The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 2

** Poppy’s POV **

The second Jake says Ronnie’s name, something inside me recoils hard.

“No,” the word slips from me immediately.

Leo’s hand squeezes my waist, not enough to hurt, just enough to remind me he’s there.

Jake doesn’t argue straight away. Which is worse, because when he goes quiet like that, it means he’s already decided.

“We can’t just ignore this,” he says eventually.

“I’m not ignoring it,” I snap. “I’m just saying we don’t need to drag anyone else into it yet.”

“You just drained one plant to fix another,” he replies.

“I didn’t drain anything,” I bite back.

Even as the words leave my mouth, I know how weak they sound. Because I saw it. I felt it.

Leo exhales slowly. “Poppy…”

“No,” I shake my head, stepping away from both of them this time. “You don’t get to decide this for me.”

“I’m not deciding anything,” Jake says. “I’m trying to keep you safe.”

That hits harder than it should. Because that’s exactly what I was trying to do when I left, and look how well that worked out.

I take a slow breath, forcing calm.

“I am safe,” I say, quieter now.

The silence that follows is heavy.

“You’re not,” the voice murmurs softly. “Not yet.”

I stiffen. Not now, not again.

Leo notices instantly. “Hey.”

“I’m handling it,” I say quickly, raising a hand in a soft ‘stop’ gesture.

Jake narrows his eyes at me. “What did it say?”

“Nothing.”

I drag a hand through my hair, turning away before they can read anything else on my face. I need a second. Just a second to get my thoughts together. But it doesn’t give me one.

“You felt it,” the voice continues, calm and certain. “The shift. The balance.”

My pulse starts to climb. I want to yell at it to stop, but I don’t respond. I don’t engage. That’s the rule. That’s how I kept it quiet before.

“You can do it again.”

My breath catches.

No. Absolutely not. I press my fingers to my temples as if I can physically block it out.

“Poppy,” Leo says, closer now.

“I said I’m fine,” I snap.

His hand closes around my wrist, firm enough to pull my hand down without hurting me.

Leo’s voice is low when he speaks again. “Don’t lie to me,”

But there’s something underneath it now. Something sharper. Possessive and protective. It should annoy me. Normally, it would, but right now, it just steadies me.

I exhale slowly, forcing myself to look at him.

“I’ve got it under control,” I say.

“I don’t think you do,” Jake cuts in.

I glare at him. “Helpful.”

“I’m not trying to be,” he replies. “I’m trying to be honest.”

“Well, maybe try less of that,” I point at him with a shaky finger.

Leo huffs out a quiet breath, but his grip doesn’t loosen.

“What is it saying?” he asks.

I hesitate. Because this is the part I don’t want to admit. The part that might make them fear it, or even worse… they might fear me.

“It’s… telling me I could do it again,” I say finally, glancing back towards the plants.

Jake goes still.

“You feel how strong they make you,” the voice murmurs.

“You mean how strong they make you!” I snap back before I can stop myself.

“You felt it,” the voice continues, calm and patient. “The power he unlocked in you, the way it moved. The way it answered you.”

“No. It answered you!” I hiss.

“You’ve done this before. You just don’t remember it.”

For a second, something flickers in my mind. Darkness… A flash of light… The sound of something breaking… I blink hard, and it’s gone.

“No,” I shake my head. “I haven’t.”

“This is a gift. You do not need to fear it.”

“One I didn’t ask for.”

“You did.”

My breath stutters. My mind running at a mile a minute. I didn’t ask for it; I wouldn’t.

“You’re wrong,” I say, shaking my head, backing up a step. “I didn’t do anything. That just… happened.”

“You know that’s not how it works,” it replies smoothly.

My stomach twists. Because I did feel the shift. The pull of something sliding from one place to another. “No,” I whisper.

“You’re lying to yourself.”

“Shut up.

“You don’t want to admit it.”

“I said shut up!”

The words rip out of me, louder this time, and suddenly I’m back. The room slams into focus around me.

Jake is staring at me. Leo’s hand is still wrapped around my wrist, but it’s tighter now. Not grounding anymore.

“Poppy,” Leo says, low and dangerous. “Tell us what it’s saying.’ ”

My stomach drops. Oh shit. They heard everything.