MasukPaige inhales sharply. “That doesn't mean…”“I know,” I move toward her. “I’m your sister.”Tears spill down her cheeks. I reach for her hand, then stop myself.“I know this is my family, and that Phoenix will always be home.”My own tears fall again.“But maybe it isn't the only one.”Paige looks a
** Poppy’s POV **A horrible choking gasp tears from Leo, and Jake quickly rolls him onto his side as he coughs.“Leo.”I reach for him, but Jake catches my wrist.“No.”I look at him and fear flashes across his face.“You've done enough,” he says quietly.I stare at Leo. His eyes are closed. But th
“He wouldn’t want to be a Twiceborn,” Jake says between chest compressions.Jake pauses to check Leo’s pulse again. I hold my breath. His shoulders sag and his eyes meet mine. I shake my head before he can say anything because, no, he’s not saying those words. I won’t allow it. He can’t give up on h
The gold around her wrist brightens, and my darkness answers.“Stop your power,” Ronnie orders.“I'm trying,” I say between clenched teeth.Paige's face tightens. Heat suddenly rushes into my palm, and I gasp as something pours into me. Life. Paige’s life.“No.”I pull backward, but our hands remain
“It’s not saying anything.”“I still don’t like it,” Leo shakes his head. “Let’s not mess with things we don’t understand.”I understand his fear. Yesterday, I'd wanted exactly the same thing. But the problem with being afraid of something inside yourself is that you can't actually get away from it.
** Poppy’s POV **Jake is running an antenatal clinic this morning, and Alaric and Bastian are meeting with Callen and Ryder to discuss some alpha stuff that doesn’t interest me, not with everything going on in my life at the moment.I think everyone assumed I’d be going with them so I could see Pai
“Everyone stay where you are,” the woman calls. “We need statements from all of you.”Her gaze flicks briefly to the Twiceborn, and something in her expression tightens. I don’t think it’s suspicion or fear. Just a quiet, uneasy sense that she’s looking at something she can’t quite name.I’d been wo
I clear my throat. “I don’t want Poppy anywhere near Greg. Jaxon can stay with her today with the Twiceborn guarding them both.”Ryder considers this, then nods once. “Leo and Jake stay with them then.”Callen stretches his neck. “Great. So what are the rest of us doing? Because watching Greg eat av
Greg scoffs. “What are you talking about? You should be in prison for what you’ve done to her and for kidnapping my son. This is clear abuse. She even has the scars to prove it. You are all insane.”A deadly kind of anger flows through the bond from Ryder, and I place a hand on his arm to calm him.
** Ryder’s POV **I never thought I’d see these roads again. Not in this lifetime. Not in any life.The tyres hum steadily beneath us, carrying us straight into the past I thought I’d buried. Old scars itch under my skin. Wolves don’t get phantom pain, not really, but I swear I feel it now. Memories







