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
** Callen’s POV **The moment Annie collapses into Paige’s arms, something inside my chest twists. It’s not jealousy exactly. It’s more of a pressure. Like the weight of everything we’ve survived is suddenly pushing down on all of us at once, and I want to be the one in her arms.Paige holds Annie l
** Remy’s POV **By the time Annie is settled in Poppy’s room at the healer’s cabin, the sun is already dropping behind the treeline. The girl looks like she could shatter any second, and Poppy refuses to let her out of arm’s reach, fussing over her blankets and muttering death threats about Greg un
** Paige’s POV **The moment the pack disperses, my legs stop working. I don’t collapse, but my knees go weak enough that Ryder’s hand shoots out, gripping my waist like he’s ready to catch me.“Easy,” he murmurs.Easy… if only.I can still feel it, the rush of the pack dropping to their knees. The
“Then why…” I begin.“Because they’re not them,” Poppy interrupts softly.Jake nods. “Their bodies are fine. Their brains… their consciousness… their personalities… those are another story.”Poppy crosses her arms, face pale. “The best we can describe it is like… low-power mode. They’re there, but n







