After Kael and I found solace in the quiet afterglow, he engaged in the simple, playful act of twirling my hair around his fingers, a lightheartedness in his actions that felt rare and precious. His infectious laughter filled the room as he accidentally tickled himself with strands of my hair, a moment of pure, unguarded joy between us.Amid this playful exchange, Kael, with a casualness that misrepresented the seriousness of his question, inquired if Ky and I had been intimate since arriving at the townhouse. My heart skipped a beat at his question, a mixture of surprise and apprehension swirling within me. "Kael..." I started, the name hanging between us like a plea for understanding."Stop, just answer me," he interjected, his request straightforward, leaving no room for evasion.With a nod, I confirmed what he already seemed to know. My admission was limited. I couldn't bring myself to reveal the extent of my intimacy with Kyran, but I owed him this truth.Kael sighed, a sound hea
As we began unloading the car, a moment of unexpected affection unfolded. Knox stepped off the porch, enveloping me in a warm hug that transitioned into a deep, passionate kiss. This surprising gesture caught us all off guard; Kael walked away with a nonchalant air, while Ky, unable to contain his amusement, chuckled, retrieving his bag from the car.After a moment, I gently pulled away. "Squeaky wheel?" I teased."Yep, squeak, squeak..." Knox's light and teasing response elicited a genuine laugh from me, a sound of pure joy that filled the space between us.From the porch, Missy's laughter joined ours, her amusement at the scene before her unmistakable. Beside her, Fabian watched with a smile, and the twins busied themselves climbing trees in the front yard, their youthful energy boundless.Suddenly, Koda and Kage, vibrant and full of life, rushed toward me, their enthusiasm nearly knocking me off my feet. "Wow, you guys have gotten so much bigger. I've only been gone a couple of day
I nodded, considering Kael's words carefully. "Okay, that sounds like the best way to handle this?" Kael ran a hand through his hair, his expression serious. "Listen, I know I might be a bit biased here, but I just worry about doing that, which totally overwhelms you. And not in a good way." "What do you think will happen?" I asked, trying to grasp the full scope of his concern. "There isn't any way to really know, but think about it like this... all the emotions... all the separate emotions you feel from each of us... Imagine being flooded with all of that at once. I worry it will be too much for you." I straightened up, a frown creasing my forehead. "Yeah, now that you put it that way... I'm not sure." Knox sighed from across the room, a mild annoyance flashing across his face. "He's just trying to scare you. I think you'll be fine." I held up a hand, signaling for a pause. "Let me think about it, and I'll figure out what to do... You three are not allowed to fight over this,
Knox guided me into the bedroom, a yawn hidden behind his hand. "Ok, I really need to nap now. Are you sleepy?" he asked, exhaustion written all over his face."Not really, but I'll lay down with you for a while," I replied, thinking of leaving him to sleep alone, not sitting right with me."You don't have to do that. I know how boring it can be," he protested lightly, concern flitting across his face."No, I don't find it boring at all," I assured him with a smile. I wouldn't say it out loud, but I would lay next to them and listen to them breathe forever. The world outside the room seemed to slow down as we lay together. Knox's breathing evened out, and I felt his fingers gently find my hair, playing with it absentmindedly as he drifted off to sleep. A quiet laugh escaped me, marveling at how this simple gesture had become such a comforting constant for all three of them now. I didn't mind. I loved my hair being played with. After a while, ensuring not to disturb his rest, I ca
Back at the house, Kael and Knox were deeply engrossed in their work, maps, and charts spread out before them on the table. They moved in harmony, their discussion flowing seamlessly from one topic to the next—patrol lines, pack management, and the nuances of running their territory under the protection of Fabian's spell. Watching them, their synchronization, and the ease with which they navigated their responsibilities was a sight to behold.Their jesting was light, filled with the kind of inside jokes and shared understandings that come from a lifetime of closeness. "So, if we shift the eastern patrol line inward, we might actually get to sleep at night," Knox quipped with a smirk."Sleep? What's that? New trendy dance or something?" Kael retorted, without missing a beat, eliciting a chuckle from Knox. The atmosphere was light and playful. I loved it.From my spot on the couch, I couldn't help but smile at their interaction, a reminder of the warmth and unity that underpinned the s
To accommodate the unique living situation that came with being intimately connected to three identical triplets, I found myself orchestrating the movement of furniture with the help of some Omega.s. The task at hand was to relocate the finest bed from a guest room to the master bedroom and to reconfigure the space to suit three beds and four individuals. However, the challenge became apparent quickly; the room was simply too cramped to fit everything and everyone comfortably.Kael, observing the logistical nightmare unfolding, introduced an alternative. "I have another suggestion. Ky isn't here to weigh in now, but I believe he'll also be on board with the idea."Intrigued, I responded, "Okay, I'm listening." Beside me, Knox echoed my sentiment, indicating his openness to Kael's proposal."The guest wing," Kael elaborated, referring to the section of the house currently occupied by Missy and the twins. "It houses four bedrooms and is essentially designed for our needs, if you consi
Over the ensuing week, the newly transformed guest wing, now our expansive master living area, proved to be a resounding success. Our nightly arrangements evolved naturally, with me finding my way to Kael's side in our shared bed almost every evening. Whether for comfort, warmth or simply the magnetic pull of his presence, I was always there, wrapped in the security of his arms. This pattern became an unspoken rhythm among us - Kael, then Ky, followed by Kael again, and then Knox. It was a dance of closeness and companionship, yet we never delved too deeply into the reasons behind it. Our days were filled with laughter, shared meals, and moments of quiet understanding, and nights brought whispered conversations and the comfort of being enveloped in each other's presence, a testament to our strengthening bonds.On the morning of the full moon, I awoke to a curious sensation of being watched. Opening my eyes, I found all three brothers seated on the bed, their gazes fixed on me with a
Missy entered with a sense of purpose, her words marking the transition of the evening. "It's time, kids."Embracing his mother in a heartfelt hug, Kael couldn't help but comment, "Mom, I think this means we aren't kids anymore."Missy's laughter filled the room, a sound of warmth and enduring love. "No, you're always going to be my kids. I'm just getting another daughter tonight," she responded, her joy at the expansion of her family evident.Cassy, ever the catalyst for action, nudged me gently. "Come with me," she urged, indicating that Missy would accompany the boys while she took charge of guiding me.With the bag containing the ceremonial dress and other essentials in her possession, Cassy led the way. "So, I guess I'm carrying you?" I joked, playing along with the light-hearted mood.Cassy's response was playful, yet challenging. "Yeah, think you can?"I laughed, the sound echoing our shared excitement. "Of course I can! Don't let your brothers make you think my wolf is weak or
(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