After our shower, we climbed out, and Tyler headed back to his own room to get dressed. "You’d better hurry, or we’re going to be late," he called out."Worth it!" I replied with a smile as I pulled on my panties.We met up in the kitchen where Tyler was pouring coffee into travel mugs for us. He handed me a protein bar and a sealed cup. "Let’s go," he said gesturing with his head towards the door."What? No bacon? No eggs? No hash browns? What kind of service is this?" I teased.He chuckled as he held the front door open for me. "I’ll get you a complaint card to fill in.""So where are we going?" I asked as we settled into his car and buckled our seatbelts."The Fortress," Tyler replied, looking back over his shoulder as he reversed down the driveway."The Fortress?!" I asked in surprise.Did they have some kind of castle or stronghold here that I wasn't aware of?Tyler smiled, probably knowing that the name would raise an eyebrow. "It's like a training center. My dad carries out a
I hesitated, nervous that he was going to think I was insane, but I knew I had to tell him. I'd searched for answers myself, but had come out empty handed."I... um... Well, do you know anything about werewolves and visions?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.Shane looked at me curiously, his brow furrowed with deep lines. "What kind of visions?" he probed."Oh, you know... just the standard kind. Just visions of the past... the future," I went on with a shrug, still trying to sound nonchalant.He chuckled a little at that. "The 'standard' kind? In my experience, I can't really say that werewolves having visions is standard.""Um..." I looked over at Tyler nervously, but he nodded, encouraging me to go on."Who is experiencing these visions?" Shane asked, throwing me a lifeline."Me..." I said, my voice soft and filled with uncertainty.Shane looked at me apprehensively. I could see his mind working as he tried to establish whether I was being serious or not. After a mom
I gave Shane a reassuring rub on the shoulder, trying to anchor him after the emotional journey through his memory. Tyler watched, perplexed, his eyes darting between us.Shane took a moment to pull himself together, then looked at me with curiosity, his mind clearly working."So? Any ideas?" I asked tentatively.He pursed his lips as he thought, then headed over to the bookshelf at the back of the classroom. Tyler and I followed behind him, watching as he pulled a book off the shelf and began to page through it in search of something.Tyler gave me a questioning look, but I shook my head, indicating that now wasn’t the time to recount Shane's brief reunion with his deceased family.Shane skimmed through the book, but then closed it with a sigh and began his search for another. His fingers brushed over the spines as he searched for the title he was looking for. He pulled another one off the shelf and began to skim through it, all the while muttering to himself under his breath, "Visio
Tyler held me tightly as I struggled to process the bombshell that had just dropped on my life. My mother’s dismissive attitude along with her instruction to keep this revelation a secret cut me deeply, but it was the realization that my entire life had been built on a lie that truly shattered me.He rubbed my back soothingly, his warmth offering a small measure of comfort in the midst of my turmoil.“We’ll figure this out,” he repeated, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of my emotions.I pulled away slightly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. “I don’t even know where to start,” I admitted, feeling lost.“Well, let’s go see if Shane can tell us more about the Elysian Line,” Tyler suggested.But I wasn’t interested in that right now. Right now, all I could think about was the fact that the parents I had known my entire life were not really my parents. The life I had thought was mine wasn’t real. I was adopted. I was adopted, and Aunt Mara had known but hadn’t told me. It fe
I cried the whole way home while Ryder drove, his looks of concern growing more intense with every sob that racked my body."Are you okay?" he asked for the third time during the short drive, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer him. Instead, I just sobbed harder.Tyler hadn’t explained the situation to Ryder, he’d just asked him to come and pick me up, so that’s what he did. Now that I thought about it, it was probably a bit unfair on him, but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to say the words out loud right now. I was an absolute mess.Ryder pulled into the driveway and paused before getting out. He hesitantly asked, "Did something happen with Tyler?" but all I could do was shake my head while trying to find the buckle of my seatbelt through a blur of tears."I’m so worried about you," Ryder went on, sounding absolutely helpless. "Is it... Is it me?" he asked tentatively.I shook my head again as I opened the door to climb out. He rushed out of the car, making his way over to my side.
