6

Tears flowed until I felt utterly spent, my energy drained by the enormity of my grief. Kael adjusted his hold on me, gently guiding me to lie against his chest. I curled into his embrace, a small refuge amid chaos. In the background, I heard the soft scrape of a chair being drawn closer to the bed. One of my hands was again encased in the comforting grasp of another triplet.

The door opened, and Cassy entered, her eyes already brimming with tears. Her voice broke as she started to speak to Knox. "Knox, I..." She couldn't finish her sentence before succumbing to her own heartache, tears cascading down her cheeks as she saw me in Kael's arms.

Knox's arm wrapped around Cassy, mirroring the support Kael offered me. Our shared sounds of grief filled the room.

Eventually, Kael spoke, his voice a soft rumble. "Skyla, you have choices. We don't live here. Our home is in the French Quarter. You can remain here or come with us. It's your decision."

 "I don't know what to do... What if... What if my dad—" The thought was too much, and fresh tears overwhelmed me.

Kael's voice was firm. "I know, Sky. That's why I want you to think about this. I want you to come with us. We can keep you safe."

Knox added softly, his voice steady and reassuring, "We'll do everything we can to protect you."

Cassy stepped back from Knox, wiping tears from her eyes. "They're right, Skyla. You can stay here, but Dad's often away. Right now, you need the protection of Alphas."

I met Cassy's eyes, feeling a sliver of gratitude pierce the fog of my despair. "I believe you," I murmured. Then, the practicality of my situation hit me like a cold wave. "But, I don't have anything left... he burned all my stuff. I don't even have shoes."

"Don't worry about that," Cassy reassured gently. "We're the same size. I've got you covered."

From his position beside me, Kael nodded to Cassy. "Yeah, sis, just grab the essentials for now. We'll take care of the rest in the next day or two."

As Cassy departed to gather what I'd need, a question tumbled from my lips, directed at Kael. "Why are all of you being so kind to me? I understand why your parents might, but you three? I'm just another girl."

Kyran squeezed my hand softly. "Because we want to," he stated simply, his blue eyes sincere.

Before I could fully grasp the situation, Missy charged into the room. "Skyla, we need to sort out a room for you. I'm thinking of the room next to Cassy's. It has a lovely view, and it has a fireplace, so it is nice and cozy. We'll get it all set up for you," she announced, her words a rapid stream of well-intended plans. 

Kael cut her off. "Mom, she's coming with us tonight." His voice held a note of finality.

Missy started to object, but Kael stood his ground. "Mom, we're adults, and so is Skyla. She made this choice. Please, respect it?"

Missy seemed to want to protest further but then paused, perhaps seeing the resolve on her son's face. She turned and left the room without another word.

Cassy returned, a backpack filled with necessities in her arms. Around the same time, Missy re-entered with a healer in tow. The healer provided instructions and medications to ease my headache. She reassured Kyran and the rest that she could come to the townhouse whenever needed, having received Gerald's blessing.

"Okay, you all are staying for dinner at least, and that's final," Missy declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. She turned to me, concern softening her features. "Do you think you'll be up to eating, Skyla?"

I considered for a moment, the medication already easing the pounding in my head. A sad smile touched my lips. "Yeah, I think I can."

Missy turned her attention to the triplets, her voice commanding authority and amusement. "Boys, it's time to get ready for dinner. And don't forget to round up the twins."

Their response was a unified groan, a chorus of mild protest at the task of wrangling their younger siblings. Missy's smile was filled with nostalgia as she looked at them. "Trust me, you three were a much bigger handful than they are," she assured them, her tone light but firm.

As the room emptied, Cassy and Missy turned their attention to me. "Okay, let's get you ready for dinner."

Cassy and Missy gently guided me down the hall towards Cassy's room. Curiosity nudged the edges of my sorrow. "What room was I in before?" I asked.

Cassy let out a soft giggle. "The triplets' old room," she revealed, sparking an unexpected smile from me, a brief respite from the heaviness.

As they ushered me into Cassy's room, I couldn't help but comment. "Cassy, your closet is larger than my house was." We approached a pristine white couch nestled in the center of her expansive wardrobe.

Missy sighed. "Skyla, you deserve so much more from life. I'm sorry it took this long to bring you back to us."

