.Naya's POVThe plane hums with a low, steady vibration.Outside, thick clouds stretch endlessly in every direction, darkening as we move deeper into the night.I press a hand to my belly, exhaling slowly.We are almost there.Almost free.Tobias sits beside me, his posture stiff. Even now, he can’t relax. His eyes scan every passenger, every flight attendant, every tiny movement.“Do you think they followed us?” I ask quietly.He doesn’t respond.And that’s all the answer I need.I shift uncomfortably in my seat, my back aching. The baby—or babies—move restlessly inside me, adding to the unease already coiling in my chest.I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.Then, suddenly—Pain.Sharp and deep, shooting through my lower back like a knife.I suck in a breath, gripping the armrest.Tobias notices immediately. “What’s wrong?”I try to shake my head to tell him it’s okay. But then—Another pain.And this one is worse.My vision blurs. My breath hitches.And then it hits
Naya's POV (One Week Later)The hospital felt too quiet the day we left. I held my babies close, one in each arm, their warmth filling my chest with joy as I snuggled against their wool covered heads.Julian and Aiden maximoff.They were the best babies in the world.Tobias had taken care of the paperwork, settled things with the hospital staff. I was too tired to ask what he told them, too lost in the hazy aftermath of birth to care about much else. After a week in the hospital—one boring week filled with sterile corridors and whispered reassurances between them and the kids—I thought we might finally have a moment to catch our breath. Tobias and I, weary but determined, decide to settle in this new country, where I can hope to rebuild my messy life.Somewhere the kids could grow peacefully.The drive was smooth for the first few miles. The twins were sleeping in their car seats, and for the first time in days, I let myself breathe. The city stretched behind us, fading into ope
Naya's POV I stopped eating. Tobias didn’t let it slide.“You’re gonna eat something,” he told me on the second day, setting a plate of food in front of me.I ignored it.“Fine.” He grabbed a fork, scooped up some of the rice, and shoved it in his own mouth, chewing with exaggerated slowness. “See? Normal human behavior. You should try it.”I didn’t react.He sighed, running a hand over his face. “I swear to God, Naya, if you starve yourself to death, I will drag your soul back just to kill you myself.”Nothing.The days bled together. I stayed in the nursery most of the time, sitting in the rocking chair, staring at the empty cribs. Sometimes I touched the blankets just to feel something real beneath my fingertips.One night, Tobias came in and found me clutching one of the baby dolls, cradling it in my arms like it was real.I was humming. I don’t remember starting.“Naya,” he said, stepping closer.I tightened my grip on the doll, rocking slightly.He crouched in front of me, his
John's POVThe school bus hummed steadily along the quiet coastal road, sunlight reflecting off its yellow frame as it navigated the gentle curves of the cliffs. The scent of the sea mixed with the warm, salty breeze, and the distant cries of seagulls carried through the air.Inside, children chattered excitedly, their voices blending into a cheerful hum. Some talked about their favourite cartoons, others about their parents, and a few giggled over silly games.Today was my neighbour Aiden's first day at school, and I was tasked with closely monitoring him. If it were other kids, I wouldn't care much, but Aiden happened to be one well-behaved kid I liked, there was nothing for the Misses to fear; I would be Aiden's protector from this cruel world, just as I had promised, besides it was more than okay to have him attending the same school as myself.“Good morning, Aiden,” I greeted, but he bashfully looked away, running towards an empty seat in the back. Aiden sat near the window, sm
Naya’s POVThe morning had been a mess of anxiety.I told myself it was expected that every mother worried about their child’s first day of school and that every parent felt that crushing ache when they had to let go. But deep down, I knew this was different.I wasn’t just any mother. Aiden wasn’t just any child.I had already lost a son before.And I had spent years fearing it would happen again.Tobias had tried to reassure me, standing solid beside me as we waved Aiden off to school. I had barely slept the night before, checking and rechecking his backpack, ensuring his clothes were perfect, and giving him too many hugs.Now, standing in the kitchen with a cup of coffee I wasn’t drinking, I stared blankly at the clock. Each minute stretched, clawing at my nerves.Tobias watched me from the couch, legs stretched out, arms crossed, pretending to read a newspaper. He hadn’t turned a page in ten minutes.“You can’t sit at the window all day,” he said.I scowled. “I’m not sitting at the
Agent Callum’s POVI knew this mission was going to be a pain in the ass the second we grabbed the kid.It should have been simple—retrieve the Alpha’s long-lost son, clean him up, hand him over, and be done with it. A textbook recovery operation.But from the moment we brought the kid in, nothing felt right.We had dumped him on the medical cot as soon as we arrived, letting the pack healer do her thing. He was a mess—dirty, bruised, his tiny body curled in on itselfThe woman ran a hand over him, checking for wounds. “Mild concussion,” she murmured. “No serious injuries.”Good. That meant he’d be fit to see the Alpha soon, and we could be done with this.But then the kid woke up.And all hell broke loose.---His eyes fluttered open, dark lashes blinking slowly.At first, he just stared at the ceiling, his small face scrunched up in confusion. Then his nose twitched, and his expression shifted—wariness, unease. His fingers twitched against the blanket.Then his eyes flickered to u
