Glancing at the clock, I realized it was nearing midnight. "You should put some clothes on. Ky will be back soon," I mentioned, half-reluctant to break the bubble of intimacy we'd created. Kael gave me a playful pout in response, but he complied, dressing quickly before we headed out to the kitchen together to await Ky's return from patrol.Perched on the bar, with Kael standing close in front of me, we fell into an easy rhythm of kisses and playful banter. We teased each other, laughter mixing with the soft sounds of our affection.Then, as if on cue, Ky walked in. The room shifted immediately, our playful bubble making room for another presence, another part of our intricate dynamic.As Ky approached, he positioned himself on the opposite side of the bar, and with a playful yet very much deliberate move, he pulled me backward, causing me to lean back against him for a kiss. This left me stretched out over the bar, caught between him and Kael, who remained standing in front of me, h
Waking up the following day was like emerging from a dream into a scene charged with suspense and revelation. Fabian's voice immediately caught my attention. I noticed the door was almost closed, and a sliver of curiosity wedged into my thoughts. Knox and Ky were still clearly asleep, allowing me to carefully extricate myself from between them without disturbing them.Creeping silently towards the door, curiosity and a tinge of fear coursed through me. As I leaned in closer, the fragmented pieces of Kael and Fabian's conversation pieced together into a revelation that chilled me to the core. They were dissecting Kael and Fletcher's intertwined fates, delving into the dark magic that had bound their lives together in such a twisted way.Fabian laid out his findings with a tone of professional detachment yet an underlying concern. "I mean, I'm still working on it. I'm not 100% yet... but yeah, man, I'm leaning towards he was responsible. No idea how, but he was intricately tied to the
The enticing aroma of breakfast cooking in the main house wafted towards us. Knowing Knox was still lost in the few precious hours of sleep he managed to snatch, I left a note beside him. It was a gentle promise that we would save a plate for him, ensuring he wouldn't miss out on the morning's feast.As I penned the note, Kael peered over my shoulder, a playful glint in his eyes. "And put on it that we're going swimming after," he added."Swimming?" I echoed, the thought catching me by surprise. "Can we?"His laughter was light and filled with effortless joy. "The pool is heated, come on."The idea of a morning swim, a seamless blend of relaxation and invigoration, seemed suddenly perfect. Gliding through the warm waters, with the cool morning air brushing our skin, promised a refreshing start to our day. It was a simple plan, yet it encapsulated the spontaneity and small joys we often found ourselves weaving into the fabric of our daily lives.Heading to the pool required a quick cha
As the morning unfolded, a sense of normalcy permeated the air, disrupted only by Cassy's approach. Her presence was like a breeze, her news stirring the stillness around us. "Hey, guys... Mom just got to the living center, and she called. She said Dad is lucid... like totally himself." Kael's reaction was immediate, his body language shifting from relaxed to alert, surprise and hope flickered within me. "What? That's amazing." We quickly transitioned from our leisurely morning routine and dressed swiftly. Together with Kael and Ky, the moment's urgency propelled us towards the living center, each step heavy with anticipation of witnessing the miracle Cassy's words promised.The sight that greeted us was indeed miraculous. Gerald, the man whose condition had cast a shadow over our recent days, sat with a clarity in his eyes that spoke volumes of his recovery. He recognized both brothers immediately, a feat that, until now, had seemed a distant hope. His awareness extended to me, and
The office had recently begun to feel like my own. The transformation I had made to the space was significant, tailoring it to our needs and vision. Now, with the possibility of Missy reclaiming it for many years, I couldn't help the unease that coiled in me. It was supposed to be a positive change, a restoration of the old order, yet it left me totally unsettled. I wasn't ready to step back, not when I had just begun to find my place here.Caught up in my thoughts, I didn't hear Kael approach until his arms surrounded me, causing me to startle. "What's on your mind?" he inquired.I turned in his arms, seeking the reassurance of his eyes. "Are you ready for your dad to come back?" I asked.Kael shrugged. "It's a relief, I guess," he admitted."But what will we do?" The question slipped out, fueled by a mix of fear and curiosity about the future that lay ahead.He held me a little tighter. "I imagine we'll return to the townhouse and live the easier life you deserve before we jump in
Kael and I moved with a sense of urgency, each action underscored by the ticking clock of Gerald's impending return. Kael yanked suitcases from the closet, the sound of hangers clanging together and crashing to the floor as he swept clothes off their racks and into the bags without much care for order or delicacy. "Here, just help me fold these quickly," he instructed, tossing a stack of shirts onto the bed where I was already trying to organize our belongings into some semblance of order. His movements were harsh, his focus absolute as he rifled through drawers, extracting essentials with swift, angry movements. We moved to the office, which Omegas were already dismantling it in haste. Kael pulled open drawers and cabinets, grabbing papers, books, and personal items that held significance or necessity. He piled them into boxes, his hands occasionally pausing as he came across particular items that evoked a brief flash of sentiment or memory, only to shake it off and continue packin
