The smell of pancakes and bacon greeted me as I stepped into the kitchen, Finn and Luna running ahead of me. Kai stood at the stove, his movements precise as he flipped pancakes onto a growing stack. Kylan leaned casually against the counter, munching on a piece of bacon with his trademark smirk.“Good morning,” Kylan said, giving me a once-over. “Sleep well?”“Better than I expected, considering the circus in my house,” I replied, making a beeline for the stack of pancakes.As I reached out to grab one, Kai’s hand shot out, snapping my wrist lightly.“It’s bad manners to pick at food before it’s served,” he said, his voice as calm and commanding as ever.I glared at him, pulling my hand back. “It’s bad manners to invade someone’s home uninvited, but I don’t see you apologizing.”Kylan choked on his bacon, clearly trying to hold back a laugh.Kai’s lips twitched, though he didn’t smile. “Touché.”“Where’s Kieran?” I asked, glancing around.“Bathroom,” Kai said, flipping another pancak
Kai stood nearby, as stoic and intense as ever, his blue eyes watching me like he was trying to solve a puzzle.That's how he always looks though . Watchful.It was annoying sometimes, but there are sometimes, especially now when I am in nothing but a T-shirt, shorts, and my hair in a mess, it felt like he could see my body from within my shirt. Kieran was the least distracting, for once, but only because he was busy coaxing the twins into the car.I let out an exaggerated groan, throwing my hands in the air. “Can you guys please be less hot?”Kylan turned, his grin widening. “You think we’re hot?”Kai’s lips twitched, though his voice remained cold as ice. “We’ll try harder to be less of a distraction for you.”“Oh, shove it,” I snapped, flipping him the finger.---This was a welcome change of scenery. The hum of activity, the soft beeps of monitors, and the soothing scent of disinfectant helped ground me. I made my way to Lizbella’s office, holding a small paper bag containing h
“Are… are you alright?” I asked, my voice hesitant as I watched the young woman. She turned to me, her face glowing with a creepy happiness. Her earlier grief seemed to have vanished, replaced by an unsettling calm. She looked different from when she first came in, more happy, at peace for someone who just lost her twin.Then again, what was that…song.“I’m more than alright,” she said, her tone bright and airy. “I feel… free. Like the pain was never there to begin with.Did I lose anyone, I don’t even know.” My stomach twisted. “Do you remember your brother? Your loss?” She frowned, her brow furrowing for a brief moment before her face cleared again, her grin returning. “No,” she said simply. “I’ve forgotten it all. The pain, the sadness—it’s gone. Completely gone.” “That’s… good,” I said, though the words felt strange on my tongue. She stepped closer, her eyes brimming with what could have been joy. “The rumors weren’t wrong. You’re the best therapist, Briar. You make peo
My phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Over and over, the incessant buzz pulled at my fraying nerves. I ignored it at first, pacing through the mess of my dismantled apartment, but when the ringing started again, I snatched it up without checking the caller ID.“What?” I barked, my voice tight with anger.“Good to hear you’re still in one piece,” Kai’s calm, low voice came through the line, immediately freezing me in place.“Kai?” I asked, surprised.“I heard about your… situation,” he said, his tone clipped but careful. “I took the liberty of moving your important things. There’s a better place waiting for you.”His words hung in the air like a slap to the face. “Excuse me?” I snapped, my anger bubbling to the surface. “This is my house. I don’t want some ‘better place.’ I got this home with my hard earned money.”“But you weren't able to keep it,” Kai said evenly, and that pissed me off. “Kylan is on his way to pick you up. He’ll take you to your new home.”“Oh, no,” I said, my voice risin
The twins were bouncing on the large bed in their new room, their laughter echoing through the spacious house. The soft, cloud-like mattress made for the perfect playground, and the clean room, with its lavender coloured walls and oversized windows, felt like a dream.“This house is huge!” Finn said, flipping onto his back and staring up at the ceiling. “Do you think there’s a secret room or something?”“There has to be,” Luna said, her curls bouncing as she flopped next to him. “Rich people houses always have secret stuff.”Finn rolled onto his side, propping his head up with his hand. “You know what’s even weirder? The three dads thing.”Luna nodded solemnly, folding her hands under her chin like she was pondering something important. “Yeah. They’re all so… different.”“Right?” Finn said, sitting up. “Like, Kai’s kinda scary, but not in a bad way. More like… like when Miss Thornton at school gets mad at us for not doing homework.”“Yeah, he’s like the principal of dads,” Luna agreed
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing my room in a soft golden glow. I blinked awake, my mind already buzzing with the to-do list for the day. Work, the kids, figuring out what to do about this ridiculous mansion situation—there was too much to handle and not enough coffee in the world to help.As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, I paused. A soft, familiar sound drifted through the air, sending a chill down my spine."Lacrimam tuam effunde,Et dolorem tuum dimitte.Lux tua in stellis est,Numquam obscura, numquam amissa."The words, haunting and melodic, seemed to float from the hallway. My heart stopped.No.It couldn’t be.I rushed out of the room, following the sound to Luna’s bedroom. My hands trembled as I pushed the door open.There she was, sitting on the edge of her bed, her small feet dangling as she hummed the tune softly to herself.“Luna?” I said, my voice cracking.She turned to me, her innocent face lighting up with a smile. “Morning, Mummy!
