Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Leah’s POV

“Mummy!”

My eyes fluttered as I felt something warm pressed against my cheek.

“Mummy wake up!”

The sound of my little angels drifted through my subconscious, and when I opened my eyes, I was greeted with smiles brighter than the morning sun.

The sight instantly melted away the remnants of my nightmare.

“Mummy!” They chorused, moving to hug me from every direction.

Aiden wrapped his tiny arms around my head, Ethan nestled into my chest, while Mila held onto my arm.

I couldn’t help but laugh, overwhelmed by how adorable they were.

“How are my three little chipmunks doing?” I mused, letting them settle on my lap as I sat up.

“We’re not chipmunks.” Aiden raised a finger, always quick to correct me. “We’re pups!”

“Uh-uh!” Ethan shook his head, “I’m a full-grown wolf! Ahooo!!”

“I’m a princess!” Mila added, her dimples popping. “Princesses are cool!”

“Well,” I smiled, fondly ruffling their hair, “You can be anything you want to be, as long as you put your mind to it.”

“Okay, mummy!”

My bundles of joy tackled me into a hug, and we dropped back against the bed together, laughing as Ethan began a pillow fight.

It’s been six years.

Six years since the night I fled the Silvermane pack.

Six years since I almost lost hope, but then I was blessed beyond measure.

I hated that the past still found its way into my dreams. Although they say time heals, some wounds leave scars that never truly disappear.

Those memories were my scars, and over the years, I had learned to live with them.

It didn’t help that my children each carried a piece of the one person I had tried so hard to forget.

Aiden had his father’s hazel eyes. Ethan inherited his golden-brown hair, and Mila…she got his deep dimples.

After our pillow fight, the triplets and I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Aiden helped me with the tools I needed, while Ethan and Mila fought over who would mix the pancake batter.

“You did it yesterday!” Mila pointed at him, her lips jutting out in a frustrated pout.

“Only for a minute!” Ethan shot back, mirroring her expression.

I shook my head at them. It’s always one thing or the other with these two.

“Okay okay,” I cleared my throat, coming in between them as I strapped my apron. “Why don’t you guys take turns? One minute each.”

Aiden nodded in agreement. “I’ll count.”

Mila thoughtfully hummed, narrowing her eyes as she looked between Ethan and me.

On the other hand, Ethan stroked his nonexistent beard, side-eyeing her as well.

This went on for a few seconds.

“Deal!” They finally said, and I crouched to give them a high-five.

“Alright.” I straightened up, smiling from ear to ear. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

I put on some music as we cooked, and occasionally, I caught Aiden singing along with the lyrics of some songs.

Ethan eventually left the pancake mix to dance across the kitchen floor, and Mila giggled anytime a bit of batter splashed on her little apron.

These moments were everything to me, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and the triplets immediately turned it into a race to see who could answer it first. I couldn’t help but laugh as Aiden reached the door ahead of his siblings, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

“Be careful!” I called after them, lowering the heat beneath the stove.

“Mummy!” Mila shouted. “It’s Mr. Andre!”

“I’m coming!” I replied, switching off the stove completely.

Mr. Andre was the town’s mailman, and I couldn’t help feeling a little surprised to see him. I wasn’t expecting any mail.

“Good morning, Dr. Leah.” The older man smiled warmly when he saw me.

“Good morning, Mr. Andre,” I mirrored his expression, glancing at the sealed envelopes in his hands. “I didn’t know I had mail.”

“These require personal delivery.” He said with a chuckle.

I accepted the envelopes before glancing over my shoulder to make sure the kids weren't making a mess in the kitchen.

“Thank you,”

“You’re most welcome,” he tipped his hat. “Anything for our favorite doctor.”

“Oh, stop” I waved him off, unable to hide the warmth spreading across my cheeks. “You’re too kind.”

Mr. Andre laughed at my expense, his weathered face creasing with amusement.

“Not at all. If anything, I don’t think this town says it enough.” He glanced past me toward the kitchen, where the sounds of laughter drifted into the hallway. “Speaking of which… if you have a little free time today, would you mind taking a look at my granddaughter?”

Concern immediately settled over my features. “Of course. Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing serious.” He scratched the back of his neck. “She woke up with a rash on her arms this morning. She’s been complaining that it itches terribly. My wife wanted to bring her to your clinic, but she’s running a fever herself.”

“I’ll stop by after I finish at the clinic.”

Relief flooded his face.

“Thank you, Doctor Leah. You’ve always been there for us.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Just then, three tiny heads peeked around my legs.

“Hi again, Mr. Andre!” Ethan greeted excitedly.

The older man’s face softened. “Hello again, sweetheart. Hope you fellas haven’t been causing your mummy any trouble?”

“We’re not troublemakers,” Aiden corrected with complete seriousness.

Mr. Andre nodded firmly. “You sure aren’t.”

Mila tugged gently on his sleeve. “Is Lily sick?”

He glanced at me before responding. “A little.”

Her tiny brows knitted together. “Will she be okay?”

“I’m sure she will,” he assured gently. “Especially if your mummy takes a look at her.”

