“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 was surprised you decided to follow me," I said as I tucked Finn and Luna into the back of the car.Neither of them looked at me. Luna’s eyes were still red from crying earlier, her face turned toward the window, her little hands clutching the edges of her blanket. Finn was quieter than usual, his brows furrowed in thought, though his grip on his toy wolf was tight enough to whiten his knuckles.I sighed, shutting the door softly before turning to Kieran, who stood a few feet away, watching the kids through the glass.“I told you I’d take you,” he said simply, leaning against the car. His silver eyes flicked to me, unreadable. “And you’re stubborn enough to do this alone if I hadn’t.”“You didn’t have to,” I muttered, crossing my arms. “This isn’t your problem.”His lips twitched into something like a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re impossible, you know that?”I frowned, brushing past him to the driver’s side. “Let’s just go.”---The drive was silent. Too silent.K
“I don't know, Briar, the question is starting to look as if I should believe you.”I raised an eyebrow, my grip tightening on the edge of my seat. “What do you mean?”“Tell me, Briar,” he turned his sharp, silver eyes toward me, a dangerous edge to his tone. “Tell me exactly what’s going on in your mind.”I hesitated, the witch’s words still echoing in my head like a haunting melody. “I already told you. I’m trying to figure this out—just like you.”He scoffed, his hands tightening around the steering wheel as the car swerved slightly.“Kieran, what the hell are you doing?” I snapped, gripping the side of the seat harder.“You’re not telling me everything, Briar,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, ignoring my question. “You’re keeping something from me, from all of us.”“That’s not true!” I shot back, panic creeping into my voice as he pressed harder on the accelerator.The car sped down the dark road, the trees on either side blurring into a shadowy mass. The tension between us
“I messed up,” Kylan said, groaning and running his hand over his face.“You think?” Kieran said, standing up, his silver eyes sharp with irritation.Kylan growled, his hands clenching into fists. “You… How dare you bring up Kayla?”“Because you’re trying to do the same thing to Briar,” Kieran shot back, his voice rising. “You don’t connect with her. You don’t listen. And now you’re throwing yourself at her like that’s going to fix anything. Kayla is six feet under because you couldn’t hold yourself together, and now—”“You bastard!” Kylan roared, his voice breaking as he swung at Kieran.The punch landed hard against Kieran’s jaw, the sound of it echoing in the room. Kieran staggered back, but his silver eyes flashed with fury as he wiped at his lip, which was already swelling.“You want to do this?” Kieran growled, his voice deeper now as his wolf pushed to the surface.“You brought her up,” Kylan spat, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. “You know how she was to me. You know
There was a weird thing between triplets. The called it ‘the tingling.’When one was going through a single vulnerability, they all felt it.And Kylan felt it from Kai. This wasn’t the first time. Or the second.Anytime Kai was with Briar, he softened. His tone changed, his walls cracked just enough for it to be noticeable. It was like a gravitational pull existed between them, and Kylan, no matter how hard he tried, felt like an outsider.A goddamn third wheel. It stung more because, out of all of them, Kylan had been the first to meet Briar. He’d noticed her spark, her fire, before either of his brothers had the chance. And yet, it was always Kai who seemed to draw her attention.Kylan stood in the living room, arms crossed, watching Kieran gently arranging blocks on the coffee table.“Aren’t you jealous?” Kylan asked suddenly, his voice tight. “Of the fact that Kai is the closest to her?”Kieran sighed without looking up. “I’ve known since the day Mother spat us out of her womb
Kieran’s silver eyes softened as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “Briar, no one’s blaming you. We’re just trying to figure this out, and you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to help.”His words made my throat tighten, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I looked away, blinking rapidly to stop the tears that threatened to spill.Kylan, sensing the shift in my mood, stepped closer to the railing and leaned against it casually, his blue eyes glinting with something lighter, softer. “Okay, okay,” he said, holding up his hands. “Let’s hit pause on the serious doom-and-gloom talk for a second. Briar, when’s the last time you took a break? Like, a real break?”I frowned, glancing at him. “A break? Kylan, my life is falling apart. Now’s not exactly the time for… a spa day.”He grinned, a playful edge to his voice. “Hey, I didn’t say spa day—though now that you mention it, we could use some hot towels and massages. My shoulders are killing me.”Despite myself, a sm
