Liam pov I arrived at Amber's apartment exactly at the time we had agreed upon—four o'clock on Sunday afternoon. I had spent the morning at the garage catching up on paperwork, grateful for the quiet of the closed shop to gather my thoughts before this difficult conversation. The text from Amber t
Liam pov I know," she said simply. "I think I've known since the bonding ritual, maybe even before. This was always the likely outcome, Liam. I just needed to see it through, to be certain we gave it a fair chance before letting go." "You deserved that and more," I agreed, reaching for her hand
Saying it aloud felt like setting down a heavy burden I hadn't fully acknowledged carrying—the resistance against accepting that I could genuinely love someone my mind didn't fully remember. The freedom of this admission, this conscious claiming of my feelings, lightened something in me despite the
Liam pov I arrived at my parents' house as the sun was beginning to set, casting long golden shadows across the front lawn. The drive from Amber's apartment had given me time to process our conversation and prepare for what I needed to say to Grace. My text the night before had been deliberately v
Grace nodded, her gaze dropping to her hands folded in her lap. "She seems like a good person," she said softly. "Strong, kind. I can see why you cared for her." The simple acknowledgment, the absence of bitterness or competition, created a swell of emotion in my chest. This woman beside me had en
Liam pov Slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wished, I leaned forward. Grace met me halfway, her eyes fluttering closed as our lips touched in a kiss that began gentle but quickly deepened with the release of long-restrained emotion. The moment our lips met, something extraordinary happe
Grace's smile was radiant despite the tears still shining in her eyes. "I remember that too," she whispered. "I remember the night we decided to try for a baby," I continued, another precious memory surfacing clearly. "How scared we both were, but excited too. How you said you'd never considered m
"We should call Dr. Winters," Dad suggested, his own voice unsteady with emotion. "She'll want to know about this development. And your mother—she's going to be ecstatic." "Later," I requested, unwilling to dilute this precious moment with medical discussions or even my mother's well-meaning excit
Grace pov Good birthday," she declared with satisfaction. "Everyone's patterns were happy." "Yes, they were," I agreed softly. "Did you enjoy your party?" Sophia nodded sleepily. "The Balance liked it too. And baby brother." Her small hand reached out to touch my belly with surprising gentlene
I accepted the cake gratefully. Pregnancy cravings had given me an unprecedented sweet tooth, much to Sophia's delight. "How's our birthday girl doing?" "Currently explaining to her friends how the presents create a 'harmony pattern' when arranged properly," Liam replied, his expression filled wit
Grace pov **Six Months Later** The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow across the meadow behind Fireside pack house. Children's laughter filled the air as a small gathering celebrated Sophia's second birthday. The toddler presided over the festivities with a serene dignity that occasionally ga
Sophia considered the question seriously before shaking her head. "Not worry. It's the right pattern. The balance is happy about it." She adjusted another stone slightly, the golden light flowing to illuminate the new configuration. "Five is better than four. Stronger shapes." As if confirming her
I began to protest, but another wave of dizziness—milder this time—reminded me that Elena's medical advice wasn't merely precautionary. My body was indeed adjusting to significant changes, and pushing beyond its limits would serve no one. "Two days," I conceded reluctantly. "But I want regular upd
Grace pov Liam nodded, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Our children were never going to be ordinary, were they? Not with us as parents." I smiled as he looked into my eyes. Lucas was a strong werewolf with Alpha blood, and Sophia was a truth seer. Both were strong as hell.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice slightly hoarse. "You collapsed in the observation gallery," Liam explained, squeezing my hand. "Gave everyone quite a scare, especially the children. Tomas has been asking about you every fifteen minutes." I attempted to sit up, but Elena moved swiftly to prev
Grace pov Two weeks after the Children's Day revelation, the Balance Center hummed with renewed purpose. I had implemented a carefully structured program to continue engaging with the children who had shown connection to the Equilibrium, while the research division refined their understanding of h
Grace pov Liam, ever practical, focused on immediate implications. "How does this affect our response to reality-shapers? Does this expanded connection give the equilibrium greater range or power?" "Not exactly, power," I replied thoughtfully. "More like... expanded awareness. Greater understand