LOGIN** Jake’s POV **A minute later, the cabin door opens again. Callen steps out with far too much satisfaction written across his face. Poppy follows a second later. The moment she sees all four of us waiting, she hesitates, her steps faltering. Her gaze lands on me, then Leo. Then it drifts to Alaric
** Jake’s POV **My wolf practically whines in my head as my eyes track Poppy walking inside with Callen. Every second I spend with her makes every second away from her more difficult. “I know this is difficult,” Ryder says, pulling our attention back to him. “But for Poppy’s sake, you all need to
“Hey,” Paige says softly.“Hey,” I reply, my voice cracking. Her smile fades and her eyes narrow as she studies me. “What happened?”“Nothing, I’m okay.”Callen snorts a laugh, and I shoot him a look. “Callen, get out,” Paige orders.“Well, that’s rude.”“Out,” she demands, and he wisely retreats,
** Poppy’s POV **The door closes behind us with a soft click, and I finally take my first real breath in hours. I want to freak out. I want to shout that this isn’t supposed to be happening. But allowing myself to get worked up is not good for anyone or anything. Stuff will break, people will pani
“I was trying to figure you out,” he shrugs.“You were lurking.”Callen gasps. “Shadow boy was lurking?”Bastian’s eyes narrow. “Shadow boy?”“Oh, don’t worry,” I say. “It suits you.”For one strange moment, his expression softens. Not much, but enough that I see it. Enough that my heart skips a bea
** Poppy’s POV **The branch is still lying where it fell. I try not to look at it as we walk away, but my eyes keep finding it anyway. Split wood, torn bark, and leaves scattered across the ground as if it had exploded from the inside out. Because of me.One stupid argument. One moment when everyth
I nod, still not sure if I can speak back to him through the mind link or even how to try. The bond hums between us, carrying his emotions, his unspoken apology for doing this now, like this.His gaze softens, just for a second, before he pokes his head up, out of the ditch. He freezes, listening, t
**Paige’s POV ** Remy takes my hand again, his eyes searching mine. “Maybe we should keep this between us for now, just until we know if it’s a possibility. Ryder was…” “I’m not hiding this,” I cut in. “Not from them. If I brought a threat, they deserve to know.” Remy’s jaw works, but after a
** Paige’s POV **I tug my cardigan tighter around myself even though the morning air isn’t cold. My nerves are the actual cause of the chill I’m feeling, as I watch Remy’s shoulders tense and relax like he’s fighting himself.He’s stopped us in a small clearing where the sunlight shines through, hi
** Paige’s POV ** Parker is already up, sitting at the table, with a cup of coffee in his hands. He looks up as I enter, his jaw tight, but his expression softens when he sees me. “Did you sleep?” he asks. “A little,” I say honestly, grabbing one of the mugs from the shelf. I pour myself a