We were both quiet for a long while until Ryder finally spoke up, realizing that I wasn't going to repeat myself. "Did you say that you're adopted?" he asked tentatively.I nodded as another sob wracked my body."That's... that's crazy," he murmured in response, clearly surprised by the revelation. "I'm sorry, Kate. That's a lot..."I nodded again, wiping the tears from my eyes with the crumpled tissue I clutched in my hand."You didn't know?" he asked hesitantly.I shook my head.Obviously, I hadn't known! Ryder and I had spoken about my family life and my upbringing many times before. If I had known I was adopted, I would have told him! Or maybe I wouldn't have..."Well, maybe it's a good thing?" he went on to suggest. "Your parents sounded like shitty people. Maybe your real parents aren't like that," he considered with a thoughtful look.I scoffed. "Whoever they are, they clearly didn't want me. Not really sure how great they could be knowing that..." I replied bitterly.Ryder sho
Ryder looked at me in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked curiously.My eyes widened with the realization. "What if... What if she was my real mother?" I whispered, as if I were afraid to say the words out loud.Ryder’s eyes also went wide as he processed the information. "I mean, it would explain a lot," he said. "But why would she give you up?" he asked curiously.My heart pounded in my chest as I considered the idea. It made sense in a way that nothing else did. Aunt Mara had always been there for me, more so than anyone else in my life. She had always treated me like her own."I... I don't know," I replied softly, trying to think of possible explanations, but I kept coming up short."Kate, you need to talk to her. You're going to drive yourself crazy otherwise," Ryder insisted, his logic a much needed resource at this time seeing as I seemed to have completely lost my own.I nodded. "She's at work, but I'll message her," I replied, pulling my phone out of my pocket.Me:Hey Au
I tried to get a hold of myself as I waited for Aunt Mara's imminent arrival. I wasn't sure what to say to her when I saw her. Should I be happy or hurt? The emotions overwhelmed me and I felt like I was starting to spiral."Deep breaths," Ryder said softly as he patted my back. "Deep breaths," he repeated. "She'll be here soon and then you'll know the truth," he encouraged me.But I shook my head. "What if I don't like the truth?" I asked miserably.Ryder frowned. "Sometimes the truth sucks. But it's better to know so that you can decide how you want to use that information going forward. You don't want to live a lie, Kate. This sucks right now, but over time, it will get better. You'll see," he said as he rubbed my back.I gave a slight chuckle at that, then went on to say, "Looks like all those therapy appointments are starting to pay off."Ryder chuckled at that too. "Sorry, I don't mean to sound preachy."I took a deep breath and sat up, wiping my eyes. "I don't know what to say
(Katelyn's POV)The cab pulled up outside a weathered, ivy-clad building on a quiet street in New Haven, Connecticut. From the outside, it looked like an old academic institute. Just the type of place someone might come to pore over dusty manuscripts or discuss obscure theories with professors who wore tweed jackets. But I knew better.This was The Council’s headquarters, masquerading as the “Institute for Cultural Anthropology” to the human world. I'd heard about it, but I never thought I would actually get to see it in the flesh.My stomach churned as I stepped out onto the sidewalk. The air was crisp, carrying a hint of autumn even though it wasn’t quite the season yet.Behind me, Tyler and Ryder followed closely, their postures tense and alert, flanking me like a pair of protective bodyguards. It was an odd comfort, knowing I wasn’t walking into this alone. But the weight of what lay ahead pressed down on me like a lead blanket.“Looks normal enough,” Ryder muttered, eyeing the st
(Katelyn's POV)"You're okay," Tyler whispered over and over again, but I wasn't sure whether he was talking to me or to himself.“What the fuck was that, Kate?!” Ryder's voice demanded.I shook my head, against Tyler's chest, still trying to come to terms with where I was and what was going on here."I... I just..." I tried to reply, but my voice was weak and hoarse.Tyler kissed the top of my head, his own breathing uneven as he gently stroked my hair, still holding me against him in a death grip. "Sshhh... Sshhh..." he hushed me, shaking his head as he rocked me back and forth."Never again. Never a-fucking-gain. Okay? You're never doing that again, Katelyn," Ryder's voice was sharp and firm, leaving no room for argument or debate. "Never again..." he repeated, sounding more exhausted now.It took a few minutes for me to regain my bearings as Tyler continued to whisper soft reassurances in my ear, rocking me back and forth against his chest like a child.I heard the sound of footst
(Katelyn's POV)The airplane’s engines droned softly as I stared out the window, the world below reduced to quilted patches of green and brown earth divided by winding roads.New Haven, Connecticut... The Council Headquarters. We were still a few hours away, but the gravity of what awaited me felt like a noose around my neck.I adjusted my seatbelt for what felt like the hundredth time and closed my eyes, leaning back into my seat and letting my thoughts drift back over the last two days at home. The two days I’d spent trying, and failing, to harness my telekinesis. The two days that had left me feeling more exhausted, more frustrated, and more anxious than before.I’d wanted so badly to figure it all out before I faced The Council. I’d tried everything I could think of. At first, I tried to recreate the conditions of those emotional surges, thinking maybe I could trick my mind into somehow flipping that internal switch. I thought about arguments. About fear. About sadness. But nothin