Mila nodded solemnly before looking up at me, her blue eyes glinting with pride. “Mummy always makes everyone better.”

My heart warmed at her words.

“Awnn,” I crouched beside them, brushing a loose strand of hair away from Mila’s face. “We’ll make sure Lily feels better soon.”

“Can we visit her?” Aiden asked.

“If she’s feeling up to having visitors.”

“I’ll draw her a picture!” Ethan jumped in his spot.

“I’ll give her my bunny,” Mila offered without hesitation.

I smiled, unable to contain the affection swelling inside me.

“I’ll tell my wife to prepare a feast,” Mr. Andre adjusted his cap before taking a step back. “I won’t keep you any longer. Have a wonderful day, Doctor.”

“You too, Mr. Andre.”

After waving him goodbye, I closed the front door behind us. The triplets immediately surrounded me again.

“What are those?” Ethan pointed at the envelopes.

“Letters,” I replied.

“From who?” Aiden asked curiously.

“We’ll find out later.” I placed the letters on the shelf in the living room, well out of their reach. “Let’s finish breakfast first.”

Together, we returned to the kitchen, and as the pancakes finished cooking, my mind wandered back to the life we’d built here.

After I fled the Silvermane Pack, I didn't know where to go. I wandered for days, surviving on whatever I could find before eventually collapsing outside a small human town.

An elderly couple had taken me in without asking questions, nursing me back to health until I recovered. They assumed the injuries covering my body were the result of an abusive relationship, and I never found the courage to tell them the truth.

Still, I was treated better by humans than members of my own pack.

With their encouragement, I resumed the medical studies I’d abandoned years ago. Between my knowledge of herbs from the pack and human medicine, I gradually earned the town’s trust.

The small loan I’d taken to open my clinic had been terrifying back then. Now, I was only months away from paying it off.

Once that was settled, I planned to take the children on a trip. Maybe we’d travel from city to city, exploring mountains, forests, and beaches together. I wanted them to experience a world far bigger than the one I’d grown up in.

It was a simple dream. But I couldn’t help but feel excited whenever it crossed my mind.

They were growing up so fast, and most people were surprised by how intelligent they were at such a young age. It wouldn’t be long before their werewolf traits began to surface, and when that day came, I’d have to teach them everything I knew.

We finished our meal, and I sat back as the kids cleared the dining table. Aiden took the lead as the first, and while they were busy, I picked up the envelopes from the shelf.

The first one caught my eye, and every nerve in my body went rigid.

My heart skipped a beat, my fingers trembling as they traced the symbol stamped into the crimson wax.

It was a wolf standing beneath a crescent moon.

Something I never expected to see again.

Silvermane.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with a million and one reasons why they would send me a letter.

How did it even get here?

I had made sure to keep my tracks hidden from the werewolf world.

So why?

“Well,” I muttered, taking a deep breath. “There’s only one way to find out.”

With that, I broke the seal, dread pooling in my stomach as I slowly unfolded the letter.

Leah Ross,By order of Alpha Axel Carter, you are hereby summoned to return to the Silvermane Pack immediately…The words blurred before my eyes, and nowhere did it explain the reason for the summons.

Shit.

After six years, Axel had finally remembered I existed.

But why would he summon me now?

I set the letter down, my chest heaving as I forced myself to calm down. Then I reached for the second envelope.

It bore the same emblem, but this one was addressed to…

Dr. W.To the esteemed Dr. W,The Silvermane Pack formally requests your presence to treat a patient whose condition has exceeded the abilities of our healers…My brows furrowed as I considered the purpose of both letters. They were addressed to two different people, yet little did they know that the orphan they mocked for years was also the renowned Dr. W.

It was the alias I used to anonymously treat werewolf patients outside my clinic. The extra pay certainly helped, but now I feared I might have somehow compromised myself.

Even then, I had never shown my face to any patient as Dr. W. I never left behind my scent, and I had gone as far as disguising my voice.

There was no way anyone could connect Dr. W to Leah.

…Could they?

At that moment, I couldn’t help but think back to the nightmare, my grip on the envelope tightening.

Had Axel somehow found out?

Was this his way of luring me back for prosecution?

“Mummy?”

A tiny hand slipped into mine, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked down to find three pairs of innocent eyes staring up at me.

Ethan tilted his head, his gaze softening.

“Why do you look scared?”

“Oh, my babies.” The knot in my stomach tightened as I knelt before them, gathering all three into my arms. “It’s nothing.”

They hugged me back without a word, only making my worries grow.

What bothered me most was the fact that Zara was probably Luna by now. And if she discovered Axel had children outside the pack, she wouldn’t hesitate to harm them.

The thought made my stomach churn.

I pulled my babies closer, my chest burning with fresh resolve.

I wouldn’t let anyone lay a finger on my children.

Whether Axel had somehow uncovered my identity or these letters were nothing more than a coincidence, I would never gamble with my children’s lives.

Silvermane belonged to my past.

But now that the past was bleeding into the present, it was time for me to stand my ground as well.