Kieran's povI studied him for a moment, searching his face for any sign of deception. His jaw was tight, his muscles tense with the effort of resisting my hold, but there was no flicker of dishonesty in his gaze.I didn’t believe them.“You want to keep playing this game?” I asked. “Fine. Then let’s make things clear. I know everything now, Tobias. I know how you orchestrated the switch. I know what you’ve done. And I know exactly where my son has been this entire time.”Tobias’ eyes darkened, but he said nothing.I leaned in just a little closer, letting my presence suffocate him. “Say your goodbyes,” I murmured. “Because I’m taking my family back.”A flicker of something crossed Tobias’ face—something close to fear. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by a smirk that was all too familiar.“You really think it’s that simple?” he asked, tilting his head. “Tell me, Kieran… how do you plan on running two families at once?”I froze at that, my face going blank His smirk widened.
Naya's POV I was going to be sick.The room was spinning, my heartbeat a deafening roar in my ears. My hands trembled as I clutched at the doorframe, my mind blank except for one singular, gut-wrenching thought—Aiden was gone and Kieran knew where I was.How? When? Why? Who would do this? When did Kieran find out?I could barely think through the fog of fear clouding my mind, but one thing was certain—I had to find my son. My body moved before my thoughts could catch up. I grabbed my coat off the hanger, barely noticing the rain still pelting down in heavy sheets outside. My vision tunneled as I reached for the doorknob."Naya! Stop!" Tobias’s voice cut through my panic, sharp and commanding. He grabbed my wrist before I could open the door. "Where the hell do you think you’re going?"I wrenched my arm away from him, my voice a raw, broken whisper. "I have to go to the police.""Now? In this weather? Naya, listen to yourself—""My son is missing!" I shrieked, my voice cracking und
Naya's POV Morning came too soon. The sun’s rays filtered through the blinds, warm and indifferent. My head pounded, my throat raw from crying. I sat up, disoriented, but the sharp reminder of reality settled in almost immediately. Aiden was still gone.The thought sent me into motion. I stumbled out of bed, hands shaking as I grabbed the nearest bag and started shoving clothes into it.Tobias entered the room, his face weary. “What are you doing?”“I’m leaving.”His brows furrowed. “Leaving?”“I can’t stay here. I’m going back home.”Tobias crossed the room in three long strides and grabbed my wrist, stopping me. “Running again?”I yanked my arm free. “I’m not running.”He scoffed. “Feels like you are.”Anger flared in my chest. “I am trying to do something. What am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait?”“I’m already following leads, Naya. I went back to the police station this morning. They’re looking into it.”I shook my head. “That’s not enough.”Tobias exhaled slowly, his hands o
Naya's PovI wasn’t sure what I had expected when I rushed back home, but when I stepped through the door and saw him standing there, holding our son in his arms, my entire world stopped.Kieran.Tall, imposing, and utterly unchanged by the years that had passed. If anything, time had only sharpened his edges, and made his presence more commanding. His broad shoulders filled the space, and his piercing gaze was fixed solely on me.I froze.Relief surged through me the moment I laid eyes on Aiden, safe and sound in Kieran’s arms. But that relief quickly turned into something else—anxiety, nervousness, the feeling of my ribs caving under the weight of our past.“Naya,” Kieran said, his voice smooth yet laced with something unreadable. “You look well.”I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat grow. “Kieran.” His name fell from my lips, helpless and uncertain. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, just as he couldn't from me.The years had done nothing to lessen his effect on me
Naya's povI gripped Aiden tighter, my arms forming a protective barrier around him as my entire world tilted off its axis."Why? Why would they do this? Why would they take Aiden and then give me Julian?"Kieran's gaze darkened. "Because they were trying to hide him, Naya. And now that the truth is unraveling, they’ll do anything to get him back."I swallowed hard, my mind racing. There was only one person who had that kind of knowledge—Elder Walsh. The one who had first warned me to leave when I was still part of that world.The one who had helped me disappear.But we had cut ties after getting Aiden back. Hadn’t we?I wanted to believe that. I needed to believe that. Yet, if Kieran was right, it meant someone else had known about my son long before I had.The door slammed open, and I jumped.Tobias stood there, drenched in rain, his eyes immediately finding mine. "What the hell is going on?"Kieran didn’t turn to face him, but I saw the slight smirk play on his lips. "Perfect ti
What’s mine! He claims. When he could probably be the reason I lost my child in the first place and very well be the one responsible for me losing both of them in the future. As if he had done something morally right, Kieran just stood by the door waiting to enter and the child was confused, he was probably wondering why he was there in the first place. The resemblance between the two brothers was without a doubt an ideal photocopy, and yet, there was the faint difference in their expression, but more importantly, the whisk of whispers in the air, our neighbours poking their heads out of almost everywhere as they were eager to get a glance. “So, are you going to let us in, or do we just stand outside and wait until people start asking questions out in the open,” he said. A move well played, and a headache well gained. Why the fuck do I have to be in the middle of this crisis now of all time. “Come in. I wouldn't want anyone calling the police about a woman who threw her child ou
Naya's POVThe weight of the past few days pressed heavily on my chest. I sat at the kitchen table, hands curled around a cup of tea I had no intention of drinking. My mind swirled with the events that had unfolded, each revelation more staggering than the last.Aiden. Julian. My two sons. Separated, switched, and moulded into different lives. And now, standing at the precipice of truth, I was faced with a reality I had never imagined: I had met Julian.Julian.It made sense now— He had adapted so quickly to my presence, why he had been less frightened than he should have been, why something about him had felt… off. I had been nurturing a child who had already been trained to be strong, to be emotionless, to be the mirror image of an Alpha when he wasn’t one. And Aiden, my real Aiden, had been thrown back into his place with barely a whisper.I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms.Kieran had done this for a reason. I couldn't go a day without him in my life.And Kiera
Naya's POV Tobias made good on his word, despite Tobias’ anger. The next morning, he was at my side, Aiden’s small hand in his, as we stood in front of Kieran’s sleek black car.Kieran leaned against the hood, arms crossed, watching us with unreadable eyes. The weight of the past, of our shared history, hung between us like an unspoken noose waiting to hang me. He didn’t say anything at first, simply taking in the sight of me, Tobias, and Aiden together.Then, slowly, a smirk curved his lips. “So, you’re finally ready to come home?”I swallowed hard, tightening my grip on Aiden’s hand. “Only for a month,” I reminded him. “That’s all.”Kieran’s smirk didn’t falter. If anything, it grew. “whatever you say Naya.”As I climbed into the car, the weight of what I was doing settled deep in my bones. Tobias got in beside me, silent but tense. Aiden curled up against my side, his little fingers gripping my sweater.I had made my choice.Now, I had to live with it.—The moment I stepped p
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