Seven years later…
The early morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the small room.
I stretched, careful not to wake the two small bodies nestled on either side of me.
My twins, Finn and Luna, slept soundly, their little faces peaceful in the morning light.
Watching them, I couldn’t help but smile.
Life was different now.
It had to be.
After that night, the night I left everything behind, I promised myself that I would never look back.
And for seven years, I hadn’t. I had built a life here, in the Lycan territory, far away from the pain of the past. I was no longer the broken woman who had stumbled into that motel room. I was Briar Ashford—mother, therapist, survivor.
“Mama,” a small voice murmured, breaking into my thoughts. Luna, her big brown eyes still heavy with sleep, reached out to me.
Her tiny hand clutched at my shirt as she blinked up at me with a smile that could light up the darkest day.
“Morning, sweetheart,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Did you sleep well?”
“Mmm-hmm,” she hummed, snuggling closer. “Where’s Finn?”
I chuckled softly, nodding to the other side of the bed where her brother lay, sprawled out like a starfish. “Right there, taking up all the space as usual.”
She giggled, the sound like music to my ears, and wiggled closer to Finn, wrapping her small arms around him. Finn, in response, let out a sleepy grunt, but didn’t wake. Luna looked back at me, grinning.
“Mama, can we have pancakes for breakfast?”
“Pancakes, huh?” I pretended to consider it, tapping my chin. “I don’t know... that sounds like a lot of work.”
“Please?” she pleaded, her bottom lip jutting out in a perfect pout. “With extra syrup?”
I smiled, unable to resist her charm. “Alright, pancakes it is. But only if you promise to help.”
“Yay!” Luna whispered excitedly, careful not to wake Finn, before slipping out of bed and racing to the kitchen. I followed her with a smile, feeling a warmth in my chest that only my children could bring.
In the small kitchen, we worked together to make breakfast. Luna stood on a chair, stirring the batter with all the seriousness a six-year-old could muster. I watched her, marveling at how much she had grown, how much both of them had grown.
I had thought that might was a dream, but no it was a blessing. They were my world, my everything, and I would do anything to protect them.
As the pancakes sizzled on the stove, I thought about how much my life had changed.
I had built something here—a home, a career, a life for my children. I had become a therapist, helping others heal from their own wounds, and in doing so, I had started to heal myself.
The Lycan territory had become a sanctuary for me, no one cared if I was an omega unlike the werewolves were hierarchy was everything.
Lizbella had also helped, starting a life here as well. Co-partnering with me to start our own care home.
No one here knew about my past, and that was the way I intended to keep it. My clients knew me as Briar Ashford, the therapist who had a way of understanding people, of helping them through their pain.
They didn’t know about the nightmares that still haunted me, or the scars that still ached when the weather turned cold.
But those scars were a part of me, and they had made me stronger. Strong enough to raise two incredible children on my own, to build a life that I could be proud of.
“Mama, the pancakes are burning!” Luna’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I quickly turned back to the stove, flipping the pancakes just in time.
“Oops, sorry about that,” I said with a sheepish smile. “I guess I got a little distracted.”
Luna giggled, shaking her head in that way that made her look far too grown-up for her age. “You’re silly, Mama.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” I replied, setting the pancakes on a plate and drizzling them with syrup. “But I make up for it with these, right?”
“Right!” she agreed, hopping down from the chair and grabbing a plate. “Can I wake up Finn?”
“Go ahead,” I said, watching as she ran back to the bedroom, her excitement contagious. Moments later, she returned with a groggy Finn in tow, his hair sticking up in all directions.
“Pancakes?” he asked, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
“Yup, your favorite,” I said, ruffling his hair as he climbed into his chair at the table.
We ate breakfast together, the twins chatting excitedly about their plans for the day.
They were full of energy, their laughter filling the small kitchen, and for a moment, I allowed myself to forget about the worries that often plagued me. For a moment, everything was perfect.
After breakfast, I cleaned up while the twins played in the living room. I could hear their voices drifting down the hall as they built elaborate forts out of blankets and pillows. They were so full of life, so innocent, and I was determined to keep it that way.
I had just finished washing the dishes when I heard a knock at the door. My heart skipped a beat—unexpected visitors were rare in the Lycan territory, especially for someone like me who kept to herself.
