Poppy fans herself dramatically. “She’d have organised an intervention. Probably tried to set you up with the neighbour’s son again… what was his name? Kevin?”
“Oh gods, Kevin!” I wheeze, covering my face. “He used to carry his lunch in a briefcase!”
“He wanted to be a banker!” Poppy insists through her laughter.
“He was more of a wanker. He looked at me like I was something he’d stepped in, and he used to say you should have been named Weed-it was a more fitting name, since you always popped up where you weren’t wanted.”
“Yeah,” she snorts. “Because I could see how uncomfortable he made you every time you left the house, and he’d be there, lurking like a creep. I swear he used to hide in the bushes waiting for you to come out.”
We both dissolve into genuine, unrestrained laughter, tears streaming down our cheeks and our eyes watering. For the first time since this morning, the heaviness in my chest lifts, if only a little.
When we finally settle, I wipe away the tears and shake my head. “You know, Dad would’ve come around eventually. He always did. He’d pretend to hate Ryder on principle, but deep down, he liked him.”
Poppy nods, a soft smile spreading across her face. “He respected anyone who could keep up with you. Even if he never said it out loud.”
I can almost hear Dad’s voice again-the familiar blend of dry humor and affection. ‘That boy’s trouble, Paige, but at least he’s your kind of trouble.’ If only he really knew.
A comforting warmth spreads through me, easing the ache that’s been lingering since the creek.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “He really would have liked him, in the end.”
“And Mum?” Poppy raises an eyebrow.
I laugh. “She’d tolerate him for Jaxon’s sake, then spend every Sunday dinner asking if he’d found a real job yet.”
Poppy grins. “You mean she wouldn’t count Alpha as a proper career?”
“She’d call it a hobby,” I say with mock seriousness. “One that doesn’t come with private healthcare.”
That earns another round of laughter, until we’re both wiping tears from our eyes. It feels good, like sunlight streaming into a darkened room.
Once we calm down, I lean on the counter, smiling softly. “She’d have absolutely adored Jaxon.”
Poppy’s expression softens immediately. “Oh, she’d have been obsessed. That boy would never have stood a chance.”
“She’d knit him tiny sweaters for every holiday and insist he eat enough vegetables for three kids.”
We chuckle again, but this time the silence that follows is gentle-filled with memories rather than the weight of loss.
I glance at her sideways, noticing a faint blush on her cheeks. “What about you?”
“Me?” She blinks, clearly caught off guard.
“Yeah. You, Leo, and Jake.” I tilt my head. “You’ve been spending a lot of time at that clinic with them.”
Her mouth opens, then closes again. “You don’t hold back, do you?”
“Not with you,” I tease, grinning. “So, spill.”
She groans softly but can’t hide her smile. “Fine. I… like it there. The clinic, the work. Jake’s brilliant. He’s the kind of smart that doesn’t make you feel stupid. He listens, explains things clearly, and never talks down to anyone. And Leo…”
Her voice softens, and she looks out the window, eyes distant and dreamy-the look she gets when she’s thinking about someone who makes her heart race. “Leo’s quiet, but solid. He doesn’t say much, but he’s always there. I can feel our bond growing stronger every day. It’s steady now, not overwhelming-just this warm, constant pull. It feels… right.”
“That’s how you know it’s real,” I say gently.
She nods. “It’s strange, though. I never thought I’d find something like this, and now there are two men in my life who both make me feel… safe. Seen.”
“You deserve that,” I tell her sincerely.
Her smile deepens, emotion flickering across her face. “It’s not just them. I actually love the work. Learning how to treat shifters, mixing herbs, using healing energy instead of just relying on medicine-it’s fascinating. And Jake keeps telling me I have a gift for it.”
“Of course you do,” I say, pride swelling in my chest. “You’ve always been good with people. You listen better than anyone I know.”
Poppy laughs softly. “Maybe. I just feel like I belong here, you know? I was thinking about asking Ryder if I could make it official-work with Jake full time. Especially since his usual assistant hasn’t been around lately. I love university and being a vet was my dream, but I feel like I can make a bigger difference here. Like I’ve found my place.”
“That’s amazing, Poppy.” I reach across the counter and squeeze her hand. “You should follow your heart. And selfishly, I’d love to have you close. Jaxon would too.”
Her eyes soften. “That’s another reason. I like being near both of you. After everything, I don’t want to be apart again.”
“You won’t be,” I promise.
We lapse into a comfortable silence. Outside, faint laughter drifts from near the tree line-probably my friends teasing Callen again. The sound makes my chest ache in a good way. Then, the soft, uneven patter of footsteps comes down the stairs.
Poppy’s face lights up. “And there he is.”
Sure enough, Jaxon appears at the bottom of the stairs, his hair tousled as usual, dragging behind him a small knitted blanket I don’t recognize. He blinks sleepily at us.
“Mum?” he mumbles. “Why are you awake so early?”
I open my arms, smiling warmly. “Couldn’t sleep, baby. Come here.”
He shuffles over and climbs into my lap without hesitation. The warmth of him against me settles instantly. I press a kiss to his messy hair, breathing him in deeply.
“Morning, Auntie Pops,” he murmurs, still half asleep.
“Morning, trouble,” Poppy teases, reaching out to brush his hair from his forehead.
He yawns wide, showing every tiny tooth, then looks up at me. “Can I have pancakes?”
“Pancakes?” I echo, feigning shock. “That’s a big ask for someone barely awake.”
He shrugs, eyes already drooping again. “I like making them.”
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