“Thank you!” he shouts, his eyes lighting up.
“You’re welcome, munchkin.” She ruffles his hair, then glances at the rest of us. “For the grown-ups, I got meat feasts. I hope you all like it, otherwise, you’ll have to share the pineapple with Jax.”
Jaxon puts a protective arm over his box and lets out the cutest little protective growl.
“Whoa, easy tiger,” Poppy laughs.
“I’m not a tiger! I’m a…”
“Hungry little soldier,” Ryder quickly cuts him off. “Meat feast is fine, thank you, Poppy.”
She smiles, dropping into the chair next to Jax.
Remy slides plates across the table, his movements careful and controlled. I know him well enough to recognise he’s restraining himself, trying to keep his natural intensity toned down. The way his jaw clenches tells me it isn’t easy for him.
“Thanks,” Poppy says brightly, putting two slices on her plate and then taking a huge bite without hesitation.
The guys follow suit, though it’s all a little too false. Now that I’ve spent so much time with them, I notice just how much they put on an act around humans. They’re careful not to eat too fast, careful to act normal.
“Good?” she asks Jax.
He nods, giving her a tomato-smeared smile.
Remy leans back in his chair, chewing silently. He watches Poppy with that Beta sharpness, assessing without appearing to. His eyes flicker between her and me like he’s trying to work out the pieces of a puzzle.
“So, Poppy,” Callen says suddenly, leaning forward with his usual easy charm. “What do you do for fun in the city?”
I narrow my eyes at him. His tone is casual, too casual, and my stomach twists.
Poppy swallows her bite before looking at him. “Fun?” She laughs softly. “Between my coursework, shifts at the coffee shop, and making sure my flatmates don’t burn the place down, there’s not a lot of time left over. But I read, and I like to draw sometimes when the need strikes. Why, are you thinking of moving to the city?”
“Hell no,” Callen laughs. “I’m just curious.”
Poppy tilts her head. “About my hobbies?”
“About you,” he shrugs.
My foot finds his under the table, and I nudge his shin. His smirk doesn’t falter, but his eyes flick to mine and catch the silent warning there. Back off.
Poppy looks between us, confusion clear on her face. “Is everything okay?”
“Callen’s just nosy,” I cut in quickly, forcing a laugh. “Ignore him.”
“I am not nosy,” he protests. “I’m making conversation, it’s polite.”
Poppy snorts. “Relax, Paige. I can handle a few questions.” She turns back to Callen. “So what about you? What do you do for fun besides… glaring?”
Callen chuckles, a low rumble that makes Poppy blink. “Depends on who’s asking,” he says, then tears into his slice of pizza like he hasn’t just set my nerves on fire.
I glare at him. I know he’s not just being friendly, he’s up to something. I can feel it through the bond; it’s something deeper than simple curiosity.
Poppy raises a brow at me. “He’s cheeky, this one. You sure you can handle him?” She teases.
“She’s probably the only one who can,” Ryder huffs.
Her eyes flick to him, then to me, then back again. A thousand questions spark in her eyes, but she stays unusually quiet, taking another bite of pizza.
Dinner continues much the same way. Jax chats happily about his camping trip with Ryder, Poppy teases me, and the guys carefully try to make conversation. They’re trying, but I feel it. The tension, the way they study her. Like they’re searching for something. I hope they don’t suspect she is working with the hunters, or worse… that the hunters are manipulating her. Fear spikes through me, and four sets of eyes move to me in an instant. I shake my head subtly, wishing I’d mastered this mind-link thing already. I’m tempted to give it a try now, but I can’t risk Poppy noticing me acting stranger than I already am.
When Poppy gets up to grab drinks from the fridge, I hiss across the table, keeping my voice low. “What are you doing?”
Callen leans closer, smirk fading into something more serious. “Just testing the waters.”
“For what? She’s my sister, not a suspect,” I snap.
Poppy returns, handing Jax a juice carton and setting a can of pop in front of me. “You all look like you’re plotting something,” she laughs, dropping back into her chair. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly, forcing a smile. “They’re just being weird.”
Jaxon giggles. “Uncle Cal is always weird.”
Everyone laughs, easing the tension, but my skin crawls. I don’t like this. My sister is unknowingly sitting in a den of wolves, while those wolves try to decide if she’s their enemy.
Poppy launches into a story about one of her flatmates leaving fries in the oven until the smoke alarm went off. Then they swap stories about Callen doing similar things.
Then, something in the air shifts.
It’s subtle, but I feel it the way they do. Ryder goes still, his eyes narrowing toward the window. Remy’s nostrils flare. Callen’s smirk vanishes, and Parker straightens in his seat.
“What…” I start.
Ryder is already on his feet. “Stay here.”
Remy pushes back his chair silently, moving toward the front door like a shadow.
Poppy blinks, startled. “What’s happening?”
Before I can answer, Parker’s hand clamps firmly around my wrist. “Upstairs. Now,” he hisses.
Callen is already herding Jax and Poppy, his tone light but urgent. “Adventure time, kiddo. Upstairs, let’s go.”
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