The air in the pack house had changed. It wasn’t just the faint scent of herbs lingering from the clinic wing where George and Georgia had been born, or the sweet baby powder Joey had insisted on dusting them with. No, it was heavier than that denser. The very walls of the house seemed to know what we all knew: Elias wasn’t finished. He would come. And this time, without Levi beside him, he would be desperate, reckless, dangerous. I cradled Georgia against my chest while George slept in his little basket nearby, his tiny fists curled tight, already looking like his father when he was brooding. Georgia stirred, cooing softly, and I stroked her silken cheek. The twins had become the center of my world in just a matter of days. Every time I looked at them, the fear of Elias’s looming shadow deepened not because I was afraid for myself, but because of them. Devon’s footsteps sounded in the hall before he even pushed the door open. His presence was like gravity pulling, steady, impos
The world was still a blur of exhaustion and wonder when I opened my eyes to the sound of tiny cries. My body ached in ways I never thought possible, every muscle pulled thin and trembling from the storm I’d been through, but the sound of those little voices my children’s voices was enough to make it all worth it.I turned my head, groggy but alert, and there they were. Two bundles wrapped snugly in soft blankets, cradled carefully in Joey’s arms. She looked exhausted too, her hair mussed. but her smile was radiant as she lowered the babies toward me. Joey had wanted me to rest and get some sleep before the kids woke up. But now she looks like she needs it more than I did.Devon’s hand closed over mine, large and steady, grounding me. He crouched close to the bed, his face a mixture of exhaustion and joy. He's been so happy since the birth of the twins and I can't blame him, I'm over the moon myself.Devon leaned forward and kissed my forehead, then each tiny head in turn. His ha
The first morning after the battle felt strange, too still, too quiet. The world outside had changed, but inside the safe room, time seemed to slow. My body still ached from labor, my muscles tender and weak, yet every time I looked down at the two bundles in my arms, strength bloomed in places I didn’t know existed.The twins. Our twins. Our babies.George stirred first, making a small whimpering sound that pulled me from half-sleep. My heart squeezed as I adjusted him against my chest, the soft weight grounding me. His sister soon followed, fussing with a cry that pierced the silence. Instinct guided me, even through exhaustion I rocked them gently, whispering soft nonsense words that seemed to soothe them.Devon was instantly at my side, his broad shadow falling across us. His hair was disheveled, his jaw rough with stubble, but his eyes gods, those eyes were as sharp and alert as ever. He crouched low, his hand brushing mine as he leaned close to study the babies.“Hungry?” he as
The safe room was quiet now, but the stillness didn’t erase the lingering tension. Devon stood nearby, his eyes constantly scanning the doors and windows, muscles coiled like a predator ready to spring. The twins nestled against my chest, their tiny warmth anchoring me as I leaned back against the wall. My body ached, every nerve still humming from the adrenaline of the battle and the raw exhaustion of labor. Yet in this moment, with Devon beside me and our babies in my arms, I felt something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in months: a fragile, trembling peace.Joey moved quietly, checking the blankets around the twins, adjusting them, making sure they were snug and safe. “They’re perfect,” she murmured, almost to herself, but her words drifted to me, filling the space with quiet reassurance. “Healthy. Strong. Both of them.”I nodded, smiling weakly. “I can’t believe it… twins. I thought… I thought I was only having one.” My voice wavered, and I pressed the boy close to my cheek, inh
The clinic was a flurry of controlled chaos. Joey, the pack doctor, and the other women worked swiftly, ensuring the twins were wrapped securely in soft blankets, their tiny bodies tucked close to mine. The sound of battle beyond the walls had intensified growls, roars, and the occasional clash of claws and teeth punctuated the tense air. Every beat of my heart was synced to the distant roar of Devon and the warriors.“We need to move,” Joey said, urgency in her eyes. “The safe room is prepped. The twins can’t stay here while the fight continues.”We couldn't go to the enchanted safe room because of the distance.I nodded numbly, my arms cradling the babies as if letting go would shatter everything fragile in this world. The boy stirred, opening one tiny eye and letting out a soft whimper. His sister followed suit, cooing quietly. I pressed my lips to their soft heads, murmuring, “You’re safe… Mommy’s not letting anything happen to you… not now… not ever…”Joey guided me, one hand ste
The cries of the twins filled the small clinic room, mingling with the faint echo of battle outside. My arms ached from holding them, my body trembling from exhaustion, but the fierce warmth of their lives against mine burned brighter than any pain. Devon wasn’t here, he had gone back to fight, leaving me in the hands of Joey, the pack doctor, and a few trusted women. My heart clenched at the thought, worry clawing at me.I could hear distant shouts, the growl of wolves, the clash of claws, and the occasional metallic clang as Devon and the warriors held Levi and Elias at bay. Every sound made my grip on the twins tighten, as though sheer force of will could keep our enemies from crossing the clinic doors. My chest heaved with each breath, fear and love mingling into a storm I couldn’t untangle.Joey crouched beside me, her eyes steady and comforting. “They’re strong, Addy. So are you. Devon’s out there, holding them off. Focus on the twins now. Let us worry about the fight for a whil