ANMELDENI raise my brows. That should scare me … to feel her so intensely. But instead, I crave that connection to her.“How fast is she?”“Fast enough that Jake couldn't catch her to get her to drink some water, and Leo couldn't get anywhere near her.”I laugh. The image of Poppy zipping around the kitchen
** Bastian’s POV **Branches crack somewhere below the ridge, followed by the unmistakable sound of someone making absolutely no effort to move quietly. Typical Alaric.A few minutes later, he appears between the trees, fully dressed, and carrying two travel mugs.I stare at him. “Did you seriously
** Bastian’s POV **The problem with running is that you can’t do it forever, and then everything you've been trying to outrun catches up with you. So I push harder.My paws pound the damp earth, sending leaves and loose soil scattering behind me as I tear through the forest. The trees blur past lik
“I'm helping!” He laughs.“You're going to be the first person I test this speed by punching if you carry on.”“See?” he smirks. “Already thinking like an Alpha.”I glare at him. Then take a long, victorious drink. No one will take this coffee from me.Jake folds his arms. “Now, how about that water
** Poppy’s POV **“Do that again,” Jake says.I pause with the mug halfway to my mouth. “Do what?”Jake is staring at my hand. “Put it down.”“No. I’ve waited long enough for this. You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.”I finally take a sip of heaven. Leo definitely made this; it has the p
** Poppy’s POV **When Alaric finally pulls away, I have to remind myself that there's a very important point to this conversation.“Bastian,” I whisper.Alaric rests his forehead against mine. “Right.”“I have an idea.”“That sounds dangerous,” he smirks, before kissing me once more.I smile agains
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
“Paige,” I murmur against her skin. “I can feel your power; it’s reacting to this. To us.”“Then don’t stop,” she whispers the command, and everything in me wants to obey.I lift her top slowly, giving her time to stop me if she wants. She doesn’t. Instead, she lifts her arms for me, letting me pull