I quickly dried my hands and walked to the door, glancing back at the twins, who were oblivious to the interruption.
When I opened the door, I found myself staring up at three men—no, not just men. Lycans.
I could feel the power radiating off them. I gulped.
They were tall, muscular, and devastatingly handsome, with an air of authority that made it clear they were used to being obeyed.
The one in the center, with dark hair and blue eyes, and damn, a perfect jawline, stepped forward, his gaze locking onto mine.
“Briar Ashford?”
“Yes,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. “Can I help you?”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his eyes swept over me, taking in every detail as if he were committing me to memory. It was unsettling, to say the least.
“I’m Kai Moonstone,” he finally said, his voice deep and commanding. “These are my brothers, Kylan and Kieran.”
I glanced at the other two men, who were identical to Kai in every way except for the color of their eyes. Kylan’s were a striking green, while Kieran’s were a stormy gray.
They stood behind Kai, their expressions unreadable.
“What do you want?” I asked, forcing myself to hold Kai’s gaze.
“We need to talk,” Kai said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “May we come in?”
I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to shut the door, to keep them out. But something in Kai’s eyes—something familiar, yet terrifying—kept me rooted in place.
“We can talk out here. What is this about?” I asked, my voice wavering slightly.
“It’s about your children,” Kylan spoke up, his voice softer, but no less intense.
My heart stuttered in my chest, a cold
fear wrapping around me like a vice. “What about my children?”
Kai took a step closer. “We believe they’re ours.”
What do you do when three hot men appear at your doorstep saying they are the father of your kids?I would slam the door.And that’s exactly what I did. Or at least, I tried to.But Kylan’s hand shot out, stopping the door just as it was about to close. “Briar, wait—”I glared at him, shoving the door harder against his hand. “Wait? For what? For you to come in here and spew some more ridiculous claims? Because, trust me, I’ve heard enough. You guys are bloody psychos or some pranksters and trust me it's a Monday morning, I could hardly care.”Kai chuckled, his face filled with amusement that seemed to tick me off. “We’re not here to cause trouble, Briar. We just want to talk.”“Talk?” I repeated, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “There’s nothing to talk about. What you’re saying is impossible. Scientifically impossible! You are not the father of my children.”Kieran, the chiseled jaw Adonis, who had been silent up until now, smirked, “Impossible is our speciality, sweetheart.”I roll
My heart dropped into my stomach as I recognized them—the three men who had shown up at my doorstep just hours earlier. Now, standing in front of the entire town, they looked even more powerful than before. Their presence seemed to command the crowd without a single word, and people instinctively parted, allowing them to walk through with ease.Rachel’s grip tightened on my arm, her excitement palpable. “Briar, that’s them! The Lycan kings! Oh my god, they’re even hotter in person!”I barely registered her words, my mind reeling as I stared at the brothers. They were…the Lycan kings…the…triplets born on a leap year. Who had rules for years. I had called them a scammer…I couldn't believe it. Kai was the first to spot me, his intense gaze locking onto mine from across the crowd. My stomach flipped. Kylan and Kieran quickly followed his line of sight, and all three of them began walking straight toward me.Panic surged through me, and I instinctively took a step back. I didn’t want to
I barely noticed the murmurs of the crowd as I dragged Finn and Luna away, their small hands clutched tightly in mine. My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the sounds of the bustling fair. All I could focus on was getting as far from those men as possible.Rachel rushed after me, calling out, “Briar, wait up!”I ignored her, my mind spinning. How did they know? How could they be so sure? No, they were wrong. They had to be.It wasn't possible that I had slept with them and have their children. But everything I was thinking was against logic. Yes it was possible. I had slept with multiple men that night. But I was scared to admit it. By the time we reached the car, I was shaking. I helped Finn and Luna into the backseat, my hands trembling as I buckled them in.Rachel finally caught up, her face flushed from running. “What the hell just happened?” she asked, breathless and wide-eyed. “The Lycan kings and you…”I slammed the car door shut and whirled on her, my voice sharp. “I do