My face changed, “What do you mean what am I doing to my daughter?”Kylan didn’t flinch, leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed. “Exactly what I asked, Briar. You’re talking about medicine like it’s the only thing keeping her from falling apart. What’s really going on?”“You wouldn’t understand,” I muttered, shaking my head.“Try me,” he pressed, his voice calm but firm.I stood abruptly, pacing the room as my mind raced. “It’s nothing, okay? Just something the doctor prescribed to… keep things normal.”Kylan arched a brow. “Normal? You’re talking about glowing eyes and a song that no six-year-old should be humming. There is no way for a six years old to know Latin and surprisingly she does. None of that screams normal to me.”I froze, my back to him, my fists clenched at my sides. “It’s under control.”“That’s what you call control?” he shot back, gesturing toward the hallway where Luna’s muffled cries could still be heard. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like
“Kieran, I’m not—”“Don’t,” he cut me off, his tone sharper than a blade. “Don’t try to talk your way out of this. Not with me. Not when it’s about them.”His words hit me square in the chest, making my breath catch. His frustration, his worry—it wasn’t misplaced, and that only made it harder to face.“Kieran,” Kai said, stepping forward, his tall frame casting a shadow over his brother. “You’re not helping.”“And you are?” Kieran snapped, his voice rising. “You think standing there, acting like everything’s fine, is going to solve this? She’s not telling us everything, Kai. And you’re just letting it slide.”Kai’s jaw clenched, but his voice stayed calm. “This isn’t about letting anything slide. It’s about handling it in a way that doesn’t push her further into a corner.”“I’m right here,” I said quietly, my voice breaking. “You don’t have to talk like I’m not.”Kieran’s gaze softened for a fraction of a second, but his frustration didn’t waver. “Then start talking, Briar. What aren’
I moved to the counter slowly, ignoring the stares behind me. I needed something to hold. Something normal. Something hot.“Coffee?” I offered half-heartedly, reaching for a mug.“Here?” Lizbella scoffed from behind me. “No, thanks.”I glanced over my shoulder. “Still think the Lycan Kings are cursed?”Her mouth twitched. “Still think you’re not?”I forced a tired smile, pouring the coffee anyway. “Suit yourself.”She stepped into the kitchen finally, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Kai had disappeared somewhere—I didn’t know when—but Kieran was still nearby, quiet. Watching. But he was holding a magazine of ladies in bikinis. But it was upside down. Idiot. Eventually he got up and left. Kylan also disappeared to. Regardless Lizbella stood beside me. She was still as beautiful as ever. Perfect and the kind of woman who never seemed to have a hair out of place. Lizbella’s eyes didn’t leave me. “So… the only reason I finally get to see you again is because the council
"As long as you don't go crazy and kill us," Kieran said, voice dry as ever.I shot him a glare through watery eyes. “Not funny.”Kai had already moved closer, his fingers carefully undoing the chains wrapped around my wrists.His touch was quiet. Gentle. Each click of the locks made me exhale a little easier.“I’m sorry,” he murmured, not meeting my gaze. “We didn’t know what else to do.”I didn’t respond. My throat was still tight.The last shackle dropped to the floor with a metallic clink. I rubbed my wrists instinctively—angry red marks circling them.But before I could say anything, Kai leaned forward, took one of my wrists in his palm… and pressed a kiss against the irritated skin.I froze.The warmth of his lips lingered for only a second—but the sting vanished instantly. I blinked, stunned, and looked down. The marks were gone.“Kai?” I breathed. “How did you…?”He chuckled softly, standing back to his full height. “I can do a lot of things, my love.”My stomach flipped a lit
I stood still.The water dripped from my hair. My skin still glowed faintly, markings humming beneath the surface. The silence around me wasn’t peaceful—it was coiled. Like a held breath.I was naked. But I didn’t feel cold. I didn’t feel… anything. Not properly.And their eyes—God, they were staring.Kai.Kylan.Kieran.They stood frozen near the edge of the spring, all three looking like they wanted to move closer but didn’t dare.“She’s not… blinking,” Kylan muttered.“She’s not Briar,” Kai replied, his voice low and sharp.Something twitched in my chest. I didn’t know if it was anger or sadness. Something flickered. I looked down at the water swirling around my waist. It was still listening. Ready.“What if she screams again?” Kylan whispered. “What if she vaporizes us this time?”I looked up slowly.Kai didn’t move. “Then we hope she remembers who we are before it happens.”Kylan turned to him. “Oh great. Hope. Yeah, that’ll totally keep our bodies from turning to smoke.”“Be qu