Kieran’s POVThe drive back to the manor was tense.Julian sat in the back seat, bundled in a thick blanket, his small form pressed into the leather upholstery. His hands were tucked into his lap, gripping the fabric of his new clothes like a lifeline.He hadn’t said a word.Not when they changed him.Not when they wrapped him in the blanket.Not when I had crouched in front of him and told him we were going home.His silence wasn’t normal.The boy I remembered—the son that was kidnapped just three days ago—was never this quiet. He was small but fierce and stubborn, always asking questions and always challenging even the biggest of warriors.But this child?This child was barely breathing.I watched him from the front seat, my fingers drumming against my knee. His eyes were glassy unfocused, darting around the car like he was mapping an escape route. His body was tense, stiff as a board like he expected something to hurt him at any second.Every few minutes, his hands would tremble,
Kieran's POVI wasn’t going to rely on guesswork.I needed a professional.Dr Holden arrived the following day. He was an older man with greying hair and a kind of calm, unreadable expression that made it impossible to express his thoughts. He was a child psychologist, the best in his field, and if anyone could figure out what was going on, it was him.I stood off to the side, watching as he carefully approached the bed where Julian sat.“Hello, Julian,” he said gently. “My name is Dr. Holden. I’m here to help.”Julian’s fingers curled a little tighter around the blanket.Dr. Holden crouched slightly, keeping his voice slow and measured. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”Nothing. The boy didn’t even blink. He just shuffled closer to the wall and sniffled.Dr. Holden glanced at me before continuing, “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk yet. I know this situation is very confusing. But I promise you’re safe.”Still nothing.Dr. Holden straightened, adjusting his glasses. “It’s s
Naya's POV Tobias stepped forward, his face set in a hard line. “Back off, you Old bastard,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ve got the wrong kid.”The Elder chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think so, Tobias,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “I know exactly who I have. That’s why I waited for the star of the show to arrive.”One of the Elder’s men stepped forward, dragging someone behind him. My heart skipped a beat.It was Julian.Isadora screamed, her face contorting with anguish. “Julian!” she cried, her voice cracking. “What did you do to him?”The Elder smiled coldly. “Don’t worry, my dear,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “We haven’t harmed him… yet.”Isadora turned to her father, her eyes pleading. “Please, Father,” she begged. “I don’t want to be a part of this anymore. Not if it means hurting Julian. He’s the only family I have left.”The Elder’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of cold fury. “Silence, Isadora,” he snapped. “You will do as you’re told.”He turned back to
Naya's pov I woke up with a gasp, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. The last thing I remembered was Julian saying something about Aiden being in danger, and then… nothing. Just blackness. I pushed the blanket off my lap and sat up, my head throbbing. It felt like a giant was using my skull as a drum.“Ugh,” I groaned, pressing my hand to my forehead. The cottage was silent, eerily so. Where was everyone?I stumbled off the couch, my legs wobbly. “Tobias? Aiden?” I called out, my voice trembling. No answer.Panic clawed at my throat. Everything was a mess. The cushions were askew, a half-finished drawing lay abandoned on the coffee table, and the air was thick with a sense of… dread.I ran to the window, peering out into the fading light. The car was gone. My breath hitched in my throat. He’d left. He’d taken the others and left me behind.Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I felt abandoned, useless. But I couldn’t afford to fall apart. Aiden w
Tobias’s POVThe city air still clung to my clothes, a greasy film of exhaust and hurried footsteps. I’d spent the afternoon weaving through crowded streets, trying to finalize the last-minute details for the wedding.Naya deserved the best, and I was determined to give it to her, even if it meant battling grumpy florists and haggling with caterers who thought they were serving ambrosia instead of fried chicken. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my mental checklist of seating arrangements and cake flavors. It was a message from the Elder.My stomach clenched as I read the words. They were laced with a thinly veiled threat, a demand for allegiance. He wanted me to join him, to fall in line with his plans, or he would… well, he didn’t explicitly say what he’d do, but the implication was clear: he'd make my life, Naya’s life, Aiden’s life, a living hell."Don't blame me when everything falls into pieces," the message concluded.I scoffed, a bitter sound in the busy street
