PREGNANT AND BANISHED

Lana’s POV Pregnant? I was Pregnant? I couldn’t believe it.“Where’s that stupid little bitch?” My stepmother suddenly screamed from across the hall, jolting me back to reality.I looked up in panic as my step mother’s fist began to furiously pound on my bedroom door, almost pulling the hinges off. “Lana!” she screeched with impatience and disgust. “Get out here now and wash your sister’s clothes! You lazy, good-for-nothing—”I rushed to lock the door with trembling hands, only barely managing to slide the bolt into place before pressing my body against the wood to stop her from coming in and seeing what I was doing. My heart was pounding against my chest, not just from fear but from the anxiety eating at my insides. “Please ma’am, I-I’ll be out soon,” I stammered, hoping to calm her down, though I knew better than to expect any sort of kindness from this woman.My step mother’s shrill voice boomed loudly. “If you don’t fucking hurry up and do as you’re told, we’ll throw you to th

Lana’s POV 8 years later It was one of those rare, peaceful mornings where everything seemed to be in perfect harmony in my life. Jasper and I were lying in bed, tangled up in each other’s arms, enjoying the quiet before the day really began. His warm breath tickled the back of my neck as he kissed me softly, his lips tracing a line along my skin that sent shivers down my spine.“I could stay like this forever,” I murmured, turning to face him, my fingers tracing the familiar lines of his face. The years had only made him more handsome, his blue eyes still sparkling with that same fire that had drawn me to him in the first place.He smiled, leaning in to kiss me again. “Me too. But forever might be cut short if your triplets find us.”As if on cue, the door to our bedroom burst open with a chaotic explosion of sound. “Uncle Jasper!” My three boys, Lucas, Mathew and Jacob, practically barreled their way into our bedroom.Their shouts of battle filled the air as they jumped on my bed

My heart was beating so hard it felt like it would break my ribs. I stood my ground, even though every part of me wanted to run. Asher was standing so close that I could see the tiny flecks of silver in his blue eyes. He looked older and more tired, but he still had that same power that made everyone in the room hold their breath. "I asked you a question, Lana," he said. His voice was quiet but heavy. "Whose children are those?" I took a slow breath, trying to keep my face calm. I had spent years preparing for this. "They are my sons, Asher. That is all you need to know." Asher let out a short, dry laugh. He turned away and started to pace the small room. He looked like a caged animal. "Your sons. You disappear for eight years. Everyone tells me you were killed, I saw the torn clothes, I saw the blood on the ground. And now you show up here with three boys who look just like me." "They don't look like you," I lied. It was a lie. Lucas had his jawline. Mathew had his eyes. Jacob ha

Lana's PovThe door to the lab shut behind us, cutting off the happy sounds of the boys eating. I turned on Asher immediately. My hands were shaking, and my chest felt tight."What is wrong with you?" I whispered. I wanted to scream, but I didn't want the kids to hear. "You were going to tell them. Right there at the breakfast table, are you thinking what will happen to them?"Asher didn't look sorry. He leaned against a table and looked at me. His blue eyes were dark and full of a stubborn fire. "They have a right to know, Lana. Every second I spend acting like a stranger is a lie. I am tired of lying.""You are a stranger to them!" I said. I stepped closer, poking a finger at his chest. "To them, you are just the man who brought them pancakes. They don't know about the pack, they don't know about werewolves. And they definitely don't know that their father is the man who kicked their mother out into the dirt."Asher’s face hardened. He grabbed my wrist, not to hurt me, but to make m

Lana's PovI was back in the lab, but I couldn't focus on the blood samples. Every time I closed my eyes, I smelled that bitter herb from Silas’s room. Someone was hurting people on purpose. This wasn't just a sickness. It was a plan.I looked at the door to the playroom. My boys were sitting there, looking bored. They missed our house. They missed their garden. And most of all, I knew they missed Jasper. I needed to talk to him. I needed him to tell me that everything was going to be okay.I walked into the playroom and sat on the rug with them."Hey, guys," I said, lowering my voice. "Do you want to play a game?"Jacob’s eyes lit up. "A game? What kind?""A spy game," I whispered. "I need to find a phone. The bad guys took mine, and I needed to call for backup. Do you think you can help me find one?""Like real spies?" Mathew asked."Exactly like real spies," I said. "The Alpha is going to take you to the training grounds soon. While you are there, I want you to keep your eyes open.