The battlefield was a wasteland. Bodies, both fresh and decaying, were strewn across the ground. A thick, unnatural fog hovered over the earth, masking the stench of death, but not enough to hide the horrors from anyone still standing. Still fighting for this war that had gone for more than a week. "Hold the line!" Marcus's voice boomed across the clearing, his silver hair matted with dirt and blood. His piercing blue eyes darted from one corner of the field to another. "Don’t let them break through!"To his left, a Lycan tore through a vampire’s throat with a savage snarl. Blood splattered across his chest, the vampire’s body falling limp before hitting the dirt. The Lycan grunted, his yellow eyes flaring. "This is getting worse, Marcus. They’re faster. Stronger than normal. We can’t keep up."Marcus spat on the ground, his jaw clenched. “We don’t have a choice, Jax. We either fight or die. You wanna run? Then go. But I’m not going down without tearing a few more apart.”Jax wiped
Years later…Briar's POV"Congratulations, Luna Briar, you are officially carrying the Alpha's heir."The words should have filled me with joy, but instead, they felt hollow. I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, staring at the nurse as she recorded the results in her clipboard without so much as a smile. Her tone was flat, indifferent, as if my news was nothing special.It should be though. The alpha's heir. It was great news. But not for the people of Crimson Pack. It was a nightmare and a weakness."Thank you," I said, my voice quiet.She didn’t bother to look up.No smile. No warmth. Just a curt nod. I wasn’t surprised. As far as the pack was concerned, I was just an omega who had lucked out. The Alpha’s mate, sure, but still an omega. And an omega carrying the Alpha’s child was an inconvenience to most.Here in the crimson pack, mates weren't taken seriously. They had expected their alpha to get another wife, to rule, whereas I would just be a mistress. But he never did. He
I woke up in the hospital feeling empty. Like a void. The sterile scent of antiseptic burned my nose as the fluorescent lights hummed overhead. My throat was dry, lips cracked, but none of that mattered. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, trembling fingers pressing against the soft skin there. It felt empty. "No... no, no, no," I whispered, my heart pounding as the memories flooded back. The fight. Slade’s rage. His fists. Zaya’s mocking laughter. And then the pain—so much pain.And blood. A nurse must have heard me because the door swung open, and she hurried over. Her face was sympathetic, so different from the hate I was used to. “Luna Ashford…”I flinched at the title. Luna. That wasn’t me anymore. I was nothing.“Don’t call me that,” I rasped.She hesitated before nodding. “I’m sorry. You need to rest.”Rest? How could I rest? My baby…our baby… was gone. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the reality that was clawing at me, threatening to consume me whole.“I’m
I remembered the first time I had come here. I was eighteen. Young and foolish. Happy to have been released from the orphanage. Lizbella and I had come here to celebrate. Our hands were calloused, we smelt of oil, we had begged for money so we could buy a drink.We didn’t care that night. We just wanted to party and enjoy life.We were eighteen meaning we could leave this pack and stopped working in the mines or as slaves. And I had met him. Alpha Slade and he had been my mate. My love. The moment I became Luna, Zaya tried to replace Lizbella, and I let her, now she ruined me. I was stupid. Still am it seems. I ordered a drink and stared into the glass, my reflection distorted in the amber liquid. Who was I now?“Looking for company?” a deep voice asked.I didn’t bother turning around. “Not in the mood.”“You look like you could use someone to talk to.”I sighed, finally glancing over my shoulder. The man standing there was tall, his dark eyes studying me with far too much interest.
As the second man pressed against me, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of my neck, I let out a low moan, my body arching into his touch. My breath hitched as the pleasure went through my veins, both of their hands on my body, igniting sensations I hadn’t felt in years—or maybe ever. I was no longer thinking, just feeling. The heat between us swelled, growing more urgent with every touch, every kiss. The second man’s fingers traced along the curve of my back while the first one pulled me tighter against him, his movements hard and insistent.I felt lips on my hardened nipples, I almost screamed from the pleasure.My heart pounded in my chest, my mind slipping further away from reality, giving in completely. They kissed me everywhere—lips, neck, chest. There was nothing but them, nothing but the feeling of their hands, his hands on my clit, their lips, the heat of their bodies pressing into mine. My mind was spinning, the alcohol still swirling in my veins, making everything feel