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
** Paige’s POV **“What… what are you?”The question hangs in the air, and everyone goes still.Ryder’s protective instinct spikes like a cold gust of wind through the bond, but I lift a hand to keep him from stepping forward.I can’t blame her. I’m probably glowing again.My voice comes out steadie
Loaded question, too loaded. I sit anyway. The cushions dip under my weight, and her body leans subtly closer to mine. I shouldn’t be affected by something as small as that… but I am. Every inhale is her. Every exhale feels too hot in my lungs. My hand twitches with the urge to touch her, to anchor
** Ryder’s POV **Halfway up the stairs, she tightens her grip on me, her lips brushing the side of my throat. Not kissing, just… there. Like the contact is something she needs to stay steady.“Ryder…” she whispers.I stop.Every muscle tenses because of how she says my name. Like she’s stripping th
“You’re not stupid,” I say immediately. “They’re good at hiding. Hunters. Parasites. People like Greg. They know how to make you doubt your instincts. It’s what they do. Besides, you had no idea any of this existed, so why would you look for it?”“What if my instincts aren’t enough?” she whispers.I







