Liam pov "Your son's name is Lucas Alexander Matthews",My mom said as she looked at me with disgust. I flirted with a nurse during Grace's labor, pissing everyone off. Mom sighed as she walked off, muttering how stupid I was. I really couldn't remember Grace, though. I headed to the hospital and w
Grace pov Three weeks after giving birth, I stood in the empty living room of my new apartment, Lucas cradled against my chest in a soft wrap carrier. The space was smaller than I had initially hoped for—a modest one-bedroom on the third floor of a converted Victorian house in Silverlake, nearly t
"Sarah, you shouldn't have—" "It's not just from me," Sarah interrupted. "Everyone pitched in—the book club girls, our old colleagues from the library, even Mr. Peterson from the bookstore. They all wanted to help." I felt tears welling up. During my relationship with Liam, I had drifted away fr
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Already? I thought you were taking a break from wolf politics." "It's not about politics," I explained. "It's protocol when a wolf—or in Lucas's case, a wolf's cub—enters another territory. Besides, Lucas will need pack connections as he grows up, even if they're not with
Grace pov Two months had passed since I moved to Silverlake. The apartment finally felt like home, with colorful throws draped over the secondhand furniture, bookshelves lining one wall, and Lucas's toys scattered across the living room floor. The faint scent of lavender hung in the air from the d
"We wanted to," he interrupted firmly. From across the room, Beth's voice called out, "Grace, he's grown so much! He looks just like Liam did at this age." The comparison hung in the air, unavoidable and heavy. I forced a smile. "Would you like some coffee? Or tea?" "Coffee would be wonderful,
I set her coffee cup down with a sharp clink. "There's no mate bond to be stressed. That's the point, isn't it? Liam doesn't remember me, doesn't want me, and is dating a pretty blonde nurse. The bond is effectively broken." "That's not how it works," Alex said quietly. "The bond doesn't break jus
Grace pov I sat in the waiting room of Dr. Evelyn Winters' office, Lucas dozing in his carrier beside me. The office was unlike any medical facility I had visited before—more reminiscent of a cozy living room than a sterile doctor's practice. Soft lighting, comfortable seating, and walls painted i
Sophia considered the question seriously before shaking her head. "Not worry. It's the right pattern. The balance is happy about it." She adjusted another stone slightly, the golden light flowing to illuminate the new configuration. "Five is better than four. Stronger shapes." As if confirming her
I began to protest, but another wave of dizziness—milder this time—reminded me that Elena's medical advice wasn't merely precautionary. My body was indeed adjusting to significant changes, and pushing beyond its limits would serve no one. "Two days," I conceded reluctantly. "But I want regular upd
Grace pov Liam nodded, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Our children were never going to be ordinary, were they? Not with us as parents." I smiled as he looked into my eyes. Lucas was a strong werewolf with Alpha blood, and Sophia was a truth seer. Both were strong as hell.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice slightly hoarse. "You collapsed in the observation gallery," Liam explained, squeezing my hand. "Gave everyone quite a scare, especially the children. Tomas has been asking about you every fifteen minutes." I attempted to sit up, but Elena moved swiftly to prev
Grace pov Two weeks after the Children's Day revelation, the Balance Center hummed with renewed purpose. I had implemented a carefully structured program to continue engaging with the children who had shown connection to the Equilibrium, while the research division refined their understanding of h
Grace pov Liam, ever practical, focused on immediate implications. "How does this affect our response to reality-shapers? Does this expanded connection give the equilibrium greater range or power?" "Not exactly, power," I replied thoughtfully. "More like... expanded awareness. Greater understand
As we discussed these implications, Sophia's block construction had grown increasingly complex. Children placed pieces with surprising precision under her guidance, creating what appeared to be a three-dimensional representation of reality patterns around the Balance Center itself. The golden light
Grace pov Latent gifts," Elena suggested, joining me as I completed my circuit of the courtyard. The Alpha and healer had attended as a representative of the supernatural communities allied with the Balance Center. "Not strong enough to manifest as active abilities, but sufficient to create resona
Grace pov Three days after the shadow attack on the pack house, the Balance Center was hosting its first-ever Children's Day. What had begun as a small educational initiative had expanded rapidly as families associated with the Center brought not just their gifted children but siblings, cousins, a