Kieran’s POV The room was silent when I woke up. Not the kind of silence that comes with peace—but the heavy, suffocating kind. The kind that screamed something was wrong. I turned over, expecting to pull Naya against me, but she was already awake. She lay on her side, her back to me, curled slightly inward. She hadn’t moved all night. I hadn’t said a single word since what happened between us. I reached out, hesitantly brushing my fingers against the bare skin of her shoulder. She flinched. It was so small that I might have missed it if it weren’t for me. But I didn’t. A sharp, painful weight settled in my chest. "Naya," I said, my voice rough from sleep. She didn't respond. I shifted closer, letting my hand slide down her arm, but she stayed rigid. That’s when I knew— I had broken something last night. Maybe not physically, but something inside her. And for the first time in my life, I regretted it. I opened my mouth to say anything, but a sud
(Naya's POV)I barely make it out before I feel eyes on me. A figure steps in my path as I round the corner toward the main estate. Sarah. The supposed new fiancée. "Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?" she asks, voice syrupy sweet, but her eyes gleam with malice. "Move," I snap. She tilts her head. "Why? So you can return to Kieran and tattle like a little girl?" I stiffen. She leans in. "Joan and I—" she smirks, "we have a plan. And you're not in it." I hear them before I see them. Heavy boots hitting the ground, fast. Goons. My blood turns to ice. I turn and run. The forest is a blur around me. Twigs snap underfoot, branches whip at my face, but I push forward. Until I don’t. The ground disappears beneath me, and suddenly, I’m at the edge of a steep mountain cliff. A dead end. ---Footsteps slow behind me. I turn, breathing hard. Joan stands in front of the group, and Sarah is beside her. "Such a shame," Joan muses. "I was hoping
Naya's Pov Kieran placed me on lockdown. He posted guards outside my door. He wouldn’t even look at me after what I said. But I wasn’t done fighting. Because one of the maids—Elise—had been watching. And when she slipped into my room that night, she pressed a small vial into my hands. “A sleeping dose,” she whispered. Hope flickered in my chest. I squeezed her hand. “Thank you.” That night, I laced the guards’ drinks with the powder. And when their bodies slumped to the floor, I grabbed my bag and ran. I didn’t stop. Not when the cool night air hit my skin. Not when my heart screamed at me to turn back. Not even when I felt the distant, soul-crushing pull of our bond stretching to its breaking point. I ran. And as I disappeared into the darkness, I whispered— “I’m doing this for you, Kieran.” Even if it kills me. ---Kieran's POV(I couldn’t breathe.The darkness was closing in, thick and suffocating.I saw blood.Naya’s blood.Her body lay lifeles
Chapter 28Naya's PovI grip the sheets tightly. "Fuck," I whisper.His face is pale. I see the shock in his eyes.“Twins?” he repeated, looking morbidly curious.I nodded rapidly, tears spilling down my cheeks.“Oh, Goddess,” the bodyguard muttered, running a hand down his face. “Oh, hell. This is—”“Tobias.”I grabbed his sleeve, desperate.“Please,” I whispered. “Don’t tell them. Not yet.”His jaw tightened. “Ma’am—”“Please.”His dark eyes searched mine, hesitation flickering across his face.But then—He sighed.“Fine,” he muttered. “For now.”Relief flooded me.My lips tremble as a single, unsteady breath leaves my lips. And then, before I can stop it—The first tear falls.And then another.And another.Until my shoulders shake.A sob bursts out of me, and I press my hands over my face, trying to stop the flood.It’s useless.I am completely falling apart.I’m happy.I’m overwhelmed.I’m terrified.And for the first time in so long, I don’t have to pretend to be strong.But jus
Naya's POVThe house is quiet. Too quiet.I sit near the window, staring at the glow of the city in the far distance. It's already 6pm, and the neighbourhood is serene and quiet with an enthral beauty, but I feel like a ghost in this dimly lit space. Like I don’t belong to that world anymore.My hand rests on my stomach, fingers tracing small circles over the bump. My children shift in response, their tiny movements grounding me.Nearly seeing him today in the hospital had made my wolf sing while my heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. The alpha had been relentlessly trying to pursue me, but thankfully, Tobias had been on the floor below me and had gotten me to the car minutes after he realised what was happening.I had escaped him once more.I should feel more at ease.The war is over. The bloodshed had stopped because of what I did. And Kieran… he’s still okay.That’s all that matters.So why does it still feel like I’m suffocating?A knock breaks the silence.Sharp. Three time
Naya's POVFor a long moment, neither of us speaks.Then Tobias lets out a sharp breath, shoving his gun back into its holster."This is bullshit," he mutters.I agree.But what choice do I have?—Tobias POVSomething is wrong.Naya, after managing to pull herself from the couch, had immediately started packing.She moves like a machine, stuffing clothes into the suitcase without emotion, without hesitation. That’s what makes it so wrong.She should have been resisting, fighting against it.Why is she so obedient?I cross my arms. "What's wrong?" I ask sharply after I can't take it any more.She doesn’t look at me. "Nothing, I'm fine."I narrow my eyes. "That’s a lie."She exhales, pausing for a moment.Then she turns to me, her gaze dull. "Tobias, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’re leaving tonight. That’s final."A muscle in my jaw twitches.I don’t like this.I don’t like how she looks—like she’s already lost.Something happened.And I don’t trust the Elder.I take a slow step forwa
