Five

I walked into the house, and the first thing I heard was Nadia's voice, "Mummy, we missed you. Is Alex staying? Can he please?" I couldn't help but smile at my twins. They were so adorable and innocent, and their excitement was contagious.

I turned to Alex and said, "Looks like you're stuck with us for a while."

Alex grinned, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The twins ran up to Alex and gave him a big hug. "Alex, can you play with us?" Nadia asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Of course, I can." Alex said, getting down on his knees and hugging them both. They were jumping up and down excitedly, and Maria came in and laughed at their happiness.

“I’m so sorry that I can’t stay any longer.” Maria apologised profusely as she glanced at her watch and grabbed her handbag. I smiled at her and shook my head.

“It’s no problem. Thanks so much for having them again. I am so grateful for you.” I told my dearest friend and gave her a quick hug goodbye.

As I closed the door and turned around I couldn’t help but feel happy at the sight of Alex with Nadia and Nathan.

I watched them for a moment, feeling grateful for Alex's presence. I knew that he was going to be a big part of our lives, and I was glad that the twins had taken to him so quickly.

"Are you hungry, Alex?" I asked, breaking the moment.

He nodded, "I could eat."

“I’m hungry mummy.” Nathan rubbed his tummy and pouted causing me to burst out laughing.

"Great, I'll make us some lunch." I said, heading towards the kitchen.

Alex followed me, and we worked together to make some sandwiches and salads. The twins were still playing, and I could hear their laughter echoing through the house.

As we sat down to eat, I couldn't help but feel content. It was nice to have someone to share our lives with, and I knew that Alex was going to be a great part of it.

"Thanks for staying, Alex." I said, smiling at him.

"Anytime." He said, returning my smile with a wink.

After lunch, we decided to take a walk to the park. The sun was shining, and the weather was perfect for a stroll. The twins were holding Alex's hand, and they were chatting away about their favorite toys and games.

As we walked, we passed by a group of children playing soccer. Nadia’s eyes lit up, and she tugged on my sleeve. "Mummy, can we play too?"

I looked at Alex, wondering if he was up for a game of soccer. He smiled and nodded, "Sure, why not?"

The twins were thrilled, and we joined in the game. It was a lot of fun, and we all laughed and cheered as we played. Alex was surprisingly good at soccer, and the twins were impressed by his skills.

After the game, we went and had burger and then a stroll in the park. It had been a great day and as we walked back home, I was feeling tired but happy. The twins were holding Alex's hand, and they were chatting away about the game. I watched them, feeling grateful for this moment of happiness.

As we reached home, the twins were getting sleepy. I tucked them into bed, and Alex read them a bedtime story. They were soon fast asleep, and I turned to Alex, feeling grateful for his help.

"Thanks for everything, Alex. I couldn't have done it without you." I said, smiling at him.

He smiled back, "No problem. I had a great time.

As he looked into my eyes, I felt my heart skip a beat. I could feel his gaze piercing through me, and I knew that I was in trouble. Before I could even react, he had pulled me into his chest, and I could feel his strong arms wrapped around me.

My heart was pounding so loudly that I was sure he could hear it. I tried to calm myself down, but it was no use. I was completely under his spell.

As I looked up at him, I saw a mischievous glint in his eye. He leaned in closer, and I felt his warm breath on my face. I didn't stop him when he brushed his lips against mine.

In that moment, I felt a rush of excitement wash over me. I had never felt so alive, so free, so...wild. I knew that I was in trouble, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to be close to him, to feel his touch, to be consumed by his passion.

And so we kissed, our lips locked in a fiery embrace. I could feel his hands exploring my body, and I knew that I was lost. But it didn't matter. All that mattered was this moment, this feeling, this...passion.

As we finally broke apart, I looked up at him, my heart still pounding in my chest. "Wow," I said, breathless.

He smiled down at me, his eyes full of desire. "Yeah," he said. "Wow." As we stood there, gazing into each other's eyes, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. For the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be okay.

"I don't want this moment to end," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Neither do I," he replied, his voice just as soft.

We stood there for what felt like hours, lost in each other's arms. I didn't want it to ever end. As we finally parted ways, I felt a sense of sadness wash over me.

But then he pulled me back to him, kissing down my face towards my neck where Lochlan had once marked me. I had rejected him and he never accepted my rejection but over time that mark had disappeared. Our bond had weakened, thanks to the help of the witch when I left that pack!

Pausing, he moved to his so we were eye to eye.

As I looked into his eyes, I could feel my heart racing. I knew that he was about to say something important, something that would change everything.

"Cat," he said, his voice low and husky. "I will never do anything to hurt you, but I need to know if you will come with me to Colorado. I cannot live without you. I don't know what it is. I've never felt this way about anyone before."

I could feel my breath catching in my chest. I had always known that he cared for me, but I had never realized just how deep his feelings ran.

"I'm sure if I still had my wolf," he continued, "he would take control and ravish every inch of you. But I need to know, to be sure. Is this what you want? Is it what you truly want?"

I looked up at him, my eyes wide with surprise. I had never expected him to be so...forward. But at the same time, I couldn't deny the thrill that ran through me at the thought of being with him.

"I...I don't know," I stammered, my heart pounding in my chest. "I mean, I care for you, but...I don't know if I'm ready for something like this."

He nodded, his eyes softening. "I understand," he said. "I just wanted to be honest with you. I don't want to pressure you into anything."

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I was glad that he wasn't going to push me into something that I wasn't ready for.

"But," he continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "I do want you to think about it. I want you to consider what it would be like to be with me, to be by my side no matter what."

I nodded, my mind racing. I knew that I needed to think about it, to weigh the pros and cons of being with him.

"Okay," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll think about it."

He smiled, his eyes sparkling with emotion. "Thank you," he said. "That's all I can ask for."

I sat there, staring out the window, lost in thought. Alex was everything I wanted in a man. He was kind, caring, and always put me first. But I couldn't deny that I was afraid to go back that way. What if Lochlan found out and tried to force me back to him? I was once his Luna, his fated mate, and he had never accepted my rejection.

I shuddered at the thought of being back with him. Lochlan was a liar, a cheat, and a fraud. My twins could never know him. They may have alpha blood in their bodies, but they would never live a life with Lochlan in it. That was the promise I made myself the moment I left that packhouse.

"Hey," Alex said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Is everything okay?"

I turned to him, forcing a smile. "Yeah," I said. "Everything's fine."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Are you sure?" he asked.

I hesitated, then shook my head. "No," I said. "I'm not sure. I'm just...afraid, I guess."

"Of what?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Of going back," I said. "Of what Lochlan might do if he found out about us."

Alex's expression hardened. "He won't find out," he said firmly. "I won't let him hurt you or your children. Cat, if you knew the full extent of my past you would understand that nobody will harm you. I am going to protect you always.”

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It was good to know that Alex had my back, that he was willing to protect me and my children from Lochlan's wrath. I wasn’t sure what he meant by his past but I wasn’t going to push him to explain.

"Thank you," I said, reaching out to take his hand. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

He squeezed my hand, his eyes softening. "You'll never have to find out," he said. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

I smiled, feeling a sense of warmth spread through me. With Alex by my side, I knew that I could face anything that came my way.

“Let’s do it.”