All Chapters of Hiding the Alpha's Twins: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

~Avery~ In a matter of minutes, I had managed to convince my mother that King and I had mended fences—well, sort of. Her sceptical expression suggested she wasn't fully buying it, but hey, it was worth a shot. I couldn't let King cause a scene in front of the kids or unleash his Hulk-like temper. He was already simmering like a forgotten kettle, and I figured it was best to keep my own fury under wraps, at least until he was thinking with more than just his fists. I fibbed to Mom and Jane, saying the kids and I needed to spend just a week at King's place. Fingers crossed, a week was enough time to get him to trade in his tantrums for some semblance of reason, right? Jane, ever the detective, insisted I tell her if King was forcing me into anything. But I couldn't risk him going on a rampage just because he was ticked off. So, I said no with a very bright smile. Mom and Jane helped gather our few belongings while Divah cheerfully carted them out to my sedan. King, in all his peac

~Avery~ As we trudged up the stairs, my anger simmered just beneath the surface, ready to boil over at any moment. King led the way, his heavy footsteps matching the pounding in my chest. When we reached his door, he swung it open and gestured for me to enter. I stormed past him, practically charging into the room. He followed, slamming the door shut with a resounding bang that shook it on its hinges. With no chance of the kids overhearing, I was fully prepared to unleash my fury on King. I folded my arms tightly across my chest, my glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Are you out of your mind?" I snapped, my voice dripping with incredulity. "Like you're the one to say that," he shot back. "You're unbelievable! Do you have any idea what this is going to do to them? You're so damn selfish!" "Selfish? You fucking hid my children from me for five years without any intention of telling me, and I'm the selfish one?" King growled, advancing towards me with each step radiating fury. I

~Avery~ I woke up in King’s bed, my head resting on a pillow damp with the remnants of my tears. The room was covered in darkness. Ugh, how long had I been out? Groggily, I pulled myself out of bed and shuffled over to the bathroom mirror. My eyes resembled two overripe plums, puffed up from either sleep or crying—though, judging by the state of my pillow, the latter seemed more likely. I was still in the same clothes I had arrived in, and the urge to freshen up was overwhelming. But as I glanced at the clock, a new wave of panic washed over me. It had been hours since I last saw the twins. "Julian? Julia?" I burst into their rooms, one after the other. Each room was neat and orderly, but there was no sign of the kids. A cold dread slithered up my spine as I bolted down the hall. It had been years since I was here, but I still remembered the intricate layout of King's house. "Julian? Julia?" My calls grew more desperate, but there were no answers. A million thoughts played

~Avery~ I watched Julian and Julia as they scampered around the newly constructed play area that King had ordered to be assembled in the backyard. Everything had been set up today, and Julian and Julia couldn't get enough of it, the swings and slides, all freshly installed, drew them like magnets. It was a problem to get them to come in for lunch after they saw the set-up, and now, I had to sit and watch them play. I knew they were safe in King's house for now, but I remained alert, eyes tracking their every jubilant leap and tumble. The day was dwindling; the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows, signalling it was nearly time to take them indoors for their evening routine. I had just finished watching Regina's viral online apology and didn't know what to think about it. Did she love King that much, even when she wasn't his mate? I tried to shove these thoughts aside, focusing instead on more pressing concerns. Marcus had been unusually unreachable today, dodging my calls, which

~Avery~ Getting the kids ready was an exercise in chaos and joy. Julian and Julia dashed out of the room, their laughter echoing down the hallway as they raced towards the front door. I was a nervous wreck because this was going to be my first public appearance with King and the twins. It made me nervous about what people would say. I wouldn't be receiving accolades; instead, I knew I would get more hate, especially from the single ladies who must harbour hopes that King was available again. There was no doubt King was the youngest and most desirable Alpha in the region, He was a prize to the ladies, and they had never hidden their interest in him, even when we were married. With the way his company was rising back fast to its feet, he would soon reclaim his spot as one of the richest too. As nervous as I felt, I was overwhelmed as well. I didn't want to hide behind King's shadow any longer, and it was worse because now, without the title of his wife or mate, I felt even more vulner