The Lost Pack (Paige) novel Chapter 155

** Paige’s POV **

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For a while, neither of us moves. The air between us feels heavy with the ghosts of Mum’s laughter, Dad’s quiet warmth, all the pieces of a life that suddenly don’t fit the same way anymore. But underneath it all, there’s comfort too. Poppy’s hand in mine. The quiet promise that we’ll face whatever comes next together. That nothing has really changed.

After a while, she exhales softly, leaning back in her chair. “You know,” she says, her voice a little steadier now, “there is one person who might have known. Mum’s old friend… what was her name again? The one who used to visit at Christmas with those terrible makeup sets that

gave us a rash.”

I huff out a small laugh. “Margaret. Gods, yes. She used to hug us so hard I thought she’d crack my ribs.”

Poppy smiles faintly at the memory. “She always smelled like flowers and sherry.”

“Mostly sherry.”

That earns a snort, but her face sobers again. “Maybe she knew something. Maybe Mum

confided in her back then.”

I shake my head. “You know what Mum was like. She wouldn’t have told anyone. She’d have died before admitting she needed help to conceive.”

Poppy’s lips twist in a sad smile. “True. She’d rather convince everyone she’d achieved the impossible by sheer willpower alone.”

“Exactly.” I manage a small laugh. “And Dad would’ve gone along with it, pretending to believe her because it made her happy.”

The image makes us both laugh, breaking some of the tension.

“She’d be mortified if she saw me now,” I add, half–joking. “Living with four men, all of them shirtless half the time, and everyone in the village knowing it.”

Poppy bursts out laughing, her eyes shining. “She’d probably throw herself at a priest and beg for an intervention.”

“She’d call it a phase and start shoving dating profiles for respectable accountants under my

nose.”

“Or lawyers,” Poppy adds, grinning. “She always thought lawyers sounded impressive.”

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I snort, shaking my head. “Oh, she’d have lost her mind if she knew I was back with Ryder.”

Poppy’s grin widens, eyes bright with mischief. “Oh, absolutely. She’d have marched straight over here and demanded to see him herself. You know, she never trusted that boy.”

I drop my voice into my best impression of Dad’s deep rumble, folding my arms over my chest. “That Ryder lad’s a good–for–nothing troublemaker, Paige. Head full of nonsense, heart full of excuses.”

Poppy bursts out laughing, slapping her knee. “Oh my goodness, that’s perfect! Wait… let me.” She clears her throat and drops into Mum’s sharp tone, the one she used when she was ranting. “You’re far too good for him, young lady! You’ll end up heartbroken or pregnant, possibly both!”

That does it. I’m laughing so hard my stomach hurts. “You’ve definitely nailed her tone,” I manage between breaths. “She wasn’t exactly wrong, though. I always waited for her to say, ‘I told you so,’ but she never did.”

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 w*nker. He looked at me like I was something he stepped in, and he used to say you should have been named Weed, as it was a more fitting name. Said you always popped up

where you weren’t wanted.”

“Yeah,” she snorts. “Because I could see how uncomfortable he made you every time you’d leave the house, and he’d be there, waiting like a creep. I swear he used to hide in the bush waiting for you to come out.”

The two of us burst into real, unrestrained laughter again that leaves our eyes watering and our cheeks sore. For the first time since this morning, the heaviness in my chest actually

lifts.

When we finally settle, I shake my head, wiping away tears of laughter. “You know, Dad would’ve eventually come around. He always did. He’d pretend he hated Ryder on principle, but secretly, he liked him.”

Poppy nods, smiling softly. “He respected anyone who could keep up with you. Even if he never admitted it out loud.”

I can almost hear his voice again, that familiar mix of dry humour and love. ‘That boy’s

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trouble, Paige, but at least he’s your kind of trouble.‘ If only he knew.

Warmth spreads through me, chasing away the ache that’s lingered since the creek.

“Yeah,” I say quietly. “He really would’ve liked him, in the end.”

“And Mum?” Poppy arches an eyebrow.

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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 path?”

“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 letting sunlight into a dark room.

When we finally calm down, I lean my elbows on the counter and smile softly. “She’d have adored Jaxon, though.”

Poppy’s expression softens instantly. “Oh, she’d have been obsessed. He’d never have stood

a chance.”

“She’d have knitted him tiny sweaters for every holiday and probably insisted on making him eat enough vegetables for three kids.”

We both chuckle again, but this time the quiet that follows is gentle, not the heavy silence of loss, but one filled with memories.

I glance sideways at her, catching the faint pink in 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 both.”

Her mouth opens, then closes again. “You don’t hold back, do you?”

“Not with you,” I tease, grinning. “So come on. 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 clever that doesn’t make you feel stupid. He listens, explains things properly, and never talks down to anyone. And Leo…”

Her voice softens, and she glances toward the window, her eyes unfocused in that dreamy

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way that only happens when she’s thinking about someone who makes her heart skip. “Leo’s quiet, but he’s solid. He doesn’t say much, but he’s always there. I can feel the bond growing stronger every day. It’s steady, not overpowering anymore, 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 didn’t think I’d ever find something like that, and now there are two men in my life who both make me feel… safe. Seen.”

“You deserve that,” I tell her.

She smiles, emotion flickering across her face. “It’s not just them, though. I actually like the work. Learning how to treat shifters, mix herbs and use healing energy instead of just relying on medicine, it’s fascinating. And Jake keeps saying 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 could actually 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 showing up lately. I love uni, and being a vet was my dream, but I feel I can make a bigger difference here. I feel like I’ve found my place.”

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