The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 230

** Paige’s POV **

Leo’s chest rises as he sucks in a breath. His fists are clenched at his sides. He looks like he’s on the verge of shifting, and I can almost see the war in him, duty versus love, control versus fear.

“You’re not safe alone,” he says, his voice low now, dangerous.

Poppy shakes her head. “I won’t be alone.”

“Explain,” he frowns.

“I’ll go to Annie first,” Poppy says. “She’s away. She’s safe. I can breathe there, and then… maybe I’ll travel. Then maybe I can figure out what I’m meant to do without everyone else’s expectations pressing on me.”

Jake’s voice breaks. “I can come.”

His words are soft and desperate. Poppy squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, like it physically hurts her to hear it.

When she opens them again, she looks at him with so much love it nearly breaks me. “And that’s why you can’t,” she says. “Because you would give up everything for me.

You’d follow me until there was nothing left of you. This is your pack; you need them as much as they need you.”

Jake opens his mouth like he wants to argue, but nothing comes out.

Ryder finally speaks, his voice calm but heavy. “Poppy, are you sure this is what you want?”

Poppy looks at him, and there’s a flash of gratitude there, because Ryder isn’t trying to trap her with emotion. He’s giving her a choice.

“Yes,” she says. “It is.”

Leo lets out a harsh laugh, but there’s no humour in it. “So that’s it? You decide, and we just have to accept it?”

Poppy’s voice softens again. “No,” she shakes her head.”

You don’t have to accept it. You can be angry. You can hate me for it, but you don’t get to stop me.”

Leo’s eyes flash with his wolf again. “I’m your mate. I’m the pack gamma.”

Poppy sighs. “And I’m not pack property. I’m not like you.

I’m not bound to the pack.”

Silence follows. It’s a brutal thing, that line. It cuts through rank and duty and everything else. Leo flinches as if she’s slapped him. Jake looks down, swallowing hard, like he’s trying to hold himself together.

I step forward then, placing myself beside Poppy, not to shield her, just to stand by her.

“Leo,” I say gently. “She’s right.”His head snaps toward me. “Paige..”

“I know,” I cut in softly. “I know you want to keep her safe. I know you’re terrified, so am I. But we can’t cage her here because we love her”

His jaw clenches, and his eyes shine with fury and helplessness.

Jake’s gaze lifts to mine, and the pain there is so raw l almost reach for him without meaning to. I stop myself at the last second.

Poppy turns toward me then, her voice quiet. “Will you take me?”

My heart twists, but I nod anyway. “Yes, of course I will.”

Leo takes a step forward like he can’t help it. “Paige…”

I hold his gaze, firm now. Urging him with my eyes to let this happen, that this is the only way he has a chance of happiness with her. If he traps her now, she will never forgive him. She might mate with him, but she will never truly be happy, not unless she has the freedom to choose this herself when she is ready. I have no regrets, but I can’t say I wouldn’t have done exactly the same in her situation.

If it weren’t for Jaxon needing to be here, I’d probably have left too.

Leo stills, finally reading my expression. His breath shakes and his hands clench, then fall. He looks at Poppy, and when he speaks again, his voice is rough. “How soon?””Today,” Poppy answers immediately.

Jake closes his eyes like the word physically hurts.

Ryder rests a hand back on Leo’s shoulder, calming him. ” We’ll do it properly,” Ryder says quietly. “No one is forcing her to stay, but no one is sending her out unprotected either.”

Poppy nods once. Then she looks at Jake, and her voice softens into something almost broken. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I’m not rejecting you I’m just… choosing to find myself before I give myself away again.”

Jake swallows hard. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I know,” she says, tears slipping free now. “Goodness, I know, but I have to do this.”

Leo’s voice is barely audible. “And what about me?”

Poppy’s gaze shifts to him, and for the first time his mask cracks fully, all his hurt and love and fear are laid bare for us all to see.

Poppy’s face crumples.

“…” She shakes her head, a sob catching. “I don’t know how to be what you want without losing myself, Leo.”

Leo flinches, like he expected it, and it still kills him.

At the airport, everything feels too normal. People are rushing around. Announcements echo over the tannoy.

Life moves on, oblivious of how heavy this moment is.

Poppy stops just inside the doors, turning to face us.

“Be careful,” Remy warns her.

“You too,” she replies softly. “And make sure you all look atter my sister and nephew for me.”

“Always,” he nods.

Callen steps in next. He doesn’t say much; he just pulls her into a firm hug and says quietly, “Don’t stay away too long, or we will hunt you down.”

She snorts weakly. “I figured as much.”

Then it’s just us. She holds me like she used to when we were younger, when the world felt too big and the only answer was each other. “Thank you,” she whispers. “For letting me go.”

“Like I’d ever stop you.”

She pulls back, her eyes bright. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I say. “Go find yourself. We’ll be right herewhen you’re ready to come home.”

She turns before she can change her mind, disappearing into the crowd without looking back.

Only when she’s gone do I turn to the figures blending into the crowd beside us.

Two familiar presences step forward immediately. Two of the Twiceborn who’ve hovered close the whole way here, watchful and loyal. I don’t command them. I don’t need to.

“Will you follow her?” I ask quietly. “Stay unseen. Keep her safe.”

They both nod before moving to follow her silently.

Callen’s fingers lace through mine as we turn back toward the car. He doesn’t ask. He already knew I’d had them follow in a car behind

The terminal doors slide shut behind us. Poppy is gone, but she isn’t unprotected, and neither is the future waiting for her.