I called the three men in for a talk after I had made sure the kids were asleep.We were at the balcony of their rather extravagant mansion. The moonlight reflected off the glass railings, casting a faint glow over the space. The air was cold, filled with the faint scent of cedarwood that seemed to cling to this place.Kieran sat holding a glass of whiskey, his long legs sprawled out casually in front of him. His fiery red hair, tousled and catching the light, framed his sharp jawline in a way that was maddeningly attractive.His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, revealing just enough of his toned chest to make it impossible not to notice.Kylan leaned against the balcony railing, his black hair tied back in a loose knot. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms, and his blue eyes gleamed mischievously under the faint light. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine, his easy smirk always hovering on the edge of teasing.And then there
Briar’s POVI haven't smoked in years.Haven't touched the goddamn thing, but since my life took a drastic change, I brought out the cigarette I’d just bought, my fingers shaking as I pulled it from the pack. I stared at it for a long moment, my breathing uneven.The weight of everything, the clinic, the elders, my kids, the Lycan Kings, was pressing on me, suffocating me from the inside out. I leaned forward against the kitchen island, tears stinging the back of my eyes.I placed the unlit cigarette between my lips, not even bothering to grab a lighter. It wasn’t about smoking, not really. It was about holding something, distracting myself from the cracks forming in every part of my life.My hands trembled as I placed the cigarette back down on the island, burying my face in my hands. My shoulders shook as the tears came, quiet at first, then harder, until I was sobbing uncontrollably into the silence of my room.I didn’t even hear the door open.“Mommy?”My head snapped up, my face
I walked into my office, shutting the door behind me with a heavy sigh. The air felt stifling, every corner of the room reminding me of the work I’d poured my heart into. The weight of the elders’ words pressed on my chest, threatening to choke me.I dropped into my chair, leaning back and closing my eyes, wishing for just a moment of reprieve. But the sound of a knock pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts.“Come in,” I called, my voice weary.The door opened, and Sarah stepped in. Her usually bright demeanor was replaced with a rare frown, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.“Are you okay?” she asked, though her tone was clipped, her concern edged with frustration.I nodded, rubbing my temples. “I’m fine, Sarah.”“No, you’re not,” she said bluntly, stepping closer to my desk. “And frankly, neither am I. What’s going on, Dr. Ashford? The elders have been breathing down our necks, and now everyone’s talking about patients dying after therapy. This isn’t normal.”I looked at her,
Something was wrong with me.I… I woke up with scales all over my two forearms.They were faint, almost translucent in the morning light, but they were there. Smooth, glistening, and completely unnatural. Yesterday… yesterday I had been fighting with my own self, my own mind, and now this?Yesterday, the voices had been louder, more persistent. They weren’t my children’s or anyone I recognized, but they were real. Whispers that slithered through my thoughts, hissing things I didn’t want to hear, things I couldn’t understand. The louder they got, the harder it became to breathe, to think, to function.And then there was the other part—the part of me that wasn’t me.It was like another presence inside me, pushing, clawing, begging to break free. My body had trembled under the weight of it, my vision had blurred, and my skin had burned like fire. I had locked myself in the bathroom, splashing water on my face to keep whatever it was at bay.But this morning, the scales? They felt like pr
You should have claimed her.Kai’s wolf growled in his mind, the deep, angry tone sending a jolt through him. He clenched his fists, pacing the length of the hallway outside the kitchen. His arousal from earlier had long since subsided, but his body still thrummed with residual tension, and his thoughts were consumed by Briar.The way her skin had looked under the dim light, the scent of her arousal clinging to the air—it was maddening.“Shut up,” Kai snapped internally, though his wolf didn’t back down.You let her slip away. She’s ours, and you just walked out. Weak.Kai growled low in his throat, shaking his head. His wolf was relentless, clawing at the edges of his control, but he refused to let it take over. He was already struggling to keep himself in check after what had happened in Briar’s room.As he turned the corner into the kitchen, he nearly bumped into Kylan, who was leaning casually against the counter, a smirk plastered across his face.“Well, well,” Kylan drawled, his
He wanted me. I did not need to be told twice that he wanted me. From just those few moments he had seen me, he was already aroused. I watched as his nose flared slightly, a quick, subtle inhale that he clearly tried to suppress. He didn’t think I’d notice, but I did. He could smell me, my arousal hanging faintly in the air between us. Knowing he wanted me had spiked something within me. Something that I had kept buried a long time ago after my affair with them. No one have ever looked at me the way Kai was now. As if I was the only girl he wanted. As if he could strip me with his eyes. I gulped. His eyes moved up to meet mine, and I swore they darkened. “Briar…” His voice was low, husky, filled with something raw. The sound of my name rolling off his tongue made my breath hitch. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the muscles in his throat tightening. My gaze caught on the movement, and I felt heat rising to my cheeks, my heart racing as his presence