Chapter 23

The three boys stood there, identical in every striking detail to Alpha Karl. White hair, the same sharp nose, the same piercing gaze. Every feature was his, as though someone had carved them out of his very blood.

His entourage stiffened, brows shooting upward in shock, whispering amongst themselves. For them, it was a jolt. For Karl—it was a dagger straight to his chest.

Slowly, as though afraid the vision before him would vanish, Alpha Karl lowered himself onto one knee until his eyes met the level of the eldest boy.

“What is your name?” he asked, his deep voice softer than the boys could have imagined.

“My name is Conall,” the child answered brightly, stringing an arrow to his bow with childlike determination. “Conn for short.”

Karl’s throat worked as he swallowed, staring at the miniature mirror of himself. “And are these your brothers? Are you… triplets?”

Conall grinned, flashing teeth. “We’re actually six! Six adorable bundles—that’s what Mom calls us!”

The words struck Karl like a blow. His jaw went slack. Six. Sextuplets. And these three… these three looked exactly like him.

“What is your mother’s name? Or your surname?” Karl pressed, trying to keep his voice calm though his heart was thundering.

Conall froze. The sparkle in his eyes dimmed as his mother’s voice echoed in his head. Never tell strangers anything about me. Never. She had been clear—there were men in the world who might want to hurt her. And he had promised to protect her.

“No,” Conall said firmly, shaking his head. “No, I can’t tell you. I’m not allowed to give strangers our information. Especially about Mom.”

“Watch your mouth, boy!” a maid from Karl’s entourage snapped sharply.

“Do not interfere,” Karl snarled, his growl echoing like thunder. The woman instantly recoiled, bowing her head.

Karl’s eyes traced over the boy again. The snowy hair. The strong line of his nose. The unmistakable aura. He rubbed his eyes once, twice—yet the children didn’t vanish. Could it be? Could Lois’s children be mine?

His chest tightened. The thought was absurd. I am cursed… damned to never father heirs. How could I, of all men, produce six healthy children? His lips parted, muttering aloud, “Impossible. This is fantasy.”

Still, the suspicion clawed at him. Every royal bore a mark at the back of the ear, a pearl-like ridge of flesh. If he touched it, he would know.

Slowly, he reached toward Conall’s ear—but the boy slapped his hand away with surprising force.

“Strangers don’t touch us,” Conall snapped.

Before Karl could respond, Cahir stepped forward, baring small teeth in a protective growl. “If you try, Mom will turn into her wolf and tear you apart!”

Karl froze, his hand dropping back. He couldn’t afford to frighten them.

Instead, he shifted, lowering himself further, until he crouched behind Conall, who still fumbled with his bowstring.

“Here, Conn,” Karl murmured gently. “Imagine you’re catching a bird for your mother. Focus on the target ahead. Hold steady.”

Conall’s small hands steadied. Coen and Cahir bounced beside him, chanting, “Go Conn! Go Conn!”

Karl guided softly. “Feel the bow in your palm. Draw the string back. Keep your eyes locked on the bullseye. Your strength must never waver.”

For the first time in years, his voice was warm, patient—almost fatherly. The connection was strange and foreign, yet it felt… right.

“With a deep breath,” Karl whispered, “you let go.”

Conall exhaled and released. The arrow cut through the air, spinning, slicing the silence until—

Thunk.

Bullseye.

“Yes!” the guard roared from the other side.

The boys screamed in delight, swarming Conall and lifting him as though he had conquered the world. “You did it, Conn!”

Karl’s lips twitched upward—then broke into a smile. A smile. The first his entourage had seen in years.

“Did His Majesty just smile?” one whispered in disbelief.

And before he could guard himself, the boys threw their arms around him, clinging to him as though he belonged to them. The warmth of their embrace melted a layer of the ice around his heart he thought long dead.

“You just need to keep practicing,” Karl told them, ruffling Cahir’s hair. “You’ll all get there.”

“You must be strong like our dad!” Coen chirped suddenly.

Karl’s heart lurched violently. Dad. They had a father. Not him.

He forced his voice steady. “And who… who is your father?”

Coen beamed proudly. “He’s a warrior! He’s in the war right now. When he comes back, I’ll show him my skills!”

Karl’s chest ached. He wanted to press, but before he could—

Jacinta appeared, running breathlessly toward the stage, slipping out of Wolfe’s grip. Her eyes darted to Karl, her heart pounding as Wolfe’s whisper rang in her head: That is the Alpha King of Hale.

Panic seized her.

“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty!” Jacinta cried, rushing forward, prying arrows from the boys’ hands. “They wandered here on my watch. This is my fault entirely.”

“Hey!” she snapped as the boys clung to their bows, resisting.

“Wait, he’s cool! We like him,” Conall argued, hugging his bow. “You said you’d be gone two hours—it’s early!”

Karl’s gaze lingered on Jacinta. “You must be their mother.”

Jacinta froze, her lips twitching into a nervous, forced smile. “Hmm… nyeahh,” she lied, awkwardly.

She bowed quickly. “Forgive them, Majesty. They’re just children, they don’t understand.”

Karl’s eyes softened faintly. “It’s fine. I enjoyed their company. You could leave them with me. Do you not think I’m qualified to look after them?”

Jacinta’s throat tightened. How could she refuse a king? Yet the danger of the boys slipping Lois’s name was like a dagger hanging over her head.

Swallowing hard, she forced out, “I appreciate your grace, Your Majesty, but I’m finished with my duties for the day. We must be getting home.”

Karl studied her, suspicion in his eyes. “I’d like to meet the others. I heard you birthed six. That is… remarkable.”

“Yes! You should meet Cera, Conan, and Ciri!” Coen blurted happily.

“And our mo—”

Jacinta’s hand shot out, clamping over his mouth before the fatal word could slip. Her smile trembled. “You needn’t trouble yourself, Your Majesty. We are not worthy of your presence.”

“Don’t say that,” Karl replied firmly, his eyes narrowing. “I will come. Before I leave this city—I will visit. Is that agreeable to you?”

“No!” Jacinta blurted before she could stop herself. Her face flushed with unease, her words stumbling. “I-I mean… no, Your Majesty… it wouldn’t be proper.”

Karl’s brows furrowed, curiosity darkening his gaze. Her frantic refusal only fueled his suspicion.