.Naya's POVThe plane hums with a low, steady vibration.Outside, thick clouds stretch endlessly in every direction, darkening as we move deeper into the night.I press a hand to my belly, exhaling slowly.We are almost there.Almost free.Tobias sits beside me, his posture stiff. Even now, he can’t relax. His eyes scan every passenger, every flight attendant, every tiny movement.“Do you think they followed us?” I ask quietly.He doesn’t respond.And that’s all the answer I need.I shift uncomfortably in my seat, my back aching. The baby—or babies—move restlessly inside me, adding to the unease already coiling in my chest.I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.Then, suddenly—Pain.Sharp and deep, shooting through my lower back like a knife.I suck in a breath, gripping the armrest.Tobias notices immediately. “What’s wrong?”I try to shake my head to tell him it’s okay. But then—Another pain.And this one is worse.My vision blurs. My breath hitches.And then it hits
Naya's POV (One Week Later)The hospital felt too quiet the day we left. I held my babies close, one in each arm, their warmth filling my chest with joy as I snuggled against their wool covered heads.Julian and Aiden maximoff.They were the best babies in the world.Tobias had taken care of the paperwork, settled things with the hospital staff. I was too tired to ask what he told them, too lost in the hazy aftermath of birth to care about much else. After a week in the hospital—one boring week filled with sterile corridors and whispered reassurances between them and the kids—I thought we might finally have a moment to catch our breath. Tobias and I, weary but determined, decide to settle in this new country, where I can hope to rebuild my messy life.Somewhere the kids could grow peacefully.The drive was smooth for the first few miles. The twins were sleeping in their car seats, and for the first time in days, I let myself breathe. The city stretched behind us, fading into ope
(Aiden's POV)Julian saved me! He actually saved me from his mean friends! My heart did a happy dance.When he told me I could hang out with them, I almost burst with joy. This was it! This was my chance to finally be close to Julian.And when he said I had to do everything he said… well, that was okay too. I would do anything for Julian.When he told me to get him a snack, I ran as fast as I could to the cafeteria. I grabbed a juice box and a bag of cookies, just like I had offered him before.I ran back to the bench, my heart pounding with excitement. I handed him the snacks, beaming.He took them without a word, but I didn't care. He was letting me be his underling! That was the coolest thing ever!I followed him and his friends everywhere, watching their every move, trying to learn how to be cool like them. They were playing tag, so I played tag. They were telling jokes, so I tried to tell jokes (even though I couldn't talk, I could still make funny faces). They were being mean
Aiden's POVThe next day at school felt like walking on eggshells.Mom and Dad were still giving me looks at breakfast, their silence thick enough to spread on toast. I knew they were worried about my quietness but I just wanted to see Julian, to try and make things right after… after whatever that was last night. The astral projection thing. The knife. His mom, Isadora…. Hurting him.It was all a jumbled mess in my head.They dropped me off at school, Mom pressing a kiss to my hair. And Dad rubbing my back gently.They were great but I still needed to get closer to Aiden.As soon as the school bell rang and Mom and Dad were out of sight, I grabbed the straps of my backpack and ran into the academy. I had a plan. A peace offering. I'd packed all my favourite things: Mr Snuggles, my superhero figurines, my best crayons, and even the half-eaten bag of gummy bears. It was everything a five-year-old could need to make a friend.I spotted Julian near the entrance, talking to some othe
AIDEN'S POVI froze, my heart slamming against my ribs like a wild drum.Julian stood there, his shadow spilling out behind him, and in his hand gleamed a small, wicked knife. He waved it at me like I was some enemy, some intruder he didn’t want near."Aiden?" he breathed, his voice a harsh whisper.My jaw dropped. He could see me? Isadora couldn't but Julian saw me. A thrill shot through me, so intense it almost knocked me out of my astral form. This was… amazing.He could see me!Suddenly, the knife didn't matter. The anger in his eyes faded into the background. All that mattered was that my brother, my twin, could see the real me. It meant we were connected.The words bubbled up inside me, a torrent of excitement that needed to be expressed. My hands flew into action, fingers wiggling and twisting, forming the rapid, intricate shapes of sign language. I bounced on the balls of my feet, unable to contain my joy.‘Julian! You're so cool! Best brother ever! Awesome! You can see me! Y
