Chapter 23: Twin Flames

Snow blanketed the forest around the cabin as winter deepened. The lake beyond the trees lay frozen and silent, reflecting a pale gray sky. Inside, however, life was anything but quiet.

Alex was seven months along now, the twins growing strong enough that their kicks were easy to feel beneath his sweater. Jake had turned the entire bedroom into a warm nest of blankets, pillows, and soft furs. The Stanley Cup jersey from their championship season hung over the bedpost like a lucky charm.

Despite the cozy setting, danger still hovered around them.

One foggy morning a black car rolled slowly up the long snowy drive.

Jake stepped outside first.

The man who stepped out wore a neat coat and carried a medical bag.

“League health check,” he said smoothly. “Routine monitoring for players.”

Jake didn’t move.

The scent was wrong.

Cold silver dust lingered in the air around the man.

“Turn around,” Jake said calmly. “Now.”

The stranger smiled thinly.

“The elders only want a sample of omega blood,” he replied. “Your children could strengthen our kind.”

Alex had stepped onto the porch by then, one hand resting protectively on his belly.

“Not happening,” he said firmly.

The fake doctor suddenly lunged forward with a syringe.

Jake moved faster.

In a blur he twisted the attacker’s wrist and sent the syringe flying into the snow. Within seconds the man was pinned face-down in the driveway.

Police sirens echoed faintly down the road—Brody had already tipped off security.

The spy was taken away in handcuffs, still muttering about the elders’ plans.

By evening the story had exploded online.

Fans flooded social media with support messages:

“Protect the Thorne family!”

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Strength in Numbers

Brody arrived that night with a truck full of groceries and a duffel bag.

“No more isolation,” he declared as he walked in. “Future hockey legends need protection.”

Alex laughed softly.

“Uncle Brody?”

“Absolutely.”

The team rallied behind them. Coaches checked in regularly, and the league quietly increased security around the property.

Inside the cabin, though, Alex tried to focus on the calmer parts of life.

Preparing the nursery.

Choosing names.

Watching Jake talk to the twins as if they could already understand him.

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Preparing for the Future

A few weeks later they returned to Vancouver for another ultrasound.

The doctor turned the screen toward them.

Two tiny shapes moved across the monitor.

“Both boys,” she said with a smile. “And both perfectly healthy.”

Jake squeezed Alex’s hand.

“Future center and winger,” he joked.

Alex laughed.

“Let’s just start with crawling.”

Back at the cabin they finally settled on names: Liam and Finn.

Brody insisted on bringing over miniature hockey sticks the next weekend.

“Training starts early,” he said proudly.

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Quiet Evenings

As the due date approached, life slowed down.

Snowstorms came and went. The lake froze solid. Inside the cabin, warm firelight filled the rooms while the nursery slowly filled with tiny jerseys and blankets.

One evening Alex stood by the window, watching snow fall across the frozen lake.

Jake walked up behind him and rested a hand gently on his belly.

Right on cue, the twins kicked.

Jake laughed.

“They’re already competitive.”

Alex leaned back against him.

“You think they’ll love hockey as much as we do?”

Jake smiled.

“With this family? They won’t have much choice.”

For the first time in months, the future felt steady.

Outside the cabin, the world still buzzed with rumors and speculation.

But inside, there was only warmth, quiet laughter and two tiny heartbeats getting ready to join the team.