The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 2

** Leo’s POV **

Something else is off. I feel it the second Paige touches her. It’s not obvious. Probably not even something anyone else would notice. To anyone watching, it looks normal. Two sisters hugging. But through the bond, there’s a jolt. Like two currents brushing the wrong way.

My shoulders tense instantly, and Poppy stiffens for half a second in Paige’s arms. Then, just like that, it’s gone, as if it had never happened. Except it did. I felt it.

My wolf lifts his head, alert. Not threatened, but aware and watching. I step closer without thinking, closing the small space between us as Paige pulls back, smiling. She’s either completely unaware or good at hiding it.

“I’m so happy for you,” Paige says, squeezing Poppy’s hands.

Poppy smiles back, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

Callen cracks one of his usual jokes, making a few people laugh, but I don’t take my eyes off her.

“Poppy.”

She glances at me. “Yeah?”

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

It’s a lie, but I don’t call her out on it, not here. Instead, I move slightly, stepping in closer. Just enough to reach her if I need to. Because something’s changed, I can feel it. Jake’s watching now, too. Good. At least I’m not the only one seeing it.

Paige turns back toward the tree, her expression shifting, her focus snapping into place.

“I don’t understand,” she whispers. “I should have felt it when it died.”

That gets my attention. Paige frowns slightly, her hand hovering near the bark again.

“I feel everything connected to the land. Every shift. Every change,” she continues. “But this…’

She shakes her head.

“It’s like it just stopped.”

My eyes move to Poppy. She’s still gone again, like she’s bracing for something. Parker says something in a reassuring tone, but I don’t hear it. I’m too focused on whatever is making my mate feel this on edge.

Paige’s voice drops.

“There’s nothing left. No trace, no energy. Just… absence.”

Absence. The word lands hard, and I see Poppy’s fingers twitch beside me. A slight move, almost nothing, but I catch it. My hand moves without thinking, brushing hers. Instinct telling me she needs contact to keep her grounded. She doesn’t pull away, but she doesn’t react at all.

I glance at Ronnie and Jake, who have moved closer now. They’re not looking at Paige or the tree. They’re watching her.

Jake, I can understand. He’s as protective of her as I am, especially after last night, but Ronnie is the one that worries me. He often sees things that others don’t. He has this way of just knowing things. It’s not an ability that’s recognised, but it should be.

Ronnie has gone still, completely focused on Poppy. Like he’s waiting.

“For what?” I snap at him through the mind link.

His gaze flicks to me briefly. Then back to her.

“Watch,” he says.

My jaw tightens.

“I am watching.”

“Then watch closer.”

Something in my stomach twists. I don’t like that. I don’t like the way he says it. And I certainly don’t like the way he’s looking at her, like she’s the answer to a question no one’s asked out loud yet.

I step closer. This time, I don’t pretend it’s subtle. My hand settles on her lower back, firm and grounding.

Mine.

The thought isn’t my wolf this time, it’s all mine. I don’t push it away. Not now, when she feels like she’s slipping somewhere I can’t follow. Her scent shifts. So faint I almost miss it.

It’s still her. Still warm and familiar. Still ours. But underneath, there’s something colder now. It’s not the scent of something dead or empty, just different. My wolf goes still, assessing the change.

“What?” she murmurs, glancing up at me.

I don’t answer straight away. Because I don’t have one. Instead, I tighten my grip just slightly.

“Stay close,” I say quietly.

Her brow furrows. “Leo…”

“Stay close,” I repeat, leaving no room for argument.

She studies me for a second, then nods.

Good, because whatever this is, whatever’s started, I don’t trust it. I don’t trust the tree or the silence around it, and I definitely don’t trust the fact that Paige, who feels everything tied to life, didn’t feel this die.

My gaze drifts back to the tree. Then to Poppy. A heavy, unwelcome thought settles low in my chest. One that’s impossible to ignore. Something didn’t just die here. Something was taken. My grip tightens instinctively, and this time I don’t even try to convince myself I’m wrong.

“Paige?” Callen’s voice cuts through the quiet, full of concern.

My head snaps toward them.

Paige sways slightly. Like her knees gave out for a fraction of a second.

“Hey,” Callen says, moving in fast, one hand wrapping around her arm. “Easy.”

“I’m fine,” Paige brushes it off quickly, but her voice isn’t as steady as it was a second ago.

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