A question that had been lingering in my mind slipped out. "Am I related to you all?" Missy laughed, a warm, comforting sound. "No, dear, not by blood. We're from the same pack, but there's no blood relation."

They helped me shed the sterile hospital clothes, replacing them with a simple t-shirt and blue jeans. The denim felt foreign against my skin. I'd never owned such a thing before. Cassy carefully dabbed concealer on my face, softening the harshness of my bruises. "Looking good can make you feel good," she murmured, coaxing a melancholy smile from my lips.

Together, they escorted me to the kitchen, where I sat at the bar, observing the flurry of activity. Missy immediately joined the Omegas as she assisted with the cooking.

Suddenly, the room's energy shifted as Koda burst in, halting abruptly upon seeing me. With a surprising formality, he approached and took my hand, his voice gentle. "My lady, I am pleased you're joining us for dinner." He kissed my hand, and in a moment of lightness, I leaned in to peck his cheek. "Such a gentleman," I teased, his grin lighting up the room.

Cassy nudged him playfully. "Did Knox put you up to that?" she asked.

"Nope, Kyran," Koda proudly declared, eliciting laughter from everyone. As the room filled with delight, a realization dawned on me. The twins were already adept at charming others, a skill no doubt honed by the triplets. A genuine smile found its way to my face, a small light in the darkness, as I began to appreciate the warmth and camaraderie of this new, unconventional family.

As the triplets entered, each dressed in crisp polo shirts and slacks, the casual elegance of their apparel struck me. Knox was in a minor struggle, trying to get Kage to cooperate with putting on his shoes for dinner.

I couldn't help but interject, turning to Kage, who Knox was carrying. "Kage, would you please put on your shoes like Knox is asking? For me?" My plea seemed to work wonders; Kage ceased wriggling, allowing Knox to slip his boot on. Once free, Kage trotted over and took my hand, his young voice filled with earnest charm. "My lady, I'm pleased you'll be joining us."

I laughed, genuinely amused by his manners. "Thank you, good sir," I replied, glancing up at Knox, who responded with a playful wink.

Koda leaned in with a cheeky comment. "She gave me a kiss when I did that."

Knox raised his eyebrows, a playful glint in his eye. "A kiss, you say?" He reached for my hand, but I playfully withdrew it. "Nope, this is Koda's moment. Maybe if you weren't fighting with Knox over your shoes, Kage, you two could have beaten him to it." My smile at Knox was both warm and teasing.

Knox turned to Kage with a mock exasperated look. "Man, see, you're ruining it!" he teased. Kage pouted slightly but followed Koda as he hopped down from the stool and headed towards the table. 

As Missy announced that dinner was ready, I moved to stand. To my amusement, all five Monroe boys leaped up, each eager to assist me to the table. Grinning, I accepted Koda's arm, who proudly escorted me. Not to be outdone, Kage dashed ahead and pulled out a chair for me. "Good thinking, little bro," Kyran said with a playful nudge.

I settled into the chair, leaning over to plant a kiss on Koda's cheek, his grin wide with pride. He attempted to claim the seat next to me, but Kael scooped him up with brotherly authority and placed him in the adjacent seat. Kael took the spot beside me, with Cassy sitting on my other side.

"Where's Dad tonight?" Missy asked, her gaze sweeping the room.

Kael's posture tensed slightly. "He left to... take care of some things." I noticed the silent communication between him and Missy, their eyes locked in an unspoken conversation. I chose not to delve into that – some things were better left unknown for now.

"I'm going to miss you when you leave tonight," Cassy said softly. "I was so excited about finally having a sister here." Her words struck a chord with me. As an only child, I often longed for a sibling to share the solitude of my childhood with. But Burk had kept me isolated, allowing me to attend school only in my senior year, with my mother homeschooling me before that.

Dinner was an array of choices, each dish more tantalizing than the last. I was in awe. I'd never experienced such a feast.

During the meal, Missy asked, "When was the last time you shifted, Skyla?"

I replied, "On my 18th birthday, and not since then."

Kael chimed in, "Well, you can shift here anytime you want, once you heal, of course."

Curious, I asked, "How long will that be?"

He considered for a moment. "I don't know, maybe a week or so?"

Missy's gaze shifted between Kael and me, a hint of foresight in her eyes. "Well, the sooner, the better, I believe," she said. "Her shifting here might just lead to several... enlightening revelations."