CHAPTER FOUR

KNOX

I was still standing there like a complete moron, dripping water all over Riley’s hallway floor, heart banging so loud I swear the neighbors could hear it, when the bedroom door at the end of the hall flew open like someone kicked it. Two tiny kids came running out full speed, socks sliding on the wood, almost face-planting but catching themselves at the last second.

“Mommy there’s a huge man!” the boy—Hunter—yelled, eyes huge.

The girl—Harley— got to me first, slamming straight into my legs and hugging my knee like it was a tree. “You smell like motorcycles and cookies and rain!” she said all in one breath, face squished against my wet jeans.

Hunter skidded up right after and wrapped his arms around my other leg, sniffing super loud. “He smells like the big wolf from my dreams Mommy! Like a really really big wolf!”

I swear my brain just stopped. Like someone hit pause. All I could do was look down at these two little humans who had my black hair and Riley’s freckles and my exact silver eyes staring up at me like I was the coolest thing they’d ever seen. My helmet slipped outta my hand and hit the floor with a loud clunk that made Harley jump and giggle.

Riley came flying outta the bedroom in full-on panic mode, hair all messy, mascara already running down her cheeks from crying earlier. “Harley! Hunter! Get away from him right now babies please no no no—”

She tried scooping them up but they ducked under her arms and hid behind my legs like I was their personal shield.

“Nooo Mommy he’s nice!” Harley whined, peeking out with one eye.

Hunter poked his head around too. “He smells super safe Mommy I promise!”

I went down slow on one knee, water still dripping off my hair and jacket, hands shaking so bad I had to clench them so the kids wouldn’t see. I looked at Riley first—she looked like she was gonna pass out then looked back at the twins who were staring at me like I was Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny combined.

“Hey little man…” I said, voice all rough and cracked. “Hey princess… I’m your daddy.”

They both went super quiet for like three whole seconds, just blinking those huge silver-gold eyes at me.

Then Harley’s mouth made a perfect little O and she launched herself at my chest screaming ‘daddy’ so loud my ears rang.

Hunter’s eyes got even bigger and then he tackled me too, tiny arms around my neck, legs kicking. “You’re really really big! And you’re wet!” He said, like that was the coolest thing ever.

I caught them both on instinct, one under each arm, hugging them so tight I was scared I’d hurt them but I couldn’t stop. They were warm and wiggly and smelled like baby shampoo and fruit snacks and Riley’s vanilla lotion and everything I swear my eyes started burning. Actual tears mixed with the rain on my face and I didn’t even care.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here babies,” I whispered into their messy curls, voice shaking badly. “Daddy’s so sorry he was late. I didn’t know, okay? I didn’t know you were here waiting for me. But I’m never leaving again. I swear on everything.”

Harley patted my wet cheek with her tiny hand. “You crying Daddy?”

Hunter sniffed my shirt again. “You smell like Mommy’s old jacket she keeps in the box.”

Riley was standing there shaking hard, hands over her mouth, tears falling so fast they were making little wet spots on her shirt. “Knox put them down,” she said, but it came out all broken and squeaky. “Please just put my babies down.”

I looked up at her, still on my knees with both kids clinging to me like koalas. “They’re ours Riley,” I said quietly but firmly. “Look at them. They know me. They called me Daddy before I even said it.”

She made this hurt little sound and reached for Harley again. “Baby come here sweetie Mommy’s right here—”

“Nooo!!” Harley whined, burying her face in my neck. “I wanna stay with Daddy, he's warm!!”

Hunter copied her and hugged tighter. “Me too!! Daddy’s big and smells good!”

That’s when the front door started opening and people started pouring in for Damien’s stupid engagement party.

First it was just one couple holding a big silver gift bag, laughing and shaking off umbrellas. Then another group with champagne bottles. Then like twenty more all dressed up fancy, talking loud, smelling like expensive perfume. They all stopped dead in the doorway when they saw me on the floor hugging two kids that were literally mini versions of me while Riley stood there crying her eyes out.

Somebody actually dropped a champagne bottle. It smashed everywhere and fizzed all over the floor.

Phones came out so fast it looked like a concert. Like thirty of them filming straight up.

“Is that Knox Blackthorn?”

“No way those kids are literally his twins.”

“This is wild, somebody call TMZ.”

“Yo the dramaaaa.”

I didn’t give a single crap about any of them. I stood up slowly with both kids still stuck to me like glue. Harley had her legs wrapped around my waist giggling,

Hunter hanging off my neck like a backpack asking, “Daddy you ride a motorcycle??”

Riley tried one more time to grab them. “Give me my kids Knox,” she begged, voice shaking so bad.

“Our kids,” I said again, louder this time so everyone heard. “And I’m not putting them down.”

That’s when Damien Voss finally walked in.

He had this big fake smile, holding two champagne glasses, looking around like he owned the place.

Then his eyes landed on me. Landed on Harley waving at him with both hands screaming , “Hi weird man this my Daddy!” Landed on Hunter pointing at me going, “Yeah this is our real Daddy not you!!”

His face went dead white. Like someone sucked every drop of blood out. The champagne glasses shook in his hands.

I felt my fangs drop down slow. My wolf was straight up feral now. I took one step toward him, kids still in my arms, voice low and scary calm.

“Take my mate’s ring off her finger, Voss. Right now.”

The whole apartment went dead silent except for Harley asking super loud, “Daddy what’s a mate?”

Hunter interjected, “Yeah Daddy what’s a mate?? Is it food??”

Riley made this broken little cry and tried to reach for the kids again but they just hugged me tighter. Damien opened his mouth. I closed it. I looked at all the phones filming. Looked at me ready to rip his head off.

And didn’t say one damn word. I smirked, but it was the scary kind.

“I’m waiting.”