When we arrived at the townhouse, the boys wasted no time unloading Kael's car and Ky's truck. The festival's crowd swelled around our new, temporary refuge, making it crucial to move quickly. "Let's get everything inside before this crowd gets any thicker," Kael directed, his voice echoing over the sound of nearby music and chatter. I moved aimlessly, half-helping as they brought in box after box. Each item we set down in the townhouse reminded us that we had circled back to our starting point. It was as if the past months had folded into a loop, bringing us back to where I'd first stepped into their lives. As the rooms filled with our belongings, a strange sense of déjà vu overwhelmed me. I wandered to my old room, pondering how we would manage our living arrangements now. The room seemed smaller than I remembered, a cramped space filled with too many possibilities. Too many memories. Ky followed me and sat down on the bed, his presence a silent question. "Are you hungry?" he
Ky returned from the store with groceries and began cooking something in the kitchen. The rich smells quickly filled the house and started wafting out the door. I was sitting outside on the balcony with Knox when the scent drifted out, and immediately, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. "Feeling off?" Knox asked, picking up on my discomfort. He reached for a bottle of wine and poured a glass, handing it to me with a hopeful look. "Maybe this will help settle your stomach." Grateful but hesitant, I accepted the glass, hoping for some relief. The moment the wine touched my lips, I knew it had been a mistake. The nausea intensified, and I quickly got up, barely making it to the railing before I threw up. "I'm so sorry," I managed to say, feeling mortified and still queasy. Knox got up and started tracing circles on my back as I stood by the railing, debating whether or not it was about to happen again. Noticing my issues, Ky brought a wet rag to us and closed the door leading
(KNOX POV)Teddy called later that day. I could hear the hesitation in his voice, which was rare for him. "Knox, I just heard Essie's been seen near the old rogue housing units by the beach. They said she is staying in the stray house near the edge," he told me. He didn't have to say more. I knew exactly where he meant.It was the same place I had taken her before when things were spiraling out of control.I didn't want to bring anyone with me, especially not Sky. The memories of how deep I had fallen, how Burk and Fletcher manipulated me into that dark pit of sex addiction, were too raw. She didn't need to see that side of me. No one did. This was something I had to face alone.The truck's engine roared to life, the same one I'd driven that night years ago. I prayed she'd recognize the truck, which would trigger something in her or at least make her talk to me about that night.As I pulled up to the house, my heart pounded against my ribs. The place looked as rundown as ever. I sa
(KNOX POV)Sitting at the kitchen table, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from the pediatrician's office about Oxxy's upcoming surgery. They asked about insurance information and the final payment arrangements. I didn't hesitate to respond that I'd pay cash. Money wasn't an issue when it came to Oxxy's well-being.The reply came almost immediately, but it wasn't what I expected. They mentioned needing some papers signed and, since I wasn't the custodial parent, they would need his mom's signature to proceed.My heart sank. I stared at the message, trying not to panic. The thought of needing Essie's involvement made my stomach twist. She had been out of the picture after running away from the rehab, and now they were saying we needed her? It felt like a slap in the face.Sky entered the room and noticed the strain in my posture. "What's wrong?" I didn't say anything, just handed her the phone. After reading the message, she sighed and ran her fingers through my
(KNOX POV)"We found him."The delta's voice crackled over the radio, and everything around me seemed to freeze. Still, I couldn't fully relax. I needed to see him with my own eyes. Needed to know he was safe."Where?" I shouted into the radio, desperation pushing my voice louder than intended."By the pond," came the reply. "He's just sitting there, Knox. You need to get down here."I didn't wait for more information. I shifted and sprinted through the woods, driven by the overwhelming need to reach him. My heart raced, thoughts spiraling through every possible scenario. The idea of him being out there all alone and the what-could-have-happened scenarios if we hadn't found him made me sick to my stomach.Seeing him nearly brought me to my knees as I reached the pond. He was perched on a large rock, his little legs swinging back and forth like he hadn't just scared us all half to death. Relief hit me so hard that I almost stumbled, but I kept moving."Oxxy!" I called out, rushing tow
