The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 2

** Poppy’s POV **

Jake still hasn’t come back, and I’m starting to suspect he’s avoiding me. Maybe seeing my mating mark bothered him more than we realised. Leo is the polar opposite and hasn’t let more than a few inches separate us since the tree almost fell on me. A strange, uneasy feeling settles low in my stomach. I’m not waiting any longer. If I’ve upset him, I need to fix it.

“I’m going to find Jake,” I say, pulling the door open.

“He’s probably still checking Paige over,” Leo says, close on my heel. “You know what he’s like when something doesn’t make sense.”

Yeah, I do, but that’s not what this feels like. This feels as if he left, and didn’t want to come back. My chest tightens slightly at that thought.

“Right,” I say, even though I’m not convinced. “Then the least I can do is help him make sense of whatever it is.”

Ryder steps out of the room Paige is in as we approach.

“I’m just going home to grab some stuff for Paige. Jake’s keeping her in for a while for observation,” he explains without me asking.

“Makes sense,” I nod. “How is she?”

Ryder rubs a hand over the back of his neck, blowing out a breath.

“I think she’s okay, but there’s something going on with her. Was she like this after she Jaxon?”

I go still for a second, my gaze dropping as my mind drags me back there. Those weeks weren’t normal. Nothing about them was. Grief, exhaustion, just trying to hold it together for Jax because he was all we had left.

For a moment, it feels like I’m back in that house. Too quiet. Too heavy. Like the walls were pressing in and darkness was weighing us down. I don’t think we opened the curtains for an entire week.

“Loss leaves marks,” the voice murmurs softly.

Leo’s steady warmth presses to my back, and I blink, pushing the memories away.

“It was… different back then. Everything was.” I shake my head slightly. “Honestly, I don’t think I would’ve noticed. We were just surviving.”

Ryder studies me, something shifting behind his eyes.

He nods slowly. “Yeah,” he exhales. “I get that.”

His gaze drifts briefly toward the door where Paige is resting.

“But this isn’t that,” he adds, quieter now.

That uneasy feeling creeps back under my skin.

“It could be something simple, like low iron or exhaustion. Jake will figure it out,” I say, forcing a smile.

I’m not sure which of us I’m trying to convince more.

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right,” he nods, but I can tell he doesn’t fully believe me either. “I should get going. I want to get back before Jake comes to see her again.”

“He’s not still in there?” I ask, gesturing towards the door.

“No, left a few minutes ago,” Rye calls over his shoulder as he walks towards the exit.

If he’s not with Paige, then why didn’t he come to find us? Is he actively avoiding me? I take a step forward anyway. If he’s avoiding me, I’ll just… not let him.

“Poppy!” someone calls my name before I can make it outside.

I stop and turn, spotting Jake’s assistant jogging down the corridor toward me.

“Mira?” I say. “Everything okay?”

“Yes, well, no, not exactly,” she pauses, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Jake’s asked for blood samples from everyone.”

I blink.

“Everyone?”

She nods. “Everyone in the clinic, that includes the two of you.”

Leo exhales sharply beside me. “Of course he has.”

I glance at him. “You sound surprised.”

“I’m not,” he grumbles. “Just… annoyed.”

“Shocking,” I say dryly.

He huffs, but his hand stays firm on my back.

“What’s he looking for?” I ask Mira.

She shakes her head. “Everything, apparently.”

That doesn’t make me feel better at all.

“Right,” I say slowly. “Do you need some help?”

“Actually,” her gaze flicks between me and Leo. “I could use some help, if you’re up for it.”

Leo tenses immediately. “She doesn’t…”

“Of course,” I cut in.

He looks down at me. “Poppy.”

“I’m fine,” I say, softer this time. “And if Jake’s running tests on everyone, I’d rather be involved than sitting around overthinking it.”

That earns me a look.

Mira brightens slightly. “Great. Thank you. I just need you to apply numbing cream before we take samples.”

“That I can do,” I nod.

“Perfect,” she says. “We’re starting with the kids. Jaxon’s in Paige’s room, Liora too, and the twins are…”

“In the maternity room,” I finish.

“Exactly,” she nods and hands me a small tray, neatly laid out with gloves, wipes, and the cream.

“Just a small amount on the inside of the arm and the back of the hand,” she says. “I’ll come round after to take the samples.” “Got it.”

She gives me a grateful smile before heading off down the corridor.

Leo’s hand tightens slightly at my back. “What?”

I shake my head quickly. “Nothing.”

But the voice continues. “These two are bound to what comes next.”

A chill runs through me. I don’t like the way that sounds, and I don’t like that it sounds like I’m supposed to understand it.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I murmur silently.

“You will.”

That’s worse. Way worse. I swallow hard, forcing my attention back to the babies. One of them stretches, his tiny hand lifting, as if he’s reaching for me. Without thinking, I move my finger closer.

He grabs it instantly, too tight for his age. My breath stutters, and the room goes still. Like everything just settles. Behind me, I hear Leo shift slightly.

“You feel that?” he asks, low enough that only I hear.

I nod before I can stop myself.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

Because I do. Almost as if something is moving through me. A faint warmth spreads up my arm where the baby is holding my finger, but beneath it, something colder lingers.

I pull my hand back a little too quickly, and the baby makes a small sound. Not a cry, just a soft, unhappy noise. And the moment the contact breaks, the other baby starts fussing.

The father leans forward instantly. “Hey, hey, it’s okay.”

I step back. One step. Then another. I need distance.

“They’re fine,” I say quickly, even though no one asked.

My voice sounds off, too bright, too forced.

Leo’s gaze snaps to me.

“Poppy…”

“I’m good,” I cut in, already shaking my head. “Just a weird morning, right?”

No one laughs. Great. I force another smile anyway.

“They’re cute,” I add, because that’s what I’m supposed to say. That’s what normal people say.

The mother smiles warmly. “They are.”

I nod, backing toward the door.

“Yes. They are.” The voice hums softly in the back of my mind. “But not just that.”

I ignore it. I ignore all of it. Because I don’t want to know what that means. I don’t want to understand why my chest still feels tight, or why my skin feels cold. Or why, for a split second, it felt like that baby recognised me.

I reach the doorway and don’t stop walking. Leo follows immediately. Good, because I don’t think I want to be alone right now, and the one person who always comes when something is wrong is nowhere to be found.