“I see how happy you are, and I’m happy for you, but what if I’m not ready? What if I never am?”
“Then that’s okay,” I tell her softly. “A real mate will wait. They’ll stand by you, no matter how long it takes. That’s what the bond is, partnership, not chains.”
I should mention that her safety could be the reason she can’t return to her life, at least not for now, but I don’t want to overwhelm her.
Her eyes shine with unshed tears as she whispers, “But what if they don’t wait? What if they decide I’m not worth it?”
“Poppy, you are worth everything. If Leo or this other guy are your mates, they’ll move mountains to be with you.”
She lets out a shaky laugh that sounds too close to a sob. “You make it sound so simple.”
I smile, though it feels a little sad. “It isn’t simple. Not even close. But I think it’s worth it.”
For a long time we just sit there quietly. I can tell she’s still turning it all over in her head, the fear and the curiosity tangling together.
Finally, she says, “Tell me about the pack. About how it really works.”
I lean back, admiring the trees. “I’m still learning, but from what I know so far, the pack is family. That’s the easiest way to put it. Everyone has a role, everyone looks out for each other. The Alpha’s lead, the Beta’s support them, the others train and protect the territory, or keep the whole place running.”
Poppy frowns. “So it’s kind of like… community, but deeper?”
Chaptertei
“Exactly.” I nod. “Stronger than any human community I’ve ever seen.”
*25 Posts
Her voice is almost a whisper. “But what if you don’t want to be part of it? What if it’s too much?”
“Last night was traumatic, and then waking up in a strange place surrounded by strangers… anyone would be anxious. Give yourself time to find out.”
She nods. “It’s just… Leo almost died. I don’t even know him, but the thought of him dying…” She cuts herself off, shaking her head. “It scared me so much. More than it should have.”
My chest tightens. “That’s the bond. It connects you even before you fully understand it. It’s powerful.”
The porch creaks behind us then, and we both turn. Ryder steps out, his expression serious, Remy close behind him.
“What is it?” I ask, my stomach tightening.
Ryder’s gaze settles on Poppy. “Leo’s awake, and he’s trying to leave the healer’s cabin. He says he has to find his mate.”
Poppy goes pale, her fingers tightening around her cup until her knuckles are white.
** Bemy’s POV **
The second Ryder says the words, I can see the ripple of shock go through Poppy. She goes pale, and her fingers clench tight around her cup, and Paige reaches for her without hesitation. I don’t miss the way Poppy’s eyes dart toward the tree line like she might bolt if given the chance.
Ryder meets my gaze, his meaning clear. We need to handle this.
“Poppy, Leo won’t rest until he sees you are safe. Would you consider going there just to let him see you? You don’t even need to speak to him if you don’t want to,” Ryder asks.
Poppy nods, setting her cup down.
“Thank you, Parker, Remy, take Poppy to the healer’s cabin,” Ryder orders quietly, already turning back toward the house. “Keep her safe.”
“I’m coming,” Paige says, already standing.
No one protests, I think we all expected it. Parker steps up smoothly, offering a reassuring smile, and I fall in beside them as we head down the porch steps.
The air is cool this morning, the blood from last night now replaced with the scent of pine and damp earth. My wolf is alert beneath my skin, pacing, because everything about this is delicate. Another human mate is entering our pack, fragile and afraid. And Leo…
I push against the mind-link, narrowing my focus until I feel the answering tug.
“Leo,”
There’s a beat of silence, and then his voice cuts through, strained and rough. “Remy?”
“You need to stay put. I’m bringing her to you now.”
A sharp inhale echoes through the link. “She’s coming? My mate?”
“Yes,” I confirm. “But you need to go easy. She’s human and terrified. She doesn’t fully understand what this means yet.”
“I won’t hurt her,” Leo promises immediately, desperate. “I just… I have to see her. I can’t…” His voice breaks in the link, ragged with emotion. “I thought I was going to die last night, and all I could think was that I’d never know her name, never hold her, never…”
I cut him off before he spirals further. “Then listen to me. If you want any chance with her, don’t come at her like a starving wolf. She needs space. She needs a choice. Do you understand?”
There’s silence, and for a moment I’m not sure if he’s stubborn enough to ignore me. Then, finally, “I understand.”
“Good, and make sure you’ve got some damn clothes on. Humans are uncomfortable with nudity.”
The last thing I need is Poppy bolting into the woods or back to the city and getting herself killed by rogues.
“Everything alright?” Paige asks softly at my side, her eyes on me, sharp with that mix of concern and suspicion she always has when she knows I’m hiding something.
“Just talking to Leo,” I answer simply. “I told him to stay put.”
We walk at a steady pace, Parker walking close on Poppy’s other side. He talks to her in that calm, steady voice of his, the same one he uses with Jax when the kid’s on the edge of a meltdown. “You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. Just being there will be enough for him right now.”
Poppy swallows hard, her hands clinging to Paige’s arm. “What if I can’t do it? If it’s not enough? What if I can’t be what he needs?”
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