Dear Esteemed Readers, I owe you all an apology for ghosting you all for a long time. Real life has been incredibly demanding and hectic, pulling me away from writing and connecting with you. I understand how frustrating it must have been to wait without any updates, and for that, I am truly sorry. Moving forward, I have decided to take a different approach with my next book. I will complete it in its entirety before posting any chapters. This way, I can ensure a more consistent and enjoyable reading experience for all of you. Thank you for your patience and continued support. Your understanding means the world to me, and I am excited to share my next story with you soon.
~Avery~ King didn't return until much later that evening, long after I had tucked Julia and Julian into their makeshift beds. The rooms provided for them were nothing like children's rooms; this whole situation had been rather too hasty. As I sat in the dim light of King's room, doubt filled my mind. Was this his idea of fatherhood—absence and indifference? He was not even there to bid them goodnight. I hadn't laid down on his bed; I couldn’t even think of sleeping. We needed to have a crucial conversation tonight; he had to see reason with me. I never should have brought the twins back to even the same city as him, let alone the same pack. I should have done everything I could to keep them far, far away. This was exactly what I was afraid of. Now, King seemed more like a villain, and my innocent children were caught in his dangerous plans. His room door finally swung open abruptly, and King entered with a casual swagger as if he didn’t have a care in the world. I hadn’t bother
~Avery~ I woke up in King's bed, my head on a pillow that was wet with my tears. I had no idea how long I had been out, but darkness had covered the sky. I got up from bed and walked to the mirror. My eyes were all puffy from either sleep or crying, but I knew the latter was the case. I was still wearing the same clothes I had on when I arrived, and I felt a strong need to take a bath. But then, I realised it had been hours since I last saw the twins and a wave of dread washed over me. "Julian? Julia?" I called, bursting into each of the rooms assigned to them. Both rooms were tidy, with everything in its place, but there was no sign of the kids. With my heart in my throat, I darted out of Julia’s room and sped down the hallway. It had been years since I was here, but I still remembered the intricate layout of King's house. "Julian? Julia?" My calls grew more desperate, but there were no answers. A million thoughts played through my mind. King wouldn't do anything to hurt them, w
~King~ I couldn't sleep the previous night as the images of how Avery tucked the kids into bed kept replaying in my mind. I had leaned against each of their doors, unnoticed, as she put them to bed. The sight stirred a mixture of emotions within me—it warmed my heart yet ignited a storm of fury. But despite this turmoil, my spirits lifted with the comforting knowledge that my children now recognized me as their true father. I swear to the goddess, I would spoil them silly. I chose not to sleep in my room with Avery. Part of me knew she would resist the closeness, and I, too, was wary of another bitter argument. Also, I couldn't shake the fury that consumed me just at the sight of her. I kept going back and forth between hating her for what she did, understanding it, and wanting her to forgive me for how I had been acting. Mostly, I was furious and wanted her to feel the brunt of the pain I was experiencing. I couldn't comprehend how she could do that to me. By the break of dawn, I
~Avery~ I watched Julian and Julia as they scampered around the newly constructed play area that King had ordered to be assembled in the backyard. Everything had been set up today, and Julian and Julia couldn't get enough of it, the swings and slides, all freshly installed, drew them like magnets. It was a problem to get them to come in for lunch after they saw the set-up, and now, I had to sit and watch them play. I knew they were safe in King's house for now, but I remained alert, eyes tracking their every jubilant leap and tumble. The day was dwindling; the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows, signalling it was nearly time to take them indoors for their evening routine. I had just finished watching Regina's viral online apology and didn't know what to think about it. Did she love King that much, even when she wasn't his mate? I tried to shove these thoughts aside, focusing instead on more pressing concerns. Marcus had been unusually unreachable today, dodging my calls, which
~King~ Dinner was mostly quiet, punctuated only by the children's incessant questioning. I knew the last thing Avery wanted was to be at that table with us, but she was there because of the kids. She was overly protective of them, which made her a good mother to our kids, but I hated that she was protecting them from even me. I could never hurt my kids. Who does she see me as? The kids surprisingly got along well with Regina, who appeared genuinely enamoured with them. It should have been a delightful evening, and more people would have been at the table if Kristopher and Axel didn't have to go on night patrol. An unfamiliar face was seen around our borders, and we were careful not to let our enemies infiltrate us. After dinner, I had to walk Regina back to her car. She was glad I could forgive her and hoped that Avery would one day learn to forgive her too. She was clearly smitten with my kids and wished them all the best. When I returned, the house was quiet; Avery had cleaned u
~Avery~ Getting the kids ready was an exercise in chaos and joy. Julian and Julia dashed out of the room, their laughter echoing down the hallway as they raced towards the front door. I was a nervous wreck because this was going to be my first public appearance with King and the twins. It made me nervous about what people would say. I wouldn't be receiving accolades; instead, I knew I would get more hate, especially from the single ladies who must harbour hopes that King was available again. There was no doubt King was the youngest and most desirable Alpha in the region, He was a prize to the ladies, and they had never hidden their interest in him, even when we were married. With the way his company was rising back fast to its feet, he would soon reclaim his spot as one of the richest too. As nervous as I felt, I was overwhelmed as well. I didn't want to hide behind King's shadow any longer, and it was worse because now, without the title of his wife or mate, I felt even more vulner
~King~ Avery looked stunning even in a casual pink tank top and palazzo pants. Her effortless blend of sexy and classy caught everyone's attention as soon as we stepped into the park. I couldn't help but notice the way the other men stared at her. They were not just curious about us together. Most of the men here knew we were married, and some knew us as business partners, but none of them knew about our kids. It was natural that they looked our way, but their gazes lingered a bit on her, and I didn't like it. I was mad at her, yes, but that didn't stop my possessive side from surging forward. My wolf was still very protective and possessive of Avery, the reason why he always fought me each time I was mean to her. Feeling the need to assert my claim, I had placed a hand on her waist. These men were like dogs themselves; they wouldn’t care that she bore my children. They would still want to fuck her. After all, Avery was the most beautiful woman I knew, and with her new confident deme
~Avery~ The second the automatic doors of the company whooshed open; I knew I was in for some scrutiny. Eyes darted in my direction like I was the new, exotic exhibit. Their judgmental stares didn't faze me one bit. With my head held high and my back straight, I strutted in like I owned the place. Sometimes, I purposely met the eyes of those looking at me, and they either averted their gazes quickly or scattered like a bunch of pigeons, at the sight of a hawk. I anticipated this behaviour after King's announcement yesterday at the park, but I was ready to face anyone. Oh, I was ready to reply to any snide remarks. If someone wanted to drag me down, I would show them just how low we could go together. They needed to understand that I was no longer Miss Shy-and-Get-Pushed-Around. I was a full-blown woman now, tougher than steel and with priorities sharper than a brand-new pencil. My only problem was how all of this drama would affect my children. King had suggested I ride in the same