(Katelyn's POV)The next day started off like any other, but with the new weight and responsibility of pregnancy pressing down on me. I'd made a call to Dr Connors's offices to try and get a better idea of how far along I was and we managed to gauge that I was about three weeks in. She said they would be able to confirm by checking measurements and all that stuff at my first scan, but for now, I was three weeks in. Three out of forty. It somehow felt like too much and not enough at the same time.Shortly after the call, Alpha David's voice called from upstairs. My blood went cold and the twins and I exchanged worried glances."Jesus, do you think he overheard that?" I asked, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights.Tyler shook his head. "I doubt it..." but still, he looked as concerned as I felt.The fact that David had bothered to call us upstairs personally, rather than sending Tyler a message like he usually did, didn’t escape me. This time, he’d taken the effort to personally
(Katelyn's POV)Ryder's hand lingered on my stomach for a moment, but then he sighed and dropped it."So... What do we do now? I mean, I guess this thing is happening. Do we have to start picking names and shit?" he asked, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.I shook my head. "I don't really know. Can't say this has ever happened to me before. I don't even know how far along I am... I kinda freaked out and left the doctor's office before she got to tell me..." I admitted."Well, you should probably find out," Tyler suggested, slipping his hand into mine and giving it a squeeze. "A timeline might be helpful here."I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll try get hold of the doctor's office tomorrow to see if she can give me more details. She said something about an OBGYN. I think she gave me a referral or something. Maybe Jen knows more of the details. My brain was all over the place," I explained, feeling a little stupid for not paying more attention to something so fucking
(Katelyn's POV)Ryder fell into silence, not finishing his thought as his jaw tightened and his hands balled into fists.Tyler’s hand rested reassuringly on mine, his presence a steadying force, but Ryder’s tense silence was killing me. He looked like a caged animal, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.“I…” Ryder started, but his voice faltered. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as frustration flashed across his face. “How am I supposed to do this?!” he suddenly blurted, his voice sharp and rising with each word. “For fuck’s sake! I’ve just agreed to take on the role of Alpha! Now I need to play dad too?! When is it going to stop?! When is it going to be enough?!”He stood up again and began pacing, his movements erratic and tense. “I can’t! I can’t do all of this at the same time! It’s too much! How the fuck am I supposed to deal with this?!”His words hit me like a slap, leaving me momentarily stunned. The fear and uncertainty I had been feeling all day were
(Katelyn's POV)The drive home had felt too short. Jenna and I had spent lunch talking in circles, and I knew she was just trying to distract me, to lighten the load, but there was no amount of banter or brainstorming that could make this easier.When she’d suggested checking out some stores for the twins’ birthday gifts, I’d briefly considered it, but ultimately, I'd ended up saying no. I was way too distracted to focus and it felt like it would be a total waste of time. So, instead, she called the Uber, and we headed home.The drive was quiet, my thoughts too loud to leave room for conversation. All I could think about the entire way was what I was going to say, rehearsing it in my mind and trying to come up with the right words, but I guess there are only so many ways you can say, 'I'm pregnant', right?When the Uber pulled up outside the house, Jenna gave me a tight hug. “You’ll be fine,” she murmured, her hands gripping my shoulders as she looked me in the eye. “You’re going to t
(Katelyn's POV)"You can tell them the truth, babe," Jenna said with a reassuring smile. "I mean, that's what I'd recommend.""What if... What if I can't do this? What if... What if I don't want this life?" I whispered softly, ashamed to be saying the words out loud.Jenna squeezed my hand. "Well, that's something you need to think about. It's not a decision to make on a whim. But if that's what you decide, I'll be there for you every step of the way. I'll hold your hand in the appointment and tell you that everything is going to be okay. I would never let you do this on your own, okay? Never," she assured me, looking into my eyes with a fierceness that told me she wasn't kidding."Do you want to think it over for a while before you talk to the twins about it?" she suggested, her hand still clutching mine across the table.I shook my head. "No. I can't keep this from them. Even if I wanted to, I know I wouldn't be able to.""Babe, I'm sure they're going to be super supportive," she ins
(Katelyn's POV)The words echoed in my ears, bouncing around my skull but refusing to settle into anything coherent.“No,” I whispered, shaking my head as tears began to well up in my eyes. “I can't... That can't... This wasn’t...” but the words evaporated into thin air as I tried to reason this out.Dr Connors watched me carefully. “I know this might be a lot to take in,” she said, keeping her tone professional but supportive. “But you have options, Katelyn. You don’t need to make any decisions right now. Perhaps you should just take some time to process this.”“Options?” I repeated numbly, the word tasting foreign on my tongue.Her meaning was clear, but I couldn’t focus on it. I couldn’t focus on anything. The tears spilled over, sliding down my cheeks as my chest heaved with quiet sobs.Jenna was at my side instantly, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “It’s okay, babe,” she murmured. “We’ll figure this out, okay? You’re not alone in this. I'm here with you.”I couldn’t even bri