Briar's POVEverything was quiet.Not in the way silence normally is. This wasn’t just the absence of sound.This… this was peace.I didn’t feel pain anymore. No heaviness in my chest. No burning behind my eyes. No panic clawing at the edge of my lungs.Just warmth.Gentle warmth, wrapping around my limbs like velvet.And light.So much light.I opened my eyes.I wasn’t at the road with vampires anymore.I was underwater.I could breathe.The water was so clear it felt like air. Light trickled in from above, dancing across the surface in golden ribbons. Everything glowed softly hues of blue and green and silver that shimmered with every tiny ripple.I looked down.I still had legs.No tail. No change. I wasn't a fish.And yet… it felt different.My skin was glowing. Lines trailed up my arms like ink beneath the surface—glowing faintly, moving ever so slightly like they were alive.I moved feeling free. As if in a long time I could actually breathe. I wasn't alone here. Figures moved
Kai’s POVShe hadn’t moved in over an hour.Not even a twitch.I stood near the window, arms crossed, eyes locked on her still figure as the storm inside me brewed heavier than the clouds outside. The kids had fallen asleep again, one on each side of her, their small hands curled against her arms like they were trying to keep her tethered to the world.I couldn’t stop staring.Because if I stopped staring… I might have to admit how scared I actually was.The power he felt emitted from her wasn’t wolf. Wasn’t anything I’d seen in a long time. It smelled old. Too old. Old like the vampires. Kylan entered the room quietly, a bottle of water in his hand and his entire posture screaming guilt.I hadn't asked him what had happened because I was thinking about ways to sort this out. I didn’t look at him when I asked, “What happened out there?”He sat on the edge of the table across from me, rubbing the back of his neck. “She passed out. After vaporizing a group of rogues and vampires. All
Kylan’s POVI could feel her heart beating erratically against me, her body still limp in my arms as I carried her through the forest, away from the wreckage.Briar was barely conscious, her breathing shallow, and that alone sent a panic that ran through me faster than I’d ever run in my wolf form.I knew something was wrong, but the sight of her collapsing—her body betraying her like that—had set off every protective instinct I had.I couldn’t wait for any help. I didn’t even think. I just needed to get her somewhere safe.Her head hung in my arms like a ragdoll, and I felt her weak pulse in my hands, her skin clammy with the sweat of whatever fever she’d caught from the siren power taking over.I abandoned the car the second I realized she wasn’t waking up. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t alone. What mattered was her. Always her.I shifted fast, fur sprouting across my body. The moment my Lycan form took over, I scooped her up, feeling the heat of her skin against my fur. My paws hit
The silence was suffocating.The last rogue fell as ash to the earth, drifting like dust on a dead wind.My chest heaved. My vision blurred.I didn’t understand what just happened. My scream—it had done something. Something terrifying.How? I had killed someone. Well not someone. Couple of people. Wait…Kylan.The screwdriver was still at my feet, but I barely noticed it now.I pushed open the car door stepping outside. “Kylan!” I screamed. Please no. Ease let me not have hurt him.“Briar!” He called out. I turned to see him and I sighed in relief. He was already shifting mid-sprint, fur retracting into skin, claws vanishing as his towering figure emerged from the trees, shirtless, panting, his eyes wild.“Briar!” he called, panic etched into every corner of his voice. “Where are you—”His eyes locked on me.And something in his face… froze.I turned to him fully now. I didn’t run to.him. I didn’t cry or shout in anger. I… smiled.My lips curved, slow. Calculated. Seductive. My
Silence settled between us again. Information overload. I was confused on how to feel. How to react. I had kids. I had a life. And right now, I am not sure who I am. I have something growing inside of me and surprisingly, I am from a bloodline of sea creatures. How? All my life I had grown up at the orphanage. Yes, people listened to me. Yes…my beauty and sometimes my voice…had…attracted people to me. A crown marred my forehead. As I looked to the ground. Kylan was the first to speak. “So, what’s our next move?”Theo exhaled. “You need to learn control. Fast. Before someone figures out what you are and comes looking.”A chill ran down my spine. “Someone is looking, aren’t they?”Theo’s expression didn’t change. “Wouldn’t you be?”I didn’t know what to say.I was just… confused.Me? A siren? It didn’t make sense. It didn’t fit.I wasn’t some mystical creature from a legend. I wasn’t powerful. I was just… me. An adopted girl with too many scars, too much baggage, and a history of r
I was surprised. Not because of the book or the drawing or even the words coming out of Theo’s mouth. I was surprised because, deep down, something inside me already knew that I wasn't okay. But being told this, not on my list of things. Kylan sat beside me, staring at the page with a deep frown, his fingers tapping against the table as if trying to piece everything together. But I couldn’t look away from the image in front of me. A woman, drawn in ink so old it had faded into the parchment. Long, flowing hair. Eyes that seemed to glow even in the faded artwork. Strange, swirling snake marks along her arms—marks I had seen before. On me. Theo exhaled, leaning back slightly. “She was a Siren Goddess,” he said simply. I finally forced my eyes away from the book. “A what?” Kylan let out a low whistle. “I was hoping for something dramatic, but this? Yeah…it didn't fit what I had in mind.” Theo ignored him, his sharp green eyes locked on me. “She wasn’t just any siren.