The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 267

Book 2~ Chapter 32

** Leo’s POV **

+25 Points

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 a One 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 tak

my eyes off her.

“Poppy.”

She glances at

1. “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.

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Book 2 Chapter 32

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

+25 Points

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 mach twist

l

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.

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

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

est 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

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Book 2 Chapter 32

She studies me for a second, then nods.

+25 Points

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 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.

in my

“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.

Ryder’s already there on her other side, his hand settling at her back without hesitation.

“You’re not fine,” he says, calm but firm. “You just had a baby.”

“Two days ago,” Remy adds, glancing between them. “You shouldn’t even be out here.”

Paige rolls her eyes as if she’s heard this argument a dozen times already.

“I’m not made of glass,” she

sighs.

But she doesn’t step an

“Stead, she leans into Ryder. Jake’s moving before anyone else can say

another word. Of course he is.

“What happened?” he asks, already in healer mode, his focus snapping entirely to Paige.

“Nothing,” she insists, “I just stood up too fast.”

“You were already standing,” Callen points out dryly

“Not helpful,” Paige says, shooting him a look.

Jake ignores them both, stepping closer, his hand already reaching for her wrist. “Let me see.”

“I don’t need…”

“You do,” he cuts her off, his tone leaving no room for argument.

She exhales sharply but doesn’t fight him. That alone tells me more than anything else. Jake presses his fingers lightly to her pulse, his expression shifting as he listens, as he feels.

I watch them. There’s something off with her too. It’s not just weakness from the birth; she’s too strong for that. She’s not injured either. It’s more like her balance isn’t quite where it should be.

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< Book 2 – Chapter 32

“You’re still lightheaded?” Jake asks.

“Just a bit,” she admits, quieter now.

“When did it start?”

She hesitates, and my grip on Poppy tightens slightly, because I already know the answer.

“This is the first time today,” Paige says. “It started just after I got here.”

+25 Points

Right when she touched Poppy. Jake frowns slightly, his thumb brushing over her wrist as he thinks it through.

“Probably exhaustion,” Parker says. “You’ve barely rested.”

“And your body’s still recovering,” Ryder adds.

“Exactly,” Callen nods. “So maybe listen to us for once?”

Paige sighs, clearly annoyed, but there’s no real fight behind it.

“I’m fine,” she repeats, softer this time.

Jake doesn’t look convinced.

“Sit down,” he says.

“I’m not sitting in the dirt out here in the middle of pack grounds…”

“Paige.”

That does it. She stops, just for a second. Then she huffs out a breath and lets Ryder guide her

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