Four?”I blow out a bre
“Are you okay?” he asks.“Yeah.” She nods. “It’s strange being back.”Alaric peers through the window. “Crazy coffee girl has returned.”Poppy snorts a laugh.“Are we going inside? Or just standing here, drawing attention to ourselves?” Mason asks, his eyes scanning the street.Poppy nods and pushes
** Leo’s POV **The village is quiet. The sun shines over the street, reflecting off the windows, leaving patches of gold on the cobbled road. It’s very similar to the one on the edge of Phoenix, actually. Maybe slightly more modern, with a mix of old and new shopfronts. People walk slowly, stopping
“Nope, that’s why I was coming here. I was going to ask to borrow a quad.” I narrow my eyes at her. I don’t believe her for a second.Poppy shuffles closer to me, keeping a small distance between us. I look down at her. She’s smiling that smile again. The one that makes me agree to things that I’d
** Bastian’s POV **The mind-link is silent for a moment. Then Leo speaks.“Who the hell are you, and what have you done with Bastian?”“Very funny.”“I’m being serious. Is she holding you hostage up there? Blink twice if you need help.”“Leo, shut up,” Alaric says. “We can’t even see him, so how wo
** Remy’s POV **Something about returning home makes the silence worse.The forest was bad enough… too still, too knowing, but stepping into the clearing around the first of the Phoenix cabins feels even worse.Ryder raises a hand, and we slow, fanning out across the open space.The cabins look exa
Remy’s voice is low, conflicted. “You think you can pull off a lie like that to the Midnight Pack?”“If it keeps her safe, yes,” I snap before I can stop myself. “You saw what she did, Rem. You saw what it cost her. If this gets out, every pack and hunter across the world will want her. Some to stud
“Put her on the couch,” Leah says. “I’ll get some bandages in case she’s bleeding under those blankets.”“Not necessary,” Jake says quickly, stepping forward. “I’ve already checked her over, no open wounds. She’s stable. I’d prefer to monitor her myself if you don’t mind.”Leah’s eyebrows lift, her
I stagger forward; the breath leaving my lungs in short, gasping bursts. “No,” I whisper again. “No, please…”A sound rises in my ears, faint at first, then growing, a voice that’s not my own or my mate’s, inside my head. “It’s time.”I blink, confusion cutting through the grief. “What…”“You know w







