The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 277

< Book 2 – Chapter 42

+25 Points

Book 2 ~ Chapter 42

** 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.

J

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.”

< Book 2 – Chapter 42

+25 Points

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.

“And it’s getting clearer, stronger, maybe,” I add.

“How?”

I shake my head slightly. “Before, it was like background noise. Easy to ignore most of the time. Like it was just there.”

“And now?” Leo asks.

My throat tightens.

“Now it feels like it’s waiting.”

< Book 2 – Chapter 42

“I am,” the voice agrees.

I flinch, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Leo pulls me closer instantly. “Poppy.”

“I’m okay,” I say again, but there’s no force behind it this time.

Because I’m not. Not even close.

+25 Points

Jake steps forward slightly, his attention locked on me in that way that makes me feel like I’m about to be

dissected.

“If it’s clearer,” he says slowly, “then something’s changed.”

No shit.

“I figured that out on my own,” I mutter.

“What triggered it?” he presses.

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

It’s a lie. I do know. It’s the mate bond. I just don’t want to say it out loud. Because if I do, it makes it real, and there’s nothing I can do to reverse it. Leo doesn’t need to carry that guilt either. He’ll find a way to blame himself, I know he will, and this isn’t his fault. None of this is.

“Complete the bond with the doctor,” the voice hums. “See what happens.”

Warmth floods my body and I have to physically stop myself from closing the distance between me and Jake. My fingers curl into fists, and I screw my eyes shut as I push it down.

No, not like this.

After I got over the initial shock of finding out I was tied to not one, but two men, I thought I’d hit the jackpot. Who wouldn’t think that? They’re both everything I could ever hope for: kind, loyal, and protective in a way that makes me feel safe instead of trapped.

I thought that was the complicated part and the rest would be easy. Complete the bond, figure out how to share space without killing each other, have lots of sex, and fall into something that felt like home.

Happily ever after. That was the deal. Not this. Not whatever the hell is in my head, and now able to affect

my body too.

I never asked for power; I never needed it. I don’t want to be special or different. I just wanted something

simple. Something steady.

“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.”

< Book 2 – Chapter 42

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