Naya's POVThe weight of the past few days pressed heavily on my chest. I sat at the kitchen table, hands curled around a cup of tea I had no intention of drinking. My mind swirled with the events that had unfolded, each revelation more staggering than the last.Aiden. Julian. My two sons. Separated, switched, and moulded into different lives. And now, standing at the precipice of truth, I was faced with a reality I had never imagined: I had met Julian.Julian.It made sense now— He had adapted so quickly to my presence, why he had been less frightened than he should have been, why something about him had felt… off. I had been nurturing a child who had already been trained to be strong, to be emotionless, to be the mirror image of an Alpha when he wasn’t one. And Aiden, my real Aiden, had been thrown back into his place with barely a whisper.I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms.Kieran had done this for a reason. I couldn't go a day without him in my life.And Kiera
Naya's POV Tobias made good on his word, despite Tobias’ anger. The next morning, he was at my side, Aiden’s small hand in his, as we stood in front of Kieran’s sleek black car.Kieran leaned against the hood, arms crossed, watching us with unreadable eyes. The weight of the past, of our shared history, hung between us like an unspoken noose waiting to hang me. He didn’t say anything at first, simply taking in the sight of me, Tobias, and Aiden together.Then, slowly, a smirk curved his lips. “So, you’re finally ready to come home?”I swallowed hard, tightening my grip on Aiden’s hand. “Only for a month,” I reminded him. “That’s all.”Kieran’s smirk didn’t falter. If anything, it grew. “whatever you say Naya.”As I climbed into the car, the weight of what I was doing settled deep in my bones. Tobias got in beside me, silent but tense. Aiden curled up against my side, his little fingers gripping my sweater.I had made my choice.Now, I had to live with it.—The moment I stepped p
Naya's povThe next day, the tension in the air was almost suffocating.From the moment I stepped out of my assigned quarters, it felt like my eyes were tracking my every move. My presence in the pack had stirred something—resentment, curiosity, perhaps even a touch of fear. But I didn't have the time nor the patience to entertain their whispers. My focus was singular: Aiden.The healers had requested to examine him in one of the pack’s medical facilities, and though my stomach twisted with apprehension, I agreed. If there was even the slightest chance that they could offer insight into my son’s future, I had to take it.Kieran led the way, his presence an unspoken warning to anyone who dared approach us. We didn't talk about yesterday and I didn't really know how to bring it up to him, so I kept silent.Aiden clutched my hand tightly, his small fingers wrapping around mine with a silent plea for comfort. Despite everything, he trusted me to keep him safe.The examination room was
Naya's pov Isadora scoffed, tapping her perfectly manicured nails against the arm of her chair. "Handling it? She has no place here. You should have thrown her out the moment she set foot back on these grounds."A bitter laugh almost escaped me, but I swallowed it down. Isadora’s presence wasn’t a surprise, but it still stung. This woman had filled the space I left behind. She was supposed to be Kieran’s Luna. The pack’s future.The thought twisted something deep inside me, but I forced myself to push past it. I wasn’t here for Kieran or the pack’s approval. I was here for my son."You don’t have the authority to throw me out," I said evenly, though my chest tightened at the sight of her smug expression.Isadora turned to the council, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Don’t I? From what I understand, the council has already decided what’s best for the pack. And that includes making sure she’s gone."Murmurs of agreement rippled through the elders. One of them, a grizzled man wi
Naya's povI let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My body felt light, my limbs unsteady, as if I had been standing on the edge of a cliff and had only just been pulled back to safety.Kieran turned to me, his gaze softer now. "You okay?"I swallowed hard and nodded. "I... yeah. Just—" I exhaled shakily. "That was a lot."His lips twitched in something that almost resembled a smirk. "You get used to it."I doubted that.But for now, I allowed myself to breathe. Straightening his shoulders and doning an imperious look, he turned back to the council, “If that will be all….” his words were back to being cold and it was a dismissal as clear as any.Not waiting for a response from the chastised wolves, he turned on his heels and walked out of the room, not sparing them a backward glance.I gave myself a few minutes to clam down before following, not without giving the old geezers a triumphant look.I won't be cowed this time. Never again.—I went to my room immediately.The m
Isadora's povI made my move at night.I had been standing under the thick canopy of trees, hidden by the sharp angles of nightfall, leaves cloaking me like a veil. The garden was quiet, save for the distant hoot of some hunting bird, the gentle thrum of insects. But I had seen it all. I had watched it unfold like the twisted scene of a bad play. Naya. That woman. The fragile, unfortunate darling of fate.She had been wandering back from the gardens, all slow steps and soft thoughts, when the shadows surged. I saw them grab her, swift and brutal, like wolves pouncing on a limp hare. I should’ve felt fear, or pity, maybe.But I didn’t.I smirked. Actually smiled, standing there like some spiteful witch watching her curse take hold. My pulse had raced with anticipation. Finally. Finally, someone would handle her, to take her out of the equation.It was the least she deserved after humiliating me so thoroughly Infront of the council.Let her scream. Let her be dragged out of here. L
Kieran's povThe morning air was sharp and crisp as I stepped out of the car, Julian at my side. Julian was quiet. Too quiet.Normally he was a chatterbox, filling the space between us with questions or stories about the squirrels he saw from his window or the silly dreams he had. But not today. Not since yesterday. I didn’t need to ask why. He’d been distant ever since the council meeting, ever since Naya made her mark known, ever since his world shifted again.I didn’t want to push him. Instead, I’d decided to distract him. Maybe bring him into something important—something good. So we walked into town together, just the two of us, hand in hand.“Where’re we goin’?” he asked finally, tugging on my arm.I glanced down at his big eyes, wide and a little tired. “To a store.”“What kind?”“A ring store.”He scrunched his nose. “Like... jewellery?”“Exactly. I need your help.”He perked up a little at that, though he didn’t say anything else. The ring shop smelled like cedar and poli
Kieran's PovIn the silence of my shout, everything fell still, naya and Tobias frozen at the door while Julian panted behind me, still sounding distressed. I couldn't have moved even if I wanted to, my limbs cold and locked with what felt like ice.But then I heard it. Small and fragile, almost disappearing in the wind.A whimper.Unmistakably a child's.It hit me like a slap.One second, we were just standing there and the next, Julian let out a wail and turned on his heel. He bolted for the car, his small legs moving faster than I'd ever seen. I called after him, but he didn't stop.The sound of the car door slamming shut was so loud it echoed in my chest.I stared after him, stunned.Then I turned back to Naya.She looked heartbroken, her arms wrapped around herself like she was holding in more than just words. Her lips were trembling, but she held her chin high."Go," she said softly. "He needs you more than ever."I opened my mouth, unsure what to say, but her eyes told me sh
(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