I nod. “I think I did that for about a week. It all feels too crazy to be real, right?”
“Yeah,” she sighs. “Pizza night would have been so much better here. I can’t believe you were keeping this place hidden from me.”
“I would have told you, I just couldn’t, not yet. I didn’t…”
“Trust me,” she cuts in.
I study her profile, my heart aching. “No, Pops. I trust you. I just didn’t want to drag you into this. You saw last night how dangerous it can be.”
“Then why did you stay? Why not run with Jax the moment you knew the danger?” She asks, her voice trembling, as if she is holding back a sob.
I take a breath, ready to tell her the truth she clearly has not worked out yet. “I stayed for Jax. He has to be here with his pack.”
“No, Jax isn’t like them,” Poppy shakes her head, her eyes desperate as they search mine.” I’ve been there since the day he was born. He’s human, Paige,” she insists.
“For now he is,” I say gently. “But when he turns 18, he will shift. He needs to be ready for when that time comes, and it’s not something I can help with, not really. He needs to be around people who understand him, he needs his dad.”
Poppy stares down at the cup in her hands and blows out a breath. “How long have you known?”
“Only since I came here and found Ryder. Trust me, it was a shock. You are handling all of this much better than I did.”
She swallows. “I’m not sure about that. I keep seeing it. The blood. The way his body changed.”
Her voice cracks on the last word, and I slip an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in against me. She doesn’t resist.
“I know,” I whisper, pressing my cheek to the top of her head. “I can’t make it go away, but I’m here, always.”
She leans into me, coffee still clutched tightly in her hands.
“How is Leo?”
She lets out a snort that’s almost a laugh. “He’s going to be okay. They heal crazy fast, you know? The healer insisted he just needs to rest, and then he will be as good as new.”
“They do,” I smile.
Poppy pulls back to look at me. “Are you happy here, Paige, with them?”
I don’t hesitate. “Yes. Despite the danger, and juggling a new relationship with four men, I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and Jaxon is too. He’s thriving here.”
“I knew it!” She almost shrieks, and just like that, I have my sister back. At least for now.
“It’s a lot. I’m still coming to terms with it, to be honest, but they’re amazing. They don’t make it as complicated as I expected it would be.
“Oh my God, what’s the s*x like? Do you all do it separately or…”
“Poppy!” I hiss. “They have excellent hearing, you know?”
“Oops, sorry,” she drops her voice to a whisper. “But seriously, you need to tell me, because in this book I was reading, they did it every which way you can imagine.”
“You are relentless,” I roll my eyes, but I can’t keep the smile from my face. “It’s still kind of new, and we’ve had a lot to deal with, so let me get back to you when I’ve had the full experience.”
Poppy’s eyes light up with excitement. It’s such a typical Poppy reaction. I’ve brought her up never to feel ashamed to discuss these kinds of topics with me.
I change the subject quickly. “Jaxon’s downstairs making pancakes for breakfast. He’s very proud of himself.”
Surprise crosses her face. “He’s cooking?”
“Yep, he’s head chef today. If you come down, he’ll probably demand you be his taste tester.”
“Gosh, that boy is so sweet I could eat him,” she says, already standing.
“He adores you,” I tell her. “And he’d love to see you this morning.”
The sound of clattering pans and Ryder’s voice carries up the stairs as we make our way of my hand. down. Poppy’s steps are confident, but she doesn’t let go
The moment we step into the kitchen, Jaxon spots us. His whole face lights up, eyes wide, his hair still sticking out in a dozen different directions from sleep and flour-dusted across his cheek like war paint.
“Auntie Pops!” he cheers, nearly dropping the wooden spoon in his hand. He bolts toward her. “You had a sleepover?”
She’s about to speak when her eyes land on her jacket, her face pales slightly, and for a second I think she might cry. But then Jax beams at her like she’s the most important person in the world, and she snaps out of whatever flashback she was having.
“I did,” she says, “and I heard you are head chief this morning, so I just had to come and try your cooking.”
Jaxon grabs her hand, tugging her toward the island. “Yes. You have to try my pancakes! I made the batter and everything.”
Ryder, still standing at the stove, glances over his shoulder with a smirk. “And by ‘made,’ he means he spilt half the flour and taste-tested the other half of the chocolate chips.”
“Dad!” Jaxon protests, then turns to Poppy with mock seriousness. “Don’t listen to him. These are the best pancakes ever.”
He’s already climbing onto a stool to put a fresh pancake from the stack onto a plate, his tongue poking out in concentration. Poppy laughs under her breath and takes the seat.
I slip onto the stool next to her, my heart loosening in my chest as I watch Jaxon push a plate in front of her with a proud grin.
“There,” he declares. “Try it.”
Poppy picks up her fork and takes a bite.
Jax leans in, watching her eagerly.
Poppy swallows, then smiles. “Best pancakes I’ve ever had.”
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