AIDEN'S POVI was standing in different room, the air thick with the smell of old books and dust. Light filtered through heavy curtains, casting the room in a dim, amber glow. I looked down at my hands, but they weren’t really there—just a faint outline, like smoke in sunlight.I tried to touch the desk, but my fingers slipped through it, leaving no mark."Hmm…" I tried to make a sound , but no noise came out. My voice was gone.I looked around once more, eyes widening as i tied to catalogue more details.It was a big room, filled with books and strange objects. There were shelves that reached all the way to the ceiling, packed with leather-bound volumes. There were globes and telescopes and strange, glass jars filled with… stuff.It looked like… the someone's study. But how did I get here?I looked around desperately, trying to make sense of it all, my heart thumping in my chest.Panic bubbled up inside me. “What’s happening?” I thought to myself.Just a moment ago, I had been in
NAYA'S POVThe soft glow of the light flickered against the walls of the cottage, casting long, wavering shadows that danced like restless spirits. Tobias and I sat close on the worn, threadbare couch, the fabric rough beneath my fingertips but comforting all the same. His arm was draped around my shoulders, pulling me in just enough to feel the steady warmth of his body against mine. Outside, the night was silent except for the occasional whisper of wind through the pines. Tobias had calmed me down earlier with all his assurances and I felt more settled in my skin. More secure.It was a lovely feeling after this afternoon of turmoil.But I couldn't stop thinking about it.I sighef before resting my head on Tobias’s chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat, a rhythm that somehow anchored me in the swirling storm of my thoughts. The events of the day played over and over in my mind—the principal’s office, the harsh words from the other twin, the cruel laughter that see
TOBIAS'S POV The drive back is quiet. A good quiet.Not like how it was when we left that godforsaken school.Aiden’s asleep in the backseat, his head tipped to the side and his little plush shark tucked under his arm like it’s made of gold. Naya’s beside me, her legs drawn up onto the seat, arms loosely wrapped around them. Her face is calm, and soft in the passing shadows of streetlights. She’s not smiling, exactly, but her face isn't in that strained blankness either.And I’ll take that. Hell, I’ll take it and wrap it in a bow.By the time we get home, Aiden’s blinking awake but too drowsy to fight when Naya lifts him into her arms.“Come on bug." She murmurs sweetly as she tucks the little boy into her side.He buries his face into her shoulder immediately, and she strokes his back, whispering something low in his ear I don’t catch.We walked into the house together, me switching on the lights and flooding the living space with a warm glow.Aiden scrunched his face at that but
TOBIAS'S POVI stepped toward her, the weight of Aiden pressed close to my chest, and reached out my hand.“Naya,” I said quietly, but she heard it. Her head jerked in my direction. Her eyes were glossy. Her breathing erratic.I didn’t give her a speech. I didn’t ask. I just slid my fingers into hers and pulled her hand into mine.It fit, soft and shaking but familiar. She didn’t fight it. Her eyes darted to mine, searching, asking—but I just squeezed her hand tighter and nodded once.“Let’s go,” I said gently.And we did.Without a word to the others, I pushed past them. Aiden’s head tucked against my shoulder, and Naya walked beside me, her chin high and eyes fixed ahead, even though I could feel the tremble in her limbs.The crowd parted for us like a wave. Maybe it was the look on my face. Maybe it was the sheer weight of everything that had happened, or maybe it was because they wanted nothing to do with us. I couldn't spare a thought for it, so we just walked past them.Naya
TOBIAS’S POVAnd the room was thick with it. The tension clung to the air, pressing down on everyone like humidity before the rain fell."What the hell is going on here?" I demanded.Isadora didn’t even blink. She scoffed, flicking a glance at me over her shoulder. "Well, well," she said with a cruel smirk. "Your boy toy has finally arrived."Naya’s eyes darted to me and narrowed immediately. "Don’t you dare talk about him like that," she snapped, her voice tight. "Just shut up, Isadora."The teacher standing by the desk looked like she wanted to sink into the floor.The principal, an older man with a belly barely contained by his vest, gave me a look of exhausted relief.I walked forward, ignoring the brewing fight between the two women, and glanced past Naya's shoulder.Aiden.My gut twisted.He was sitting by the principal's desk, his tiny frame hunched, his hands knotted in his lap. His eyes—those wide, knowing eyes—looked up at me, and there was fear in them. Not for himself. For
NAYA'S POVAt my retort, she stopped talking, her eyes revealing her confusion.Her head jerked around, her eyes finding Aiden, who had quietly drawn in the corner.She blinked, and for half a second, her mask cracked.Surprise. Embarrassment. She hadn’t even noticed him.But just as fast, it vanished under a sneer."How low could you sink, Naya? Lurking in the principal’s office like some…" She waved a hand vaguely, eyes glittering, "Shadow. Or were you trying to steal another child from a real mother?"I didn’t flinch. I’d had worse thrown at me, sharper claws, bloodier fights."You’re calling me out on morals? That’s rich, coming from the woman who waltzed into someone else’s home and snatched a kid like he was luggage," I said coldly.The principal cleared his throat, but no one was listening.The air had gone electric.Isadora scoffed, the sound derisive and mean. "You had zero respect for ranking. You should have known your place—an omega trying to speak in a world meant for bet