(KNOX POV)As soon as I returned to the house, the pressure hit me like a physical force. Something was wrong. Really wrong. The packhouse was eerily quiet. I barely had time to process the change from dead still to chaos before Ky rushed up to me, panic radiating off him."Knox, we lost Oxxy."That knocked the wind out of me. My heart started pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. "What do you mean you lost him? How could you let him out of your sight?" The panic in my voice was undeniable, but I couldn't help it. The fear was already taking over, squeezing at my chest like a vise.Ky's eyes were wide with fear. "I'm sorry, I just... I turned around for a second, and he was gone. I thought he was just running back to the house, but he's nowhere Knox. We can't find him. Where the hell could he have gone? It was less than a minute."The blood drained from my face as the reality of what he was saying hit me. Oxxy was missing. I immediately jumped to the worst possible scenari
( KY POV )I watched Cassy practically force Teddy into his truck after she tossed Phin in the back seat. I stepped toward her, hoping to say something that might calm her down. Before I could say anything, she spun around. "Before you lecture me, you need to go talk to your two lookalikes inside before I kill them!" she yelled.She quickly caught herself and apologized. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Ky. It's just... They need to get their shit together. This isn't the time to act like kids."I sighed, taking a few deep breaths before heading inside. If I was being honest, I was tired of it too. We had three kids now, and this constant chaos couldn't keep happening. We had to figure out how to handle this before it tore us apart. Or they had to grow up in the kinds of messes we did. As I made my way to the packhouse, my thoughts drifted back to Naomi. I had been in love with her for nearly a decade. We were marked and bonded, and I was ready to spend my life with her. But then she
SKY POVI was doing everything I could to help Knox handle Oxxy, but it felt like trying to put a band-aid on a gaping wound. Knox was beyond frustrated with himself for allowing Oxxy to see the fight and hear everything accidentally. After sending Oxxy to his room to gather his cars so they could play together on the porch, he paced the room."I can't believe I let him see that, Sky," Knox muttered. "He's just a kid. He shouldn't have to deal with this damn mess."I watched as he tried to pull himself together, knowing how much this was tearing him apart. I reached out, taking his hand. "We'll make it right, Knox. We'll make sure Oxxy knows he's safe with us. He seemed okay?"Before he could respond, the door opened, and Kael stormed in. "What the hell happened?"Knox didn't hesitate. "Phin said his Dad used black magic to block finding out who Oxxy's father is. We got into it. Cassy left to drive Phin and Teddy back to the Bayou land.""She drove them back? Alone? As volatile as the
(KNOX POV)We returned from the run, but what we needed to do was still heavy on my mind. As we approached the packhouse, I braced myself for the conversation with Cassy. I knew she wouldn't want to hear anything about Teddy's past, especially when it involved someone else, but we couldn't avoid it any longer.When we walked into the living room, Cassy was already on edge. I could see how she held herself, tense and ready for a fight. "Cassy, we need to talk," I started, trying to ease into it.She didn't give me an inch. "About what?" she asked, her arms crossed defensively."It's about Oxxy… and Teddy, and everything that happened," I said, knowing this wouldn't go well no matter how I worded it."I don't want to talk about Teddy being with someone else, Knox. I can't.""I get it, Cass," I stated. "But we need to figure this out for Oxxy's sake. Wouldn't you want to know if he was the... Wouldn't you care?"She stared at me, anger flashing in her eyes as she started to pace. "You th
KNOX POVSky found me asleep on the floor in Oxxy's room, curled up beside his bed like a helpless puppy guarding his toy. I had one arm draped over his small body, trying to offer comfort. Probably more for me than him. He was content, totally unaware of my messy thoughts. I hoped it would always remain that way. He'd been through enough already to have to also handle adults with big emotions.Oxxy was snuggled up in his bed, his tiny malnourished body barely taking up any space, his breathing even and calm. I didn't know how long I'd been there, but it must've been a while because the hard floor beneath me was making my back scream."Knox," Sky whispered as she knelt beside me. "Do you want to go for a run? I think it will do you some good."I blinked awake, my eyes heavy with exhaustion. I knew she was right. I needed to clear my head. "Yeah," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Let's go. But don't wake the other two." The last thing I wanted was for Kael and Ky to join us. I needed to
(KNOX POV)Cassy sat across from me, twisting around a loose thread on the couch. "Teddy's convinced Oxxy isn't yours," she finally said. "He thinks Oxxy's actually Ferdinand's."I stared at her, struggling to process what she was saying. "What? That's impossible.""They found out after that Ferdinand was also sleeping with her," she continued, not looking at me."Who's 'they'?" I asked."Essie and Phin were involved. Pretty intensely, from what I've gathered. And I'm pretty sure Teddy was in on it too, even though he won't admit it outright."I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me."There's no way Oxxy isn't mine, Cassy."Cassy sighed, finally looking at me. "Knox, they were all pretty close. Maybe too close. I don't think they were trying to hide it. Teddy told me that Essie and Ferdinand were... well, let's just say they weren't just friends."I shook my head, refusing to accept what she was saying. "Oxxy looks like me. If he were Ferdinand's, he wouldn't have bl