Aiden's POV I trudged towards the front of the school, my heart heavy. I couldn't believe Julie had betrayed me like this. I couldn't believe he had said all those things to me.As I reached the front of the school, I saw Isadora waiting for me. She looked pale and anxious."Aiden," she said, her voice trembling. "We have to go. Now."I frowned. "What's wrong?" I asked."There's no time to explain," she said, grabbing my hand. "We have to leave. Your Grandfather wants to see you."I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay here, at least until I could figure out how to fix things with Julie. But Isadora was pulling me towards the car, and I knew I couldn't argue with her.We drove in silence, my anxiety growing with every mile. Isadora kept glancing at me, her eyes filled with fear.Finally, we reached the estate. I dreaded spending even one more day in that house.But as we pulled up to the gates, something strange happened. A black car pulled up behind us, blocking our path.A tall ma
Aiden's POV Three days. That's all it was supposed to be. Three days of pretending to be Julian, three days of nasty tutors and cold rooms, three days of holding in all the things that made me… me. I’d counted every minute, every second, just so Julie could have a break. But those three days felt like a lifetime.I tried my best to be Julian. I sat up straight, didn't fidget, and answered all the questions the tutors threw at me, even when my brain felt like it was going to explode till my voice, so unused to talking for long periods went hoarae5. Mistress Thorne still looked at me like I was a bug she wanted to squish, but she didn't hit me again. Maybe because she didn't want to overdo it.I had to hold in a snort of disgust.I hated that it could still happen and the fear it sent through my body whenever I even thought she might pull her hands into her robes with the cane But the worst part was being away from mom and dad. I missed their hugs, their smiles, their silly jokes. I
Julian's POVEven though I was scared, switching with Aiden felt… like breathing after holding my breath for too long. I could almost taste freedom. But as Naya led me towards their little house, my hands trembled. According to what his parents knew,Aiden didn't talk (not that they know he could talk and did so on a semi regular basis now).He used his hands always, signing words I barely knew. What if I messed up? What if Naya saw through my clumsy attempts?Naya squeezed my hand, and I tried to mimic Aiden's bouncy walk, but my legs felt like jelly."You okay, sweetie?" Naya asked, her voice warm. "You're awfully quiet today. More than usual, even for you."My heart hammered. I reached for the small notebook Aiden always carried and scribbled:'Tired. Long day.' I showed it to her, trying to copy Aiden's quick, jerky movements.Naya frowned, her eyes searching mine. "Long day, huh? Did something happen at school? Did someone tease you?"I shook my head, then quickly signed the wor
Aiden's POVLately, Julian hasn’t been the same. I noticed it first at school. He used to sit with me sometimes, even if he pretended not to care. But now, he looks down at the floor a lot, and when I try to talk to him, he just walks away. Not just at school, but even when I visit him with my astral projection. I float into his room, hoping to see that goofy grin or hear him laugh at my silly signs, but he looks through me like I’m not there. Sometimes he doesn’t even answer back.It made my chest hurt. I didn’t know why he was like this. I wanted to help, but Julian wouldn’t let me.One afternoon, I was floating around the house, drifting like a ghost, trying to find him. I peeked into the bathroom, and there he was, standing in front of the mirror—his shirt lifted just a little as he rubbed his arms.I saw it then. The scars. Long, jagged lines running down his arms, hidden beneath his sleeves. They looked red and angry, like wounds that never quite healed. My heart stopped for
Julian's POV I had seen Mom talking to the tall creepy man yesterday. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I could read the low tones of, reverent, “shaman Mhalak's" that fell from her lip.According to my studies, shamans were beings with a great attachment to the spiritual realm and were even said to liaise with the moon goddess!It was honestly cool but the man's aura rubbed the wrong way.The shaman scanned the room, his gaze lingering on me for a moment too long. "Isadora," he said, his voice smooth and oily. "I trust everything is prepared?"Isadora nodded, her face pale. "Yes, Shaman," she said with that reverential tone again. "Everything is ready."The shaman turned his attention back to me, a strange smile spreading across his face. "Julian," he said, "these are your teachers. They will guide you, teach you to be a proper heir."I stared at the two strangers, feeling a knot of fear tighten in my stomach. They looked so serious, so… intense.I gulped, looking back at t
Aiden's pov We talked about everything and nothing, about school and games and the things we liked to eat. It was like a dam had burst inside me, and all the words I had been holding back for so long were finally flooding out.We made a deal that day, a super-secret, extra-special deal. We would learn more about each other, thoroughly. We would switch again, so Julian could experience being with Mom without having to hate her. So he could see her, truly."But… but I can't sign," Julian said, his face falling. "Naya would know.”"You can learn!" I said, my voice full of encouragement. "I can teach you! It's easy!"Julian hesitated. "But… but I'll have to be silent," he said. "And everyone will think I'm weird.""You're already weird, Julie," I teased, poking him in the arm. "But it's okay! I like you weird."Julian grinned. "Okay," he said. "Okay, I'll do it. But you have to teach me everything!"And so, our lessons began. I taught Julian how to sign, showing him the shapes and mo